[MargieS]

Hello. I just set up my first Walstad type tank on Wednesday evening. I have an inch or so of dirt (Miracle Gro Nature's Choice Raised Bed Topsoil) capped by an inch or so of 2-4 mm gravel. I planted about 25 plants. It is a 29 gallon tank. My readings yesterday and today are zero ammonia and zero nitrites but marginally high nitrates (25). However, I live on a farm in farming country, and our well water right out of the tap has nitrates. My tank faces a western window but doesn't get direct sun from it. I've turned off my tank lights in the afternoons for several hours. Today I was gone all day and my lights didn't get turned on til.late afternoon. Yesterday my water had a faint green tinge. And today it is more noticeable. I have duckweed and hornwort for floating plants, though the hornwort has sunk to mid-tank. Do you have advice? Is

there anything I should do about the somewhat green water? I haven't added fish yet. Thank you for your thoughts!

 

[Gooblikon]

Hello. I just set up my first Walstad type tank on Wednesday evening. I have an inch or so of dirt (Miracle Gro Nature's Choice Raised Bed Topsoil) capped by an inch or so of 2-4 mm gravel. I planted about 25 plants. It is a 29 gallon tank. My readings yesterday and today are zero ammonia and zero nitrites but marginally high nitrates (25). However, I live on a farm in farming country, and our well water right out of the tap has nitrates. My tank faces a western window but doesn't get direct sun from it. I've turned off my tank lights in the afternoons for several hours. Today I was gone all day and my lights didn't get turned on til.late afternoon. Yesterday my water had a faint green tinge. And today it is more noticeable. I have duckweed and hornwort for floating plants, though the hornwort has sunk to mid-tank. Do you have advice? Is View attachment 76662
there anything I should do about the somewhat green water? I haven't added fish yet. Thank you for your thoughts!

Can always move it away from the window or cover it when the lights are out to reduce light time and reduce algae growth. The substrate could be leeching through the gravel introducing a lot of CO2 for the algae to grow even more. If the water parameters are good you could always introduce an invertebrate or two to clean up the algae, but there are most likely bladder snails all over those aquatic plants that will pop out in a few more days!

 

[johnwesley0]

My tank also faces west and it doesn't seem to make a difference whether the sunlight is direct or not. All the algae needs is to be sunlight adjacent for several hours a day. I agree that bladder snails are your best friends at this stage in your setup.

 

[maico996]

Welcome to the forum! My advice for new tanks is always the same. Plant more rooted plants. You have a lot of real estate that has nothing planted in it. Hardscape sitting on top of the substrate will likely result in anaerobic soil conditions underneath so you'll need to diligently poke the substrate in those areas, as well as the rest of the tank. You can use a chopstick or an unwound wire coat hanger.
Have you read EPA?

 

[MargieS]

Hi! Thank you for your welcome and for your thoughts! Yes I have read EPA once through quickly, then re-read the final practical parts several times. Now I am reading through the beginning part more carefully. My hardscape is extremely light. I purposefully did not get heavy pieces to avoid anaerobic zones. The bigger piece actually floats at times. It is hollowed out. But I will poke around nonetheless! I have one more floating plant and 2 more "regular" plants on the way and will try to order more when budget allows. Any thoughts on the green water? Thank again for your time and for sharing your wisdom. I am so grateful to have found this forum--which I did by Googling for more information on Walstad tanks!

 

[maico996]

Regarding the green water, you can do water changes to get rid of it. How much duckweed do you have on the surface? If you have a LOT of it, the green tint might be created by the light passing through it. If you don't have a lot of it...you will soon. 😂
Regarding plants on a budget, you can always check your local internet "want ads" to see if anyone is giving away free plants.
Since you've just set up your tank, as the organics in your soil start to decompose it will release a lot of CO2. Since you have relatively few plants that leaves a lot left over for algae so you may be fighting this until your plants start growing and/or you add more plants.

 

[dwalstad]

Hello. I just set up my first Walstad type tank on Wednesday evening. I have an inch or so of dirt (Miracle Gro Nature's Choice Raised Bed Topsoil) capped by an inch or so of 2-4 mm gravel. I planted about 25 plants. It is a 29 gallon tank. My readings yesterday and today are zero ammonia and zero nitrites but marginally high nitrates (25). However, I live on a farm in farming country, and our well water right out of the tap has nitrates. My tank faces a western window but doesn't get direct sun from it. I've turned off my tank lights in the afternoons for several hours. Today I was gone all day and my lights didn't get turned on til late afternoon. Yesterday my water had a faint green tinge. And today it is more noticeable. I have duckweed and hornwort for floating plants, though the hornwort has sunk to mid-tank. Do you have advice? Is there anything I should do about the somewhat green water? I haven't added fish yet. Thank you for your thoughts!

Nice start!

I would change as much water as you can every few days first couple weeks. To make water changes easier, you could keep the tank just half-filled temporarily. This would also give your bottom plants more light. All that empty space at top is just growing room for micro-algae.

Immediately after setup, the soil is going to leach nutrients and this soil-release apparently started right away in your tank. The problem with green water and plants just getting started is that the microalgae drives the pH up such that new plants getting started don't get the CO2 and light they need. To track algal growth I would measure pH. If it gets high in the afternoon from algal photosynthesis, then you need to change water. Hope this makes sense!

 

[Javadan3]

With regards to getting more plants, a local tropical fish club can be an excellent source of healthy plants at the best prices. This time of year some clubs in PA are having their yearly auctions or swaps. Meet some nice people, too.

 

[dwalstad]

With regards to getting more plants, a local tropical fish club can be an excellent source of healthy plants at the best prices. This time of year some clubs in PA are having their yearly auctions or swaps. Meet some nice people, too.

Agree! Raleigh Aquarium Society is having a huge workshop auction this Sunday March 26. If the past is any predictor of the future, there will be 100s of plants available.
Good clubs are where the action is these days!