NativeTank7
Aquarium Advice Activist
If you use the Just Natural you really should do the 7 days of 100% WC as it will really knock down the tons of tannins that stuff releases. Then on day 8 plant very heavily with plants such as water sprite, wisteria, and any fast growing stem plants. These are the plants in the first few months that will use the most excess nutrients making it harder for algae to take hold. You will still get diatoms, that's a given, but also only run your lights for 6 hours a day for the first 3 or so months. This will also go a long way in keeping algae down. You will also need to get something like a long BBQ fork so you can poke around the tank substrate about 3x daily to release excess gas pockets that form from the breakdown of organics in the soil. It last 4-5 weeks. And be sure to get Purgen to help with any tannins that will leach for awhile. I never noticed any tannins after I put Purgen in. If you can plant at least 80% of your substrate your tank will cycle very quickly also. Doing the process above, 7 days of 100% WC, planting on day 8 very very heavily, my tank was cycled by day 10. You won't need any root tabs for about 2-3 months if you use any swords or crypts but you will probably need to start using ferts between 2-4 weeks after setting up.
Okay I appreciate the heads up lol il try the 7 day water change and let you know how it goes. Do I start checking parameters after the 7th day or on day 1? I'm looking into homemade root tabs. I hear they last alot longer but not sure i may just get seachem product.