4ft freshwater tank in progess

I like the Discus Steve. You have me wanting another tank. However I can't do another 48" tank...so I do have an 18g tall lying around though....maybe some of the new Designer Danios?




Now I just need a better light for a 20" tank...

 

Thanks Nor Cal Guy
Those Danios - or glofish are attractive IMO

Steve

 

nice tank steve.

 

The lighting will work but I would eventually switch to all 6500k or 6700k. Depending on how large the tank is, adding CO2 would be beneficial. There are many good DIY sources on the web and other forums on how to make a CO2 reactor and diffuser. One thing is you will want to use a iron enriched clay based substrate such as eco complete or flourite, and directly under where you plan to plant any swords you should bury some root tab fertilizer because amazon swords get almost all there nutrition through there roots. Some other hardy plants are Anubias and Crypts.

 

Brennan

some great advice on that post, thank you very much

I do have some of the JBL fertiliser chips in the substrate
and I am using the Seachem flourish plant food on a weekly basis

but yes, I do need to change those lamps out, because Im getting quick but stringy ( cabomba in there for a short while and it grew very tall, very rapidly but had very few leafy fronds) growth on my plants


Steve

 

oh and one last thing, your substrate doesnt look too deep you should try and get it to 3-4in deep and if you have vals or intend to add some you will need to stop using excel because it will melt them and make them transparent

 

I have added a few 1lb since the image was taken Brennan

I under estimated on what I needed at the start, have 4 inches at the back, but its sloping down to about 1.5 at front
so Ill be getting a few more bags over the holidays

Steve

 

Oh I didnt know you had it sloped, as long as you only keep foreground pants ie. glossostigma, dwarf hair grass, or baby tears then the depth is fine.

 

excellent news, because I have hesitated for aesthetic reasons
its over 4 inches at the back where the swords and vallis are located

and the mid ground plants are in pots that must be 3 inches deep

Steve

 

you could remove them from the pots if you wanted, oh and you will hate foreground plants, there roots are about 1/2 inch long and they constantly come off the substrate so when you first add it try to put a little gravel on top to keep it down. and a random side note, do not add duckweed, it multiplys quickly and is hard to get rid of.