Emmas Rio 125l (33us Gallon) Planted Adventure

[ebrcknrdg]

hi emma, have you thought about trying java moss as a foreground plant? you can attach it to wood or stones with fishing line and remove it when it takes hold, also you would be able to move it around your tank for a new look whenever you feel like a change,regards john.

Hi John,

I do already have Java Moss on Three pieces of slate, but its not growing great at the moment. Could you not see it in the photo? Im just waiting for some equipment to come that ive ordered off ebay then i can set up my extra lighting to 2.2WPG and hook up another DIY co2 bottle as well as dosing EI. This should speed things up a little growth wise.

Looking like a good start.

I started my first planted tank a couple of weeks ago as well and just finished the cycling (had a bit of an outbreak of hair algea due to the high ammonia levels).

If you want I have some spare fast growing plants that I could send you Pm an address to send it to and I can post them either tomorrow or monday.

Salvinia Auriculata, this is a floating plant that grows like crazy (I had 4 small peices about 4cm round and it now covers over half of my 4ft tank, in two weeks!!!!) its a good plant for soaking up excess Nitrates and is good for fish to build bubble nests in.
I also have some Echinodorus Tennellus (mini Amazon sword) which grows about 6cm and makes a nice carpeting foreground plant (I have gone from 5 plants to about 20 in two weeks as they put out a mass of runners ).

Have a look at http/www.fishforums.net/First-Attempt-At...al-t203191.html for pictures of the plants.

Hi thanx for the offer! I would be interested in the Echinodorus Tennellus. I remember reading through your journal as your photos and tank look lovely. Do you need my address? I can pay you via paypal for the plants and for postage

 

[xxBarneyxx]

hi emma, have you thought about trying java moss as a foreground plant? you can attach it to wood or stones with fishing line and remove it when it takes hold, also you would be able to move it around your tank for a new look whenever you feel like a change,regards john.

Hi John,

I do already have Java Moss on Three pieces of slate, but its not growing great at the moment. Could you not see it in the photo? Im just waiting for some equipment to come that ive ordered off ebay then i can set up my extra lighting to 2.2WPG and hook up another DIY co2 bottle as well as dosing EI. This should speed things up a little growth wise.

Looking like a good start.

I started my first planted tank a couple of weeks ago as well and just finished the cycling (had a bit of an outbreak of hair algea due to the high ammonia levels).

If you want I have some spare fast growing plants that I could send you Pm an address to send it to and I can post them either tomorrow or monday.

Salvinia Auriculata, this is a floating plant that grows like crazy (I had 4 small peices about 4cm round and it now covers over half of my 4ft tank, in two weeks!!!!) its a good plant for soaking up excess Nitrates and is good for fish to build bubble nests in.
I also have some Echinodorus Tennellus (mini Amazon sword) which grows about 6cm and makes a nice carpeting foreground plant (I have gone from 5 plants to about 20 in two weeks as they put out a mass of runners ).

Have a look at http/www.fishforums.net/First-Attempt-At...al-t203191.html for pictures of the plants.

Hi thanx for the offer! I would be interested in the Echinodorus Tennellus. I remember reading through your journal as your photos and tank look lovely. Do you need my address? I can pay you via paypal for the plants and for postage

Yeah if you send me your address I can send them to you tomoz (if I get sorted early enough) or Monday. Dont worry about the postage, it wont be that much. Just put a bit a spare change in the next charity box you see and I will call it even.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

hi emma, have you thought about trying java moss as a foreground plant? you can attach it to wood or stones with fishing line and remove it when it takes hold, also you would be able to move it around your tank for a new look whenever you feel like a change,regards john.

Hi John,

I do already have Java Moss on Three pieces of slate, but its not growing great at the moment. Could you not see it in the photo? Im just waiting for some equipment to come that ive ordered off ebay then i can set up my extra lighting to 2.2WPG and hook up another DIY co2 bottle as well as dosing EI. This should speed things up a little growth wise.

Looking like a good start.

I started my first planted tank a couple of weeks ago as well and just finished the cycling (had a bit of an outbreak of hair algea due to the high ammonia levels).

If you want I have some spare fast growing plants that I could send you Pm an address to send it to and I can post them either tomorrow or monday.

