The last two months have been quite interesting in terms of converting my community tank to a plant tank. The first problem was sky high nitrates (160 ppm)which was a result of neglect on my part. Daily water changes, removal of heavy waste producing fish, deep gravel clean, addition of stem plants....and the nitrates seemed to level off to around 10 ppm. After receiving my phosphate test kit, I tested the tank water and tap water and found it to be 1.5 mg/L from the tap and 5.0 mg/L in the tank! After posting pics of my tank to get help with my algae problems, it was suggested that I bleach everything. So I did just that. Then I added a ton of stem plants and began DIY CO2. I was expecting the phosphate problem to fix itself after the bleaching process. However, not the case! It seemed that there was a problem with my substrate. In the past I had used a lot of Proper pH which turns out to be just a phosphate buffer. For some reason, I could not get this stuff out of my substrate. It was suggested that I replace my substrate.....
Here's a shot before the process:
Everything and everyone pulled:
I decided to get a new 55 gallon tank since the last one had bad scratches and the sealant was green and falling off. I painted the back of the tank with black latex paint, about 8 coats. I also repainted the stand. This picture shows the dusting of peat on the bottom of the tank with the first layer of substrate. After the first layer of substrate was put down, I added mulm from another tank and then added the rest of the substrate.
Here's the tank with all of the substrate added. I used 45 lbs of Flourite and 30 lbs of Shultz Aquatic Soil. Both were rinsed well and then mixed together. I've never put so much substrate in a tank before but I took others suggestions.
And finally the end. It took me 7 hours from start to finish. I lost a rainbow in the process most likely from stress. My 4 ottos and 1 SAE have been chasing each other from one side to the other since they were put in. They seem really happy.
Well the whole reason I did this was to get rid of my super high phosphates. I'm to tired to check it now but will do first thing in the morning.
Here's a shot before the process:
Everything and everyone pulled:
I decided to get a new 55 gallon tank since the last one had bad scratches and the sealant was green and falling off. I painted the back of the tank with black latex paint, about 8 coats. I also repainted the stand. This picture shows the dusting of peat on the bottom of the tank with the first layer of substrate. After the first layer of substrate was put down, I added mulm from another tank and then added the rest of the substrate.
Here's the tank with all of the substrate added. I used 45 lbs of Flourite and 30 lbs of Shultz Aquatic Soil. Both were rinsed well and then mixed together. I've never put so much substrate in a tank before but I took others suggestions.
And finally the end. It took me 7 hours from start to finish. I lost a rainbow in the process most likely from stress. My 4 ottos and 1 SAE have been chasing each other from one side to the other since they were put in. They seem really happy.
Well the whole reason I did this was to get rid of my super high phosphates. I'm to tired to check it now but will do first thing in the morning.
