I've posted pics of my 180 gal here before. That had an inert substrate. I re-did the tank with ADA AS 20 days ago.
DAY 20.
Here's an update:
Tank: 180-gal
Light: three BML Dutch dimmed to 50-60% - works from 8 to 5 like an office job. May dim more after I measure PAR. Goal was to have Amano light levels and only moderate CO2 need.
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil
Filtration: 2 large canisters
Water: 60% RO. KH is 3 to 3.5 or so.
CO2: pH controller has been retired because AS messes with pH and gives false reading. Doing it manually and way out of my comfort zone. My guess is about 6-10 bubbles/sec. pH drop from 6.8 to 6.2. Stays stable all day long. Don't know ppm but probably around 30 or 40...more CO2 than Amano and some of the Dutch masters but definitely less than Barr. I kept a fish less tank with 90-100 ppm CO2 for 6 months. Had enough of that.
Water change: 60% every 3rd day. Using old filter media, so ammonia spike is probably almost done with. Tossed in 2 SAE and they are alive. No shrimp yet.
Fish: 3 SAE. Will add Otos, about a dozen or two wild caught silvery tetras (several blackwater species) with no ID. May be some wild caught apistos and curviceps. And about 50-100 Amano shrimp. ??
Ferts: EI minus KNO3. Plenty of N as NH4 in the tank for now. I will begin adding KNO3 next week. Forcing plants to use ammonia for now. Not sure if that is wise, but I'm doing it.
Algae: plenty, thank you. Diatom came and went. GDA and GSA initially when I was tweaking CO2, but that's pretty much gone. Nightmarish hair algae (spiro?) that has receded but still present. The tall crypts have some weird beard algae. Plants are growing well and we're getting the upper hand.
Flow: have huge pump at top left aimed at surface (going for O2) and two airstones on for 14 hours when lights are off.
Aquascaping: not my forte. But plan on moving plants around. Need something contrasting behind the Syngo. May be move the Myrio tuberculatum back there and put some Tonina or Limno Mini Vietnam between the Rotala Mac and AR. Like I said, not my forte. Please make suggestions!
Plants:
Left to right
Lud ovalis
Rot wallichii type with red stem…?? don't know what it is.
Saururus cernuus - favorite
Eichornia diversifolia - favorite
Persicaria kawagoeanum
Blyxa japonica - does not like ADA ammonia.
Lud glandulosa
Lud sp Red
Micro tenellus
Lobelia
Stauro repens
Didiplis
Hygrophila
Rotala Mac - growing like a weed!
Hydrothrix gardneri
Blyxa jap
Gratiola - piece of crap
Pogo helferi
Monte carlo
Myrio tuberculatum
Limno aromatica
Limno aquatica ? (sp. Giant - it's a freakin monster! Grows 2" a day and 5" wide by the time it reaches the surface. Already topped it once.)
Alternanthera - new leaves are 3-4" long! Looked awful in old tank.
Elatine triandra - does not like ammonia
Bacopa caroliniana
Ammania gracilis
Floscopa scandens - favorite
Rotala magenta
Syngonanthus sp. Belem?? - favorite. Loves AS but was growing well in inert substrate too.
Hygro Araguaia
Hydrocotyle
Blyxa alternifolia - favorite. This thing took a serious hit with the initial ammonia.
Blyxa auberti
Hygro sp. Foreground. From Strungout. What the heck is that thing? Cool, creeping, invasive little plant. Is it a Stauro?
Rotala Colorata.
Will get rid of about a third of these plants once tank is cycled and settled.
My thoughts: water is super clear and plants look absolutely thrilled. I'm really enjoying this tank. I think going to aqua soil is something I should have done years ago. Best thing I ever did. Thank you, Tom, for nudging me in that direction. Could not take your advice about wet/dry due to logistics and time. Would like to have done that too. Oh well.
DAY 20.
Here's an update:
Tank: 180-gal
Light: three BML Dutch dimmed to 50-60% - works from 8 to 5 like an office job. May dim more after I measure PAR. Goal was to have Amano light levels and only moderate CO2 need.
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil
Filtration: 2 large canisters
Water: 60% RO. KH is 3 to 3.5 or so.
CO2: pH controller has been retired because AS messes with pH and gives false reading. Doing it manually and way out of my comfort zone. My guess is about 6-10 bubbles/sec. pH drop from 6.8 to 6.2. Stays stable all day long. Don't know ppm but probably around 30 or 40...more CO2 than Amano and some of the Dutch masters but definitely less than Barr. I kept a fish less tank with 90-100 ppm CO2 for 6 months. Had enough of that.
Water change: 60% every 3rd day. Using old filter media, so ammonia spike is probably almost done with. Tossed in 2 SAE and they are alive. No shrimp yet.
Fish: 3 SAE. Will add Otos, about a dozen or two wild caught silvery tetras (several blackwater species) with no ID. May be some wild caught apistos and curviceps. And about 50-100 Amano shrimp. ??
Ferts: EI minus KNO3. Plenty of N as NH4 in the tank for now. I will begin adding KNO3 next week. Forcing plants to use ammonia for now. Not sure if that is wise, but I'm doing it.
Algae: plenty, thank you. Diatom came and went. GDA and GSA initially when I was tweaking CO2, but that's pretty much gone. Nightmarish hair algae (spiro?) that has receded but still present. The tall crypts have some weird beard algae. Plants are growing well and we're getting the upper hand.
Flow: have huge pump at top left aimed at surface (going for O2) and two airstones on for 14 hours when lights are off.
Aquascaping: not my forte. But plan on moving plants around. Need something contrasting behind the Syngo. May be move the Myrio tuberculatum back there and put some Tonina or Limno Mini Vietnam between the Rotala Mac and AR. Like I said, not my forte. Please make suggestions!
Plants:
Left to right
Lud ovalis
Rot wallichii type with red stem…?? don't know what it is.
Saururus cernuus - favorite
Eichornia diversifolia - favorite
Persicaria kawagoeanum
Blyxa japonica - does not like ADA ammonia.
Lud glandulosa
Lud sp Red
Micro tenellus
Lobelia
Stauro repens
Didiplis
Hygrophila
Rotala Mac - growing like a weed!
Hydrothrix gardneri
Blyxa jap
Gratiola - piece of crap
Pogo helferi
Monte carlo
Myrio tuberculatum
Limno aromatica
Limno aquatica ? (sp. Giant - it's a freakin monster! Grows 2" a day and 5" wide by the time it reaches the surface. Already topped it once.)
Alternanthera - new leaves are 3-4" long! Looked awful in old tank.
Elatine triandra - does not like ammonia
Bacopa caroliniana
Ammania gracilis
Floscopa scandens - favorite
Rotala magenta
Syngonanthus sp. Belem?? - favorite. Loves AS but was growing well in inert substrate too.
Hygro Araguaia
Hydrocotyle
Blyxa alternifolia - favorite. This thing took a serious hit with the initial ammonia.
Blyxa auberti
Hygro sp. Foreground. From Strungout. What the heck is that thing? Cool, creeping, invasive little plant. Is it a Stauro?
Rotala Colorata.
Will get rid of about a third of these plants once tank is cycled and settled.
My thoughts: water is super clear and plants look absolutely thrilled. I'm really enjoying this tank. I think going to aqua soil is something I should have done years ago. Best thing I ever did. Thank you, Tom, for nudging me in that direction. Could not take your advice about wet/dry due to logistics and time. Would like to have done that too. Oh well.