Alps' First Planted Tank Journal *pics Added*

[Alps]

10 usg 20"(l)x10(w)x12(h)
- using fluorescent bulbs that fit into an incandescent socket, so just a hair over 2wpg
- Have co2 at about 30-38ppm for 4 days, then I have to change the mixture in the nutrafin
Plans/Issues:
-going to use laterite with lapis lustre gravel because I am afraid of laterite surfacing if I use sand, even the medium grain sand I found. (unless anyone can convince me that this won't happen)
-not going to be high-tech, especially with only 2wpg, have root tabs, laterite, and seachem flourish.

Plants on their way: Will be here Friday, so 2 days.

1 Brazilian Pennywort
2 Ludwigia Repens (lldjma suggestion)
Pot of Echinodorus Tenellus
Pot of Dwarf sag
1 Red Crypt Wendtii
1 Green Crypt Wendtii

Before picture:

after plants are added:

Now, any advice regarding placement? I am having a difficult time with the pennywort on the left and its size and am also kind of concerned that the cliff type rock I have isn't highlighted enough to attract attention.
Advice and comments please.


Not expecting many replies until I get pictures, but comments about plants and plans are extremely welcome.

 

[juicebox]

hi alps,

i'm planning something similar for my 10 gallon tank. i'll keep an eye out for how well it goes with you.

good luck!

 

[Themuleous]

Plan and plants sound good to me, keep us posted

Best thing is you seem to have thought I through which is a huge step in the right direction

Sam

 

[Qays]

2wpg on a 10 gallon is not "really" 2wpg. The wpg rule only really applies to 15/20g tanks or over.

I think somthing like 2.5-3wpg would be equivalent to 2wpg, but im not sure.

 

[Alps]

2wpg on a 10 gallon is not "really" 2wpg. The wpg rule only really applies to 15/20g tanks or over.

I think somthing like 2.5-3wpg would be equivalent to 2wpg, but im not sure.

so by rights I have less than 2 wpg? Well maybe 2.5" of substrate will help a little.

thx for comments, pics on friday sometime.

 

[Alps]

2 Questions

1. Can I rinse laterite, let it dry, then put it into the tank without any further washing?

2. Do you think I should mix the laterite in the lower part of the gravel, or can I just have a single pure layer of laterite beneath the gravel?

Thanks

 

[juicebox]

i'm pretty sure you can rinse laterite. and, yes, you can have a single layer of laterite with gravel on top or you could mix, though i think over time the laterite will sink to the bottom depending on gravel size (not too sure). i would personally go with a layer of laterite on the bottom and gravel on top.

 

[Alps]

i'm pretty sure you can rinse laterite. and, yes, you can have a single layer of laterite with gravel on top or you could mix, though i think over time the laterite will sink to the bottom depending on gravel size (not too sure). i would personally go with a layer of laterite on the bottom and gravel on top.

would having a single layer of laterite on its own limit root growth? Have you or anyone else tried a layer of just laterite below the gravel/sand?

thanks for the help

- countdown till plants arrive and tank is changed: 12hours need help fast!!

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh you can, but it'll mix given time anyway.

 

[Alps]

Thanks Themuleous


heres a pic of the temporary tank that I've had my fish in since Friday

-can someone confirm that the tallish green plants in the front are echinodorus tenellus, just very tall ones?

-lfs doesnt have lapis lustre gravel in right now and still have not picked any up like promised so my fish have had to be in a 14g plastic container, quite nice really.

pic of the lapis lustre I plan on putting in

- will this look unnatural?

 

[Alps]

Lapis is the gravel on the right

 

[Neal]

Personally I don't like it, and think it will look unnatural, but that's just me. I'd much prefer to use black sand such as tahaitan moon sand.

Neal

 

[Alps]

- k thanks for being truthful neal. I actually just got the gravel and am washing it now. Tahitian sand is also a little costly and I'm paranoid about laterite showing.

- thanks for the pic fishkiller, doesn't look bad at all. I find its also pretty cheap. Did you ever notice the gravel affecting your water parameters as I've read some lapis has more ?coral? than others. Mine is actually a good deal smaller than yours also.


hopefully the full picture will be up tonight.

 

[Alps]

Not sure if we have the same brand, but Top Fin (the one I bought) coats them with epoxy so there's very little chance of anything leaking into the water. But with that said, my water's very hard straight from the tap, so if the gravel did leach out stuff (ie. lime) for some reason, I wouldn't be able to notice the difference.

I don't think mine is epoxy coated. I did find some seashell/coral pieces in the gravel so spent over 45 minutes picking as much out as possible. I have pictures uploading on photobucket right now so I will post them in the morning.

fish ? - is it odd that my bolivian ram turns very dark with extra black markings within minutes of lights out?

 

[Alps]

any advice?