Does This Look Ok?

[sianeds]

Here is my first attempt at a planted tank.

Does my scaping look ok to you guys?

 

[lljdma06]

It looks very nice for a first attempt. Right now, the only problem I can see is what looks like a Hemigraphis species in your foreground. The plant tucked into the wood with the green leaves with purple undersides. It is a lovely plant, but it is not a true aquatic. It can survive submerged for up to a year submerged and at times it is used in scapes to add a bright focal point, but it will eventually die in the aquarium. If you remove it soon enough and plant in moist soil and keep in filtered light, it makes a fantastic houseplant or even a terrarium plant.

Welcome to the planted tank section. Have a look at the pinned articles and have fun.

llj

 

[idlefingers]

Nice tank. That pink/blue thing in the bottom left sticks out like a sore thumb, though. What is it?

 

[nicklfire]

looks like a plastic fake hermit crab haha

 

[n3ont3tra]

Hey sianeds, looks pretty nice, better than my first attempt.
Same suggestions as above. Nice wood, not like my plain old chunk. Also, what lighting are you using (how many watts and tank volume)?

Also, I think I see another non-aquatic plant, it's in the back (center), green and white. I'm pretty sure there's no variegated aquatic plant.

 

[sianeds]

Thanks guys.

Yeah I'd read that the varigated plant was not aquatic but I've left it in for now as it adds a nice bit of light to the back.

Any suggestions what I can replace it with? Also what would you suggest for the purple plant at the front? It's doing ok at the moment but I will replace it if there is something that will look as pretty.

The colourful thing in the foreground is my daughters plastic jellyfish. It's not staying in there

I will check up on the lighting. I have 2x white T8 tubes in there. I read the pinky tubes are good for planted tanks. I have a spare one but I think it's too long for this tank. However...if I can keep this tank looking good then I will be planting up my Aqua one 980 in the next month or so and the pink tube does fit in there.

I dropped a bit of fertiliser in yesterday afternoon and the water still has a slight brownish tint...I only put in half the dose it said on the bottle. I used Aquarium treatment no. 2 Flora Boost. Is this OK or can anyone recommend a better product?

Thanks in advance guys

 

[jaarus]

Really like it actually - looks quite linear at the moment but that will change as your plants grow.

One thing I would like to ask is is that one of those Hydor Airjet things in the background or an airwall maybe?? looks like LOADS of bubbles in the centre of the image (could be wrong and just a trick of the camera) but if it is your CO2 loss maybe too high and will cause you problems with live plants.

No-one else has mentioned it though so perhaps its me seeing something that isnt really there...

WoooOOOOooOOOooOOO

 

[sianeds]

There is a 8" bubble bar at the back of the tank. I have the filtration set up so it doesn't move the plants around too much. Also the tank is full of fry at the moment so I wanted the extra movement and oxygenation. It also looks really pretty when the lights are on at night and my pleco loves sitting in the bubbles.

I don't have anything set up for CO2 at the moment but I will be getting something for the bigger tank along with much much better filtration.

I am really struggling with the water clarity

 

[jaarus]

Your plants need CO2 to breathe during the day (they themselves release Oxygen as they do this as a by-product of photosynthesis) - there is a small amount of CO2 in your tank anyway thanks to the little fishies etc, but your bubble bar is causing increased surface agitation causing the CO2 there is to escape the tank quicker.

This may be a problem for your plants


I would suggest you turn it off during the day but do watch for any signs (such as fish gasping at the surface) of not enough O2 in the water during the day. You can always turn it back on if you notice this.

By all means pop it on at night as during the night the plants no longer absorb CO2 through the night.

 

[sianeds]

OK thanks I'll turn it off now.

I have so much to learn

I am primarily a salty so to me surface agitation = good

 

[lljdma06]

Also, I think I see another non-aquatic plant, it's in the back (center), green and white. I'm pretty sure there's no variegated aquatic plant.

Good eyes N3ont3tra! It is a non-aquatic. A Dracaena sanderiana to be exact or one of its variants. Another lovely to plant on the windowsill.

I think what we really need to know first is the size of the tank and the wattage of your bulbs before we can really let you have it. No offense, we really just want to help and turn you into another George Farmer. His little clones are running around everywhere here.

llj

 

[cardinal sinner]

Looks real nice

 

[sianeds]

The tank is an Aqua One 620. It is approx 30gallons, probably closer to 28 with displacement.

I just checked the lighting. I have 2x double tubes. Each are marked... :RED/WHITE PL 18W 14000K/7100K

I hope that makes more sense to you than it does to me I can take a pic if that helps.