New Beginnings

Having asked a few questions lately thought I would let you know what I am hoping to do.

As you probably know I have two tanks, one is empty and now clean and ready to ready. The other has some fish in, neons and pencils mainly. The plan is to get the empty tank up and running, plant it up, transfer the filter media to the new filter and then transfer the fish over. Then after a week or so, depending on readings will get the other tank ready to the other new filter and transfer the original mature media over to the other new filter and then slowly add fish.

Tank one will definitely stay tropical but will have tropica soil and be planted. Tank two is most likely going to have guppies and platys in if the JBL Aquadur does the trick in raising my Dh. If it doesn't then might go temperate or just have another tropical tank. It will have the same soil and will also be planted.

Going to use Oase internal filters as they are corner ones with built in heater, so hopefully will look better. I am probably going to update the lights in both tanks as well. Found one solution for changing the lights to LED. Seeing if there is any other way as seems quite a few different LED's on line but of course with my tank lid I am probably rather restricted unless I can find a cover of some sort. Any ideas would be welcome.

Will try and keep things updated as I go, probably more question too.

Dave

Great to get your update on plans, @barneyadi - keep us posted.

Aha!!! A lightbulb moment about lighting. It seems that a 28w T5 bulb will produce 1120 lumens, divided by my lank litres of totals 8.96 per litre. Easy plants seem to want 10-20 lumens so with two bulbs totalling nearly 18 lumen that all sounds good. Maybe fitting a reflector will increase this and move me into medium plants.

Well it seems to make sense.

It does except medium plants will require co2 injection too!

That's ok, will stick to easy plants, make my life easier.

Looks good to me! 

It can be useful to find out what day of the week each store gets its plant deliveries in - the way you can be sure to get the best quality and choice of plants. Many will also order in exactly what you want if it in in their catalogue.

Had my new filter with mature media in it up and running for a week. Hopefully getting plants for other tank tomorrow, and once planted will fill with water. I understand that Tropica soil doesn't normally cause a ammonia bloom. So if I check my readings and they all seem ok, can I transfer the fish from other tank into it, bringing the filter with mature media as well.

Also how long does it take to seed the other sponges when using mature media?

Great about the filter. Hopefully it sits nice and neatly against the corner and doesn't float out at the bottom like my JBL corner one does/did (before I used magnets to address the issue)?

As you'll be bringing both the filters over into the new tank, then you could transfer the fish with it when it's filled with water and water quality readings seem good and water parameters on a par with the old tank. It would probably take approx a month for the new filter to be fully seeded, after which you could remove one of the other filters if you wished - but do keep an eye on water quality for approx 4-6 weeks after that, to ensure that it's definitely ok.

Definitely seems to sit nicely in the corner and no floating away yet.

Great news re your filter. Mine floated away from the outset, so it sounds as though your brand and model is much better.

I like the layout of your tank and plants - well done! I'll leave the more experienced plant-keepers to cast a more constructive critical eye over it.

Looking good!    Be sure to take the same photo of your tank every week or two so you can see any progress more clearly.  You might experience a few algae issues over the first couple of months, the best thing you can do to combat these is to do big and very regular water changes for this initial period.  Let me know if you need anything, but I think the tank looks great - the more plants you can add now the better too.  Keep up updated!! 

@Matt I suppose my main worries at moment is if lighting is enough and what fertiliser to use. Have seen TNC complete, TNC Lite (supposedly for low tech) and the aquascaper complete plant food. Not sure which is best.