Sharing my progress (Beginner planting)

[Kaedious]

Maybe, I think once the crypts start to grow the tank will begin to fill up plants wise.

Grass like plant is actually a stem plant known as blyxa japonicia.

[ChoclateBetta]

I read it loves extra CO2.

[Kaedious]

Yeah from what i read it can also go a reddish brown under intensive light. Unfortunately my budget only supports a low tech tank so no CO2 or intense lights for the time haha.

[sandybottom]

nice set up. classy and clean. willow moss is from se asia.

[stetez]

awesome job you done on your tank

[babystarz]

It's beautiful! It looks like your substrate is turning into dust though >.< You may want to just start over now as opposed to later and go with the dirt+sand cap, so you don't have to mess with it down the road when you've got it more heavily planted.

[RobMc]

I have had fluval stratum in a tank for a couple months now and have noticed no degradation of the material. Some bags which are roughed up during shipment contain a lot of dust/sediment, and I'd guess yours did with how murky the tank got.

I don't think it's a problem though, finer substrate encourages more root development, and fluval strat is light enough that you may not get anaerobic bacterial growth.

One thing I've noticed about the fluval though is that it is quickly depleted of resources - root tablets and water column fertilization are usually recommended.

[RobMc]

With frequent water changes the cloudiness will eventually go away (just dealt with that in a dirt / sand planted tank) Alternatively you can stuff a bit of batting in your filter to suck the tiniest particles out of the water - you'll probably have to change or clean it once every couple days to keep the flow rate up.

[Kaedious]

@Babystarz, Yeah Beginning to feel that way, came home to Thai pulling up some blyxa and turning the entire tank filthy within seconds. Any suggestions on Dirting a tank? thinking White sand for cap will this effect the PH levels?

@RobMc, I'm happy you have had so much luck Rob, was probably a bit rough in transit to Australia ha ha.

Filter has already been baffled with some pillow insides, changed them 5 times in 5 days, if there's a slight movement on the bottom of the tank it turns to muck :(.

[Kaedious]

On a Side note looking for some suggestions, I think i may have caught something on these forums.

Im in the market to purchase a new 10G (38L) W/Canopy

Can anyone suggest any good filters for such a tank, my preferences are:

Low surface current as it will still be used as a betta tank
Adjustable flow is preferred
Quite as Possible
Small profile
Black intake tube is prefered