New to me ADA 45p

[DiscusKid]

I got my ADA 45p from JeffrD yesterday, and im finally gonna start my 1st planted tank...

SPECS:
ADA 45p with garden mat
Filtration:
Tetra HOB, gonna upgrade to a Eheim 2213
Lighting:
26w 6500k desk lamp(but i have a Coralife Freshwater Aqualight-20" 6700K Quad-96 Watt!!!
Substrate:
Amazonia
Power Sand S
Tourmaline BC
CO2:
None right now, but im going to set up DIY CO2
Fertilization:
Green Brightly Step 1
(Im going to get Brightly K)
Plants:
Sagitaria Subulata(was in tank when i got it)
Im going to get Willow Moss, Riccia, Marsilea Quadrofolia, Dwarf Hairgrass, and Needle Leaf Java Fern.
(If you guys have any of these and you could spare me some please send me a PM)
Fauna:
Bunch o' snails and Hydra

Gameplan:
Im debating in my head wether to drain the tank, get rid of old amazonia, clean everything, and start over.The plus side is no Hygra no snails everything new and fresh.The downside is i have to start the cycling process again...
Also the light i have now puts me at 2.6wpg, and the coralife puts me at 9.6WPG!!!
I really want to run the coralife but thats alot of light. what do you guys think?
Another thing if i take powersand S out from the bottom of the tank can i rinse it and use it again?or do i throw it out too?

Alright thats enough typing here are the pics:

The Logo:

FTS:

The Goods:

The Coralife:


Thanks for Looking as usual any help is appreciated

[Mzungu]

How exciting! I love the mini ADA tanks. :)

First off, what kind of snails are in there now? MTS, pond snails, ramshorns, or other?

What are your plans for future fauna?

I wouldn't worry about the hydra - they won't hurt anything. (Unless you're planning on putting microscopic fry in there or something...)

I've heard that gouramis eat hydra, I think...Thought about "sparkling" gouramis for this tank? They would look cool, take care of the problem, and then they're still a beautiful and interesting fish to keep after the hydra are gone. (I'll look up whether or not they eat hydra after this post.)

If I were you, unless you don't like how the substrate looks, or there's some bad algae growing in there (it doesn't look like it), I'd keep it. I'd also start DIY CO2 ASAP. (Enough acronyms there for ya? lol) That way you could put the 96W fixture on there. If you decide it's too bright, then you can change it. It also depends on the fish you keep in there - some small fish tend to not like such bright light, but they should get used to it over time, and the plants should provide cover eventually.

I don't see a problem with taking out the sand, rinsing it, and putting it back in there, if you want to do that.

Last of all, enjoy! This is the fun part! :)

[Mzungu]

P.S. I'd also look into getting a couple of zebra nerites for this tank. They do wonders with algae. :) Just keep an eye on them, as nerites like to take vacations from water every once in a while.

[DiscusKid]

I love ADA minis too i read so many journals i just begged my parents to get me one, i plan to sell my 29g eventually and set up 2 45ps side by side.

Im not really familiar with snails but all i know is that theyre tiny, orange, and they eat the plants...:evil:, the reason i worry about the hydra is because in the future if i decide to keep shrimp, i dont wanna worry about the hydra eating shrimplets so i rather get rid of them now so i dont have to worry later.

For fauna i was looking into Boraras Brigittae, or maybe some green neon tetras, amano shrimp and otos, or i might do a shrimp tank, but thats not for sure i might change my mind..

i was gonna set up DIY CO2 today but my parents threw out the 2 liter bottle.ill try to get another bottle today.

i tried to put the 96w light on just now and the HOB is too big and it blocks it.so i think ima have to wait till i get my 2213 to i can put it on

The AS is 6-7 months old so it doesnt look that good anymore, so since i have a fresh bag laying around...ima change it out (if anyone wants the old soil lmk i need plants so we can probally trade)

Alright thanks for the imput and i post more pics of the tank after the transformation

[TaTeR ToT]

looks like a very good start.

from what ive learned about planted tanks, is anything above 3wpg you need c02.
the desklamps are nice, but since its an ada, id go all out.

hook up a diy co2 with 2x coke bottles.
i dont know how to do this, but im sure some googling will show you what you need to know.

also, i wouldnt worry with the substrate, from what i can see, it looks fine.

their are alot of helpful people on this site, but i would also reccomend becoming a member on NASH - Nature Aquarium Society of Houston they are all really great, and will likely have the plants you are looking for.

as for algae control, i would reccomend a couple Zebra Otocinclus Cats, and for main fauna in the tank, well, thats entirely your choice.

i personally dont like nerites, because they leave eggs all over te glass, and the eggs never hatch, so you have little white dots on your glass, i was scraping it every few days in my 10g high tech planted.

here are a few neat little fishes i would reccomend-

Thread Finned Rainbows
Ember Tetras
Ruby Tetras
Green Fire Tetras
Fire Ring Danios
Bororas
Scarlet Badis
Galaxy Rasboras
Gold Leopard Danios
Harlequin Rasboras

and for some neat little bottom feeders

Crystal Red Shrimp
Red Cherry Shrimp

both of the above will multiply, especially the red cherry shrimp

if you want a neat little shrimp that works hard, and doesnt reproduce, get a few
Amano Shrimps.

i hope this helps.

and like Mzungu said, enjoy it:)

[DiscusKid]

I want to join NASH but im 15 and i dont drive yet so wouldnt have a ride to the meetingswhen i sell my 29g ima get a 2213 so i can run the Coralife nad eventually im goin to get lily pipes, a beetle counter and a cool diffuser but cant have all at once

Im in the process of drinkin a 2l of coke so when im done ima start the DIY

Im going to most likely go with Boralas but ive heard that theyre hard to findbut ill worry about later.

Thanks for advice

[Mzungu]

Well, I did look it up last night and found that yes, gouramis are known for eating hydra.

[Mzungu]

Are these your snails?

http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/img/Planorbis_Ramshorn_1.jpg

[Mzungu]

If so, they shouldn't eat your plants. The only snails I know of that eat plants are the apple snails and sometimes the mystery snails.

[DiscusKid]

ill try to find them gimme a min

[DiscusKid]

I cant seem to find the snails on any website all i know is that theyre tiny, and they come into the tank with plants. i tried to take a pic earlier but theyre too small...

[DiscusKid]

OK back to the tank, i FINALLY finished restarting it i had to get a razor and scrape all the algae took like 2 hours,but i have to say it was worth it.. i put the HOB behind the tank so i can fit the coralife on there now

My mom didnt let me finish drinking the 2L of coke so ill have to wait till tomorrow for the CO2

Here are the pics:
(yes i know my camera sucks)

My cheesy hardscape not final for sure im going to get more rocks and wood and try to balance it out later

FTS after i filled again(white marks are bubbles)

[TheOldMan]

Try to get as many plants in the tank now especially if you used the new amazonia or you will have a very high ammonia which will cause a high amount of algae especially with 96 watts of light. The plants will love the ammonia and should get off to a good start. Keep testing your water for a few weeks till it cycles before adding fish.

[TaTeR ToT]

they are probably pond snails or ramshorn snails.

[TaTeR ToT]

btw, tank is off to a good start:)