Help with my planted tank
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George Farmer
ad aqua
Welcome to the Planted section thapsus!
Firstly let me congratulate you on a beautiful looking tank - many of us would be more than happy with that as it is.
However, I do agree that you would benefit from a foreground plant, just to complete the picture as it were. I would also let you red plant (Alternanthera?) on the right grow up and fill out to block your equipment (if it isn't already doing so). The two rocks look a little distracting in the centre, perhaps move them closer together and to the right a little.
As for foreground plant choice - Glossostigma elatanoides is very popular and would look good if you have sufficient light etc. Bear in mind that it can be quite invasive though once established and requires a fair bit of maintenance to keep in check, especially in a small area like yours. I personally like Sagittaria species but these can also be quite unruly and require regular thinning. Echindorus tennelus is nice and hairgrass may work too.
What is you tank spec?
Firstly let me congratulate you on a beautiful looking tank - many of us would be more than happy with that as it is.
However, I do agree that you would benefit from a foreground plant, just to complete the picture as it were. I would also let you red plant (Alternanthera?) on the right grow up and fill out to block your equipment (if it isn't already doing so). The two rocks look a little distracting in the centre, perhaps move them closer together and to the right a little.
As for foreground plant choice - Glossostigma elatanoides is very popular and would look good if you have sufficient light etc. Bear in mind that it can be quite invasive though once established and requires a fair bit of maintenance to keep in check, especially in a small area like yours. I personally like Sagittaria species but these can also be quite unruly and require regular thinning. Echindorus tennelus is nice and hairgrass may work too.
What is you tank spec?
Wow!!!! great tank m8,dont think you need much help there lol.
As to the foreground plant ,try dwarf mini hair grass (eleocharis parrulus) or riccia fluitans.
I've just gone with glossostigma eletinoides and its a pain in the %$*$
to plant (mind you i havnt sorted my riccia out yet
)
Only thing i would change (its personal taste mind) is lose the stones, to many different types there imo.
Whats the tribble type moss on the left corner wood ?
As to the foreground plant ,try dwarf mini hair grass (eleocharis parrulus) or riccia fluitans.
I've just gone with glossostigma eletinoides and its a pain in the %$*$
to plant (mind you i havnt sorted my riccia out yet
)Only thing i would change (its personal taste mind) is lose the stones, to many different types there imo.
Whats the tribble type moss on the left corner wood ?
houndour
Twiglet and Eeyore
I like your tank a lot. I just think it lacks a focal point. I find my eyes wandering everywhere and then settling on the 2 small grey rocks, which aren't really the best part about the tank (IMO).
jimbooo
James flexton
Welcome to the planted section Thapsus, you've obviously spent a lot of time on that already. looks fantastic but i do see your point.
agree with the comments on the rocks, i'd move the central one to the right and loose the pebbles. plant a big riccia carpet in the forground on a wire or plastic mesh. you can cut it to size to fit perfectly in the gravel space and would look awesome bubbling away with all that behind it.
i do love crinium and yours looks just perfect for my tank, keep your doors locked as i may take a wonder to finland to pinch it.
(unless gf225 decides to pull his out, peterborough is a little closer!)
agree with the comments on the rocks, i'd move the central one to the right and loose the pebbles. plant a big riccia carpet in the forground on a wire or plastic mesh. you can cut it to size to fit perfectly in the gravel space and would look awesome bubbling away with all that behind it.
i do love crinium and yours looks just perfect for my tank, keep your doors locked as i may take a wonder to finland to pinch it.
(unless gf225 decides to pull his out, peterborough is a little closer!)
Wow. You are all just amazing advicers. Thankyou all! 
gf225, yes that is Alternanthera, but it's not growing and collects hairalgae. I probably should replace it with something.
Glossostigma would look nice, but I don't know if my lighting is sufficient.
Hmm, specs. Well I have 2x 20W daylight fluerescents and I add some CO2. I'm not familiar with the term with aquariums, what do you want to know? Yes, dum guestion I know.
)
You are all right about the rocks, they are leaving.
RYO: That's Cladophora aegagropila.
jimbooo: Crinum? Do you mean that Cryptocoryne balansae in back left or crinum in that small pic?
Thankyou so much again.
gf225, yes that is Alternanthera, but it's not growing and collects hairalgae. I probably should replace it with something.
Glossostigma would look nice, but I don't know if my lighting is sufficient.
Hmm, specs. Well I have 2x 20W daylight fluerescents and I add some CO2. I'm not familiar with the term with aquariums, what do you want to know? Yes, dum guestion I know.
