Jack's Journal

[jacko9901]

hi

I have been away for a while and in the past 2 weeks i have been doing my work experiance in one of my local fish shops. at the end of my last of the work experiance i was given a small 35 litretank for free. also the day before i got 2 pencil fish as well for free which are currently in my other tank. i think they are 3 lined pencilfish but i'm not sure.

i am will probably use a hagen co2 fermentor and tropica plant nutrition + as the fertilliser.

the planned stocking is.

1 male fighter
2 of my pencilfish but if i can get anymore will up the numbes to 5
5 pygmy cories.

is this stocked right or could i add a few ottos?

not really sure on what plants to get but they will probably come from fish shops.

havent got any stuff for it yet so other than a filter and lights so no pictures as yet.

 

[jacko9901]

also what root tabs should i add. i was looking at the tropica palnt nutrition + root tabs so will these work?

 

[aaronnorth]

if you are starting from scratch, then i would use a substrate fert rather than tabs. it is cheap from here: http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/tetrap...58kg-1055-p.asp

you can then cap this with sand or gravel. There are dearer and better options if you want some ideas?

Use a DIY kit rather than nutrafin as they are the same but 10x cheaper, use 2 bottles and change 1 mixture midweek, then the other at the weekend.

 

[jacko9901]

Update time

went out last week to get some equipment. heater, gravel etc. this week went to get my plants. filled it up and this is how it looks at the moment.

can someone ID this plant for me?

my 2 fish tanks together.


No co2 or ferts yet but will be making a DIY co2 system at some point and will order the ferts off of aqua essentials.

 

[nosoup4you]

Looks like some type of Anubias...barteri perhaps? I'm new to the whole plant thing so I could be wrong. Tank looks like it's off to a good start. The java fern in your pic appears to be planted in the substrate. These should actually be tied to wood or rock so that the roots are not buried.

 

[saintly]

im sure its barteri, similar to mine...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=264940

i'd take it out of the substrate though, otherwise you'll kill it. tie it to the wood same with the microsorum (right of wood.)

 

[jacko9901]

Looks like some type of Anubias...barteri perhaps? I'm new to the whole plant thing so I could be wrong. Tank looks like it's off to a good start. The java fern in your pic appears to be planted in the substrate. These should actually be tied to wood or rock so that the roots are not buried.

it is buried at the moment.

how do you tie it to the bogwood?

im sure its barteri, similar to mine...

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=264940"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=264940[/URL]

i'd take it out of the substrate though, otherwise you'll kill it. tie it to the wood same with the microsorum (right of wood.)

would it be alright to float the plant.

 

[saintly]

just tie it with cotton. in time it will attach itself to the wood. same with the microsorum. use black cotton so you don't see it.

if you float it you wont get the best of it visually.

mark

 

[SuperColey1]

check out this thread on how to sort out anubias. Also shows the difference between leaf sizes from growing out of water to growing underwater (One for you there Mark too )

http/aqualandpetsplus.com/Plant,%20Anubias.htm

AC

 

[saintly]

great link andy. added to faves

 

[jacko9901]

right, just moved the 2 plants onto the bogwood but now it looks a bit bare.

i've decided i need a bit of red in the tank so could anyone suggest a red plant which doesnt get that tall.

will probably add more of the same vallis and cabomba at the back and add either hairgrass or some sort of moss to go at the front.

 

[jacko9901]

Quick update

tied the java fern and the anubias barteri to the wood.

but i have noticed a white film on parts of the wood and recently white dots on the glass. does anyone know what it is and if it is normal?

going to order some eqiupment off of aqua essentials.

eventually will get some more plants probably more cabomba and vallis. also will add some luwigia repens (i think), some riccia fliutains moss and maybe dwarf hairgrass.

 

[jacko9901]

UPDATE

added 2 more vallis and another bunch of cabomba, also added another plant which needs ID
anyway pics

anubias barteri

java fern

which type of vallis is it?

bulb/flowery looking things on the tops of cabomba.

ordered co2 eqiupment and ferts off of aqua essentials so they should be here soon

 

[fish.com1]

The vallisneria looks like Vallisneria americana (gigantea).

 

[jacko9901]

UPDATE

added 5 glowlight tetras yesterday and my order from aqua essentials came today.
i also bought a male fighter and i will collect it next monday or tuesday.