60cm Planted Tank

[voo]

Just wondering if you had an update for us all. How are the plants looking now, especially the Utricularia graminifolia ?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Just wondering if you had an update for us all. How are the plants looking now, especially the Utricularia graminifolia ?

Voo,

Thanks for the interest, I've been meaning to update this thread, but never seemed to get around to it

The tank is still doing fine and looking much more like I wanted it too, however there have been a few changes.

All the Lilaeopsis mauritiana has been removed, it was a very slow grower and the only thing in the tank that was suffering from algae. I did have a bit of an earlier problem with algae growing on the moss on the bogwood, but this only lasted for a couple of weeks and cleared up as soon as the moss adapted and started growing.

The Pogostemon helferi is growing well and some of the taller plants have been planted in place of the Lilaeopsis.

In the foreground the Utricularia graminifolia made a complete carpet, my shrimp love the stuff and are always down in amongst it cleaning and now it's more firmly established it doesn't get uprooted.

In fact the graminifolia has been doing really well. When I replanted some of the foreground, I took the opportunity to thin it out. It was replanted in small clumps again ( a bit like when first planted) and has almost fully carpeted for a second time.

Obviously the faster growers need to be kept in check. The HC and Rotala need cutting back on a regular basis (sometimes quite drastically) and have filled out almost beyond recognition.

The Prosperpinaca palustris "Cuba" has taken on a nice copper colour, this has also been trimmed back and the cuttings are currently growing out in another tank. I quite like this plant once it's leaves adapt to underwater conditions and (given enough light) colours up and will probably use it again.

I also added 6 'Golden' Rasbora's, these are very similar to the usual Harlequins. One of these died within 24 hours of going into the tank, but the remaining 5 have been fine for the past couple of weeks. Their colour contrasts well with the copper of the P. palustris and the dark red/brown of the wood.
The shrimp are thirving in there and regularly molt and the 3 Otocinclus are doing fine.

Note: I've read a few reports of people having problems with otto's, I've never had any (maybe just lucky), I currently have a total of 9 between my tanks and all doing fine.

I'm still using ADA Brighty K and Step 1ferts. I still have enough Step 1 for another week or so and have just ordered some ADA Step 2 and extra Brighty K.

I'll get a couple of other pics taken and update.....

Thanks again

Al

 

[Rafael Dilone]

That is a amazing tank you have manage to set up Cnat wait to see it with some fish

 

[Themuleous]

Its coming along really nicely mate, great growth and looks nice and algae free. Just one thing, the Pogostemon helferi on the right looks a bit lots behind the Utricularia graminifolia? Just a thought

Sam

 

[MoreCoffee]

Its coming along really nicely mate, great growth and looks nice and algae free. Just one thing, the Pogostemon helferi on the right looks a bit lots behind the Utricularia graminifolia? Just a thought

Sam

Thanks for the comments Sam, I think you're right about the P. helferi. However those pics were taken before I reworked the foreground and removed the Lilaeopsis.
I'll post some updated pics by the weekend and you'll soon notice the difference. P helferi has replace the are where the Lilaeopsis used to be and the U. graminifolia has been extended a bit.

If anything the P. helferi is growing taller than I'd expected it too .... from what I've read this can be down to too little light, but I've got 3 x 24W T5 tubes over this 60cm tank with a photo period of 11hours, so I would have thought that would have been enough.

One thing I must do is something to hide the filter intake and outflow more. George suggested painting them with black acrylic paint to hide against the black background. Sounds like a good, quick fix, but I'm not sure if ordinary acrylic paint is OK for the job or if I need something a bit more specialised for use in an aquarium.


Cheers
Al

 

[MoreCoffee]

Here's a quick pic update of the tank. Since these pics were taken the filter inlet and outflow have been repositioned. The outflow is now in the corner facing forward. The water flow now pushes the CO2 bubbles around the tank better, the other way they were just getting pushed into the rotala and not around the rest of the tank.

These were taken a few days after after cutting back the Rotala.

03 Oct 06:

There are still a few gaps in the U. graminifolia after thinning it out. As mentioned in an earlier post, I reworked the forground and took out the Lilaeopsis.
Again my lack of photographic skill makes it look yellower than it is, it's acutally a light/bright green.

03 Oct 06:

17 Sept 06: - Prosperpinaca palustris "Cuba"

This pic shows the colouring of the P. palustris better. Some of it has been cut back to encourage
bushier regrowth.
The matching of the copper colour and the red of the wood is something I'm quite pleased about.
It's what I was aiming for, but actually worked out better than I'd hoped.
If only everything turned out like that !!


Cheers

Al

 

[voo]

Tank is looking good, but the Pogostemon helferi at the front right looks a bit squashed. Is it still there? Maybe remove it and let the plant behind it fill that space?

