I just wanted to post my early success (so far
) and key learning to date for my system:
• Form follows function (i.e. goals)
• CO2 or non-CO2 decision (based on my lighting and other things like maintenance desire/need)
• Choose a system and learn it well
• Plant densely from the start
Here are my specs. Please take a look! Thank you all for such great threads/posts/knowledge. It has brought out a whole new interest in planted tanks. As I call them: Underwater Bonsai.
7-gallon nano: AG Mini-bow
Light: 11 hrs @ 100 PAR est. (number is based on CF chart Hoppy sent me)
12”Current fixture w Sunpaq CF 10K/6K with moon light
Hagen CO2/diffuser with DIY yeast changed every 2-3 weeks.: est-35-50 ppm, sometimes higher, but fish handle it
pH 6.5
kH: 4-5
EI Dosing:
NPK 3X week
Excel and Flourish 3X week
50% WC /Equilibrium 1X
Substrate: Play Sand with flourish tabs
AquaClear 20 HOB with Bio media
Temp: 27C
Flaura/Fauna:
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Hemianthus callitrichoides
Ludwigia arcuata
Rotala rotundifolia
Vesicularia dubyana
Microsorum pteropus
Heterandria formosa (Least Killifish)
My approach is one of incremental-ism: as I gain more knowledge and success I can expand to more/larger/complex/technical systems; but the nano is a quite a unique challenge in and of itself. I have had many complete failures (best with 7 gallon rather than 175). It is a fresh start. The right hand side should fill in with the Rotala and Ludwigia. I pruned them heavily. The Ludwigia was grown emersed, and just starting to show the underwater leaves. The Crypts and Java Moss and Java ferns were planted about 4 weeks ago, and the rest are only 1 week old. The moss wall is 1 week old, used to be a moss floor (changed my mind). The java moss is growing very slowly. Overall, the Crypt is the plant doing the best. And I am convinced the HC has good flavor: everything I have had tries to eat it with relentless picking. Small nano-foreground plant suggestions are welcome! I did have 12 Olive nerites but they died. I believe of starvation, since I do not see any visible algae. I am a bit bummed about that as I like them very much. They are great critters. I also lost 4 Amano shrimp when I first planted. I have not had too much success with shrimp in the past. I am trying to upload a few pics, hope the upload. Wow, I did not know how difficult it is to photograph a lit aquarium!
• Form follows function (i.e. goals)
• CO2 or non-CO2 decision (based on my lighting and other things like maintenance desire/need)
• Choose a system and learn it well
• Plant densely from the start
Here are my specs. Please take a look! Thank you all for such great threads/posts/knowledge. It has brought out a whole new interest in planted tanks. As I call them: Underwater Bonsai.
7-gallon nano: AG Mini-bow
Light: 11 hrs @ 100 PAR est. (number is based on CF chart Hoppy sent me)
12”Current fixture w Sunpaq CF 10K/6K with moon light
Hagen CO2/diffuser with DIY yeast changed every 2-3 weeks.: est-35-50 ppm, sometimes higher, but fish handle it
pH 6.5
kH: 4-5
EI Dosing:
NPK 3X week
Excel and Flourish 3X week
50% WC /Equilibrium 1X
Substrate: Play Sand with flourish tabs
AquaClear 20 HOB with Bio media
Temp: 27C
Flaura/Fauna:
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Hemianthus callitrichoides
Ludwigia arcuata
Rotala rotundifolia
Vesicularia dubyana
Microsorum pteropus
Heterandria formosa (Least Killifish)
My approach is one of incremental-ism: as I gain more knowledge and success I can expand to more/larger/complex/technical systems; but the nano is a quite a unique challenge in and of itself. I have had many complete failures (best with 7 gallon rather than 175). It is a fresh start. The right hand side should fill in with the Rotala and Ludwigia. I pruned them heavily. The Ludwigia was grown emersed, and just starting to show the underwater leaves. The Crypts and Java Moss and Java ferns were planted about 4 weeks ago, and the rest are only 1 week old. The moss wall is 1 week old, used to be a moss floor (changed my mind). The java moss is growing very slowly. Overall, the Crypt is the plant doing the best. And I am convinced the HC has good flavor: everything I have had tries to eat it with relentless picking. Small nano-foreground plant suggestions are welcome! I did have 12 Olive nerites but they died. I believe of starvation, since I do not see any visible algae. I am a bit bummed about that as I like them very much. They are great critters. I also lost 4 Amano shrimp when I first planted. I have not had too much success with shrimp in the past. I am trying to upload a few pics, hope the upload. Wow, I did not know how difficult it is to photograph a lit aquarium!