u/Impressive_cat_coal

This is my first attempt at a Walstad-style planted bowl.
I followed instructions more or less exactly according to this video of Dr Walstad demonstrating how to build a small tank.

This is day 2! I went about this with a pretty laissez-faire attitude, trying to emulate the great Dr Walstad herself

Here’s what I did:

Day 0:
-purchase bowl
-mix potting soil with a small amount of of play sand. I did NOT sift out my soil. Or even really check for big lumps.
-soak basic indoor potting soil (I used miracle grow because I already had some)

Day 1 (pic 3)
-added plants- Anubias, Alternanthera Reinickii(scarlet temple), Posostemon Stellatus (Octopus plant), Java Fern, Christmas moss, flame moss, duck weed
-cap with washed play sand
-add water- in this case I used tank water from another tank getting a water change in order to help speed things along
-add a light (40 watt 600 lumen wet application bulb)

Day 2 (pics 1&2)
-change 75% of water to remove floating particles
-dust off leaves, scoop out floating perlite and soil detritus
-parameter check:
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate: 20 ppm- 40 ppm
PH: 7.4-7.6

I’ll continue to monitor my levels for the next for weeks before I decide whether to introduce a few shrimp

This is my first attempt at a Walstad-style planted bowl.
I followed instructions more or less exactly according to this video of Dr Walstad building a small tank.

This is day 2! I went about this with a pretty laissez-faire attitude, trying to emulate the great Dr Walstad herself

Here’s what I did:

Day 0:
-purchase bowl
-mix potting soil with a small amount of of play sand. I did NOT sift out my soil. Or even really check for big lumps.
-soak basic indoor potting soil (I used miracle grow because I already had some)

Day 1:
-added plants- Anubias, Alternanthera Reinickii(scarlet temple), Posostemon Stellatus (Octopus plant), Java Fern, Christmas moss, flame moss, duck weed
-cap with washed play sand
-add water- in this case I used tank water from another tank getting a water change in order to help speed things along
-add a light (40 watt 600 lumen wet application cfl)

Day 2:
-change 75% of water to remove floating particles
-dust off leaves, scoop out floating perlite and soil detritus
-parameter check:
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate: 20 ppm- 40 ppm
PH: 7.4-7.6

Looking for advice on how to “fix” this guy- he had a rough few months last year but he’s finally doing better and I’m wondering if I can top it and prop the healthy bit in water?