Hi everyone!
I am Francesco and I am going to start a pico cube planted tank(PICO SET Aquarium Kit with LED Lighting 1.3W-6.500k and Power Filter, 1,3 Gallon).
I have read Diana Walstad's book and I find it very interesting.
I still have a few questions tho:
1. I see that having rocks in this kind of tank is not a good idea, but I would really like to have a few. Do you think that putting 2 rocks directly on the bottom, before putting the organic mix soil and gravel would still be bad? In this way, the rocks wouldn't be putting pressure on the soil. Right?
2. I would like to have a thicker layer of soil at the back of the tank but this would conflict with the "1inch potting mix+1inch gravel" rule. Is there a way to have a thicker layer at the back and still not risking to damage the soil in the medium/long run?
3. I was considering to dry start the tank. Does the nitrogen cycle still start in a dry start? Are there any complications?
4. I live in Manhattan, where the water should be soft. I am not sure whether I should put oyster shells mixed with the potting mix or not. My final goal is to have Hemianthus callitrichoides, duckweed and some other plant that I am still not sure about + some crystal red shrimp.
Would the oyster shell be a bad idea considering that I would like to have crystal red shrimps?
5. Would using ADA Aquasoil Amazonia be a bad idea?(on top of the potting mix)
6. Would mineralizing the soil be still helpful if i dry start the tank or it would be no as important?
I might be missing some information that you need, so please ask me
If you have suggestions and advice I would be happy to hear.
Thank you!:clap2:
I am Francesco and I am going to start a pico cube planted tank(PICO SET Aquarium Kit with LED Lighting 1.3W-6.500k and Power Filter, 1,3 Gallon).
I have read Diana Walstad's book and I find it very interesting.
I still have a few questions tho:
1. I see that having rocks in this kind of tank is not a good idea, but I would really like to have a few. Do you think that putting 2 rocks directly on the bottom, before putting the organic mix soil and gravel would still be bad? In this way, the rocks wouldn't be putting pressure on the soil. Right?
2. I would like to have a thicker layer of soil at the back of the tank but this would conflict with the "1inch potting mix+1inch gravel" rule. Is there a way to have a thicker layer at the back and still not risking to damage the soil in the medium/long run?
3. I was considering to dry start the tank. Does the nitrogen cycle still start in a dry start? Are there any complications?
4. I live in Manhattan, where the water should be soft. I am not sure whether I should put oyster shells mixed with the potting mix or not. My final goal is to have Hemianthus callitrichoides, duckweed and some other plant that I am still not sure about + some crystal red shrimp.
Would the oyster shell be a bad idea considering that I would like to have crystal red shrimps?
5. Would using ADA Aquasoil Amazonia be a bad idea?(on top of the potting mix)
6. Would mineralizing the soil be still helpful if i dry start the tank or it would be no as important?
I might be missing some information that you need, so please ask me
If you have suggestions and advice I would be happy to hear.
Thank you!:clap2: