One small step!!!!

[ghent_3rd]

After months of deliberating I finally re-aquascaped the tank tonight in preperation for my trip to Wharf Aqautics, for those non-UK it is like the Las Vegas of the fish world over here.

I thought it best to complete the main of my re-aquascaping before adding new fish so as not to stress them out twice in one week.

I have replaced all large pea gravel with finer aquatic gravel ready for my first effort with planted aquaria this week, really looking forward to giving the tank a complete overhaul with new bogwood going in and a few rocks over the next couple of days.

Also ordered somee riccia on the back of the pinned thread in this forum because it looks so cool!!!! Will keep you all informed of my progress in weeks to come and will try and get some pictures sorted as well once tank is up and running to full potential.

Thanks again for your help and below are links to my LFS Ocean Commotion in Leicester who are the only shop I use in Leicester due to sound advice and good looking stock, staff also very friendly.

Also included a link to the amazing Wharf Aquatics, check out the tank with the Red-Tailed Cat on the website, it is amazing!!

MY LFS OCEAN COMMOTION

Wharf Aquatics

 

[nodding_dino]

congrats on the aquascaping! Did you decide to mix anything with the gravel in the end?

 

[ghent_3rd]

congrats on the aquascaping! Did you decide to mix anything with the gravel in the end?

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No, I seen the laterite in the store but sort of forgot to pick it up, it ain't cheap either!!!

I may add some in at a later date but I am only going to be growing hardy plants and maybe a floating plant anyway so it is not too big a deal but thanks for asking!!

 

[jimbooo]

Also ordered somee riccia on the back of the pinned thread in this forum because it looks so cool!!!!

good on you and glad i've inspired someone. laterite really is a worthwhile purchase though. in short aquatic plants naturally grow on a river bed ie. clay, muddy silt type soil.

in the aquarium you need to replicate this hence the laterite. it's dried clay in fact (i'm sure theres a more technical description but that will do for now).

for your plants to grow they need nutrients, these nutrients (in nature) come from the soil on a river bed. in the plain gravel aquarium there is nowhere to hold these nutrients bearing in mind gravel isn't porous. the laterite acts as a nutrient sponge absorbing your nutrients in the water and holding them where theyre needed, at the roots.

this is why a tank with laterite is 100% better than a tank without it.

trust me it's worth the money.