mrsut
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi, this is my first post and I am looking for any advice I can get. I have searched and searched sites and forums and I am getting a little confused with the amount of information out there so decided to show and describe where I am at and see what pointers I can get, so here goes...
For over a year now I have collected and set up various small tanks housing frogs and toads recently expanding into a new large vivarium which is totally bioactive. All live planting and springtails and other cultures creating a fantastic eco system which is working well however I have also started to set up an aquarium tank which currently houses some fire bellied toads and a paddle tail newt which I will be adding some ghost and cherry shrimp and some cloud minnows at a later date. I have had similar working in a smaller tank previously but in keeping with the vivarium eco system I have planted this one creating a more natural aquascape. Trouble is I have never worked on this scale before, have never worked with live aquarium plants and have little experience of aquariums in general.
My tank is around 2.5ft.
I added a base layer of standard gravel to the bottom of the tank before adding Tetra complete substrate. Over this went a fine gravel.
I then added rocks, drift wood, various live plants and a moss ball.
I added a small filter which stirs the surface of the water, a little fish food and I set the lighting away on a timer. This I ran for around a week.
I added my toads and newt and left a further two weeks.
I noticed some of the plants turning brown at the ends so after further reading I added a co2 system and have an air pump on order. I believe my lighting needs to be rectified as it is a standard bulb supplied with the tank. I have clipped a further light source outside the tank for a temporary measure but need some advice now on what I need do next regarding lighting changes, fertilisers etc.
For over a year now I have collected and set up various small tanks housing frogs and toads recently expanding into a new large vivarium which is totally bioactive. All live planting and springtails and other cultures creating a fantastic eco system which is working well however I have also started to set up an aquarium tank which currently houses some fire bellied toads and a paddle tail newt which I will be adding some ghost and cherry shrimp and some cloud minnows at a later date. I have had similar working in a smaller tank previously but in keeping with the vivarium eco system I have planted this one creating a more natural aquascape. Trouble is I have never worked on this scale before, have never worked with live aquarium plants and have little experience of aquariums in general.
My tank is around 2.5ft.
I added a base layer of standard gravel to the bottom of the tank before adding Tetra complete substrate. Over this went a fine gravel.
I then added rocks, drift wood, various live plants and a moss ball.
I added a small filter which stirs the surface of the water, a little fish food and I set the lighting away on a timer. This I ran for around a week.
I added my toads and newt and left a further two weeks.
I noticed some of the plants turning brown at the ends so after further reading I added a co2 system and have an air pump on order. I believe my lighting needs to be rectified as it is a standard bulb supplied with the tank. I have clipped a further light source outside the tank for a temporary measure but need some advice now on what I need do next regarding lighting changes, fertilisers etc.
