Intended Planted Tank Set-up

[delhezi]

I'm thinking of achieving a planted tank set-up with the following characteristics (if you will)

Tank dimensions: 2x1x1 foot in terms of LxWxH
Livestock: 1 male Betta Splendens, 2 pairs of Colisa Lalia and a number of cardinals; if the bioload permits.
Light: 2ft Up-Aqua Z series

Plants: Thinking mainly of a mixed carpet of echidonorus tenellus and elatine triandra. Probably will need some tall plants to create visual barriers between the anabantoids; any suggestions?

Substrate:

This is where the problem starts. I currently have ANS nature sand and I recognise the need for some sort of base fertilisation.
Thought about ADA aquasoil but it is considerably impractical for me to conduct a month cycling. Given what I have mentioned, what is the best route of fertilisation I can take?

Thanks!

[Phillipians]

It will be tough managing tenellus and APP on the same foreground. Both will try to intrude onto each others turf. I would go with just one of them.

[thebaldingaquarist]

agree with phillipians, if you only have 1 combined foreground area, probably easier to go with one of the 2 foreground plants you had in mind.

To shorten cycling time, i would recommend:
to make use of existing bacteria colonies from existing filters, or get some from a hobbyist near you.
Another alternative, would be to get the off the shelf bacteria products. these products contain bacteria in dormant form that will activate when wet. I prefer to make use of existing bacteria mulm.
split the bacteria into 2 portions. one portion in the filter, one portion either mixed into the aquasoil or under it.
after the second day of using the aquasoil, do a major water change to remove the ammonia leeched into the water by the soil. repeat on the 5th day and the 7th.
It will shorten the cycling time, though i am not sure by how much. this method i have used for my own 2 ft tank and i dump my red cherry shrimp/otto/yamatos in on the 3rd day. no major casualties.

[delhezi]

Already have an established filter which I can switch over. Are there any qualms as to the influence of pH on ammonia toxicity in ADA aqua soil?
I think I will be picking tennellus, quite a fan of the grassy look. Any suggestions for plants to cover the mid-upper water column areas?

[Dodofish]

Interesting brought up. You can refer to below article http://www2.ca.uky.edu/wkrec/pH-Ammonia.htm

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