My Tropical Planted Community Tank

[PaulEbs]

The Ph of the tapwater is around 8/9 cdb2.

Right, time for an update...

I've upped the lights to 1.8 WPG now, and will add a further 0.5 WPG once I've received a new light unit that I've ordered. There are plenty of Root tabs under every plant, and I'm dosing standard nutrafin Plant-gro liquid fertiliser. The Co2 is running perfectly from 2 Nutrafin Co2 units.

Stats:

• ph - 7.5
• kh - 24 deg
• co2 - 25 ppm
• Nitrite - 0
• Nitrate - 25 ppm
• Ammonia - 0

I've recently added 6 Corydoras arcuatus [Skunk Cory's] who have settled in very well, these are great little fish!

Thanks for looking,

Paul.

 

[mikster]

Great tank there paul, very clean looking so you must have a good balance in there, great fish too, all look nice and healthy, love those corys.

 

[Themuleous]

Still looking good there Paul the plants are certainly healthy. How you find the growth? Slowish? Any algae problems?

Sam

 

[stang1]

The tanks looking great!

 

[PaulEbs]

Great tank there paul, very clean looking so you must have a good balance in there, great fish too, all look nice and healthy, love those corys.

Thank you, the fish are doing really well, it's a great community as most of them matured together so are more than happy to co-exist.

Still looking good there Paul the plants are certainly healthy. How you find the growth? Slowish? Any algae problems?

Sam

Thanks Sam, the growth is very slow with certain plants, mostly the swords - I am hoping this extra 25watts of light will make a difference. All the vallis is thriving and I am constantly cutting it back - some of the giant stems have grown to over a metre before - and the anubias spreads new leaves every week. I am hoping with the extra light the anubias might flower?

Algae hasn't been a huge issue for a while now - it's only in small patches on some leaves - which gives a nice effect to the overall look of the tank in my opinion.

The tanks looking great!

Thank you!





Paul.

 

[wei0204]

Nice tank!

** I think the bog wood is a bit too hidden or blocked by the plants, is this what you plan to do?

 

[jordan.m]

How is sand in comparison to gravel? Meaning, is it cleaner? Easier to clean? Or is it purely aesthetics...?

Jordan

 

[Themuleous]

I am hoping with the extra light the anubias might flower?

Glad to hear about the lack of algae, some is ok IMHO as it makes it look more natural, but when it gets to epidemic levels its a sod and ruins the look of a tank (as he thinks of his algae infested nano )

Not sure about the anubias flowering, might do. Good growing conditions will normal induce most plants to flower, so here's hoping

Sam

 

[PaulEbs]

Nice tank!

** I think the bog wood is a bit too hidden or blocked by the plants, is this what you plan to do?

The swords do seem to take a lot of the veiwing space, I am considering changing them although as I have just updated the lighting I am also hoping they will grow a little better too, with rounder, taller leaves - meaning more bogwood would be showing.

How is sand in comparison to gravel? Meaning, is it cleaner? Easier to clean? Or is it purely aesthetics...?

Jordan

Sand, in my opinion, is much easier to clean as the detritus just sits on top and can be hoovered up without having to syphon a load of gravel. The only problem with this is that it does sit on the sand, creating a bit of an eyesore, but regular quick cleans over then substrate is all that's needed.

I would deffinatly recommend sand, much prefferable to gravel - and much more aesthetically pleaseing in my opinion.

I am hoping with the extra light the anubias might flower?

Glad to hear about the lack of algae, some is ok IMHO as it makes it look more natural, but when it gets to epidemic levels its a sod and ruins the look of a tank (as he thinks of his algae infested nano )

Not sure about the anubias flowering, might do. Good growing conditions will normal induce most plants to flower, so here's hoping

Sam

The dwarf anubias is currently producing a small stem like runner, taller then the other leaves - so hopefully this is the first sign of attempt to flower? The larger Anubias, centred on the big bogwood at the back [which I've forgotten the name for] is sending red runners out, so maybe?

 

[Themuleous]

Could be I guess, time will tell!

 

[lljdma06]

To flower an anubia, I have heard raising phosphate levels to 2ppm can produce excellent results. Raising phosphate is something, however, that I really don't like gambling with, since I'm not a good chemist and some types of algae can be triggered by higher phosphate levels. But you might have the skill to try. In addtion, since you plan on increasing your lighting and your anubias are quite exposed, try increasing the current, and adjust the flow towards your anubias. This will cut down on spot algae which could develop with the increased intensity.

Your tank looks great PaulEbs, I also like the cleaness of it. I prefer fine-grained gravel to sand as it is a superior medium for root feeders like Amazons, crypts, etc, but to each his own. I have seen successful tanks with many root-feeding plants that use both substrates. I also am not ashamed to admit that I like a little algae as well. It adds a bit of charm, especially on wood and the occasional anubia leaf.

llj