Dave`s Yet Another Journal.

[Dave Spencer]

Thanks for resurrecting interest in this tank John and Arif.

This tank has been maturing for the last two months, stuffed full of fast growing weeds. I have now got two 11W Arcadia Arc Pods and a cheapo 11W eBay special which gives a more pleasing colour rendition rather than just using the Arcadias. These light levels still mean this tank is mid light, and growth is nothing like that of my 3.4WPG tank.

Over the last two months I have seen practically zero algae; just a little GDA on the glass which has all but disappeared. Running an unforgiving 3.4WPG as my first ever tank has unwittingly stood me in good stead for controlling algae. It has certainly been a doddle on this set up.

Arif, the rocks are part of the mountain I live on in N. Wales. I can`t remember the eBay seller I got my lights off, but there are plenty of them about for £0.99 + PP.

John, the good news for me is that I am going to plant this tank up this week, so there should be some pics soon. Plants are going to be hemianthus micranthemoides, Utricularia graminifolia and a little Micranthemum umbrosum. I think I will use a little Ludwigia arcuata at the back for some orangy red, but I am not sure whether I have enough light to turn it this colour.

The Plagiomnium affinis has been doing OK in here, but I think that may end up in my 120l as it doesn`t trail the way I had hoped it would, plus I have changed my mind over how I want this tank to look.

Dave.

 

[john starkey]

Hi Dave sounds like is going to look great when it fills out,good luck with it. regards john

 

[Dave Spencer]

I didn`t intend on showing any pictures of this tank yet, but then I thought why not show it warts and all (and algae). At least it will only get better when I attempt some more arty pictures with all the equipment out and a decent background and lighting. This picture was taken during the daytime.

There is still a lot of growing to be done and this is day one for this scape. I must say, I`m really not used to the slow growth I am getting, but I am sure once this scape is established I will be more than thankful. There is a pot of UG in there which I will plant some time soon, once I have decided exactly where to put it. I want some around the base of the rocks and to the right of the tank where it is open, but I can`t decide whether to have some of it on the mountain structure itself. I may also put some hairgrass at the back of the open space as a contrasting type of grass to the UG.

The Amanos have done an amazing job of shifting the Aqua Soil over on to the sand and messing it up, plus they have flattened out the AS soil slope on the right with uncanny precision. I don`t think I could have made the substrate as level and perfectly smooth in a month of Sundays. I just hope I remember to put the slope back before I plant the UG. You may be able to see the Ember tetras at the bottom right of the picture by the diffuser. They seem overly timid to me and not particularly active, but their golden colour is starting to improve. I may add a handful of Boraras maculata just to improve movement in the tank. This overstocking fish bug can be really catching.

I have been growing some Ludwigia arcuata with the intention of making it as red as possible for the background. I just hope it stays this way in this light.

In terms of algae, this tank has been easy. I never knew how forgiving it could be when you are not trying to mature a tank with 3.4WPG. All I have seen is some GDA on the glass and the filter outlet is a bit messy with diatoms. I think carrying out 50% water changes twice a week has helped a lot.

What I have to do now is figure out a dosing schedule once I have removed all the temporary weeds. At the moment it is EI to allow for the extra biomass, but I will need to revise it later because this tank may not be as densely planted as the 120l and it will have slower growth.

All advice is welcome, Dave.

 

[afroturf]

Looks good Dave, what stem plants are you planning on keeping in the final set up? just arcuata? Have you thought of filling some of the gaps in the rocks with substrate and planting the UG in there, like this Oliver Knott creation.

My Embers went through a stage of being really timid and i hardly saw them for a few weeks, during this thime i lost a few but know they are fine, really bold and colourful.

Overall the tank looks super, the rock look set to look great once they get a better covering of algae.

 

[Dave Spencer]

Looks good Dave, what stem plants are you planning on keeping in the final set up? just arcuata? Have you thought of filling some of the gaps in the rocks with substrate and planting the UG in there, like this Oliver Knott creation.

They are barely noticeable at the moment, but I have some HM in and around the rocks. At the left rear corner is some Micranthemum umbrosum, which may or may not stay. It depends how it looks against the HM in front of it. I put some Aqua Soil in all the nooks of the rocks when I first set the tank up, just in case I decided on having HC or UG in there. I will almost certainly give the UG a go, no harm in trying. Hopefully, when I can take a decent picture, the title of the tank, choice of fish and Ludwigia arcuata as a background plant will be evident. I am trying to replicate my first two pictures of this journal and the fish and Ludwigia should look good in that type of photograph.

My Embers went through a stage of being really timid and i hardly saw them for a few weeks, during this thime i lost a few but know they are fine, really bold and colourful.

I think mine are starting to buck up a bit, but I still haven`t seen them eat in three weeks. They look healthy and are still a nice golden colour, but I wish they would start eating. One or two of them will sometimes pick at a flake, but they spit it straight back out again.

Oliver Knott has done some amazing tanks.

Dave.

 

[lljdma06]

My Embers went through a stage of being really timid and i hardly saw them for a few weeks, during this thime i lost a few but know they are fine, really bold and colourful.

