PlanetCatfish.com

The quartz sand we have been discussing is superior to the finer pool filter sand or play sand that many of us use. I use some and have collected some that is also too fine to use in deep beds but the Torpedo Beach sand particle sizes are the ideal size and avoids most any chance of getting anaerobic regions. It is also much easier to hydrovac because the particles are dense enough to be fairly difficult to accidentally remove when siphoning using a gravel vacuum.

Well guys, I reset up my tank and I have to say it looks fab! I got a bag of the Torpedo Beach substrate and I have to say I LOVE the look of it. I boiled the hell out of the Mopani and lord, did I get a boatload of tannins out of it! Geeze! I also replaced the strip light with a double tube strip light for better lighting. I reattached the plants and aquascaped the best I could (I'm not that great at it) but think it looks terrific. Best of all - the water's crystal clear! woo freakin' hoo!! LOL!

I'm letting it run another day and then I'll add my betta. After a few days I'll add my pandas and then my peppereds and metae. I'll leave my oto's in one of my other tanks until this one matures a bit more. I'll be using Dr Tim's One and Only to kick start the cycling. I'd use some filter media from one of my other tanks, but they are so laden with snails that I'm afraid to. Yes, they're even up into the filters... I absolutely refuse to let any snails get into my beautiful new tank, so, I'll have to use this stuff. It seemed to have worked quite well last time, so...

I'm praying I'm done with the fungus. I didn't bother with the grape wood, as I had plenty of Mopani. I wonder if the cloudiness I was experience was actually fungus in the water column and not a bacterial bloom as presumed. I'll upload a picture or two as soon as I find some batteries for my camera.

Here's two pix:





(Hope I did this right!)

looks nice! I love the look of it, the sand and driftwood and plants

good luck!

looks a touch cloudy to me. Just jokin!!!

That looks really nice. Good luck this time!