My first planted project ( Advise needed )

**fadedloves** · 2nd Aug 2012, 23:06

Hi guys ,

Just like to share my first planted tank project. Still not yet completed with the scaping , I just cycle the tank first.

Tank : 60 X 28 X 31cm
Substrate : ADA II
Light : T5 24W x 2 = 8 -10 hours a day or obtain around 3-5 WPG
Cooling : Aquarium Fan
Filteration system : EHEIM 2213/ Classic 250
Fauna : Fire Red Sakura
Flora : Dwarf hairgrass, ( Adding US Fissiden later )
CO2: No CO2
Fert : I am not sure what fert to get so I got Seachem Nitrogen Flourish, please advice me whether is it okay if i use this fert with my Shrimps ?

Can any bro advise me whether Seachem Nitrogen Flourish is recommended with Shrimps ?

Thank you.

**Peanut8787** · 2nd Aug 2012, 23:41

There's no hard scape? A mountain of hairgrass?

**Bettacloud** · 3rd Aug 2012, 01:36

Hi there, you need seachem liquid carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphoruous + CO2, with that lighting duration for your plant to grow well. NPK is the main nutrients for plants and then you can add trace element to supplement. I do not have problem with ferts and shrimps as long as no copper. Trace element contain mild amount of copper which my yamato and glass shrimp survived.

As for your scape, you may consider having a sand bed or rocks to have that molehill effect. Otherwise it will be a flat land in time to come. You have the equipments and 8-10 hrs without CO2 is such a waste. Grab 2nd hand CO2 tank from other forumers!

**Shadow** · 3rd Aug 2012, 09:08

Since you are using ADA II, I assume Amazonia II, you don't need to dose nitrogen for couple of months. ADA Amozonia soil rich of N, you can still dose, it will prolong the soil. What you need is to dose K (potassium) which is ADA soil lack of.

**fadedloves** · 8th Aug 2012, 12:31

Originally Posted by Peanut8787

There's no hard scape? A mountain of hairgrass?

Hi bro, I will be adding more plants and scape into my tank once i found the bogwood shapre I am looking for. Scaping not yet completed .

**fadedloves** · 8th Aug 2012, 12:35

Originally Posted by Bettacloud

Hi there, you need seachem liquid carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphoruous + CO2, with that lighting duration for your plant to grow well. NPK is the main nutrients for plants and then you can add trace element to supplement. I do not have problem with ferts and shrimps as long as no copper. Trace element contain mild amount of copper which my yamato and glass shrimp survived.

As for your scape, you may consider having a sand bed or rocks to have that molehill effect. Otherwise it will be a flat land in time to come. You have the equipments and 8-10 hrs without CO2 is such a waste. Grab 2nd hand CO2 tank from other forumers!

Currently I am dosing SEACHEM EXCEL, POTASSIUM, NITROGEN, IRON for my fert regime. I am not using SEACHEM TRACE as there are traces of copper inside.

As for my scape, it is not yet completed , will be adding more plants and scape once i found the bogwood shape I am looking for.

**fadedloves** · 8th Aug 2012, 12:36

Originally Posted by Shadow

Since you are using ADA II, I assume Amazonia II, you don't need to dose nitrogen for couple of months. ADA Amozonia soil rich of N, you can still dose, it will prolong the soil. What you need is to dose K (potassium) which is ADA soil lack of.

Thanks bro for the advise, currently I dosing SEACHEM EXCEL, POTASSIUM, NITROGEN, IRON for my fert regime.

**encruste8** · 2nd Sep 2012, 22:14

any new pictures to show your progress?

**Thirteen** · 2nd Sep 2012, 23:38

your tank not much flora and just established, i'll suggest dosing with care otherwise will trigger algae growth.

**elwaynetan** · 3rd Sep 2012, 00:39

Originally Posted by Bettacloud

Hi there, you need seachem liquid carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphoruous + CO2, with that lighting duration for your plant to grow well. NPK is the main nutrients for plants and then you can add trace element to supplement. I do not have problem with ferts and shrimps as long as no copper. Trace element contain mild amount of copper which my yamato and glass shrimp survived.

As for your scape, you may consider having a sand bed or rocks to have that molehill effect. Otherwise it will be a flat land in time to come. You have the equipments and 8-10 hrs without CO2 is such a waste. Grab 2nd hand CO2 tank from other forumers!

Or you can DIY one! it's easy!

**tongyang** · 9th Sep 2012, 00:43

not sure if u've added more plants recently, but if u don't have epiphytes like ferns or moss, u probably don't need liquid ferts, maybe trace and potassium. as for the layout, would suggest that you do a straight leveling of the front part of the soil. I did have the same front slope like yours, but after hearing Amano's advice that sloping can be done at the back but the front has to be straight, I corrected mine and it does look better. m envious and happy for u that u started with a 60cm tank.