Introduction
This is my first real attempt in the aquarium hobby outside of what my family had for a few months as a child. I love technically complex and precise things and I feel that will bleed through with this project.
Background
This aquarium was a rush upgrade from a free 10 gallon we received. The plan is for this aquarium to be an attractive display tank with a community environment. There will be cues from nature in the design.
Filtration
I am using a HOB AquaClear with mechanical filtration covering the intake as well as being the base for the chamber, followed by polyfill for water polishing. I use a bag of Purigen for chemical filtration and Matrix for the bio-media.
Lighting
I am going for medium lighting with the Finnex planted+24/7. I will play around with it if I find adverse reactions on the 24/7 mode.
This is a planted community tank. There are currently and abundance of live-bearing fish in the form of Endlers and Mollys. The False Juli Corries are probably the most fun to watch but when the light hits the right shade my Flame Dwarf Gourami just glows.
I had a CPO who unfortunately passed, Scary Terry, I plan to replace him once I am confident the environment is completely secure for him.
I had a CPO who unfortunately passed, Scary Terry, I plan to replace him once I am confident the environment is completely secure for him.
15 Fish
4 Invertebrate
8 Plant
Equipment
Additive
Aeration
12" bubble bar
Air Pump
Aquarium
20 Gallon Long
Glass Aquarium Lid
Cleaning
14" Glass Scrubber
5"x2" Net
Food
New life Spectrum Community
Seachem Nutridiet Tropical Flakes
Filter
Lighting
Egyptian Pot
Finnex Planted+ 24/7
Stand
Aquarium Stand
Substrate
Pebbles
White Sand
Thermometer
Other
1"x1" Telescope Net
Buddha Bust
Ceramic Pot
Driftwood
Greek Pillars
Dosing See more
Primafix 10 ml · Melafix 10 ml · Flourish Excel 2 ml · Flourish Excel 2 ml · Melafix 10 ml · Primafix 10 ml · Primafix 10 ml · Plantex CSM+B 0.2 g · K2SO4 0.4 g · KN03 0.5 g · KH2PO4 0.1 g · Flourish Excel 2 ml · Melafix 10 ml · Flourish Excel 2 ml · KH2PO4 0.1 g · KN03 0.5 g · K2SO4 0.4 g · Flourish Excel 2 ml · Plantex CSM+B 0.2 g · Flourish Excel 2 ml · K2SO4 0.4 g · KN03 0.5 g · KH2PO4 0.1 g · Flourish Excel 2 ml · Flourish Iron 1.8 ml · Flourish 1.8 ml · Flourish Excel 8 ml · Flourish Excel 2 ml · Flourish Tabs 12 tabs · Flourish Excel 2 ml · Flourish Iron 1.8 ml · Flourish 1.8 ml · Flourish Excel 10 ml
I am using a cutback version of the E.I. dosing concept with daily doses of Excel. In the future I plan to adopt to either DIY Co2 or pressurized.
Day 1 50% Water Change and:-
Add .470 g
Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)
Add 0.060 g
Monopotassium Phosphate (KH2PO4)
Add .400 g
Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4)
Day 2
Add 0.193 g
Plantex CSM + B
Day 3
Add .470 g
Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)
Add 0.170 g
Monopotassium Phosphate (KH2PO4)
Add 0.400 g
Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4)
Day 4
Add 0.193 g
Plantex CSM + B
Day 5
Add 1.4 g
Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)
Add 0.470 g
Monopotassium Phosphate (KH2PO4)
Add 0.400 g
Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4)
Day 6 Rest
Day 7 Rest
Day 1 50% Water Change and:-
Add .470 g
Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)
Add 0.060 g
Monopotassium Phosphate (KH2PO4)
Add .400 g
Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4)
Day 2
Add 0.193 g
Plantex CSM + B
Day 3
Add .470 g
Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)
Add 0.170 g
Monopotassium Phosphate (KH2PO4)
Add 0.400 g
Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4)
Day 4
Add 0.193 g
Plantex CSM + B
Day 5
Add 1.4 g
Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)
Add 0.470 g
Monopotassium Phosphate (KH2PO4)
Add 0.400 g
Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4)
Day 6 Rest
Day 7 Rest
Feeding See more
Fed Flakes 0.2 tsp · Fed Algae Tab 0.5 tab · Fed New Life Spectrum 15 tabs · Fed Algae Tab 0.5 tab · Fed Flakes 0.2 tsp · Fed New Life Spectrum 15 tabs · Fed Flakes 0.2 tsp · Fed Algae Tab 0.5 tab · Fed New Life Spectrum 20 tabs · Fed New Life Spectrum 20 tabs · Fed Algae Tab 0.5 tab · Fed Flakes 0.2 tsp · Fed Flakes 0.2 ml · Fed Algae Tab 0.5 tab · Fed New Life Spectrum 15 tabs · Fed Frozen Bloodworms 2 tsp · Fed New Life Spectrum 15 tabs · Fed Algae Tab 0.5 tab · Fed Flakes 0.2 ml · Fed Flakes 0.2 ml · Fed Algae Tab 0.5 tab · Fed New Life Spectrum 15 tabs · Fed Flakes 0.2 ml · Fed Algae Tab 0.5 tab · Fed New Life Spectrum 15 tabs
I typically feed mostly New Life Spectrum pellets, while feeding quality flakes and a couple pieces of algae wafer.
I will spice things up about once a week and feed frozen blood worms.
I will spice things up about once a week and feed frozen blood worms.
Maintenance
I am currently doing 30-50% water changes once or twice a week, vacuuming the pebbles as I can and scrubbing the walls as often as possible.
On average you perform a 29.4% water change every 3 days.
0% total water change in 2024-12-01T03:54:45.025540Z[GMT].
Inspiration & Goals
The plan is to progressively make this tank a high-tech planted aquarium using the E.I. dosing concept. Also as a plan with this tank I intend to at times overkill in equipment continuously making it more technically complex. This may be furthered with use of UV, powered Co2 diffuser, potentially setting up a refugium or sump with as much being done inline as possible.
Disasters & Regrets
Unfortunately due to circumstances I had to do a complete fish-in cycle with a fully stocked aquarium. This led to many water changes sometimes as frequently as 3 times a day to keep the levels bearable. Unfortunately I still lost 2 fish, 1 being damaged on the intake filter beyond repair and the other sadly was my favorite dwarf crawfish that couldn't stand the conditions.