8 Gallon Day One

7.9 Gallon tank
Black Diamond blasting sand
Finnex PX 360 canister filter
Osmocote Plus capsules
Kent Pro Series Pro-Plant
CO2

Micro Sword, Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Ludwigia Dark Red
Dwarf Baby Tears, Hemianthus callitrichoides
Anubias Nana Petite
African water fern, Bolbitis heudelotii

Pearling

I had read both good and bad about the manual CO2 dispenser that comes with the Fluval Flora tanks. I am very happy with mine and glad I decided to get one for my Ebi tank. I am now considering getting one for my basic 10 gallon tank.

8 gallon day 52

The plants could use another trimming. Still no fauna other than a few pond snails. No more algae problems since I started using excell and upped the amount of CO2 I use. The new filter made a huge difference too. After I am well I intend on doing some research to see if I can add cut off valves to the Finnex to make maintenance easier. I also plan to move the CO2 dispenser to the back of the tank where it will be hidden by plants.
I am so very happy with how well the Fissidens fontanus is doing in this tank. It is thriving in it where I could not keep the expensive moss alive at all in my other 2 tanks.

new filter for 8 gallon

The internal filter that came with the 8 gallon fluval tank had nice flow but I hated how it would come apart in the tank when touched. Yesterday I replaced it with a Finnex px-360 canister filter. The new filter is extremely quiet, silent actually and works great. I wish it came with cut-off valves for maintenance. The glass top no longer fits because of the filter intake/outflow so I cut a piece of lexan to replace it.
I also started using Flourish Excel in that same tank to help with the algae outbreak.  Installed the Cobalt Neo Therm 25 Watt heater finally. It works great and is so incredibly thin. It barely takes up any space at all.

Pin holes

My anubias nana has started showing signs of potassium deficiency so yesterday I started supplementing with some API Leaf Zone. It only contains potassium and iron so I will continue to also use the flourish but on another day.

With today's water changes I trimmed and planted stems in all three tanks. The 8 gallon is getting some diatom algae. I sucked most of it out. Thought about moving a couple of my Amano Japonica  shrimp in there to take care of it but I really do not want to add any livestock to that tank yet.

While planting my stems I did note that of the 3 different substrates I am using the plain old Black Diamond is my favorite.  The hardest to plant in is the Flourite. I will never use that again.

< 8 gallon day 7

It has only been 7 days and the plants have grown a LOT. I cut off the melted Cryptocoryne walkeri 'lutea' leaves and there are a bunch of new ones. All of the plants are doing really well.I am going to let the stems get just a little bit taller then I plan to trim them down a bit and plant the cuttings.

I am happy with this little mini CO2 set-up and am glad I got it. So far I have been filling the 2 compartments every 2 days.
Adding the 2nd light was a good choice too. While I do like the filter, it seems to have good flow and is very quiet..... I am planning to replace it with a Eheim 2213. I do not like that the stock internal filter tends to come apart if moved. Which means that it will most likely do that when it needs to be taken out and cleaned.

< 8 gallon planted tank day one

Day one so it is a bit cloudy. 7.9 gallon Fluval EBI tank. I removed the styrofoam rock background because I read too many stories along with photos showing the thing can and will eventually pop out breaking the glass top and light. It can be siliconed in but I thought it looked cheap. It removed very easily with no pressure so I have no doubt it would have popped out.
Extra light and Fluval Mini Pressurized CO2 Kit have been added. Substrate is 20/40 grit Black Diamond. I am using root tabs and liquid ferts.



Plant list...
Fissidens fontanus
Ludwigia species 'Atlantis'
Ludwigia hybrid species 'Red'
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Echinodorus bolivianus
Mayaca fluviatilis
Cryptocoryne walkeri 'lutea'
Lobelia cardinalis, Small Form
One little Marsilea quadrifolia that came as a stow away in the Hydrocotyle order. I planted it in the front by itself for now to see if it will take root. If it does I may order some.
I cannot wait for the Fissidens to grow and cover the glue.