First topic message reminder :

So Petco is having the $1 per gallon sale going on right now and I had room for a 40 breeder. The dimensions of this tank is 36"L x 18"W x 16"H. I had to pick one up considering the the last one we purchased cost $100+.
So the other 40 planted is getting torn down so I can use the flourite for the 75 planted (Marineland plant LED). Also so Jen can spread some of her fish out that she has acquired .
I have been reading a lot on mineralized soil and wanted to get some opinions from everyone. If you have a planted tank that has dirt in it please share. I have purchased a Aquasun T5 HO that holds 2 39 Watt 36" lamps. I am thinking of doing dirt as the substrate capped with PFS (Pool Filter Sand). The reason I am leaning toward mineralized soil is no fertilizers , with pretty good results. Has anyone done this? Was it worth the effort? I can find dolomite at petco but I don't need as much as they sell in the smallest package. Also where do I find muriate of potash? Which brand of topsoil should be used? I know organic is the way to go but there are a ton on the market now. Soil is also sold by quarts so how much would be enough for a 40 breeder? I have bulbs coming in the mail and the empty tank sitting in my living room. All I need is the substrate and my filters are cycled on another tank.

I know I want to attempt a carpet of Dwarf baby tears , and my favorite plant so far Ludwigia Repens. The hard scape is gonna consist of driftwood and a few river stones. I would attempt to attach Java moss to the dw but it took over my ten gallon and was so hard to get it all out. Possibly some corkscrew Val and some anubias nana.
I have heard of indicator plants but don't know of any, can anyone suggest any?

I am sure I will have a bunch more to ask everyone, so bare with me.

I wonder if moss would do well with floating plants as a FW refugium? I have been thinking about turning my Wet/Dry into one.

I have thought about this myself. I have some of that mosquito fern in my sump now as a test. It has already multiplied . I have the sump under the 125 and it get sunlight for about 3-4 hours a day. Hopefully it reduces nitrates or any spikes of ammonia or nitrates.

do you have your sump setup as a wet/dry or refugium. I have a extra 18w 24' fixture with a flora bulb. Have my 90G Mbuna hooked up to a sump wet/dry. This tank constantly creates algae and definitely would like at least some cut back in growth.

Have you thought about and algae scrubber? I have it set up as a wet dry.

love what you did with the power head water bottle. can you explain a little more how it works and what you id to build it? genius! haha

Yes I will make a DIY thread when i get off.

Nice Flip!

Thanks Mike. The DIY you Requested Robby is posted.
The tank is now on a regular water change schedule with no extras. Last water change was Sunday and readings are as follows
PH 7.6
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 4ppm
Nitrates 0ppm

Its been a while since my last update on this tank. The tanks has grown a lot and things have taken a turn. Green hair algae has struck.
I just got done with a 5 day blackout to see if it would cut the algae growth back. So far very good results. There was a lot of negatives to this as well. I had a lot of plants melt and not all the algae is gone. The algae has cut back to less then half.
My main reason for updating is this surprise I found in the tank this afternoon.
This snail appeared and it has a leach like creature riding it. Does anyone know what they are?

Some progression pics
The plants have really grown, and the duckweed has been removed multiple times and fed to the viejas and Richard (buttikoferi)

Other than that strange snail/leech thing do you have any other livestock? I've read that Jordanella floridae (American Flag Fish) are good at controlling green hair algae but also can be aggressive.

Your snail has worms, lol! Joking, the tank looks great! I'm having the same issue with algae with my garage tank. Trying out the API Algaefix, I'll let you know how it does. Do note, it says not to use on freshwater crustaceans.