I have have my 29 Gallon Community Freshwater tank since 2005, where it started as a 10gal, then quickly upgraded to 29gal. I have always tried live plants, but with standard gravel it was an uphill battle. I recently switched to a better plant substrate, and thought I would share.
Here is a photo of the tank in 2006:
Another right before the substrate change (as you can see, only my Amazon Sword Plant (Echinodorus Amazonicus) is doing well, thus the need for a change, not to mention the black rock turned grey):
And here is what it looks like now:
Some more information about the tank:
Fish:
Marble Veil Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) 0.0.1
Harlequin Rasbora (Rasbora heteromorpha) 0.0.7
Red Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon callistus) 0.0.3
Long-Finned Red Sarpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon callistus) 0.0.1
Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus sp.) 0.0.2
Long-Finned Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ter) 0.0.1
False Julii Cory Catfish (Corydoras sp.) 0.0.1
Emerald Green Cory Cat (Brochis splendens) 0.0.3
Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus siamensis) 0.0.1
Bushy Nose Plecostomus (Ancistrus sp.) 1.0.0
Albino Bushy Nose Plecostomus (Ancistrus sp.) 0.1.0
Plants:
Lawn Marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle Sibthorpioides)
Amazon Sword Plant (Echinodorus Amazonicus)
Anubias Congensis (Anubias Afzelii)
Java Fern (Microsorum Pteropus)
Red Rubin (Echinodorus Rubin)
Equipment:
Fluval 404 Canister Filter
Coralife Compact Fluorescent 10,000°K 65W
Whisper Air Pump Model 60
Substrate:
Eco-Complete Black (40lbs)
Activ-Flora Floracor Black (16lbs)
Décor:
Bog wood
Ceramic Wood replica aquarium Sunken Branch
Chemicals:
Seachem Prime Water Conditioner
Food (Dry):
Omega One Freshwater Flakes
TetraMin Select-A-Food (Granules, Crisps, Baby Shrimp)
Omega One Veggie Flakes
Wardley Shrimp Pellets Formula
Hikari Algae Wafers
Food (Frozen):
San Francisco Bay Brand Bloodworms
San Francisco Bay Brand Brine Shrimp
San Francisco Bay Brand Emerald Entrée
Hikari Mysis Shrimp
Parameters After Substrate change, prior to fish:
Temperature = 80.5
Ammonia = 0.0
Nitrate (NO³) = 10.0
Nitrite (NO²) = 0.0
Hardness (GH) = 75.0
Chlorine = 0.0
Alkalinity (KH) = 40.0
pH = 7.2
Here is a photo of the tank in 2006:
Another right before the substrate change (as you can see, only my Amazon Sword Plant (Echinodorus Amazonicus) is doing well, thus the need for a change, not to mention the black rock turned grey):
And here is what it looks like now:
Some more information about the tank:
Fish:
Marble Veil Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) 0.0.1
Harlequin Rasbora (Rasbora heteromorpha) 0.0.7
Red Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon callistus) 0.0.3
Long-Finned Red Sarpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon callistus) 0.0.1
Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus sp.) 0.0.2
Long-Finned Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ter) 0.0.1
False Julii Cory Catfish (Corydoras sp.) 0.0.1
Emerald Green Cory Cat (Brochis splendens) 0.0.3
Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus siamensis) 0.0.1
Bushy Nose Plecostomus (Ancistrus sp.) 1.0.0
Albino Bushy Nose Plecostomus (Ancistrus sp.) 0.1.0
Plants:
Lawn Marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle Sibthorpioides)
Amazon Sword Plant (Echinodorus Amazonicus)
Anubias Congensis (Anubias Afzelii)
Java Fern (Microsorum Pteropus)
Red Rubin (Echinodorus Rubin)
Equipment:
Fluval 404 Canister Filter
Coralife Compact Fluorescent 10,000°K 65W
Whisper Air Pump Model 60
Substrate:
Eco-Complete Black (40lbs)
Activ-Flora Floracor Black (16lbs)
Décor:
Bog wood
Ceramic Wood replica aquarium Sunken Branch
Chemicals:
Seachem Prime Water Conditioner
Food (Dry):
Omega One Freshwater Flakes
TetraMin Select-A-Food (Granules, Crisps, Baby Shrimp)
Omega One Veggie Flakes
Wardley Shrimp Pellets Formula
Hikari Algae Wafers
Food (Frozen):
San Francisco Bay Brand Bloodworms
San Francisco Bay Brand Brine Shrimp
San Francisco Bay Brand Emerald Entrée
Hikari Mysis Shrimp
Parameters After Substrate change, prior to fish:
Temperature = 80.5
Ammonia = 0.0
Nitrate (NO³) = 10.0
Nitrite (NO²) = 0.0
Hardness (GH) = 75.0
Chlorine = 0.0
Alkalinity (KH) = 40.0
pH = 7.2
