Avro Vulcan
New Member
I have restarted my 250L tank, this time I have invested in a 'proper' CO2 system from CO2 Supermarket. I am using disposable cannisters as the fire extinguisher route scared me a bit. Before, I was using a Colombo DIY system, I know it wasn't really adequate for my size of tank (I had to refill it every week), but it was fine as an introduction to CO2 at a relatively lower cost before splashing out on a 'proper' system.
I wanted a black substrate this time, to emphasize the colour of the plants and fish (when I reintroduce them, it won't be for several weeks as I want to get it cycled first.), I also purchased a black film to attach to the back of the tank to make the plants really pop. I used red stone, rock and pebbles as a contrast to the black and green.
I spent some time researching the substrate and settled on Caribsea Eco Complete and JBL Manado Dark, mixing the two together and using as the base layer. My reasoning on this is because the Eco Complete is made from volcanic grains and is advertised as having a good Cation exchange capacity (CEC) for storing nutrients for plants; and the live bacteria will help in cycling the tank. The Manado is made from expanded clay and also is advertised with CEC and also has some bacteria to help with algae, so I though mixing the 2 together would give a good basis.
I have used Fluval Bio-Stratum as the top layer, it has fine rounded grains and so should be safe for cory's. I have also added a layer of fine black sand at the front of the tank just for the Cory's to have somewhere for digging.
The plants I have chosen are:
Rotala Rotundifolia
Rotala Rotundifolia Ceylon
Rotala sp Araguaia
Ludwigia Palustris
Lindernia Rotundifolia
Lobelia cardinalis
Cryptocoryne beckettii 'Petchii'
Anubias Barteri var. Nana
Microsorum pteropus Narrow
Microsorum pteropus Windelov
Helanthium Quadricostatus
Echinodorus Ozelot
Echinodorus Ozelot Green
Taxiphyllum Spiky Moss
Unfortunately, all but one of the Crypts have suffered from Crypt Melt, loosing pratically all their leaves, though I can see some new leaves growing on them, but they do look rater pitiful at the moment. 😢
I know some of the Rotala probably won't colour up as I don't think my lighting is strong enough for it, but I presume they will have differing 'greenness' and leaf shape between the varieties and that is what I was thinking of when I purchased them
I purposely chose mainly 'Easy' plants to suit my set up:
AquaManta 300 External Filter
Newa Wave 3200 wavemaker
CO2 system: 1.25 bubbles a second
Fluval Plant Spectrum 46W settings:
CO2 is set to come on at 9:30 and goes off at 19:00
I'm not sure what ferts to dose with this tank, I have Aqua Essentials Neutro + and liquid CO2 to add daily, will these be okay? I have seen EI dosing mentioned several times and tried to read up about it on here, but I'm finding it hard to understand.
If anyone has any tips or can see something that would benefit from a change, please let me know - I want to learn and be successful in obtaining a healthy and flourishing scape
The Eco Complete and Manado Dark mixed together
With Fluval Bio-Stratum top layer, ready for black sand to go at the front.
I wanted a black substrate this time, to emphasize the colour of the plants and fish (when I reintroduce them, it won't be for several weeks as I want to get it cycled first.), I also purchased a black film to attach to the back of the tank to make the plants really pop. I used red stone, rock and pebbles as a contrast to the black and green.
I spent some time researching the substrate and settled on Caribsea Eco Complete and JBL Manado Dark, mixing the two together and using as the base layer. My reasoning on this is because the Eco Complete is made from volcanic grains and is advertised as having a good Cation exchange capacity (CEC) for storing nutrients for plants; and the live bacteria will help in cycling the tank. The Manado is made from expanded clay and also is advertised with CEC and also has some bacteria to help with algae, so I though mixing the 2 together would give a good basis.
I have used Fluval Bio-Stratum as the top layer, it has fine rounded grains and so should be safe for cory's. I have also added a layer of fine black sand at the front of the tank just for the Cory's to have somewhere for digging.
The plants I have chosen are:
Rotala Rotundifolia
Rotala Rotundifolia Ceylon
Rotala sp Araguaia
Ludwigia Palustris
Lindernia Rotundifolia
Lobelia cardinalis
Cryptocoryne beckettii 'Petchii'
Anubias Barteri var. Nana
Microsorum pteropus Narrow
Microsorum pteropus Windelov
Helanthium Quadricostatus
Echinodorus Ozelot
Echinodorus Ozelot Green
Taxiphyllum Spiky Moss
Unfortunately, all but one of the Crypts have suffered from Crypt Melt, loosing pratically all their leaves, though I can see some new leaves growing on them, but they do look rater pitiful at the moment. 😢
I know some of the Rotala probably won't colour up as I don't think my lighting is strong enough for it, but I presume they will have differing 'greenness' and leaf shape between the varieties and that is what I was thinking of when I purchased them
I purposely chose mainly 'Easy' plants to suit my set up:
AquaManta 300 External Filter
Newa Wave 3200 wavemaker
CO2 system: 1.25 bubbles a second
Fluval Plant Spectrum 46W settings:
CO2 is set to come on at 9:30 and goes off at 19:00
I'm not sure what ferts to dose with this tank, I have Aqua Essentials Neutro + and liquid CO2 to add daily, will these be okay? I have seen EI dosing mentioned several times and tried to read up about it on here, but I'm finding it hard to understand.
If anyone has any tips or can see something that would benefit from a change, please let me know - I want to learn and be successful in obtaining a healthy and flourishing scape
The Eco Complete and Manado Dark mixed together
With Fluval Bio-Stratum top layer, ready for black sand to go at the front.
