Dasmall1's Journal

[dasmall1]

This will be my first real effort at a planted tank! I have been planning and learning for nearly a year, so I am very excited about this setup. I have just decided today that I want to go for a more ADA nature aquarium style, but that may change because it's the third idea I've had. But at least this way, it's easier to plant and there's less plants to buy. Right now, all I'm waiting on is getting the right bulbs because they sent me the wrong ones from ebay. Okay, some specs:

Tank dimensions:
-30" x 12" x 18" (29 usg)

Lighting:
-2x 65w pc 6500k fluorescent (4.5 wpg)

Substrate:
-Soilmaster Select (charcoal)

Possible plant list:
-HC
-Hairgrass
-Blyxa japonica

Fertilizing EI.

CO2

PICS

Pic of how I set up the CO2

Pic of how high the substrate is in that corner. Is 5 inches above the bottom too high?

View of substrate setup and wood.

View of stand w/ other tank.

Couple questions for your opinions.

What color background? white, blue, or black?
How is the arrangement of substrate and wood?

 

[Neal]

I like your wood and substrate, but personally would of gone for a plant substrate under your current one. Your wood looks really cool. I think a white background would be different, i'd be tempted to try it, if not then IMO and IME black ones look really good.

Neal

 

[Kiwigirl]

I reckon a mirror background would look cool.

Don't stress about the substrate to much, you can get root tabs or balls, and liquid ferts. Plant substrate don't hold there goodness forever. (but does give a better start to the plants for the first year or so).

I only have a fine gravel substrate, (I couldn't find any plant substrate, plus the fact I like to travel in the fast lane didn't help).

Looking good all the same.

 

[dasmall1]

The bottom of the wood actually goes into the center, but it's hard to see in the pic because it blends in with the substrate. The substrate will be carpeted so that won't be a problem. The substrate does have nutrients. A lot of people use it. It's only sold in the US I think. It was suggested to me by quite a few people, so I'm giving it a try.

 

[George Farmer]

Your "possible" plant choice is risky for a new set up - none of them are fast/easy growers.

3.9wpg is a lot of light and a recipe for an algae nightmare unless you plant heavily with fast growers from the outset. See the pinned algae thread for a list.

With that much light you will also need to keep a close eye on your CO2. DIY is great but can be hard to keep stable. Stable CO2 is a must with lots of light. Unstable/poor CO2 = algae.

EI is a good choice as is the substrate.

Good luck. I look forward to updates.

 

[dasmall1]

I feel honored that Mr. Farmer took time to give me feed back . I'm adding a ton of hornwort at the start, and I'll add hygrohphila polysperma permanently as a background. But I'm still waiting on the lights... I'm probably going to buy some kind of digital SLR in a few months.

 

[lljdma06]

I feel honored that Mr. Farmer took time to give me feed back . I'm adding a ton of hornwort at the start, and I'll add hygrohphila polysperma permanently as a background. But I'm still waiting on the lights... I'm probably going to buy some kind of digital SLR in a few months.

Another excellent algae buster are the tried and true members of the egeria genus; Egeria densa and Egeria najas. They are similar to hornwort and can grow rooted or floating. Just throwing options out there, if you want something besides hornwort. Yeah, isn't it great when he pops in your thread?

llj

 

[dasmall1]

A little update on my aquascaping plans. I'm expecting to have the proper bulbs in a week or two. Once I have the bulbs I will be ready to go! I'm not great with paint, but I got bored, so here's a little diagram.

1) Hygrophila polysperma
2) Eleocharis acicularis
3) Blyxa japonica
4) Echinodorus tenellus
5) Glossostigma elatinoides

Any comments appreciated!

 

[George Farmer]

I admire anyone that plans their aquascape. It looks good too.

My only comment would be that there's perhaps a little too much negative (open) space with the glosso running so far back. The appearance of depth may be compromised.

 

[dasmall1]

Update time! I finally got my lights. My mom decided to buy them for my birthday. She did okay, but got 2 65 watt bulbs. I'm just surprised she got the right 6500k! So I have 4.5 wpg, but I can control each bulb separate so if I start having algea problems, I can keep it at 2.25 wpg. I filled the tank and added some hornwort. I placed my order for K2NO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4, and my plants today! The plants should arrive Dec 4 - 6. Altogether about $50.

Plant order. I chose aquariumgarden.com becuase they were the cheapest and had the lowest shipping and appear to have a decent quality. They didn't have everything I needed, but I adjusted my plant list a little and I will keep checking my LFS's.

Glossostigma elatinoides: 3 : $1.79
Echinodorus tenellus: 2 : $2.49
Rotala Indica: 3 : $1.29
Eleocharis montevidensis: 1 : $2.99
Rotalla Wallichii: 1 : $1.59

Pictures! These are about 8 hours after setup. I will be getting a Fluval 204 for $50 on Dec 5. Right now there is just the HOB filter from my 10 gallon. The back of the glass won't come clean no matter how much I try. I'm just going to cover it with plants later. Hornwort is not permanent!

 

[dasmall1]

Big problem today. All of the leaves on my hornwort, except for the top ones, have fallen off completely. I added 1 2L of CO2 two days ago, and yesterday, every "nook and cranny" of the hornwort had a new stem growing- about 15 new stems on each plant. They were even pearling! But 5 hours ago, I came home and some started falling of, but then now they are almost all off. Everything is still green, though. Last night I added one dose of some Had-a-Snail I had laying in my stuff. It says the active ingredient is Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate. Could that have done it? Here are some stats anyway.

pH from tap: 6.8
pH now: 6.0 (maybe lower since test kit doesn't go any lower. why did it drop so much?)

KH from tap: 11
KH now: 1 (maybe lower since, again, test kit doesn't go lower. another big drop. does CO2 make that much of a difference?)

CO2 (speculating assuming pH is 6.0 and KH is 1): 30 ppm

Lighting: I only have 2.25 wpg on, 10 hours a day.

In the meantime, I'm going to do a 50% water change now. Thanks!

 

[atmmachine816]

I know hornwort sometimes sheds sometimes but I don't know why, why did you add had-a-snail, are you having snail problems, if you are when you get all your plants give them a bleach bath 1:19 ration, one being bleach and 19 water, it's never failed me if you want more info ask and I'l tell you. Could you not have enough nutrients in the water?

 

[dasmall1]

The hornwort was from my 10 gallon and there were no snails in there, so I didn't treat the plants. I guess my dream of a snail-less tank is a little too high for me . I don't think it was nutrient deficency since, after all, it was just hornwort and it happened in a few hours. Thanks, and any other ideas?

My KNO3, K2SO4, and KH2PO4 arrived today from gregwatson.com. 5 days for my plants. More like 5 days left to clean up the mess.

-Sean

 

[atmmachine816]

If you don't have snails there is no reason to put in had-a-snail then. Are you going to treat your plants when you get them with bleach becuase having snails is pain.

 

[dasmall1]

Yes, I'm going to treat my new plants. I did have a few snails.
I made my stock solutions. I didn't expect the KNO3 to yield such a strong endothermic reaction!

Edit: I won't have any pics of anything until Saturday becuase I don't have my digital camera.