New Planted 180L

Well, Here it is! After weeks of research, and information gathering (without this forum i would have been lost) thanks everyone.

Fluval 305 (will be running a 205 alongside this when i can stop it leaking)
26C
Ada Amazonia on Power Sand
3 bubbles per second
1 piece of what i think is granite, 2 pieces of jati wood (teak)
My tap water is ph8, the ADA and I supposse the wood had it down to 6.5 in less than 16 hours

Two areas of concern is the very high nitrite in my tap water, dont know how this is going to pan out for fish, im hoping once the filter is established it will take care of itself. Also the soil has created an oily film on the plants which i really don't like, this happen anyone else?

www.flickr.com/photos/spothat/sets/72157629564080365/

look well fair play

good to see my old tank is gone to a good home

i see u changed the background how come first time i seen a blue background on a planted tank

Sean

Thanks for your compliments Draco. I was up until 5am on Saturday morning planting!
The pics by my standard are pretty poor really! I just shot of a few quick ones. Photography is another hobby of mine so for me they are bad pics. Camera is a Pentax kr DSLR. When i get fish in and plant growth, ill be doing some proper photo shoots!

The fluval is leaking from the hinge joint, (very common problem i hear) i greased the gasket ring but it didnt help. Here is a pic (not mine, another off the net) www.aquariacentral.com/forums/attachment...thumb=1&d=1260680304

@draco, Thats an excellent idea using the teflon tape!
@blueram, LOL, I suppose i just prefer blue to black! Its the same one you gave me with the tank, i just turned it around

good tip chris

ah the blue looks good just first time i seen it handy backin so u can have black or blue knew there was a reason that backing paper cause me 25euro hahaha

Sean

Hi Draco. Thanks for asking. Tank seems to be OK. The black substance is still on the plants, its most likely a fine dusting of the substrate from the initial planting and filling tank, but does not dust off very easily. There is definately an oil content in the ADA dsubstrate as on first filling the tank i was skimming it off, and i think it was some of this that coated the plants, which the substrate dust then stuck to. It has slightly improved with the disturbance from the water changes im doing. I am still concerned that it will stop the plants breathing, and that it will act as a base for algae to grow on the leaves.

One s. repens plant looks like it might not make it, some leaves rotting, and some of leaves on the hydrocotyle verticilla have melted, but just a few. Some leaves on the vallisneria are starting to go opaque so id say they will be hopped off by me soon!

The HC and gloss are looking good and the Bacopa australias and echinodorus red diamond are looking great.

Ive added a spray bar, and doing 30% water changes every 2 days. Light is 5 hours, going up to 6 this weekend when the tank will be a week old. Still playing with getting the 3 bubbels set properly. Will wait until 2 weeks are up before adding ferts (profito) Have a second external filter for extra filtration and current which i will direct the outlet across the back of the tank at mid level. The diffuser is under the second filter outlet, and the current will push water under the spraybar and along the back of the tank, and keep the co2 from rising to the top.

Its early days yet, im still holding my breath that disaster does not strike!!!