Setup Process

Measurements to be taken
NH3 - Should be 0 to introduce fishes
NO3 - Should be 0 to introduce fishes
NO2 - Between 10 and 20 ppm to introduce fishes
PH - 6.5 to 7
GH - 100 ppm in my tap water. good enough
KH - 50 ppm (or 3dKH). Tap water has 120 ppm.
CO2 - 30 bubbles / min after planted

Day 0

1. Assemble Stand and cut hole for hose
2. Place tank on stand and sump inside the stand
3. Connect the plumbing between tank and sump
4. Place Hospital tank inside stand (beside Sump)
5. Clean tank interior
6. Soak driftwood to remove tannin (continue till no more tannin)

Day 1

1. Fix heater (set to 82F) and thermometer
2. Fix CO2 diffuser (not entire system)
3. Fix Aerator
4. Fix electrical equipments and timers (see next post on electrical setup)
5. Layer substrates (except gravel and stone from old aquarium)
6. Fill up tank and sump with water
7. Start pump and electrical equipments
8. Add ammonia with dropper and record number of drops to measure upto 5ppm
9. Add Fritz Zyme
10. Place gravels and stone from old aquarium
11. Measure parameters (NH3, NO3, NO2, KH, GH, PH)

Day 2 - Day n - These steps will continue as long as NH3 & NO3 gets to zero. Measurements will continue forever and adjustments made as necessary

1. Measure parameters
2. Add ammonia to reset to 5 ppm

Day 11 (Hoping NO2 started to build by now)

1. Buy plants
2. Clean aquarium and do 20% water change if required
3. Fix Co2 system with diffuser
4. Set Soleniod valve to timer (see next post for electrical system setup)
5. Reset lighting timers
6. Attach moss to driftwood and place in aquarium
7. Attach riccia to riccia stone and place in aquarium
8. Plant other plans as per layout planned

Day 22 (Hoping NH3 & NO3 has zeroed out by now)

1. Do partial water change
2. Add aquarium salt to water
3. Fix timer to moon light (see details of electrical setup in next post)
4. Attach feeders
5. Add 3 danios
6. Discontinue adding ammonia

Day 25 - Add betta and pleco

Day 28 - Add corys

Day 31 - Add Platties

Day 37 - Add 2 discus

Day 42 - Add 2 more discus

Measure for ammonia build up between Day 25 and Day 45 (more critical than ever)