Thinking of converting 20 Gallon?

I have converted my 7 Gallon and got into trouble with anaerobic spots in sand bed, therefore reluctant on dirting 20 gallon as I don't want to kill my fish and gravel is not an option as I already bought the sand before even planning it. I wanted to know a few things

1)How can I stop those anaerobic spot forming, someone send just do a thin bed as my 7 gallon bed is kinda big?

2)Want beginner plants do you suggest I would like a carpet plant at the front and background plant preferably reaching the surface of the water also a floating plant I tried duckweed but my betta ate it all in a week?

Here is some info on setup

Tank Size = 36''x12''x12''

Lighting = 2x 24Watt T5 HO 6500K Bulbs

CO2 = I have a diffuser and will set-up DIY if necessary

Substrate = Aquatic Compost + Clay + Sand ( I have some calcium carbonate pills that contain calcium, magnesium and zinc could I break these capsules up and put in substrate?

Filter = Aquaclear 30 + Fluval U1 ( I will be getting a filter that runs 160 gallon as house soon and that will replace my Fluval U1)

Fish = Betta, 9Neon Tetra's, 4 Cory catfish ( Any suggestion on anything else I could add I am going to beef the cory catfish stock to 6)

Other = I have an air pump and a big piece of driftwood.

I am sorry if that was long to read but I tried making sure that you would have all the information needed.

Thanks

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Hmoobthor on August 11, 2011 at 6:23pm

Dustin say that it doesn't matter cause sand will build anaerobic gas not matter what cause dirt is under it. You gotta have MTS or something to stir up the dirt so it would build up.

Mine is doing the same thing..it smell kind of bad..lol but...i notice that the white fungus on my sand are almost gone...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan on August 11, 2011 at 8:59pm

Yeah, get malaysian trumpet snails. Your tank has really high light if it is only 12" tall so you should use that CO2. You should be able to grow any plant with that amount of light

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by PDeppa on August 11, 2011 at 11:09pm

@Dan

Wow I never new that I had high light I thought it was considered low lighting, but could anyone suggest some plants I wanted my foreground plant to be HC and the floating plants to be water lettuce but what about background plants I want something that will grow big.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Greg Thomas on September 6, 2011 at 12:18pm

48 watts of T5 HO on a 12" high tank is definitely high light (depending on your reflector as to how high). You may be Ok with CO2. If algae becomes a problem, you may want to raise your lights higher above the tank. Floating plants may also help dim them as well.