I'm starting to consider a major change to my 15 gallon tank. I will be running it as follows:
2wpg via 2 x 15w T8 tubes on for 8 hours per day
Estimative Index fertilising and water change routine
Pressurised CO2 and 4dkh/bromo blue drop checker
Tropica Plant Substrate below Hagen Black River Sand
Remove internal Juwel filter and use possibly TetraTec EX600 instead (I'll run this in well in advance so it is 'mature')
Plants I really like and will likely include these only:
Vallis mini twister
Pogostemon helferi
Utricularia graminifolia
Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv'
I have all of these plants already aside from the UG which I will need to buy.
Main layout aims:
1/3 in from left of tank I want hardscape focus point which will either be:
Iwagumi-style rock(s)
Mopani wood 'tree trunk and roots' taken from my current 5-gallon
Twig-style wood which my LFS stocks, lovely stuff
Any of the above will likely mixed with black semi-spherical pebbles, there is a layout in the Sep07 PFK that I really like and want to incorporate part of the ideas.
I will plant the vallis around and to the back of the focal hardscape but sticking purely (or to the majority only) at the back left/middle.
The windelov fern will be attached to the hardscape focal point or placed to the base of it if required - I really like this plant and how it has worked in my 5 gallon.
The UG will form a major area of the 'carpet' with patches of P.Helferi
Livestock will be:
6 oto's (have these)
~8 amano shrimp (have these)
5 pygmy cory (have these, may add 3-4 more)
15-20 rasbora maculatus or possibly 15-20 galaxy rasbora if I can source tank-bred ones. Both of these are tiny, I have 7 r.maculatus in my 5-gallon and may move these into this 15-gallon and get some more, max size is 1.5cm so cute
My main sticking point on the design is the hardscape - I like all of the thoughts I have, I'm leaning towards the 'twig-style' wood from my LFS, if anyone has any thoughts they are more than welcome!
2wpg via 2 x 15w T8 tubes on for 8 hours per day
Estimative Index fertilising and water change routine
Pressurised CO2 and 4dkh/bromo blue drop checker
Tropica Plant Substrate below Hagen Black River Sand
Remove internal Juwel filter and use possibly TetraTec EX600 instead (I'll run this in well in advance so it is 'mature')
Plants I really like and will likely include these only:
Vallis mini twister
Pogostemon helferi
Utricularia graminifolia
Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv'
I have all of these plants already aside from the UG which I will need to buy.
Main layout aims:
1/3 in from left of tank I want hardscape focus point which will either be:
Iwagumi-style rock(s)
Mopani wood 'tree trunk and roots' taken from my current 5-gallon
Twig-style wood which my LFS stocks, lovely stuff
Any of the above will likely mixed with black semi-spherical pebbles, there is a layout in the Sep07 PFK that I really like and want to incorporate part of the ideas.
I will plant the vallis around and to the back of the focal hardscape but sticking purely (or to the majority only) at the back left/middle.
The windelov fern will be attached to the hardscape focal point or placed to the base of it if required - I really like this plant and how it has worked in my 5 gallon.
The UG will form a major area of the 'carpet' with patches of P.Helferi
Livestock will be:
6 oto's (have these)
~8 amano shrimp (have these)
5 pygmy cory (have these, may add 3-4 more)
15-20 rasbora maculatus or possibly 15-20 galaxy rasbora if I can source tank-bred ones. Both of these are tiny, I have 7 r.maculatus in my 5-gallon and may move these into this 15-gallon and get some more, max size is 1.5cm so cute
My main sticking point on the design is the hardscape - I like all of the thoughts I have, I'm leaning towards the 'twig-style' wood from my LFS, if anyone has any thoughts they are more than welcome!