The Pogostemon helferi at the front right seems to have grown better than that at the back left though? Is there some i see growing on the front left too?

Rather than paint the inlet and outlet for the filter would it be possible to place it on the back right so all the plants hide it?

What did you do with the U. graminifolia you took out?

Also, what overhead lighting is that?

 

[Themuleous]

Thats some mad growth Mr G, excellent work! Just one thing what about removing the moss (presume java moss) from the wood? I think it looks cool when the likes of amano and justin law have bare wood sticking out the plants?

Sam

 

[tophat665]

Hot damn! That's a beautiful tank. Well done.

 

[zig]

This is great Mr G.

I agree about the P.helferi stems in the front, well, looking a bit stemmy, but they look V good in the background, other than that very nice job.

Couple of questions if i may, do you have any algae problems with this setup currently, and how long is the light duration on this tank and lastly at what stage are you in the ADA fertiliseation regime? Thankyou.

 

[Neal]

What's the cactus like plant in the left background? I think that might look good in my nano as it seems to have a small and interesting leaf size.
Thanks,

Neal

 

[lljdma06]

This is great Mr G.

I agree about the P.helferi stems in the front, well, looking a bit stemmy, but they look V good in the background, other than that very nice job.

Couple of questions if i may, do you have any algae problems with this setup currently, and how long is the light duration on this tank and lastly at what stage are you in the ADA fertiliseation regime? Thankyou.

I completely agree with Zig on this, beautiful tank Mr. G. Everything looks so healthy. I would also love to have this information. I apologize for not reading this thread earlier. Great setup.

With regard to your ealier oto comment, the key is purchasing otos that have been at the LFS for quite some time. At least 2 weeks or more, though stores unfortunately do not quaranteen their fish when they are received. Otos are wild caught and their internal organs are often damaged in transit. An oto that has been at a store for 2 weeks and is fat is more than likely eating well and is a good choice for purchase. I still have the three otos I have purchased. I also try really hard not to buy on stock day. I buy the day before, less selection, but fish have been at the store longer.

I look forward to continued updates. Great job!

llj

 

[MoreCoffee]

All: Thanks for the comments / feedback. This is the first tank I've done as a 'high tech' planted tank from the outset and all gratefully received.

Voo: I agree with the comments about the P. helferi at the front, it does look too leggy and squashed.
The difference in growth rates between front/back is probably due to different planting times. The plants at
the back were moved around when I reworked the foreground. They also get more light back there, so stay lower.

Themuleous: Thanks, some of the moss may be thinned out from the two bits of wood that are totally covered, but only to reveal a bit of wood. Some of the ends on this wood was cut a bit square and looked un-natural, the moss hides it and softens the edges.


Zig / lljdma06: Yeah the P. helferi does look too crampped up and leggy. I dont think it's getting enough light down there, so I'll rework that area.

Algae:
I did suffer from some BBA on the Lilaeopsis before I removed it and also something that looked like staghorn where some of the moss seemed to have died off.
Currently I can only see signs of a slight algae build up low down on that leggy P. helferi and I get some green dust on the glass that gets wipped off just before a water change and a few green spots develop on the plastic pipework, but overall nothing that is causing me any concern at the moment.

Lighting:
There are 3 x 24w tubes over this tank (Arcadia Plant Pro). They are on for 11 hours a day.

The original tubes that came with this luminaire (just a cheap one off Ebay) were some unbranded, chinese made 14000K marine type tubes.
One of these got left in longer than it should have been, so for a while it had 2 x Arcadia tubes and 1 x original tube - Could this have contributed to the Staghorn and BBA ?
It seems to have cleared up, since changing that 3rd tube and introducing the 1hr light break !

Ferts:
The tank has been on ADA step 1 & Brighty K since setting up ( Mid Aug 06 ), I still have enough Step 1 left for 2 - 3 weeks, after which time it will move over to Step 2 , Brighty K. & Green Brighty Special - Lights
A bit quicker than the recommended 3 month period, but thats the plan !

Regarding the P. helferi - The fact that it looks wrong is plainly obvious to me now ....... Funny how you dont always notice these things until you post a pic and people point it out.
Thats what comes of seeing the tank every day, you dont always notice things you sould.
Thats also why it's good to post updates and get feeback from others.

Many thanks
Al

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Nice one Al.

I noticed your moss isnt looking to perky on your wood. Maybee removing it like some one eles said would be better or try retieing it more densly on the wood and then when it starts to grow well try cutting it back hard regularly and that should give a good thick pad of moss.

You seem to have cracked using ADA, good job!

When your UG is looking top notch, it would be nice to see a posy shot with all your equipment removed etc.

 

[hunterm8]

Hay MR G

very attractive tank!

Whats your view on the aquaone euroview tank you have there! I was considering getting one and would appreciate your view.

cheers mick