Handmade 120L New Tank

[Offelias]

Hi guys,

Hope you're all well!

I have a handmade tank and stand (long), and decided to go for a high tech setup after some failed aquascape attempts in my other tanks.

pressurised co2 using fire extinguisher method
Substrate: ADA Amazonia aquasoil
Lights: 4xT5 (90cm)

Taken on the second day after initial planting.
It's an experiment at the moment, and I've ran out of money for plants so there'll be some taken out and others added once the HC (hopefully) has taken off.

Any suggestions for plants or location for plants would be welcome

 

[Offelias]

Update:
 
The HC melted quite dramatically in this tank, so I replaced this with DH which is doing much better. Although suffering maybe a 60% die off, it's started to send runners out, and will hopefully fill in. 
 
Removed some plants that also melted. Added some Echinodorus Ozelot a few days ago, as well a a crypt in the centre. 
Placement isn't correct yet, and I'd like to look at some smaller foreground plants for some depth. 
I'm thinking of some red cabomba in the back right corner. 
 
The moss has really settled in well!
 
I've learnt an important lesson with this tank: previously, I've removed plants far too soon, thinking the plants are dying. 
However I suspect I've not appreciated the transition from emerged, and been too quick to remove. 
 
It may not be perfect, but I'm enjoying the progress as slow as it may be. 
 
Ferts aren't perfect yet:  This will need improving so any help there would be lovely.
 Pressurised CO2 (green drop checker)
 Every other day; Iron, Potassium, 
 Every other day; Flourish Comprehensive. 
 
Lights are 4xT5 - photoperiod 10 hours, 4hrs-2hrs burst-4hrs
 
 
 
I hope you like it

Any suggestions or advise welcome id anyone notices any problems!
 
 
 
 
 

 

[daizeUK]

I really like it!  I love your aquascaping, the tree and cave under the roots is a very nice feature.  The dwarf hairgrass looks great, I look forward to seeing this fully carpeted.
 
With regards your ferts, you are adding pressurized CO2 and high lighting but no nitrate or phosphate.  I think the lack of macro ferts is likely going to cause you problems.  Your photoperiod is also very long.  My recommendation would be to buy some dry salts and go EI dosing for this tank.

 

[Offelias]

Thanks Daize!

I'm enjoying watching the progress! My next purchase will be some smaller foreground plants to bring a bit of depth, as well as a cabomba for the background. The dwarf hairgrass uproots daily and I'm unsure whether the platies have anything to do with this.

Do you recommend a 6 or 8 hour photoperiod?
Two bulbs only?

I'll have a look into dry salts and ei dosing. I plan on having a school of tetras to provide some nutrients. Tank should be well cycled by now, but I'm taking things slowly this time

 

[daizeUK]

I'm not the best to advise on your lighting since I run all my tanks under low-ish light with T8's, but I would expect you to have algae problems with your current 10 hours 4xT5's plus lack of macro ferts.  How is your tank doing algae-wise?  If your plants have been melting this may be another sign that lighting is a bit too strong.
 
Researching EI dosing is a good idea.  Let us know if you have any questions on it.

 

[Offelias]

Hi Daize,

You're right
I've spotted the beginnings of some BBA. I wonder if it came in on some transplanted anubias.

I've lowered the light to two bulbs with a 6 hour photo period.

The DHG isn't doing so well. It's being ripped up by the platies.
Roots are nice and long on some parts which leads me to point my finger at the platies anyway!
They're growing upwards nicely, and seem to send runners, but the runners aren't coming through. They seem to die off before they break the ground.
Suspect nutrient issue as you've already pointed out.

As for ferts, I've ordered:

Potassium Nitrate
Monopotassium Phosphate
TNC Trace Elements
TNC GH boost (calcium and magnesium)

From what I gather for my tank size, dosing should be roughly as follows :

150-225 litres
Day 1: water change
1/2 tsp KNO3 1/8 tsp KH2PO4
Day 2: 1/8 tsp TNC Trace (CSM+B)

(Then alternate days)

From what I gather, I could either
a) create a macro and micro solution and dose 5ml daily alternating macro and micro
b) dose via above spoonful ie/ 1/8 dissolved in the tank water (again alternating micro macro)

Does this sound relatively correct for now?
Is there a way to measure ppm of nutrients?

Hopefully a better nutrient dosing and less light will help.

Perhaps I should think about getting some stock to provide add. nutrients.
I was thinking a large school of green tiger barbs.. the platies can head on over to their old tank

Thanks again for your help!

 

[daizeUK]

Is there a way to measure ppm of nutrients?

 
Not really but you can calculate how many ppm you are adding.  The easiest way is to use Wet's nutrient calculator : http/calc.petalphile.com/
 
e.g. if I put in your tank size 120L
using DIY ferts
Dosing with KNO3
using dry dosing
and I am calculating for;  The results of my dose
adding 0,5 tsp
 
then it tells you that each 1/2 tsp dose of potassium nitrate is giving you 13.29ppm of nitrate.  Multiply that by 3 to get your weekly ppm = 40ppm.
And you are also getting 8.38ppm of K from that dose so that's 25ppm of potassium weekly.
Likewise 1/8 tsp of monopotassium phosphate is giving you about 24ppm of phosphate weekly plus another 10ppm potassium.
 
This is easily adding enough nutrients so I wouldn't worry about additional nutrients.
Personally I prefer to add potassium sulphate to make up enough potassium rather than adding so much phosphate.
 
You can make solutions if you wish.  Get hold of some dosing bottles and they make dosing very easy.  It also means you don't have to handle and measure the salts every day.  I use a 500ml dosing bottle for my macro solution and 250ml for the trace solution (my tank is also 120L).
 
e.g. to make up a 500ml macro trace solution with a 25ml dosing chamber
500/25 = 20 doses
So multiply your daily doses by 20, 1/2 tsp KNO3 = 10 tsp to make the solution
and 1/8 tsp x 20 = 2.5 tsp KH2PO4
Then simply fill up the dosing chamber and dose 25ml each day

 

[Offelias]

Brilliant, thanks Daize!

The dry nutrients arrived this morning so you can guess what this evening will involve

I'll keep this updated with the progress. I'm looking forward to watching the development!