Transformation complete

[mtnmonster]

I've completely removed and replaced all the fake plants in my 10 gallon. This is my first experience with planted tank. Its a work in progress. So far it's going well and the fish seem to being enjoying it.

I plan on removing some plants and a couple animals once I get my 20 gallon cycled.

So far the plants are Anubias Nana, Windelov Java Fern, Dwarf Sagittaria, Cryptocoryne Wendtii green,  a random Amazon sword species and a small floating water sprite.  I've seen growth from everything so far but the dwarf sag is really starting to take off. Minimal melting so far for any of them. Been using easy green and root tabs. 

The inhabitants are a betta, 5 neon tetras, a kulhi loach, a handful of bladder snails, 2 nerites, and a baby clown pleco.  One of the nerites and the clown pleco will move to the new tank.

Something was missing so I picked up a piece of mopani drift wood at petsmart when I got the nerites. The fish seem much more active and natural.  The betta is especially entertaining as he hunts and explores everything. He really seems to love the dwarf sag. The kulhi is much more active during daylight too

[Guppysnail]

Congratulations on the switch. It really looks nice. Mopani is one of my favorite woods for aquariums and terrariums.  

[mtnmonster]

On 11/19/2021 at 9:37 PM, Guppysnail said:

Congratulations on the switch. It really looks nice. Mopani is one of my favorite woods for aquariums and terrariums.  

Thanks. I've been doing a lot of research and a lot of overthinking. Finally I realized that keeping fish is just an experiment. I wanted to go as natural as possible and still keep it simple. In nature ecosystems are always changing. I figure the more natural I can make it the better.  It will find a balance on its own but with me monitoring may be able to help counter any negative changes. 

[Guppysnail]

One of the things I enjoy is the changes I tanks. I’m forever changing things, hopefully for the bettereven in long running tanks I have never seen I’ll affects and if my fish/plants seem to not like the change I tweak it. It seems every time I change things one of my critters has babies or las eggs right after so I think your right about natural habitats changing. 

[Atitagain]

On 11/19/2021 at 9:55 PM, mtnmonster said:

Finally I realized that keeping fish is just an experiment.

Well said. Your tank looks great. Plants open up a whole new level to aquariums.

good luck mate

[DaveO]

This is good. Another planted tank convert. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I enjoy the plants as much as the animals.