My Planted Tank

[sandfire]

Hi

What do you think of my aquarium?

By sandfire at 2009-04-14

By sandfire at 2009-04-14

By sandfire at 2009-04-14


Tank: Rio 180
Light: 150 watt metal halide (on at 7.30am off at 8.00pm)
Filteration: Tetratec ex1200 and 2 internal power filters
CO2: Homemade using 2 x 2l cola bottles and 20ml of Easycarbo at 7.30am and 3.00am everyday.

Plants: Rotala rotundifolia, Riccia fluitans, Pogostemon helferi, Nymphaea lotus, mixed Cryptocoryne, Blyxa japonica, Aponogeton boivinianus, Anubias barteri, Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow', Hygrophila difformis and Vesicularia dubyana.

Fish: 9 x Rosey Tetra, 5 x SAE
Inverts: Countless cherry shrimp and even more snails.

I add Tropica plant nutrition + everyday and perform 20% water change each week, plus top up evaporated water of approx 10 gallons per week.

The first month I had a algae farm due to my CO2 not making a dent and then I started adding the easycarbo and added extra water circulation, if I don't add ferts each day plants start to become pale.

The tanks been going for about 4 months now as time goes on I plan to thin out the number of plant species I have for more natural look. I am also looking to buy a proper CO2 system once I have some pennies saved.

 

[aaronnorth]

very nice, the P.Helferi is looking fab! You have a nice carpet too.
Interesting dosing regime with the easycarbo twice daily - any reason for that?

 

[sandfire]

very nice, the P.Helferi is looking fab! You have a nice carpet too.
Interesting dosing regime with the easycarbo twice daily - any reason for that?

P.Helferi has been really prolific, all those plants have come from just two small pots, I trim it at the base and replant it, I have never grown it before but is one of my favorites now, its stunning when its pearling.

The Easycarbo regime came about because I had BAD algae issues in first few weeks the tank was set up and I also noticed that the plants stopped pearling at about 4.00pm each day which I put down to them having used up all the carbon in the water. I also thought with the very high lighting and growth rates that I should dose higher than the instructions recommended but did not want to dump more than double dose in the tank in one go.

If you look on the spraybar and internal filters in the back left corner you can see the degree of algae I had, it completely covered the plants, tank glass and substrate, but its under control now, whats left is hard pretty much dead I just need to clean it off.

 

[nosoup4you]

Looks great! How long has it been set up?

 

[sandfire]

Looks great! How long has it been set up?

Thank you, I only set it up very end of Feb, so its still got a lot of maturing to do, I want the Rotala rotundifolia and Blyxa japonica to be the main focus in the tank and at the moment the Pogostemon helferi is spreading like mad and drawing the eye.

I am not sure yet if I am going to keep the Nymphaea lotus and mixed Cryptocoryne. But the Hygrophila difformis is def going once other plants are more established as I find it a bit untidy.

I also have some Java fern 'Narrow leaf' which is just starting to regrow after weeks of doing nothing (think it got a bit shocked by the light levels) and the Aponogeton boivinianus is having a growth spurt now, I like the way those two plants set each other off.

To tell the truth looking at the tank in the photo I am not to sure about the layout, might start moving things about...I can't stop tinkering with it.

Anyone suggest any layout changes to give a more natural look?

 

[oliesminis]

i think another planted driftwood would look good on the right

 

[sandfire]

i think another planted driftwood would look good on the right

Thats a good idea, but should I go for a smaller one, simular size or larger and seeing I am adding another should I move the other into a different location? Hows the best way to create a more natural look?

 

[JenCliBee]

i think another planted driftwood would look good on the right

Thats a good idea, but should I go for a smaller one, simular size or larger and seeing I am adding another should I move the other into a different location? Hows the best way to create a more natural look?

Beautiful tank...... i would go for 1 pretty much same size and similar shap to give that sort of pathway through the middle (if that make sense)

 

[sandfire]

i think another planted driftwood would look good on the right

Thats a good idea, but should I go for a smaller one, simular size or larger and seeing I am adding another should I move the other into a different location? Hows the best way to create a more natural look?

Beautiful tank...... i would go for 1 pretty much same size and similar shap to give that sort of pathway through the middle (if that make sense)

Thank you, I will go to my LFS tomorrow and see what I can find.

 

[Richard24]

This is my Saltwater Fish Aquarium.

 

[aaronnorth]

Richard thats beautiful. Post this it in the members aquarium & fish pictures as you will get more response (this is planted section )

 

[pammy172]

Very nice indeed!