Searching through the archives for past photos, I found the information for the light I was using at the time. As I stated in the last post, I am now using a different light and will be comparing the growth to that of before. The plants are already responding to this new light with more rapid growth than I saw previously. The fish have also adjusted nicely.
After this setup had been running a couple months, I removed the sponge filter and ran minimal airflow via rigid airline tubing. Mostly due to one of my Pseudomugils becoming trapped in the sponge overnight and losing it. I also did this due to such a small bio-load.
The potted plants had the gravel removed and were repotted with potting soil capped with sand.
A year later, I have moved the tank into a new orientation. I usually prefer peninsula style in order to expand the viewing area available, but I wanted to give the fish a bit more seclusion.
The leaf litter has since disappeared, and riparian planters have been added. The planters were constructed simply by folding cross-stitch mesh in half and filling with hydroton.
I originally intended for three Amano shrimp and three Nerites, but the shrimp were incredibly small when I picked them up, and I do not believe they are Amanos. The growth rate of the two that have remained transparent have been much slower than this one that is about 1.5” at this point.
Some photos from the setup after a year.