I think mine are starting to buck up a bit, but I still haven`t seen them eat in three weeks. They look healthy and are still a nice golden colour, but I wish they would start eating. One or two of them will sometimes pick at a flake, but they spit it straight back out again.

Dave.

From what I've read about the fish (had to go online they are not in Vol 1-3 in Baensch, need Vol 4), they will not necessarily come to the top for food. They prefer to either eat it at mid-level or look for it in the bottom of the tank. Some tetras appreciate the addition of floating plants and this is a way to bring them out of their shell, but I did not read anything to that effect about the Ember tetras. TBH, though, the profiles I found were generally dissappointing, consisting mostly of opinions about how cute they are rather than specific information on habitat, water parameters, etc. They are a relatively new fish, though, so better information should be available soon.

llj

 

[Dave Spencer]

Thanks Llj,

I asked around on one or two forums about these fish when I first spotted them at a LFS, and all I got was how nice they were. Some people in the US call them Willay tetras. I remember Afro telling me his took a while to settle in, but I just thought that they would be happier by now. One thing I didn`t realise was that they are relatively new to the hobby.

I have even become an expert at getting flaked food to float right through their little shoal, but they still only have a little pick and then spit it out. Strangely enough, they seem a little happier and more colourful when the temporary weeds are out, perhaps they like the open space.

Recently, I bought Aqua Journal 136 and I noticed a picture of an Ember tetra and a Rasbora dorciocellata on P.40, the two types I have bought for my 60l and this tank. God, I wish TA would stop copying me.

Dave

P.S. I have just fed them half way through writing this, and they started to take some food. The fact that the Amano shrimp were diving among them and taking the food mid stream didn`t help. I`ve never seen them do this before.

 

[lljdma06]

Recently, I bought Aqua Journal 136 and I noticed a picture of an Ember tetra and a Rasbora dorciocellata on P.40, the two types I have bought for my 60l and this tank. God, I wish TA would stop copying me.

He's like such a copycat. OMG! Like, he has no like original ideas at all. C'mon, like keeping aquariums, that's like so totally been done already. Tell him to like stop copying you, like okay?

llj

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Hi Dave -- I like how this is looking! I've always been fond of rockscapes but haven't been able to pull off a look that satisfies me yet. I can work magic with rocks outside in the flower gardens -- but can't seem to get there with the aquarium. You've inspired me to give it a shot again in my 55 gallon which is in desparate need of a makeover.

Anyway, it's really looking good! I look forward to seeing what it will look like with more plant growth coming out of the crevices of the rocks.

-sondra

 

[Dave Spencer]

Well, here is two and a half months of growth. I took the light down from 33W to just 22W via two Arcadia Arc Pods, and the growth has been very slow. Considering it has pressurised CO2, reduced EI ferts and ADA AS Amazonia powder, the lower lighting means this tank is certainly not a high tech.

I still have some spirogyra that likes the HM, to get rid of.

Anyway, this a pre aquascaping/pruning pic with all the hardware still present. I have just planted some stray Marsilea crenata from my Riccia scape, in the open area to the right. The Riccia tank has been totally stripped of its original plants (Marsilea included), but they still keep growing through from the remnants I left behind. Real testimony to the power of using EI, I would say.

It still looks a bit crappy, but I reckon I can turn this in to a pretty decent aquascape in a month or two. The current plant list is:
Ludwigia arcuata
Micranthemum umbrosum
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Utricularia graminifolia
Marsilea crenata

Dave

 

[john starkey]

Well, here is two and a half months of growth. I took the light down from 33W to just 22W via two Arcadia Arc Pods, and the growth has been very slow. Considering it has pressurised CO2, reduced EI ferts and ADA AS Amazonia powder, the lower lighting means this tank is certainly not a high tech.

I still have some spirogyra that likes the HM, to get rid of.

Anyway, this a pre aquascaping/pruning pic with all the hardware still present. I have just planted some stray Marsilea crenata from my Riccia scape, in the open area to the right. The Riccia tank has been totally stripped of its original plants (Marsilea included), but they still keep growing through from the remnants I left behind. Real testimony to the power of using EI, I would say.

It still looks a bit crappy, but I reckon I can turn this in to a pretty decent aquascape in a month or two. The current plant list is:
Ludwigia arcuata
Micranthemum umbrosum
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Utricularia graminifolia
Marsilea crenata

Dave

Hi Dave, its certainly filled out nicely and i think it looks great and will look really good when the algae has all gone, good luck john.

 

[Themuleous]

Crikey! think you need to get in there with some scissors! What plans you got for the right side, need to think about that, bring it into line with the rest of the tank to finish off the scape.

Sam

 

[Dave Spencer]

I have just planted some stray Marsilea crenata from my Riccia scape, in the open area to the right.

There you go Sam .

I have taken your advice and just attacked it with a machete this morning. I think the UG may have to go when the Marsilea gets going, as it it isn`t really thriving under these lights.

Dave.

 

[Themuleous]

Oh crap, now you're gonna moan at me if it all goes belly up aren't you? D'oh! Note to self, never given advise, in case someone actually listens.

 

[Castellop123]

Hows this tank going, Dave... It's been a while...