My green aquarium

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Ballyhoo

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Jun 27, 2010
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I am starting another tank, after a year of not having a tank. I had originally been planning a reef tank, but due to weight and size requirements I have decided to stick to a 20 long. My goal is having played with a successful co2 system and regular fertilizing. I'm thinking I'll house dwarf puffers, but that is yet to be set in stone.

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Slappy*McFish

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Feb 18, 2002
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Sounds fun. I'm sure you'll find it just as challenging and rewarding as a reef tank.
 

Ballyhoo

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Jun 27, 2010
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Sounds fun. I'm sure you'll find it just as challenging and rewarding as a reef tank.
Thanks slappy!



I purchased some bare essentials over the weekend: the tank a 20 long; filter, I can't remember the brand offhand but its an internal filter with a spray bar rated for 40gal; the substrate, 24lbs of CaribSea plant substrate; the light, a 24" 2 bulb T5 fixture. It came with a 16k bulb and a colormax bulb. Yes I realize this is too short for the tank. It was intentional. I built up the sides that the light doesn't directly cover to raise the plants higher. I also intend to plant the raised sides with Hygrophila Angustifolia or something similar. My goal is to have it grow up and then bend over towards the light.

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Ballyhoo

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This is the view of my tann

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uploadfromtaptalk1381775677769.jpg
 

Glabe

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May 10, 2011
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It'll be nice to wake up to fish excitedly trying to swim at you in the morning. :thm:
 

Ballyhoo

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Jun 27, 2010
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Well my first shirt said no to a co2 system....something about a container of compressed gas in a dorm being a bad Idea :nilly:

Ill have to settle with lower light plants. Suppose ill splurge on a stellar piece of manzanita instead.

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prez2306

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Jun 25, 2010
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Hmmm...would brewing an alcohol byproduct be possible? ;)

Personally not a huge fan of DIY but it's doable on a 20 long.
I agree with this. a 20L would (from what I've seen) be okay with just a single 2 liter bottle for DIY. I just recently switched everything in my 20L to a 46 bowfront, and can say that it is a fun tank to work with. Just do research on plants, as it is a shallow tank, and some plants will quickly outgrow the height. I had some spiralis purchased at about 4" and it was quickly growing along the top of the water (no co2, minimal ferts, high light).
 

dougall

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Mar 29, 2005
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I'd suggest dosing a liquid carbon supplement. It's more reliable than DIY CO2 (IME)

but there's nothing wrong with a lower-tech planted tank either.
 
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