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Chris Cummins' Planted Adventure

C

ChrisC

Fish Fanatic
Joined
Nov 18, 2005
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Location
Derbsyhire, England


Chris Cummins' Planted Adventure

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Specs:
800x300x400mm Juwel Rekord 96
18W Arcadia Freshwater T8 (Flourescent Tube), 8 hours/day
30W 6500k Power Compact (Background Lighting), 6 hours/day
Coral Sand, External Filtration, 10% Water Change 3 times a week
24oC, pH 7.5​

Livestock
Megalamphodus Megalopterus Black Phantom Tetra

Vesicularia Dubyana Java Moss
Nomaphila Siamensis Parvifolia
Alternanthera Rosaefolia
Cryptocoryne Bullosa
Cabomba Carolina
Ludwigia Arcuta
​

Still very early days yet. I hope to acheive a full carpet and fill out the plants. The tank is still cycling, but I will ultimately have three shoals of contrasting tetras.

Chris
 
30W 6500k Power Compact (Background Lighting), fitted into the hood? what make is it?

Oh, it looks well nice, love the sand!!
 
juwelfan said:
30W 6500k Power Compact (Background Lighting), fitted into the hood? what make is it?
Click to expand...

The 30W PC does not actually serve any/much purpose as far as plant growth is concerned, it shines down the between the wall and tank, adds a lot of depth to the tank. It is not used except when photographing/showing off (I had relations over this weekend so have it on a 6 hour timer).

Chris
 
Nicely presented.

Are you not tempted to add the 30w into the tank to improve plant growth? 18w over 96 l. is low light and you'll have trouble growing a few of those plants long-term.
 
George Farmer said:
Nicely presented.

Are you not tempted to add the 30w into the tank to improve plant growth? 18w over 96 l. is low light and you'll have trouble growing a few of those plants long-term.
Click to expand...

Lighting and fertiliser are issues I have yet to fully cover. CO2 will eventually be supplied by a DIY system (yeast mixture). I have been very tempted to add the 30W bulb over the tank, however, I'm unsure how to do so without posing a fire hazard. The bulb is a standard bayonett fitting and was not deisgned for aquatic use. I also have a 8" 18W aquatic PC I can use once I've figured out how to mount it.

Chris
 
George Farmer said:
You'll need at least 1.5wpg to grow E. tenellus successfully. 2wpg would be better.
Click to expand...

Yep, along with CO2 and a half decent fertiliser regime if I remember correctly. :) The Alternanthera Roasaefolia & Cabomba Carolina are even more light hungry though I think.

Kindly, a guy I know has offered me some gutter grate (kinda smaller version of egg crate) so I may continue with my original idea of a carpet of java moss & alittle riccia.

Chris
 
I'm thinking of:

Black Phantoms (there's 8 in there at the moment, 2 weeks into cycle)
Neons
Congos

in a 2:3:1 ratio.

Chris

P.S: Go on MSN
 
OK, If I add the 18W PC to the inside of my hood that'll give me 1.6wpg, when coupled with the 30W PC angled slightly to give better light into the tank and with a DIY CO2 unit in the making, that should be enough for all the plants I'm thinking of.

Heres a badly drawn version of what I hope the final thing to look (something) like. I've labelled the major groups of plants:



Chris :)
 
WEEK III







Livestock
Paracheirodon Innesi Neon Tetra
Megalamphodus Megalopterus Black Phantom Tetra

Otinclus Affinis Dwarf Otinclus
Natantia Gen Sp Glass Shrimp​
​

Chris
 
Very nice start! Perhaps you may want to consider a black background to accentuate your colorful plant layout. I've had numerous forgrounds over the years, and found that hairgrass is the best in terms of long-term maintenance. E.tenellus just grows too fast and invasive in my opinion. Also, if you don't give it enough light, it can grow quite tall. good luck!
 
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