Chris' 40 Uk Gallon Journal

[chr15_8]

tank size: (internal dimensions where water is present) 46x15x16 (about 41 uk gallon/185 litres)

lighting: 90 watts t8's giving 2.9 wpg + 3x reflectors (not included in wpg)

substrate: tropica aquacare with 3mm gravel on top

co2: jbl profi set 2 with a DIY external reator

filter: Eheim 2224 Professionel External Filter + Eheim 2232 Ecco

heater: standard heater

fertilizers: EI

Fish: 45 neon tetra's, 6 red cherry shrimp, 6 ottos

Plants: (all tropica)
bacopa australis, Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig', lilaeopsis brasiliensis,rotala rotundifolia, Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba',Ludwigia repens



hopefully going to order the last remaining bits from AE to plant over easter

a few pics


the reactor, co2 and Eheim 2224 Professionel

close up of the reactor

the tank with plants in waiting to be planted next week (any idea what the 3 plants are along the back are (all the same)

any suggestions wlecome
chris

 

[cheesy feet]

Wow Looks great,but needs much more plants

 

[chr15_8]

Wow Looks great,but needs much more plants

thanks

yep im ordering the last lot tonight or tommorow from ae then i have to add my other light to give me just under 3wpg from the temprey tank

 

[wei0204]

Wow, a big nice tank, hope to see it get planted soon.

 

[SuperColey1]

Can't tell what they are really from that sitance but they look a bit like Elodia/Egeria Densa which is a great starter plant as it grows like the clappers, and releases some sort of chemical which is supposed to be good for the fish.

andy

 

[chr15_8]

Can't tell what they are really from that sitance but they look a bit like Elodia/Egeria Densa which is a great starter plant as it grows like the clappers, and releases some sort of chemical which is supposed to be good for the fish.

andy

i know its not a good picture at all but will be getting a better pic when its under better light i was hoping it was a fast grower as it looked alot like someelse (cant remember who though)



and ive noticed abit of blanket weed (might be called thread algea) whats the best thing to do?


im not dosing any ferts yet as ive just orderd them (havent got them yet) ive just uped my co2 as its droped while i was messing around with the co2 rector yesturday my light is just under 1 wpg at the moment

only got a couple of fish in at the moment might add a couple of the ottos to help out

thanks
chris

 

[mlawson]

Looking good. Yes, that plant looks like Elodia densa.
How many pots of plants did you get? Just wondering because I might be planting a tank of about that size and see how much would be needed.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[chr15_8]

Looking good. Yes, that plant looks like Elodia densa.
How many pots of plants did you get? Just wondering because I might be planting a tank of about that size and see how much would be needed.

Cheers,
Mike

cheers is that fast growing?

bacopa australis, 1
Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig', 1
lilaeopsis brasiliensis, 2 (but will be about 3 pots as ive got it in my nano almost covering 6x3 inches)
rotala rotundifolia, 1
Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba', orderd 6
Ludwigia repens orderd 1
Elodia densa?? 3 pots from pets@home cheap plants

but my background takes uo abiut 1/3 of tank space so its only aboit 46x12(l x w) hope it helps

 

[mlawson]

Thanks,

Yes, the Elodia is probably the most easiest to keep and fastest growing plant there is, it should prevent some algae too. Many people use it when starting off the tank to prevent algae.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[chr15_8]

Thanks,

Yes, the Elodia is probably the most easiest to keep and fastest growing plant there is, it should prevent some algae too. Many people use it when starting off the tank to prevent algae.

Cheers,
Mike

i hope its not the easiest growing plants and helps to stop algea as i have some (as in post no. 6) and its also starting to look browish

 

[chr15_8]

got my delivery form AE

all plants came plus my ferts for the EI was very happy with all but 2 (of Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba') as they looked quite small compared to the others although they look very healthy and are very green

i also couldnt beleive the size if the Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' leave
what the best way to plant it? as i can see it taking ages!

 

[RadaR]

what the best way to plant it? as i can see it taking ages!

Split the pot up into clumps of about 4 plants and plant them 3cm apart.

 

[Themuleous]

You get best results if you very gently tease the individual plant stems apart and then spread these around the substrate and plant and dont worry if some get covered by the substrate either. It takes sodding ages, kills your arms, and most will be floating by the following morning however, it'll establish better, carpet faster and wont rot in the centre like clumps can.

Should look like this

And this

Sam

 

[mlawson]

i hope its not the easiest growing plants and helps to stop algea as i have some (as in post no. 6) and its also starting to look browish

IME Elodia is easy to grow but will go brown in even tanks with good conditions fro growing plants in and it wont stop algae completely, nothing stops algae completely.


It takes a long time planting HC properly, in the end I planted them in small clumps which was much quicker, they also have a tendancy to float.

 

[chr15_8]

You get best results if you very gently tease the individual plant stems apart and then spread these around the substrate and plant and dont worry if some get covered by the substrate either. It takes sodding ages, kills your arms, and most will be floating by the following morning however, it'll establish better, carpet faster and wont rot in the centre like clumps can.

Sam

should be worth it though you gto any pics of it fully spread/carpet?

how long do you recon it would take to do 6 pots of the stuff?


EI dosing
can i start to dose my tank?

currently it only have 1 wpg (just under) and the Elodia looks like its starting to die off

thanks

nice nano btw