Tank: 17 US gallons (15.7 × 15.7 × 15.7 in cube)
Glass: 0.16 in Optiwhite, top-braced
Filter: HW 603B canister with stainless steel in/out pipes
Heater: Invital 100 W
Light: Sinkor Optima

Substrate:
– volcanic lava rock (0.24–0.71 in)
– Invital Unisoil
– Controlsoil
– quartz sand

Hardscape:
Dragon stone
Red Moor wood

Stand:
Modified IKEA kitchen cabinet (11.8 in wide), reinforced for aquarium use.

Plants:
Multiple Rotala varieties, Ludwigia, Microsorum ‘Windelov’, Pogostemon, Cladophora (marimo), Bacopa, Limnobium, Phyllanthus fluitans.

No fertilizers yet (will be added soon).
No CO₂ for now, but planning to add pressurized CO₂ in 1–2 months.

Tank was set up 2 weeks ago, plants added after the first week.
Seeded with bacteria from a friend’s established, healthy tank — injected into the substrate and added to the filter.

Planned livestock: shrimp and possibly Celestial Pearl Danios (Galaxy Rasboras).
Aiming for red-toned stem plants and mosses with different shades of green.

Next steps:
– Add a background (still deciding; considering white or gradient backlight)
– Clean hose routing through the cabinet top
– More plants/mosses and start fertilization
– RO water for water changes starting January

Feedback welcome 👍

[Freshwater] Back to fishkeeping after a few years – 17g planted cube