) You are all right about the rocks, they are leaving.
RYO: That's Cladophora aegagropila.
jimbooo: Crinum? Do you mean that Cryptocoryne balansae in back left or crinum in that small pic?
Thankyou so much again.
George Farmer
ad aqua
Jimbooo mistook your Crypt for Crinum.
That is a great specimen of balansae you have there - take note Jimbooo Faster growing and more prolific than Crinum calimistratum
Tank spec examples -
Tank Size
Lighting
CO2 (method of injection) and levels (ppm or mg/l)
Nitrate (NO3)
Phosphate (PO4)
Fertilisation
Substrate
That is a great specimen of balansae you have there - take note Jimbooo
Faster growing and more prolific than Crinum calimistratumTank spec examples -
Tank Size
Lighting
CO2 (method of injection) and levels (ppm or mg/l)
Nitrate (NO3)
Phosphate (PO4)
Fertilisation
Substrate
The main things we'd need to know is..
What size is the tank?
Is your Co2 a pressurised system, sugar yeast, co2 tablets etc?
And what is your fertilising regime, if you have one?
You'd be able to stop the hair algae in its tracks if you up your CO2 and determine a good fertilising regime. All the info can be found in the pinned articles. But there's loads of really informative people on here (im not one) who can help with all the above things.
For Glosso to grow you'd need a nutrient rich substrate and a fair amount of light, anything in the region of 2.5 watts per gallon or above. But this depends on the size of your tank.
Riccia is more forgiving and should do reasonably well with lower lighting.
If you decide to go down this route then both can be quite high maintenance. The Glosso once thats settled in can grow like a weed and needs regular trimming or even uprooting large portions.
The riccia requires re-attaching to the rock / slate / pebble every couple of weeks as it will slowly detach itself and float to the surface.
But i'll say it again your tank looks really nice at the moment
paul.
edit : wooops seems im too slow when it comes to typing
What size is the tank?
Is your Co2 a pressurised system, sugar yeast, co2 tablets etc?
And what is your fertilising regime, if you have one?
You'd be able to stop the hair algae in its tracks if you up your CO2 and determine a good fertilising regime. All the info can be found in the pinned articles. But there's loads of really informative people on here (im not one) who can help with all the above things.
For Glosso to grow you'd need a nutrient rich substrate and a fair amount of light, anything in the region of 2.5 watts per gallon or above. But this depends on the size of your tank.
Riccia is more forgiving and should do reasonably well with lower lighting.
If you decide to go down this route then both can be quite high maintenance. The Glosso once thats settled in can grow like a weed and needs regular trimming or even uprooting large portions.
The riccia requires re-attaching to the rock / slate / pebble every couple of weeks as it will slowly detach itself and float to the surface.
But i'll say it again your tank looks really nice at the moment
paul.
edit : wooops seems im too slow when it comes to typing
houndour
Twiglet and Eeyore
I think its a huge improvement. On first looking I hadn't noticed the sword, but now you mention it, it does stick out. Maybe the thing is you now have lots of small leaved plants which is good and the sword is the only broad leafed one.I've recently binned all my swords...it was tough to do but I now prefer my tank with all smaller leaved plants. Gives an illusion that the tank looks bigger.
What's your tank size? The appearance has improved with the addition of the foreground plants. I like it better, though your first tank was pretty too. Compared with your tanks, mine are little messes. I bet it's smaller than I think it is.
Angry_Platy
Sleepy Chook
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The sword does stand out JUST a little. Its hard to tell until you take it out. If it looks weird without it then put it back in
I too am debating getting rid of my swords....just leaving one. The leaves are getting way bigger than I thought they would and my tank is starting to look like a sword tank as opposed to a nice mixed plant tank. I'd have to replace it with some fast growers though or else risk algae problems.
I too am debating getting rid of my swords....just leaving one. The leaves are getting way bigger than I thought they would and my tank is starting to look like a sword tank as opposed to a nice mixed plant tank. I'd have to replace it with some fast growers though or else risk algae problems.
Thanks.
Hmm. Maybe I could take it out and replace it with more green ludwigia like few branches behind sword.
Thanks. Dwarf sag was only I could find. I hope it's not going to grow too tall.
Hmm. Maybe I could take it out and replace it with more green ludwigia like few branches behind sword.
It's 128 liters = about 33 us gallons
Thanks. Dwarf sag was only I could find. I hope it's not going to grow too tall.
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