Planted Low Tech Fluval 90L Cycle

[LilyRose Tank]

I have purchased a fluval 90L tank and set it up with flora base substrate and planted various low tech plants, including Anubias Nana, Cryptocoryne walkeri, Echinodorus ocelot (red), Lobelia cardinalis (dwarf), Rotalia macrandra, Bacopa amplexicaulis, Wisteria, Micro sword, other Bacopa sp.
Anubias are attached to a large piece of wood, with cotton thread.





I filled the tank with water from a hose, with little disruption to the substrate and plants, thankfully, so I am now just waiting for the temperature to rise to 26 degrees C.



That's it for now, other than to wait for the plants to bed in and use up some of the leaching ammonia from the substrate.

 

[daizeUK]

That is a gorgeous piece of wood!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I hate to burst your bubble re plant selection, but Rotala macrandra was one of my favorite high tech tank plants
 

 
Rotala macrandra is an unusually beautiful aquarium plant, but unfortunately it is very demanding. It needs very good light to develop its beautiful red colour, and CO2 addition and soft water are vital to ensure reasonable growth. It is most beautiful in groups, but do not plant individual shoots too close because this will prevent light reaching the lower leaves. To ensure good colour there must be sufficient micronutrients in the water.

from http/www.tropica.com/en/plants/plantdescription.aspx?pid=032
 
And it is almost the same for the dwarf Lobelia, it really should have high light. co2 and good nutrients.
 

 
Lobelia cardinalis dwarf is a lovely aquatic plant with neat and compact stems and leaves. An attractive shade of green that will bring radiance and vibrancy to your aquarium.With adequate nutrients, light and CO2 this plant will grow nice and compact, perfect for the foreground of your tank.

from http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/lobelia-cardinalis-dwarf-p-6261.html
 
I tried this one in my high light tank but I did not plant it until well after the tank was set up and stocked. The fish would not permit it to root.
 
And lastly, while the red Ozelot will be fine in lower light, it will grow 20 - 50 cm tall and almost as wide which may be a bit big for a 90L?

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Thank you for your post TTA. After researching some of the plants, I really don't think I have the Rotala macrandra. None of the plants I bought were all red. Yes the ozelot is a red variety of amazon sword ( I think) but I have had it in my other tank the last few weeks and it is doing well so far. I shall purchase some fluid carbon for dosing and also get some plant food, I think you mentioned Seachem on the chat boards. I shall do what I can and pray for the best thanks

 

[GuppyGirl20]

Oh, it beautiful! I can't wait to see fish swimming around in it.

 

[508]

Looks great!

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Today the tank is much clearer,



Right side view



I can't get a good left side view as it's against the wall.
Just waiting for tank plants to settle for two weeks before cycling commences

 

[Ch4rlie]

That does look great, that wood and plant really does look great in that tank.
 
Can't wait to see the tank with fish and how it looks when the plants grow out a bit.
 
I have the exact same tank and filter, I like it a lot and has been design pretty well and does exactly what it says on the tin.
 
Whats your planned stocking for this tank? 

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Hi Ch4rlie, planned stocking is still under debate, but at the moment I am think 6 purple emperor tetra ( transferring the three from my fluval edge and adding three more if I can find some) 2( or 1) gold ram, 1BN plec, Pygmy corydoras ( group of six)

The question is one or two rams, still researching what's best.
Got a bit of algal growth in the wood today, don't think there is much I can do about it at present as I am waiting for the plants to settle for the next two weeks before cycling commences

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Today I performed water testing and the results are
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite. 0
NitrATe 5ppm

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Update today on tank
Plants are doing really well





Ammonia is 0 nitrite is 0 and nitrate is 0-5 ppm, so ready to cycle
Planning on adding Dr Tim's, just waiting for delivery

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I would suggest that using Dr. Tim's and having the plants that you can pretty much add fish and Dr. Tim's and be OK. You can probably be fine with 1/3 -1/2 stocking at first.
 
If you prefer to wait and want to add some ammonia, dose to 2 ppm. If the tank can process at least 2 ppm and have 0 nitrite, you can stock pretty much normally. The reason for dropping down from the 3 ppm suggested in the cycling article is because of the plants (and the One and Only). Plants grow and as they do they can take in more ammonia and nitrate. When you combine this with the growth of seeded bacteria, most shortfalls in processing ammonia or nitrite get corrected very fast. Because of the plants nitrites become a much lesser concern. Ammonia taken in by plants does not make any nitrite or nitrate in the water. This combined with the nitrite bacs in Dr. Tim's, make it possible you never see any nitrite readings at all.

 

[LilyRose Tank]

I dosed ammonia to 3ppm last night and at the moment it's reading 0.25ppm 0 nitrites

 

[LilyRose Tank]

On 15th dosed to 3ppm, and gone in 24hours!
I had ordered 6700K life GLO bulbs so I put them in today, also the local aquarists store had a co2diffuser system, which I bought and installed







So today we have 9purple emperor tetra, 2gold rams and 3 albino B n pleco added, and all settled in well. Will continue with daily water tests to make sure all stays well

 

[KieranBoyne]

That piece of wood is going to be that pleco's heaven lol. That is a really nice bit of wood though. And the tank looks great too!