newbie314

I've just completed my first El Natural tank last Sunday.
It's actually my sons.
It's the Marineland Explorer but without the filter.
Did add a light and has the Marineland 10W compact florescent.
Boy what a difference the light makes in viewing.

Plants:
Val. Spirlus
anacharis
Java Moss
Java Fern
and Duckweed.

A new Crowntail Betta calls this home.
He looks like he loves it there.

Patrolling his territory, jumping through the java moss and of course
staring me down when I took a picture of the tank (he's in the top right corner).

The reason for this tank setup is due to the Bettas. We love this fish, but they didn't seem to live long (the longest was ~1.5 years).
I felt it was due to the high water flow (full tank replacement in 2 min) and it wore them out.
After reading Diana's book, it maybe more to substrate poisoning.
I really wanted to have a non-flow tank, but didn't want constant water changes (weekly). I had heard a few things about using Java moss but did have any good info.

Until I read Diana's book and found the whole Ammonia uptake by the plants. And of course everything else.

I felt this book was great. I'm an engineer by trade and this was a good read. Didn't go into all the molar equations but like the theme of balance in the aquarium.

Funny thing about this tank, is it must be one of the most relaxing freshwater tanks I've seen. The green does add a real calming affect, the whole natural thing. My son has looked at this Betta more in the last 4 days then probably the whole 1.5 years of the last Betta, and I don't think it's just because the new one is a crown tail. Like my son said, it's science that we are doing at home.
Looking back, the old tank setup (a few fake plants) was the equivalent of an underwater desert.


So here is a picture of the tank.
I've added a seashell to help with GH and KH. I have noticed that the PH has gone up in the last two days from 7.4 to 8.2. But this maybe due to the new substrate from the store as they seem to leach even if they are covered with acrylic.

Any know if the GH tests (bottles, test tubes) have an expiry date. I can't seem to get a reading on my tap water or tank water and I'm pretty sure I don't have a GH of 20 .

So any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks

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sb483

Finding the betta took me a while. Seems to be posing

Bettas don't have long life-spans to begin with, but with growing plants in the tank it'll live far healthier than your earlier ones.

Congratulations on your 1st El-Natural setup. If you ever go for a larger tank, the method in Diana's book works just as well there -- I have a 55 gallon El-Natural tank with only a fluorescent bulb and a heater, no filter at all. Platies and corys are healthy and multiplying so rapidly that I don't know how many there are.

dymndgyrl

The Aquarium Pharmacueticals Gh Test is very hard to read. The color change from pale orange to pale green is very subtle. Here's what I do:
Fill two test tubes - put one or two drops in one and cap it. Use this one to compare to the other one as you start adding and counting drops. It is easier to see when it turns green if you are comparing it to an orange one (really more like yellow)

Of course - hold them up to a white background as you do the test.

Cheers

newbie314

Thanks for the advice on the GH.
I have tried using standards for some of the others, i.e. no drops, but great idea on seeing the water with 1 or 2 drops as a reference.

I tired the strips, all in one. They are terrible. The PH reading is total off.

So any warnings on the KH and PH. I've seen this climb before.
Will the Seashell be sufficient for the Ca/HCO3 nutrients.

Glad to hear about the 55gallons working as well.

I still feel it's a little crowded but he (the fish) seems to like it. The bubble nest is huge.

Any suggestions for company besides a female. I would be concerned about adding any more since it is only a 2 gallon (10.5"x8" surface area).
Any shrimp-type invertebrates I could add, that would try to eat the fish or viceversa.

Thanks

cs_gardener

What a great home for your betta! He sure looks happy in there. I enjoy the ease and beauty of my modified natural planted tanks, so I know what you mean. I was thinking of a couple of ottos as possible inhabitants since I think the betta would like at shrimp as food. Of course, there are always snails, some of them are really cool too.

mistergreen

Is it recommended to have the water movement? They sell these small powerheads that can go in such a small setup.

sandeepraghuvanshi

Nice tank mate.
BTW betta's don't live long, but being in a planted tank will definitly increase quality of his habitiat.
Betta hails from small puddles of water and do not like stong water flows, powerhead will stress them out.

mistergreen

Oh, I just saw the picture...
How do you do water change on this small setup? And how often?
I'm thinking of setting up my 2G fishbowl.
thanks,

newbie314

I used to use a regular aquarium syphon. Have to do the dip and down.
Since this is my first Walstad, I plan not to do one until 6months.
Even I wonder what the advatages are.

newbie314

So here is the status of week 1:
PH is 8.4 - yeah a little high. Why? Maybe for a few reasons
1) leaching of the new gravel. I've seen that before.
2) The plants are going crazy. Low PH because no C02 what so ever.
3) The sea shell I have in there (don't think so). (See picture left side)

The Anarchis is really growing.
Ariel roots. If you look at the picture you'll see a stem creeping from center to the right on the surface. Well it's not called a waterweed for nothing.

The KH is 4.
The NH3 is 0. I've known from personal experience the I would register something after 1 week in an unplanted aquarium with no filter. So the plants are really working.
GH -still can't get a reading. Even tried the reference tube. I believe the solution is too old (4 years). A big squirt and no change in color expect for more orange. If there's green I can't see it.

Anyway enjoy. NB - the first picture in the above post was day 3. So the picture below is day 7 or 4 days later.
Boy I hope those tools come in soon

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