Falstaf

thanks Sir and Tsunami,

Yes my gravel is very big it's all white marvel chips and as the tank was originally for fish only i considered it to be a good option for substrate (easy to clean and vacuum), but i'm now considering changing the substrate, today i went to a "professional" aquarium store and looked at some planted exhibition tanks, and ask questions like crazy, so i did looked to some new substrate, one that looks like clay pellets, i just forgot the brand!!, well maybe i can use it in most of the tank and still keep the white marble just a decoration (even if all my friends say it looks like a 70's ashtray! ).

I just got some Java moss it was SO EXPENSIVE! but well i planted half in the tank with fishing line as you said and the rest of it i put in the sun light and in a jar filled with water and plant food for it to grow up fast. i swear that if i can grow it i would make a good buck out of it!!

Thanks again for all your advice i really truly appreciate it, also the effort on translating, you guys are the best!!

Steve Pituch

I'm not sure, since its been a long time, but isn't marble metamorphic limestone? Wouldn't it still leach out calcium and increase hardness? I would definitely replace it.

Steve

Falstaf

Hi again,

I just got a Tetratest Laborett, and did all the test this are the results:

PH 8.0
NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia) 0.25 mg/l
NO2-(Nitrite) 0.3 mg/l
GH 5
KH 4
CO2 1.3

For what i've read i have to do a water change for the ammonia (which i do every 3 days, today is the day i'm supossed to do it), but other than that, it all seems fine, at least acording to the leaflet.

What is off the chart is the CO2, which i guess it's good for the plants?

Art_Giacosa

Folks,

Please note that you have a spell check button on the left when you are writing a post. Please feel free to use it, it works great.

Falstaf,

It seems as if your tank has not cycled yet. You don't want to see ammonia or nitrite. What filter are you using?

Falstaf

Hi Art!

I swear i use it every time, and also do a spell check on my entourage before posting, sorry about the misspelled words.

As for filtering I have a 150 l/h canister filter with mesh and carbon. I also have a submerged 150 power head with 4 chambers attached (2 mesh, 1 carbon, 1 Zeolite)

Sir_BlackhOle

I would lose the carbon filters. They are not good to use in planted tanks because they can supposedly affect plant nutrients in the water.

Falstaf

Thanks Sir,

I'm trying to find a balance through it all, my overstocked tank and the plants, so far i'm gonna do this based an all the kind people who have answered this post.

1. I'm going to change the gravel for a special substrate, i was also thinking unscented cat litter (clay one) since is inexpensive and easy to find, i've been checking stores and they don't carry the special substrate, and the one that does sells it for $50US the 5Kg. bag.

2. This weekend my lamp is going back to the shop and it will have up to 3 40W tubes, that should take care of the lighting problem for the moment.

3. I'm getting a BioWheel filter so i can get rid of the carbon.

4. I'm going to hunt for low light plants! i would prefer to start with those and see how it goes (i tend to jump the beginnings, that's how the tank got overstocked).

5. I'll continue pestering you guys for answers in case something starts to go wrong! (sorry )

Any comments or suggestions?

Sir_BlackhOle

I would go with laterite instead of cat litter. I would go with laterite. You can get a box from bigalsonline.com for less than 15 dollars. You mix laterite and plain gravel to form a one inch layer, then cap that off with about two inches of regular gravel. Its cheap and it works.

Falstaf

I just checked, they don't ship to Mexico and if they do, the cost of the shipment will be more than the price of the product.

Sir_BlackhOle

Try looking around on the web...there has got to be a place that will ship to mexico.....