I have a 2nd hand Aqua one AR980 and 2 buckets of sand from an established planted tank
tank was dirty so gave it a quick rinse and clean
started cleaning the sand with the hose and sand at the base had that lovely anaerobic smell
flushed as best i could and put it into tank about 2cm at front to 6cm at the back
started slowly filling with the hose
while it was filling i planted some ambulia, baby tears, vallisneriia and a couple of amazon swords anthonylaw gave me
when the tank was full it was very cloudy as some of the sand was pretty fine
set up the overhead filter with ceramic and glass noodles, sponges and filter wool on top of that to help clear water
set heater and filter going
left it for 2 days for the water to clear then replaced the filter wool
temp running at26c
4th day still slightly cloudy
got given 30 guppies and swordtails so did a 50% water change and acclimated them over 1/2 hr in a bucket and put in tank
5th day put in a piece of driftwood i had in the turtle pond and some java moss
7th day did 30% water change
9th day put a pair of marble angels in tank and some mollies as i had no where else to put them
10th day 30% water change and removed 2 dead guppies (they were skinny when they came in)
14th day changed filter wool and did 30% water change, Angels have claimed back corner of tank and laid eggs
cleaned front glass algae started
put timer on lights as i kept forgetting to turn them off overnight
16th day put small golden algae eater in tank
Angels eggs gone
18th day did 25% water change
21st day had to trim ambulia and baby tears back, 2 dead guppies, 1 skinny female, 1 male with torn fins