20 gallon planted

[supersmirky]

This is a new tank I am setting up as one of my first planted tanks. Originally it had Pool Filter sand as substrate however everything seemed to melt and there was just a real funky odor.

Now I have changed the substrate to SMS and re-deco'd. Not really too sure of what I have yet...it came from Ebay. I will have to do a little research later.

Hopefully I can find some more plants to put in there...I have about 5 plant bulbs in there that have not sprouted yet. Still on the lookout as to where I can go for plants.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/super_smirky/20Gallonw-SMS.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/super_smirky/20Gallonw-SMS6.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/super_smirky/20Gallonw-SMS3.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/super_smirky/20Gallonw-SMS5.jpg

[Misty]

Looks good! I like the statuary in it.

I just got several different plants from The Fish Gallery today. They had a pretty nice selection. I can't remember the woman's right now name but she was an older woman with long hair and glasses. She was a tremendous help! Seek her out if you go there.

[supersmirky]

Cool...thanks. I will definitely check that place out. Love your tag line by the way!

[Misty]

:D Thank you! It's not the one I wanted to use, which was "Who knew I married a superhero...Captain Recliner. His weapon of choice...the remote. His weeknesses...boobs, beer and food...probably in that order.", but since he's a member here too, I thought I better not, lol.

He lives up to his superhero name beautifully though.roflmao

[fatfutures]

Looking good! How long have you had those bulbs in there? If they haven't done anythign within two weeks, I'd chuck 'em. They can get pretty nasty when they don't sprout.

I managed to get two bulbs to sprout. I'm super excited about one. Need to figger out what it is though. LOL

[supersmirky]

Haven't had them long. Got them some time last week. Just chucked 4 more in another tank to see if they do anything in there either

[bra8ndy8]

looks good!! love the contrast of black and white!

[AndrewH]

Yup, I'm really digging this setup.

Are you having any trouble with the SMS being too light weight to hold down the plants? Did you clean it before putting it in the tank?

What are your goals with this tank? Plan on using it as a test bed, or going all out fully planted display tank?

Looks like a great start at any rate.

[supersmirky]

Thanks guys.

Well I haven't had any problems as of yet with it keeping plants down. Seems to hold well in my opinion. I did rinse the heck out of it though and it was still dirty when I filled up the tank. But within 24 hours it all settled down. Now when I plant, it kicks up a little but not much.

As far as plans...I just want plants...hahaha. I am very new to live plants so just trying to see if I can keep them alive right now. I bought a Hydor CO2 system and have that installed in the back. The lighting is currently a 96watt 50/50. I am wanting to get a new fixture for this tank though....the 96watt fixture is too big and belongs on another tank.

I put the SMS in my 10 gallon too and it looks good...so far there is just a betta in that one. The 10 gallon has nothing but java fern so I am not concerned about lighting and CO2 in that one....but I do have 30 watts full spectrum in that tank.

[AndrewH]

Yeah, my SMS held the plants for a week+ with no problems, then one day I came home and half of the plants were floating (not to mention getting the SMS to hold 'em down in the first place).

How deep do you have the SMS in your 20?

[supersmirky]

Interesting. Well I only have small fish in the 20...white clouds and small rainbows. They don't mess with much. The SMS is maybe 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches deep. Even the weird shaped plant to the right of the statue stays down. Those leaves are strange and fluffed out which made it difficult at first but it hasn't uprooted yet. Do you have loaches or plecos thrashing about or something?

[fishyjoe24]

nice tank.

[AndrewH]

Do you have loaches or plecos thrashing about or something?

I have 10 wild caught Neons, 2 Otos, and 37 Cherry Shrimp. Nothing big enought to move the LARGE Jave Fern that was floating around the other day plus I had to barry it pretty deep to get it to stay down to begin with so there was extra substrate on top of the plants to hold 'em down.

I dunno what happened, but it hasn't happend since I replanted everything.

[supersmirky]

Very interesting. The SMS has lots of air pockets so perhaps an air pocket burst and released your plant. lol. The best I can think of.

Wanna sell some cherry skrimp?? I need some

[AndrewH]

Yeah, it took a long time to get all of the air out. Problem is, the plants floated in several different parts of the tank (far left and far right). Still possible though.

Shrimp... hmmm :noidea:

[supersmirky]

Well...when I disturb the bottom, I still get tiny bubbles here and there. I assume since SMS is porous that I would have that for a little while until it settled. Now I am just looking forward to it all growing out of hand. (I can hope right)