First attempt at a dirted tank.

[Jim3h]

Hey guys I recently dirted my 10 gallon, I used miracle grow organic for dirt, capped with regular black gravel. I followed people's instruction to plant the crap out of it and I did! Haha I was getting worried because the plants seemed to be dying and I let them be, finally starting to see some new growth! I just stocked it, I put 2 ottos, a clown loach, a siamese algae eater and a ghost shrimp. I know it's got a good amount of fish in there, they are all small right now and I have bigger tanks for them when they start to become too big, I've been doing daily 50% water changes to remove the tannins and it seems like they will never go away! If anyone has a tip for this please help!
-thanks, Jim


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[Tiller11]

Well for the tannins my suggestion would be to leave them alone... With that stock it is good for them because it lowers the ph... Maybe not a whole loy but It helps because all those fish like the lower ph... As far as fish... You have a lot of bottom swimmers in there... Clown loacjes should deff be kept in groups of like 6 and in a much mucj larger tank... My suggeston would be to return that guy while u still can... A good alternative would be to get kuhli loaches... U could do at least 5 in there... I would personnally do 10 just because they are small and dont produce a big bio load... And the more there are the more you will see them... Other then that the plants look good.... What are u using for lighting?

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[Jim3h]

Well for the tannins my suggestion would be to leave them alone... With that stock it is good for them because it lowers the ph... Maybe not a whole loy but It helps because all those fish like the lower ph... As far as fish... You have a lot of bottom swimmers in there... Clown loacjes should deff be kept in groups of like 6 and in a much mucj larger tank... My suggeston would be to return that guy while u still can... A good alternative would be to get kuhli loaches... U could do at least 5 in there... I would personnally do 10 just because they are small and dont produce a big bio load... And the more there are the more you will see them... Other then that the plants look good.... What are u using for lighting?

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Sad, I can't return him, but I love him, I have seen some snails in there and that's why I originally got him but I love loaches and a buddy of mine sold me him for 2.50 so I had to get it compared to 15 at the lfs if anything ill put him in a bigger tank if that's what is recommended. I've never heard of a kuhli loach, and yes I know I have alot of bottom dwellers but I'm okay with that. I have a 18" t8 "flora-glo" by Hagen. If there's any other fish I could put in now as is please let me know! And if there's any plants you'd recommend to take in the excess nutrients please tell! I love fast growing plants that will take over my tank I have 3 other tanks that could take some clipping haha
-Jim


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