Vinkenoog1977
Member
Hey everyone,
So, I'm making preparations for a new aquarium, which will be a Juwel Rio 240. It will be a high tech setup, even though I will stick with the LED lamps that come with the aquarium for now (about 7000 lumen, or about 28 lumen per liter). But CO2 injection with a solenoid, and all the other bells and whistles. Okay, I will be keeping the internal filter, but upgrade the pump to at least 1000 ltr/ hr, and add loads of biological filtration media to the filter.
As a substrate, I will be using crushed lava rock, covered with either something like Dennerle 10 in 1, or regular soil, capped with fine gravel. Bunch of bog wood and lave rock for the hardscape.
In order to avoid ammonia spikes, I plan on doing a dark start for about 4 weeks. I have never done this before, but after reading up on it, it sounds like it could prevent a lot of the issues I have had previously. However, I was wondering if it was possible to do a dark start first, and then do a dry start for four weeks after that, in order to give all the moss and epiphytes and carpet plants an extra good start. I could keep the filter media in a bucket of tank water with an air stone or something to keep the bacteria alive I think/ hope.
Anyone have any experience trying this?
Cheers in advance!
So, I'm making preparations for a new aquarium, which will be a Juwel Rio 240. It will be a high tech setup, even though I will stick with the LED lamps that come with the aquarium for now (about 7000 lumen, or about 28 lumen per liter). But CO2 injection with a solenoid, and all the other bells and whistles. Okay, I will be keeping the internal filter, but upgrade the pump to at least 1000 ltr/ hr, and add loads of biological filtration media to the filter.
As a substrate, I will be using crushed lava rock, covered with either something like Dennerle 10 in 1, or regular soil, capped with fine gravel. Bunch of bog wood and lave rock for the hardscape.
In order to avoid ammonia spikes, I plan on doing a dark start for about 4 weeks. I have never done this before, but after reading up on it, it sounds like it could prevent a lot of the issues I have had previously. However, I was wondering if it was possible to do a dark start first, and then do a dry start for four weeks after that, in order to give all the moss and epiphytes and carpet plants an extra good start. I could keep the filter media in a bucket of tank water with an air stone or something to keep the bacteria alive I think/ hope.
Anyone have any experience trying this?
Cheers in advance!