Velvetdragon

This is my first planted tank ever. I am ordering Diana Walstad's book in at the local book store, but I don't have it yet. So I hope I'm doing this right!

Here's my Natural Planted Tank (NPT/Walstad/el natural) diary!

I ordered my plants from AquariumPlants.Com.

My plants, ready for planting!


Here's the dirt layer, with Echinodorus tennelus along the front, and Echinodorus parviflorus v. "Tropica" in the back. I used Black Gold Coco Blend potting soil, as recommended by a user on this board. I left it spread out to let ammonia gas off for a few days prior to planting.


Here's the driftwood, which I think a betta will have a blast swimming under, to which I have tied three Microsorium pteropus v. "Windelov" and Vesicularia dubyana. I ordered two Java ferns, but they sent me three... the more the merrier!


All planted, added gravel, and filled with water! No cloudiness while filling it. I've added an Anubias nana in the back, and dropped a few moss balls in.


Here it is on my desk, with added floating Ceratophyllum demersum. The only thing I don't like is the bulb I chose is so... pink. It gives the tank a "warm" glow, but in terms of lighting I much prefer white or blue light. It feels more accurate to me than red or yellow light. My tank looks like sunset. XD


I have left-over hornwort and java fern. I'm going to keep it in a plastic storage tub. Since it won't have the benefit of soil or tasty fish poo, should I fertilize it occassionally? Many people have suggested giving it a drink of water from water changes on my aquarium, but my understanding is that on the natural planted tank, water changes can be infrequent, and I don't have any other tanks.

And here's my new betta!