My Second Planted Aquarium in 2010

Basic arrangement

Managed to get a nice driftwood few black stones. Other accessories were available from last year e.g, lights, reflector, fans, Co2 cylinder with solenoid valve and timer.

This time apart from laterite,reddish in a polythene packet, which I used last year also, I will use Humus and Humus Plus as manure.

Humus, Humus Plus and Laterite

Humus Literature

Humus Plus Literature

Another Soil conditioner, generally used for land farming, I will use this time for my aquarium. it is an Indian product and its name is Soilrite.

Prodac Humus powder look like this

Prodac Humus Plus look like this

This is Soilrite powder

Now it is time for the actual work. First thin layer of Laterite is laid. Just few mm.

The layer of laterite is now being covered by a layer of coarse sand

2nd layer of sand is completed

Prodac Humus, Humus Plus and Soilrite are mixed together and laid as 3rd layer.

3rd Nutrient layer is now being covered with a layer of sand (4th Layer)

Laying of substrate completed and driftwood and stones are placed.

Water is being filled up

Just after filling up the tank.

Few plants are planted. All from my Roof top Gamla! HM, Amania senegalnesis, Giant Hygrophilla, Bacopa, Star grass, Elodia, Ludwigia Repens. Co2 is attached and found working nicely.

My good old fishes from the last year  seem happy.

This is how my tank looks on the second day. all plants seem going well. Let hope for the best.

Managed to get some Java Moss, Red Rotala . They changed the look of the scape considerably.

This is how my tank looks on 4th day of planting...Long way to go. At present changing 50% water every 3rd day. 3W/G ligh 8 hours per day, Co2 3 bps during the light period. Macro dosing with KNO3 1/4th tsp daily for my 30G tank and Micro CSM - B a pinch daily.

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How my planted tank is in summer?

Kolkata is going through the severe heat spell. Without the chiller I am not able to keep the temperature below 30 degree Celsius. Room temperature is always above 34 degree Celsius, added with the humidity! Fan is not having much effect due to humidity.

Luster of the plants has gone.Looking like desert! Fishes are still there living. Though few died.

My plan is to re scape it in a new way in August 2010. Keep visiting.

But, surprisingly enough, the few tanks at roof top is doing extremely well! Plants are growing fabulously with different color flowers in almost all of the aquatic plant. I am posting here a glimpse of the roof top planted tank with a Yellow Lily. I was waiting for this Lily for long time.

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My Planted Aquarium is now 5th month old

Learned many things in this 5 months journey. Cheated by different shopkeepers. It is ok! all in the learning process. May be I have lost few thousand bucks but can help help many fellow hobbyists so that they don't get cheated.

After installing the timer and the solenoid valve for Co2; scenario of my tank drastically changed! All the fuzz algae gone! All the hair algae gone! Now I can deduce that these fuzz and hair algae were due to fluctuating Co2 level and timings. fluctuating light timings may be a cause though. any way I got rid of these nuisance algae.

I didn't have fish except few mollies in my tank. i kept them to clear up the fuzz alagae. they are not required any more. my tank is now algae free!

So, I purchased 6 Herquelin Rasboras, 6 Rummy nose Tetras and 20 Neon Tetras. All of them are nicely schooling. Neon Tetras school when in large group.



By this time my HC (Hemianthus Callitrichoides) have started spreading. HM (Hemianthus Micranthemoides or Pearl weeds)are growing nicely and they are crawling too. Even these could make a very nice fore ground plant!

If you are in search of timer and the Co2 assembly, solenoid valve etc .. you can ask me at drbndhar@gmail.com: I can ship it to you. The price is cheaper than what you expect!

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