Salvinia Auriculata, this is a floating plant that grows like crazy (I had 4 small peices about 4cm round and it now covers over half of my 4ft tank, in two weeks!!!!) its a good plant for soaking up excess Nitrates and is good for fish to build bubble nests in.
I also have some Echinodorus Tennellus (mini Amazon sword) which grows about 6cm and makes a nice carpeting foreground plant (I have gone from 5 plants to about 20 in two weeks as they put out a mass of runners ).

Have a look at http/www.fishforums.net/First-Attempt-At...al-t203191.html for pictures of the plants.

Hi thanx for the offer! I would be interested in the Echinodorus Tennellus. I remember reading through your journal as your photos and tank look lovely. Do you need my address? I can pay you via paypal for the plants and for postage

Yeah if you send me your address I can send them to you tomoz (if I get sorted early enough) or Monday. Dont worry about the postage, it wont be that much. Just put a bit a spare change in the next charity box you see and I will call it even.

You are so kind! Address sent.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Glass diffuser came today from Malaysia, along with the non reture valve and gang valve. I rigged up a coke bottle using these instructions DIY CO2 COKE BOTTLE This will be attached to my diffuser along with the nutrafin canister. It may or may not work but i have a back up plan if it doesnt. I will try and direct co2 through my external filter. I dont know if this will work. So if anyone has tried it let me know!

Readings are pretty much the same ammonia falling from 4ppm to 0ppm in under 12 hours and nitrites off the chart. Nitrates are also very high at about 40ppm.

Have some plants/cuttings coming from some very generous members on the forum so will post more pics when there is a change in the tank

 

[john starkey]

Hi emma, good luck with this setup you deserve it after all the effort you put in, when i finally get my setup going and if the plants do well i will be giving away cuttings to all my friends on this forum, regards john

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Hi emma, good luck with this setup you deserve it after all the effort you put in, when i finally get my setup going and if the plants do well i will be giving away cuttings to all my friends on this forum, regards john

Thanx John, that really means alot. My parents think im mad spending so much money on fish but when you get the fish bug none of that matters! Ive learnt so much here and its thanx to members like you

Anyway, i bought a new camera yesterday and took some more pics of my tank

The DIY CO2 set up.

Bought two tubes to replace the juwel ones in my starter. They are Interpret Triplus and Original Tropical. The guy tried to sell me a goldfish light!

Also bought some sand and planning on taking the rock background out.

So im just waiting for nitrites to fall, (any time in the coming week i hope) delivery of external eheim classic 2213 and digital scales. Then ill take out the water, rip out the background, change gravel for sand, (with tetra complete underneath) and aquascape the whole tank. So this tank is going to be changing drastically!

 

[john starkey]

Hi emma, hey you can tell i now only work three days a week lol, first of all one little tip to get better pics just give your glass the magnet treatment before you take them, still decent pics though, what camera did you buy? well i can see you have really got the bug now, a total stripe and redo well i wish you all the best and i am sure you will get all the help you need here,kindest regards john.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Hi emma, hey you can tell i now only work three days a week lol, first of all one little tip to get better pics just give your glass the magnet treatment before you take them, still decent pics though, what camera did you buy? well i can see you have really got the bug now, a total stripe and redo well i wish you all the best and i am sure you will get all the help you need here,kindest regards john.

The glass is pretty mucky at the moment due to all the ammonia im putting in the tank Gonna get some ottos when its all cycled. Thanx for that tip though, i am still getting used to the camera settings, its alot more complex than my 6MP one. I bought the Samsung S1030 10MP, 3x Optical and 5x digital zoom.

 

[john starkey]

Hi emma, hey you can tell i now only work three days a week lol, first of all one little tip to get better pics just give your glass the magnet treatment before you take them, still decent pics though, what camera did you buy? well i can see you have really got the bug now, a total stripe and redo well i wish you all the best and i am sure you will get all the help you need here,kindest regards john.

The glass is pretty mucky at the moment due to all the ammonia im putting in the tank Gonna get some ottos when its all cycled. Thanx for that tip though, i am still getting used to the camera settings, its alot more complex than my 6MP one. I bought the Samsung S1030 10MP, 3x Optical and 5x digital zoom.

