So this is the result of me setting up my first ever planted/dirt tank. I did a fair amount of research, learned a lot about this type of tank, and then promptly ignored all I learned and just did it. Its a 5 gallon, I used worm castings (effectively worm crap) as my dirt substrate, and put fine sand where I didn't want plants to take root. I chose the castings because it is a spongy (so it gets heavy and sinks easily), nutrient rich (but not too rich) soil. It did make a mess of my sand however. Oh well. Obviously all the soil is capped with gravel, the slate in the background is just that, a background. I used 50 percent old tank water and 50 percent new water, and I have a very well established filter running in it right now, just to clean the smaller particles of dirt from the water and to help with wayward nitrite and ammonia levels from the castings. I'm gonna remove the filter once the tank establishes. i have two of the hardiest guppies ever in there. they've survived predatory fish, extreme water temperature fluctuations, and living in a full marine nano reef tank, I thought i might as well add them now.
Also, does anyone know what that small foreground plant is? the guy said he got it in with a shipment of his regular plants but he didn't know what it was, he gave it to me for free.
