25g Tank Journal

[Brent]

Well, I've finally gotten started on my 25g. I decided not to start a new tank over the summer what with all the travelling I did. Now that we're heading towards another school year, it seems about time to get my cycle going. Last week I picked up some sand and driftwood which is looking quite nice in my tank. The sand is quite deep, but I'll stir it. Tell me what you think and any suggestions you may have:



^I have no idea what to do with that plant. It seems to be at least partially emersive as it is repeatedly shooting up a long stalk towards the surface that dies after a week or so, and then falls off. The bottom leaves never die, however.

I'm going to call the LFS in a few minutes to see if they can get me a congo (of course I won't pick up the puffer until the cycle is done!) or turgidus / target puffer. If not, I'll just go with some sort of carinotetraodon species as they're always in stock.

~Brent

[J-P]

very cool! Maybe some short growing mosses in and around the stumps of the driftwood?

[Brent]

Thanks!

I'm definately purchasing some moss. I particularly like fontinalis antipyretica.

Just called the store. The manager was in, so that's good (and it's also order day-- how lucky). I left a few names with him, and he's going to call me back after helping a few customers.

[Brent]

Here's what I was thinking for plants (I should be able to get them all):

Fontinalus Antipyretica
Ludwigia Repens x Arcuata
Ceratophyllum Demersum (anchored)
Anubias barteri var. nana
Bacopa Australis
Cryptocoryne Undulata
Vesicularia Montagnei
Riccia Fluitans (floating)

--

Opinions before I order?

[J-P]

try them out and see what goes and what doesn't. Some will eventually over crowd the others (Crypto and Bacopa come to mind), but as the tank evolves you can change it up

[Brent]

Oh wow.

He just called me back with his current stock list and he's got LEIURUS puffers available. :0

He also has abeis, suvattis, turgidus and fang's. Then he's got modestus and several carinotetraodons. He also could get palembangs and takifugu oblongus.

--

Anyways, what do you guys think I should order out of the leiurus, abei, suvatti, turgidus and fang's? I can't decide...

Before I forget to mention this, I feel the need to clarify that he can hold the puffer for me for a week or two to get the cycle done. I just don't know if I want to lose the opportunity of getting a leiurus.

[edit]

Thanks J-P, I will.

[J-P]

one of each

[Brent]

Haha, yeah.

I didn't think I'd have to decide between so many puffers! Specifically, I didn't think I'd have to decide between two/three puffers that I consider rare. Whatever I do, I have to make up my mind by tomorrow.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Try smoothing out the sand in the front, that will help. For that tank defanitely get some sort of grass or foreground plants and moss on the driftwood.
Cool pieces of DW, I like it, love the way you stood it up.

Whats the lighting like?

[Brent]

I took that picture a few minutes after setting it up. The sand is going to be smoother but for the time being it doesn't really matter.

I might go with some hemianthus spp. for the foreground. I originally wasn't going to have any sprawling plants / foreground plants as I was planning for the congo, but I have since ordered a Leiurus (and when it gets here, it better dang be one and not a turgidus or something) so will look into planting some now.

The lighting is pretty low- 1.8 WPG if I remember correctly-- hence the low light plants.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Watts per gallon is a pretty poor way to determine lighting. Is your picture taken with flash? Looks pretty bright.

[Brent]

I don't know the brand name seeing as I'm not home, so WPG will have to do for now. ;]

Nope. Just aimed the camera and snapped the pic. No flash.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Looks pretty bright IMHO, but I'd still stick to low light/medium if you can, as you don't have any interest in pressurized Co2 or yeast Co2 correct?

[Brent]

The entire list above is low light (except the riccia which is medium).

I've actually got a bottle of Flourish Excel I'll be dosing with.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Excel will be fine for the assumed lighting and the plants. What are your ferts? (if any)