"Shrimp Towers" - Carpeted tank Dry Start Method

My CRS have happily lived in my 20 litre Fluval Spec for the past year but after coming across a special offer in Petmania I found the perfect excuse to upgrade their accomodation.

I decided to do a heavily carpted planted tank. The seeds I had were bought of the internet and not entirely sure exactly what I bought at only a few euros.

Picked up the Beamswork 300 LED lights off e-bay and am seriously impressed by the quality and power of the system. Used a small bag of Amazonia Powder that I had not used as the substrate and picked up the stone for the hardscape.

Day 1 - 04/04
Layout decide upon. I had painted the back of the tank with acrylic paint the evening before,





Day 6 - 10/04
Starting to see plants germinate. Tank light had been on 24 hours a day and sprayed down with water containing liquid fertiliser daily. Tank was covered with cling film to keep humidity up and stop plants drying out.



Day 7 - 11/04
What a difference 24 hours make



Day 9 - 13/04
Decided to drop lighting to day time only. Hope to flood tank in a week after plants have best chance to develop strong roots and not float away. Have a air driven sponge filter cycling in the big tank since the start of this.





More updates to follow.
Dave

Wow, those have grown quick.
Are they the sort of seed you buy from China on eBay and they just say 'carpeting seed' or something?
Can't wait to see it filled and see what happens to the plants then.

Thanks Jonlate. Yes it was two different seed varieties described as carpeting plants from Chine. Not off eBay but Geek (similar enought) 4 euros for 4 packets including postage. You wait about a month for them to arrive mind you !!

Decided to flood the tank yesterday as I'll be away this weekend. Just water no agitation in it as filter not added. Now that I have this once it settles I think I'll transfer the fish from the 170 litre tank. About 20 tetras and do the DSM planted method on it.

Flooded tank yesterday. Will add filter after another week and heater.

Wow! real nice. Will have to look into getting some myself.

Wow that looks class. Have you a link for seeds ?

I will be interested to see how tall they grow as well. I have often wondered about getting some, but didn't know big they would grow.

Wow , incredable looking , will see how you get on ,but might try them myself , only one question what about doing gravel cleans ?

Not the link I bought from but the packet is the same. Look at this on eBay www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192118738128

Robert hopefully any poo will stay on top of the carpet. Stir up the water column to get it to rise and vacuum would be the plan.

Were the seeds tiny I bought some off aliexpress I've a ton of them to use haha

Yes super tiny seeds Iain like sugar granule size.

Must give mine a bash

Photos taken on Sunday which is 19 days since the start. Added air filter and heater yesterday plus API Quick Start. The filter had been in my big tank since the start of whole project so happy it's almost cycled. Monitor levels in it for a week.

Plan is then to move the 28 or so tertras from my big 180 tank while I do the same DSM on it.

Coming along very nicely! Looking forward to see fish in it!

Really looking great

Moved the 17 tetras, 1 Betta & 2 SAE's from the 180 litre while I do the DSM method in that. Started the DSM in big tank 3 days ago already germinated.