It's been a long time since I took this hobby seriously, so I'm diving back in and intending to make a simple, fairly low-maintenance, planted aquarium to get back on my feet. My job is a 60 hour, 6 day per week affair, so I'm limited with options. I'd appreciate any and all suggestions (polite ones of course), but let me lay out the parameters first. Right now the tank is entirely empty excluding dechlorinated water and substrate.
Tank: 30 G (36 x 12 x 16)
Filter: Eheim Classic 250 (2213)
Heater: Aqueon 100 W
CO2: None, and (for now), none intended
Substrate: Eco-Complete with Standard Smooth Black Gravel
Additional Substrate: Purchased a BioBox (essentially soil) that is under the center portion of the tank. Search "AquaPlantarium" on YouTube for a thrilling video in this regard.
pH: 7.6 as of now
Hardness: 75 GH (soft)
Lighting: SolarMax HE 75 (21 W x 2)
Supplements: SeaChem Flourish Excel (whenever I begin planting)
I have a series of questions, so bear with me.
1. The only thing that I seem to be uncomfortable with is the lighting. Does anyone have any experience with this? It seems that it would be underlit, even for plants that require low to moderate lighting (my intended purchases).
2. On that note, here are the ideas I am having with plants. I'm willing to change lights if necessary: dwarf hair grass or micro sword, java fern, anubias, crypts, vallisneria, water sprite, wisteria, possibly java moss. Feel free to shoot down any of these. I don't want anything particularly complicated or needy, but I'm willing to supply the lighting necessary to make the aforementioned plants work.
3. My intended inhabitants, down the road, are as follows: 6-8 kuhli loaches, 3-5 otos, 1 male betta, and perhaps some snails. Any issues here?
4. As far as the actual cycling goes, my central idea is to plant the tank (after your suggestions), wait a few days, and populate it with just the betta. Let the cycle run its course, and move forward with the kuhlis and the otos. I know there's debate about the ethics of cycling a tank with actual fish, so I'm open.
5. This is really general and vague, but what am I missing here? To be blunt, I just am not interested in finagling a CO2 device. If this is an egregiously bad idea, please let me know. I just know my schedule too well. Beyond that, is there any glaring errors I am about to make?
Sorry for the lengthy post and I appreciate any and all help.
Thanks.
Tank: 30 G (36 x 12 x 16)
Filter: Eheim Classic 250 (2213)
Heater: Aqueon 100 W
CO2: None, and (for now), none intended
Substrate: Eco-Complete with Standard Smooth Black Gravel
Additional Substrate: Purchased a BioBox (essentially soil) that is under the center portion of the tank. Search "AquaPlantarium" on YouTube for a thrilling video in this regard.
pH: 7.6 as of now
Hardness: 75 GH (soft)
Lighting: SolarMax HE 75 (21 W x 2)
Supplements: SeaChem Flourish Excel (whenever I begin planting)
I have a series of questions, so bear with me.
1. The only thing that I seem to be uncomfortable with is the lighting. Does anyone have any experience with this? It seems that it would be underlit, even for plants that require low to moderate lighting (my intended purchases).
2. On that note, here are the ideas I am having with plants. I'm willing to change lights if necessary: dwarf hair grass or micro sword, java fern, anubias, crypts, vallisneria, water sprite, wisteria, possibly java moss. Feel free to shoot down any of these. I don't want anything particularly complicated or needy, but I'm willing to supply the lighting necessary to make the aforementioned plants work.
3. My intended inhabitants, down the road, are as follows: 6-8 kuhli loaches, 3-5 otos, 1 male betta, and perhaps some snails. Any issues here?
4. As far as the actual cycling goes, my central idea is to plant the tank (after your suggestions), wait a few days, and populate it with just the betta. Let the cycle run its course, and move forward with the kuhlis and the otos. I know there's debate about the ethics of cycling a tank with actual fish, so I'm open.
5. This is really general and vague, but what am I missing here? To be blunt, I just am not interested in finagling a CO2 device. If this is an egregiously bad idea, please let me know. I just know my schedule too well. Beyond that, is there any glaring errors I am about to make?
Sorry for the lengthy post and I appreciate any and all help.
Thanks.