Journal First time aquascaping. My 90cm nature style from the start.

[SkyeScapes]

It is quite good.
My only suggestion would be to run co2 starting from day 1 and fine tune it with pH method or Hanna co2 checker. This is so that the microbial colony is adapted to the specific conditions of your tank including pH.

what aquasoil do you plan to use ?

I would also recommend not to plant sensitive plants like Buce early. Even if you do a dark start, it takes time to reach stability and would rather suggest faster growing stems initially.

The most important part would be regular water changes after the dark start is completed.

That makes perfect sense to start the CO2 from the start, and great advice re the buce, thank you.

I’m using Tropica aqua soil, fairly deep at the back and just sand in the foreground. I’m expecting the aqua soil to release a bit of ammonia?

 

[CincyScaper]

That makes perfect sense to start the CO2 from the start, and great advice re the buce, thank you.

I’m using Tropica aqua soil, fairly deep at the back and just sand in the foreground. I’m expecting the aqua soil to release a bit of ammonia?

I personally have only used APT feast, and if it were APT feast I would not bother checking for atleast 4 weeks of dark start since it is quite rich. I think Tropica's aqua soil based on what i have heard is less rich so might need much briefer dark start.

 

[SkyeScapes]

I personally have only used APT feast, and if it were APT feast I would not bother checking for atleast 4 weeks of dark start since it is quite rich. I think Tropica's aqua soil based on what i have heard is less rich so might need much briefer dark start.

Yes, I’ve read that Tropica leaches less than ATP feast at the start but it’s not negligible. Anyway, I quite like making graphs so frequently testing is fine by me

 

[SkyeScapes]

So I’ve stopped faffing about and filled the tank. Filter is on and starting cultured added.

Dark start has started!

CO2 will start in a day or so when I’ve set it up.

Does anyone think my water (spring water from tap) looks a bit green?

 

[JayP]

So I’ve stopped faffing about and filled the tank. Filter is on and starting cultured added.

Dark start has started!

CO2 will start in a day or so when I’ve set it up.

Does anyone think my water (spring water from tap) looks a bit green?

If the room gets that much natural light on a daily basis, you'll want to wrap the sides of the tank in plastic or some other material throughout the dark start period. It doesn't take much light for algae to sneak in.

 

[SkyeScapes]

If the room gets that much natural light on a daily basis, you'll want to wrap the sides of the tank in plastic or some other material throughout the dark start period. It doesn't take much light for algae to sneak in.

It is a bright room with two windows. One window gets morning sun and the other gets sun until mid afternoon. I’ll cover the sides. Thanks for the suggestion. Hopefully once I’m planted and up and running the daylight won’t prove to be an issue. I didn’t have many options when placing the tank.

 

[Koan]

Does anyone think my water (spring water from tap) looks a bit green?

Does it look like that in person, or just in the pictures?

If your tank is normal "float" glass and not low iron glass, some of the green will be from that

 

[JayP]

Does anyone think my water (spring water from tap) looks a bit green?

Could just be how the natural light is reflecting off things and catching some otherwise, hidden tints. The wall above the tank also seems to have some green tint to it.

 

[CincyScaper]

Daylight can be hit or miss, my tank receives quite bit of direct sunlight. It seems that the plant mass wins in winter time, but now in summer the algae has the edge and seems to be constantly winning along with my aquasoil growing older.

I think the PAR provided by direct sunlight can be quite variable which is an issue since there is adaptation issues. Based on my Blyxa color i definitely think mine is receiving close to 200 or more for the time of the day when it is in direct sunlight during summer. It would be useful to check with the Photone app. If you can avoid sunlight that is definitely one less variable.

I see what you mean by green tint, you could try a white background, but maybe it is the glass as Koan mentions.

 

[JayP]

I see what you mean by green tint, you could try a white background, but maybe it is the glass as Koan mentions.

A quick google search indicates the tank is low iron.

 

[SkyeScapes]

Thanks for the replies about the green tint, yes it's low iron glass. We sometimes notice green staining in the bath / sink under the taps so I hope it's not copper from the pipes. I've tested with a drinking water test strip which shows no copper and I've ordered an API kit. Hopefully I'm worried about nothing!

Re daylight, I do have the option of making the room quite dark with blinds but where we live it's all about the views so it would be a shame to have to do that! I'll have to wait and see if it becomes a problem in sunny weather.

I have weird spring water, with a ton of dissolved CO2 so I'm testing it over a couple of days to see what it stabilises at before adding any bottled CO2.

One hour after filling the tank:
pH 6.4
KH 6
GH 6
TDS 123

24 hrs later (filter on and outflow raised to encourage gas exchange):
Tank walls and hardscape are covered in bubbles!
pH 6.8
KH 5
GH 6
TDS 143

48 hrs later
pH 7
KH 5
GH5
TDS 130

I also tested my water in a jug and that stabilised at PH 8.2 after 48hrs so I guess the aqua soil is buffering away nicely.

Next step, CO2