Hey everyone,
So as I mentioned in my Fluval Flora journal, I purchased an ADA 60P tank recently.
I'm about to move to a slightly larger apartment so I'm using that as an excuse, to get a second aquarium :bigsmile:
It's probably going to be 2 weeks before I can even set up the tank but I would be interested in getting some feedback.
I want the tank to be pretty low maintenance (no Co2, minimal water column ferts, etc.) so it will be a low tech planted tank.
However, I still really really want some sort of carpet plants...
( I ended up not doing the hybrid start...) So I'm going to try a hybrid dry start method that I've seen some people use (there's a post on the barrreport). My understanding is that you use the dry start method to let your plants get rooted and spread out a little. Then once you flood the tank, you initially dose Excel or Co2, and then slowly reduce the amount of Co2 you add to the tank. It could all go very wrong, but I'd like to give it a try.
Here's my equipment list so far
Tank: ADA 60P with black background
Filter: Aquaclear 50
Heater: Aqueon Pro 100W
Light: Current Satellite Led +
Light Controller: DIY Arduino IR controller
Stand: Reinforced Ikea Besta with door & DIY riser box
Garden Mat: Camping sleeping pad from MEC
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil Amazonia + Pool Filter Sand
Hardscape: Ohko Stone (Dragon Stone) + Manzanita Branches
Proposed Flora:
- Staurogyne Repens
- Marsilea
- Anubias Nana
- Anubias Nana Petite
- Needle Leaf Java Fern
- Rotala Colorata
- Ludwigia Brevipes
- Weeping Moss
Proposed Fauna:
- Amano shrimp x3
- Harlequin Rasboras x6
- Corydoras x6 OR Dwarf Corydoras (Habrosus) x 8
- Maybe a few Otos?
Here's the mock up of my hardscape.
And here's my current planting layout.
Question 1: Any thoughts on this layout? Am I setting myself up for failure?
I'm planning on embedding some sort of plastic divider between the sand and the aquasoil.
Question 2: Even with a permanent divider, am I setting myself up for a lot of pain by having separate aquasoil and sand regions?
Most Recent FTS (19/10/2014)
So as I mentioned in my Fluval Flora journal, I purchased an ADA 60P tank recently.
I'm about to move to a slightly larger apartment so I'm using that as an excuse, to get a second aquarium :bigsmile:

It's probably going to be 2 weeks before I can even set up the tank but I would be interested in getting some feedback.
I want the tank to be pretty low maintenance (no Co2, minimal water column ferts, etc.) so it will be a low tech planted tank.
However, I still really really want some sort of carpet plants...
( I ended up not doing the hybrid start...) So I'm going to try a hybrid dry start method that I've seen some people use (there's a post on the barrreport). My understanding is that you use the dry start method to let your plants get rooted and spread out a little. Then once you flood the tank, you initially dose Excel or Co2, and then slowly reduce the amount of Co2 you add to the tank. It could all go very wrong, but I'd like to give it a try.
Here's my equipment list so far
Tank: ADA 60P with black background
Filter: Aquaclear 50
Heater: Aqueon Pro 100W
Light: Current Satellite Led +
Light Controller: DIY Arduino IR controller
Stand: Reinforced Ikea Besta with door & DIY riser box
Garden Mat: Camping sleeping pad from MEC
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil Amazonia + Pool Filter Sand
Hardscape: Ohko Stone (Dragon Stone) + Manzanita Branches
Proposed Flora:
- Staurogyne Repens
- Marsilea
- Anubias Nana
- Anubias Nana Petite
- Needle Leaf Java Fern
- Rotala Colorata
- Ludwigia Brevipes
- Weeping Moss
Proposed Fauna:
- Amano shrimp x3
- Harlequin Rasboras x6
- Corydoras x6 OR Dwarf Corydoras (Habrosus) x 8
- Maybe a few Otos?
Here's the mock up of my hardscape.

And here's my current planting layout.
Question 1: Any thoughts on this layout? Am I setting myself up for failure?

I'm planning on embedding some sort of plastic divider between the sand and the aquasoil.
Question 2: Even with a permanent divider, am I setting myself up for a lot of pain by having separate aquasoil and sand regions?
Most Recent FTS (19/10/2014)
