I have once again started the aquarium hobby. I started with the cube. I poured the old substrate. Placed a drift wood in the middle. Bought a sponge filter and pump. Resurrected an old hang on filter (the smaller one) and installed it. Working just fine after 7 years.
After letting all this run for a few days I brought some plants from a new store in North Calcutta. Petcraftz. Asif gave me the contact details. They are located at Gouribari near the Jain temple. Very large home kind of shop in a shed. They distribute Sri Padma plants. They seemed very decent. Only problem is the distance.
From them I bought a Java fern wrinkle leaf (in Sri Padma branded packaging) and anubias nana petit. I also bought a clump of christmas moss. The fern and the moss came stuck to a small aluminium grid that helps them to stay sunk in the bottom.
The moss had some browning parts. I have kept it in my bed room under my table lamp. Every morning I add a couple of ice cubes. They seem to be doing fine. Don't look so brown any more.
I tied the nana to the drift wood with black thread. Looking nice. The water was looking a little muddy in the first week or so. But now it has cleared up. I am yet to keep any live fish or shrimp. I have half a mind to keep a few Amano shrimps in it.
These plants are very clean. There is no snail infestation so far.
I bought two ADA root tabs from Little Mermaid on Kabir Road because the substrate has nothing in it.
I have given the CO2 cylinder to Buro for refilling. You cannot exchange empty cylinders for filled in ones any more. Now he writes down your phone number on the cylinder and returns it to you after filling. I gave it on Sunday and today is Wednesday still not done.
When I get the CO2 I intend to get a pot of hydrocotile tripartita mini and perhaps some sag. I want the sag to creep up the wood and the grass to fill the foreground.
I have spoken to another guy called Ayan who lives in Kakinada. I intend to get two anubias nanas and two clumps of anubias dragon claw. I might even get a few crypt wendti.
Let me see where this renewed journey takes me. Actually I hate two things about keeping a tank. A. the need to trim yhe plants. B. algae control. Most hobbyists exit the hobby when algaes take over their tanks.
As of now I keep the tank covered by a grey cloth during the day to block ambient light. And in evening give 5/6 hours of light from the LED set up.
I will try and see if a timer can be used for the light and CO2. Light even I can with a smart switch but CO2 I am not too sure about.
This is what my tank looks like in mid May after the first round of planting.
