OOOOoooooo Im so excited! Ive wanted to do this for a long time!

I only have one tank set up now and the other 55 is in storage. So I only have one to deal with right now.

I wanted the tank to be cleaner so I decided to switch to barebottom. I took half of the gravel out last weekend and had no real upset with the balance of the cycle so I went ahead and took the other half out today.

I have two large filters running in this thing now and have been doing water changes twice weekly to keep the water pristine and so far my params have been good.

I have a few plants in there right now, but there are a lot more to come. I have two potted water lilies, a pot full of a few bulbs of that red lily thing. Mine got HUGE. It had about 10 leaves larger than my hand floating at the surface. I cut all those back when I repotted it and its looking a little sad, but I think it will perk up soon. I have another pot full of some green plant I got as bulbs at the LFS. I cant remember what they are called but you have probably seen them. Today I also added my little lotus seedling. Im TERRIFIED my fish are going to eat it! Its just a little sprout, but it was time for it to be potted and put in an aquarium so Im taking a chance and if they mess with it Ill have to figure something out.

Once again I went a little eBay crazy and spent all my Christmas money (from my grandma) on plants for my tank. Here is what Im getting:

Luwigia Repens

Alternanthera Roseafolia

Ammania gracilis

Rotala Wallichii

Hairgrass

Barclaya longifolia

Ophiopoton pusillus

Java Fern Lace

Hemigraphis exotica

Ludiwiga Inclinata

Anubia Barteri

Ack I just counted those and I may be short a pot or two....maybe not. We'll see.


I just put two more lights on the tank now, so its got (4) 18" lights on it, two are plant lights and two are regular lights. It looks so bright and pretty and the fish look so bright orange! I hope my plants appreciate the splurge as much as I do. Hopefully they will grow big and beautiful for me. I just hope my fish dont eat them this time. I found out my fish LOVE the wendtii stuff, or whatever its called. They ate 3 plants in one day. Bye Bye $15!!!! lol.

Anyways, Ill get photos when the water settles. After I took out all the gravel there was quite a bit of murk and spilled kitty litter (my clay substrate for the lilies) and I couldnt get it all out with the siphon. So during the next few cleanings I should be able to get the leftovers out, but right now its just a tad cloudy. If it settles tonight I will take photos.

Im just sooooo excited!!!!!

Sounds like a very exciting project! Can't wait for your pictures in the Planted Tanks forum!

Wow Gia, thats alot of plants, they will make a beautiful tank! Can't wait to see pics once you are all set up!

Gaaa the mail didnt come today! Im so anxious to get my plants in the mail! Maybe they will come by tomorrow or so. I didnt know today was a HOLIDAY???

Im a little worried. Since I repotted my plants, my goldies have been feasting on my poor lilies. They were so big and beautiful, now they only have a few leaves... AND THEY ARE STILL ALWAYS HUNGRY! lol.

Once I get my new plants I will post photos, probably in the planted tank photo forum.

There's no mail because of President Ford's funeral. So that's 3 days without mail.

UCk. Yeah and Im waiting for my car payment to go out. lol. Oh well its coming today so hopefully Ill get my box.