Just Stocked and Planted

A

Analog Saint

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Aug 25, 2004
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Washington, DC
I did rounds on 3 of the best LFS in the area... Got myself 4 black neons, 4 harlequins, two kribs, and a trio of panda cories. The Harlequins or Pandas will probably go in my gourami tank eventually. I also got a huge clump of java moss, and a tall leafy plant and a tall frilly plant. The names I've since forgotten due to extreme sleep deprivation during midterms... they're both medium to low light.

Put the bio-wheel in my other tank while I did a 100% water change. Tested parameters to make sure everything was kosher, then put the bags in to equilibrate the temperatures, and added a bit of tank water every 5 mins to the bag. After an hour, I netted everyone out, and sat back to enjoy the handiwork. The black neons and harlequins shoal together... one of the kribs hangs out with the cories, that is when they're not climbing up the sides of the tank.

So here's the battle plan: 10 hours of light a day, once daily feeding. 2x 20% water changes weekly. For the first two weeks, I'm gonna check ammonia and nitrite levels daily, then slowly taper it down to weekly after that. Check nitrate levels weekly. Clean filter intakes monthly, and replace the mechanical filtration media monthly. Foodwise I have bloodworms, spirulina flakes, bio-blend, and about a thousand packets of tetramin that came free with various stuff.

The LFS I like best for plants is getting in a new shipment tomorrow, and so I think once I grab a few more, I'll contemplate using the flourish I got... Don't want to start it until I have a few more plants- I want to feed them, not an algae bloom.

Anything I'm missing?
 
I wouldn't add more fish right now unless maybe 2-3 more tetras.

Seems like a good setup.
 
dont count on great plant growth you chose a very deep tank to penitrate with 30w IMHO
I love eclipse hoods but just didnt work that well for my planted tanks the filtration blew off to much of co2 for plants IMHO
Plants can work in that tank but either great care in picking the right species or do a lighting upgrade before investing in more plants.
LOTs of people wast a hundred dollars on plants that die before they upgrade the lighting.Honestly a lighting upgrade will save you money as you will be growing plants instead of replaceing them.
 
I think I'm gonna keep things as is fishwise, just getting some more lower light plants. I don't expect huge plant growth, just as long as they hang in there and look nice, and give my fish a more reassuring scene than a college dorm, I'll be thrilled. One store said I should be fine as is, two of the others reccomended I switch to plant light bulbs when these burnt out. That's the plan.

When I get the money, would it be possible to rig another light strip in there? It looks like there is space for another fixture... Would 45 watts be measurably better than 30? Sounds like a question for the plant forum. Maybe they'd have some reccomendations about good ways to do DIY lighting in an eclipse hood as well.
 
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The good news is that the Eclipse 2 hood should have come with 5500k bulbs. Those should be more that adequate for keeping plants alive without having to resort to overpriced 'plant' bulbs. The bad news is that 25g aquariums are tall. It is actually taller than my 50g aquarium. I probably wouldn't try to modify your hood. What I would do is look into low light plants to maximize your chances. Crypts are one of your best bets and anubius should also be possible. Most likely swords are out for you though.
 
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