The new 55 gallon or how I dirt planted tanks with diggers.

      Taking advantage of petco and it's dollar a gallon sale I snatched up a 55 gallon tank for 55 bucks. hoorah! The tank fits my dresser perfectly and I had purchased the T5HO in anticipation of a 4ft upgrade. The tank is about 2/3rds full to allow for some emergent growth and some hydroponic growth of pothos and other clinging climbers. 

     I usually use Miracle Grow Organic Choice potting mix under my gravel in planted tanks but this tank is for Filament barbs and 4 medium sized catfish who are potential diggers. My strategy so i can  have the benefits of potting soil in the tank,while reducing the chance that the fish Will make a mess, is to use it only directly under the plants and away from the hides.  

     I first put down an inch of pool filter sand. I arranged the hardscape, which in this case is replica rocks that are hollow. I like the false rocks because not only do they allow for hiding spots but displace less water. Unfortunately they all pretty much look the same so you've gotta be careful when arranging to hide this fact.The rocks were arranged and once i was satisfied i pushed them down into the sand. I then hollowed out where i wanted to plant, moving the sand out of the way, down to the glass. 

     I then filled in the hollows with the potting soil. Make sure to stay at least two inches away from the rock formations with the soil, because if the fish modify the hides, they'll dig out there. I then poured another inch of sand over the everything. I planted in such a way as to  fish a straight through dash of the tank, to minimize plant disturbances. These plants were from my other established tanks and had well developed root systems and are well anchored,. Still, i wanted to reduce the chances of fish weaving in and out of them and getting tangled.

     I chose really robust plants for this tank, seeing as it was full of heavy hitters and potential plant eaters. Mainly this tank is full of crypts(lutia and spiralis), willow hygro, amazon swords, dwarf sag. and tiawon lilly(get it from a fish club memeber). Strappy and tough leafed plants that also bend easily enough. I will also add sunset hygro, and some other more "delicate" but fast growing plants just to test the barbs appetites. 

     The barbs don't seem to be too voracious in their plant eating, more opportunistic then anything and with the roots from floaters and duck weed i believe they'll be distracted with these easy marks and will be less focused on eating my hardier plants. If they insist on eating these plants, i have no problem just doing anubias, java fern, african fern and mosses for plants, other then the price.

     Since i was using fairly well aged filters and decorations in this tank i had no problem setting up the tank and adding fish immediately. To be on the safe side i am adding an instant cycle product to ease the transition.