Hi em, do you mind if i just put em my niece is called emma and i just call her em, what is the macro level on your camera the higher the better, this helps when you take close ups.regards john

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Hi emma, hey you can tell i now only work three days a week lol, first of all one little tip to get better pics just give your glass the magnet treatment before you take them, still decent pics though, what camera did you buy? well i can see you have really got the bug now, a total stripe and redo well i wish you all the best and i am sure you will get all the help you need here,kindest regards john.

The glass is pretty mucky at the moment due to all the ammonia im putting in the tank Gonna get some ottos when its all cycled. Thanx for that tip though, i am still getting used to the camera settings, its alot more complex than my 6MP one. I bought the Samsung S1030 10MP, 3x Optical and 5x digital zoom.

Hi em, do you mind if i just put em my niece is called emma and i just call her em, what is the macro level on your camera the higher the better, this helps when you take close ups.regards john

Hi, no thats fine lol most people call me that anyway, unless im in trouble then its Emmmmmmmmaaaaaaa!

The macro is either auto or manual but i dont know how to change it so i just use auto. (not read instructions yet)

 

[john starkey]

Hi emma, hey you can tell i now only work three days a week lol, first of all one little tip to get better pics just give your glass the magnet treatment before you take them, still decent pics though, what camera did you buy? well i can see you have really got the bug now, a total stripe and redo well i wish you all the best and i am sure you will get all the help you need here,kindest regards john.

The glass is pretty mucky at the moment due to all the ammonia im putting in the tank Gonna get some ottos when its all cycled. Thanx for that tip though, i am still getting used to the camera settings, its alot more complex than my 6MP one. I bought the Samsung S1030 10MP, 3x Optical and 5x digital zoom.

Hi em, do you mind if i just put em my niece is called emma and i just call her em, what is the macro level on your camera the higher the better, this helps when you take close ups.regards john

Hi, no thats fine lol most people call me that anyway, unless im in trouble then its Emmmmmmmmaaaaaaa!

The macro is either auto or manual but i dont know how to change it so i just use auto. (not read instructions yet)

Hi em, lol well when you have worked out how to use the macro i suggest you use when you want close ups.take care john.

 

[AndyOleszczuk]

Hi Em

Excellent journal. I wish I had gone down the same route as yourself. Meticulous planning and preparation of your tank. I started off with plastic plants but have since moved on to real ones. They have started to take off now but I think that if I had chance to do it again I would start from scratch like yourself.

Anyway, just to let you know that if you would like any Mollie,Platy or Guppy fry, just let me know and we can sort something out.

Great journal again, keep up the excellent work.

Andy

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Hi thanx Andy. My Platty has given birth once, so no doubt she will again, so dont think ill take up your offer as ill be over run lol. Thanx for the offer.

GREAT NEWS!

Im cycled! Nitrites have dropped to 0 this morning. Currently in the process of removing my rock background and adding sand so i wont be adding fish today as the water will be too mucky. Will still add ammonia to keep the bacteria alive

My external Eheim arrived yesterday but as its German it has a 2 pin plug on it. Going to get an adaptor tomorrow so will be able to get it up and running then. The cold cathode lights also arrived today, these will be used to create a dawn-dusk effect.

Im taking pics of everything thats happening now so they will be up shortly! So exciting isnt it lol.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

External eheim 2213+ A pain to set up, the instructions might as well have been in German! Or im just thick. Took me a whole day to figure it out. Ive taken out the carbon filter, i bought some pond filters so these are used in conjuction with the balls and tuby things.

Removed all plants, looks like i have loads but doesnt when they are in the tank

This i what i found behind the rock background. Arg why did my dad put so much silicon on! I spent all day today scraping it off!

Put in tetra complete substrate and sand on top. Put plants in blind as i couldnt see what i was doing cus of this!

Wonder what it will look like when it clears. Probably planted better than when i can see what im doing lol


Ive noticed that its harder to plant in sand as the plants come out easy. The sand doesnt seem to be weighty enough to hold them down

I did a 100% water change and added more ammonia so i will do checks on ammonia, nitrate, nitrites and PH when water cleared. (probably in the morning)

 

[SuperColey1]

With the sand you get hold of the plant with your tweezers...?? You have?

at a 45 degree angle and holding the base of the stem or roots push straight down to the bottom.

Slowly let them open

then slowly wiggle them away.

The sand will fall into the hole created.

Andy