After years of research, jealousy and envious.

[rogerboi]

Hi all . At last i am able to start my 4 x 1.5 x 1.5 planted tank because i am very free. (waiting for enlistment)
It's gravel is black quartz with no base fertilisation. Inhabitiants are 50 neon tetra , 3 rummy red nose, 1 red eye, and 8 unidentified fish purchase by my bro (but using my $$).
The tank is in it's 6th day. What i am puzzle is is it ok for me to place the inlet of the filter like this ( picture 1)
2nd picture : overview of the tank
3rd picture : Left side of the tank
4th: External reactor and bubble counter

I've yet to add in the rabbit waste i've suggested to you guys. But the some of the plants are starting to bubble. Is that a normal sign?

Let me guys know if there's any more nice plants i can add into my tank .. thanks

[the_r0ck]

Interesting basic startup for the tank. What are the specs?

You don't want any hardscape? It would seem nice with some branchy bogwood.

[rogerboi]

what are specs bro ? any example of it ?

[Jervis]

Nice 4ft... those stem plants are temporarily there for cycling?

[rogerboi]

Nope .. those plants i intend to put them there. awaiting for them to grow then will update again..

[torque6]

Since we are at the topic of cycling, why dump 70 odd fishes into a tank thats only been cycling for 6 days ? Though im hesitant the title been deemed as years of research... ?

[the_r0ck]

what are specs bro ? any example of it ?

Oh, like how much lights, what are your fert regimes if any.

[rogerboi]

oh .. lights is 3 tube of 30 watts... CO2 - 2bps, 1 cooling fan . temperature of 27 in the night and 28 in the day
torque 6 .. the tank have been running for 2 months already with the gravel only .. and i first introduce 12 red eye. After that .. The 6th day started when i first introduce the first plant in.

[torque6]

Not too bad then, keep us posted.

[Goondoo]

oh .. lights is 3 tube of 30 watts... CO2 - 2bps, 1 cooling fan . temperature of 27 in the night and 28 in the day
torque 6 .. the tank have been running for 2 months already with the gravel only .. and i first introduce 12 red eye. After that .. The 6th day started when i first introduce the first plant in.

No pun intended, but after years of reading, you should know that gravel alone doesn't start the cycling process (not sure about "treated" gravels such as ADA, GEX etc).

Plants help cycling process not only absorbing the excess nutrients, the rotten leaves and roots also provide enough "food" to maintain a steady "food" flow for the BBs. My suggestion is to add plants immediately when possible if you are starting another tank in the future. From there, the cycling process starts officially.

[heeroyu16]

And also black quartz as a base substrate does not give the necessary nutrients for plants.
You will need to add base fertilizers in the end.

[torque6]

GD,
I was coming to that since i observed he did a fishless+plantless cycle.... even after years of reading

Jonathan,
Abit too late for adding base ferts to his tanks.

[hebi]

nice beginning, but i doubt the stem plants will live for long on just black quartz.

[jacian]

Jonathan,
Abit too late for adding base ferts to his tanks.

Think he going to insert rabbit waste and acts as the base ferts.

[XnSdVd]

Is the rabbit poop going to hold together long enough to be pushed into the substrate? And how on earth did you come up with that idea? Most interesting....

[rogerboi]

hmm .. i read it from a book abt using rabbit waste. The rabbit waste will be dried first and itself is already a pellet. so it will be able to be stuff in. Thats where i got the idea from =). Yes, i do agree that with the black quartz alone is insufficient of nutirnets and may not be the best substrate. But you always do what u think it's nice.
Definitely will learn alot from u guys here! Thanks. Carry on feel free to comment guys. It's only the best way to learn =)

[David Moses Heng]

good effort. I am in no position to comment as i am no expert myself.

[torque6]

well, we have never got any insights on using rabbit's waste as a fertiliser. I will be keeping tabs on this thread to see if it works in the long run.

[jacian]

hmm .. i read it from a book abt using rabbit waste. The rabbit waste will be dried first and itself is already a pellet. so it will be able to be stuff in. Thats where i got the idea from =). Yes, i do agree that with the black quartz alone is insufficient of nutirnets and may not be the best substrate. But you always do what u think it's nice.
Definitely will learn alot from u guys here! Thanks. Carry on feel free to comment guys. It's only the best way to learn =)

You can use a base fert and still achieve the look of the black quartz alone look. No doubt rabbit waste can be a good form of fertilizer but the question is will it cause any ammonia spike in the water column. To prevent that, try insert it deeper into the gravel and also prevent disturbing the substrate in the future.

[heeroyu16]

Well there is always fertilizers tablets(The base ferts I meant) like Wondergro root +, Oceanfree's Monster root or even Dennerle's brand etc.
Like Jacian states, rabbit waste may cause a rise in ammonia. maybe you can place it before putting and faunas in and monitor the tank perimeters else it would be a waste of all your hard work.