*adding that the dirt would be for rooting maybe some swords with a rock barrier around them or similar. Obviously I'm sifting through many ideas!
how is this the fist time I'm learning about this?! Brilliant! Thank you!Ammonia and nitrite are toxic and kill fish - nitrate is responsible for the chronic issues like hith.
Invest in a python (or similar siphon) - it makes water changes so much more convenient.
The plan is to heavily plant it before the fish get in there. I have kind of a "thing" for heavily planted tanks...so I'm already brainstorming how I can do it with a fish that likes to dig. Planning round rocks, smooth driftwood, floating plants, and things like java fern and annubias attached to hardscape...I might also try a dirted tank with a layer of sand on top, then a hard plastic divider (like the egg crate dividers if you know what I'm referencing), then more sand on top of that. Thinking I'll have to use silicone to adhere the divider to the glass so it doesn't get shifted around. Possibly the same with the driftwood and *some* rocks but I want to leave some to be moved as desired by the fish...
Honestly I'll probably sketch a plan and put this together over several weeks/months.
Does heavy planting with oscars work to extend time between water changes? it works fantastically in my other tanks but I've never owned a fish above 3" so....
And water changes aren't such a big deal. I stay at home, plus the garden is outside the door closest to where the tank will be....
Get a Python water changer or just use a pool pump with a hose. Don’t do the old back breaker bucket method lolHow about filling the tank? I have a sink pretty close by to the tank location, I'm sure I could get an adapter for the hose and just fill it up. We live in the country so no need to de-chlorinate first. Actually, good grief, that would really make it easier to do water changes on that than my others now that I think about it (for the other tanks I just do the traditional siphon and bucket method).
Will high nitrates cause HITH or is that more nitrites & ammonia? All the more reason for more plants!![]()