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TIP
SETTING UP AND AQUASCAPING A NEW AQUARIUM IS A FUN JOB AND ALL THE
FAMILY WILL ENJOY BEING INVOLVED. GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME ONTHE
DAY AND DON’T RUSH IT. BUT MOST OF ALL ENJOY IT.
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The hardscape is finished off by two pieces of carved lava rock.
We have placed it in a pile, to the right of centre, where it will
complement the bright green, low-growing plants. Again, rinse it
before putting it in the tank.
Half-fill the tank ready for planting. Use a hosepipe or buckets
– we’ve used the lid from the Tetra Complete Substrate to deflect
the water so as not to disturb the gravel too much. Dechlorinate
the water, making it safe to add the plants.
Plant the taller, background plants first. We’ve planted
Vallisneria
in one corner, and twisted Vallis in the other. We’ve used
Cabomba
as a space filler and some Amazon swords toward
the midground to make a feature.Continue filling any gaps with
other fast-growing plants. We’ve added some red
Alternathera
and some dark green
Egeria
. The Vallis,
Egeria
and
Cabomba
will
grow quickly, taking up nutrients and helping to prevent algae.
Test water and mature the tank before adding any fish. Add a
filter maturation fluid, a liquid plant food and how about a CO
2
system for better plant growth? This simple CO
2
device from
Tetra is easy to use and suitable for beginners. You should notice
the benefit within a few weeks of fitting it.
With everything in place, leave it for a week before adding
any fish, then add a small number of hardy fish and
continue to test while ammonia and nitrite peak, and then
return to zero. More sensitive fish should be added later on.
The finished tank with community fish, clear water and
growing plants. We’ve chosen a selection of fish to occupy
all levels of the tank and live in harmony with each other. Add
them in stages to allow the biological filter to catch up.