New shrimp and crab tank.

[sharkweek178]

Ok so here's where we're at. Visible growth for the water wisteria, bacopa caroliniana and limnophila indica. The java moss is growing in greener. It's tough to see but the crypt is bouncing back from its melt and new growth is emerging. I see diatoms developing on the leaves of the bacopa but I'm not going to sweat it.
The s repens looks rough. But I see new leaves emerging at the base of some of them. The idea i have is as the s repens grows, I'll trim and replant it among the pygmy chain sword for a more uneven, natural looking carpet. Speaking of, I expect the pygmy chain sword to start carpeting in the next month or so.
I got some Brazinian pennywort floating in there. I'll plant it this weekend. I actually really like how it looks floating. But I don't want to block the light for my other plants.

 

[sharkweek178]

Planted the Brazilian pennywort. And I think I'm done planting anything new.

Spotted a snail in there. Bladder snail I think. That's fine. They can eat any dead leaves or whatever in there. Maybe clear up some diatoms.

 

[gwand]

That’s a good looking tank.

 

[sharkweek178]

That’s a good looking tank.

Thank you. Keeping it that way is the challenge.

 

[sharkweek178]

I'm still waiting for the pygmy chain swords to start spreading. But they've only been there for a month, and the roots weren't great when I planted them. So, I'm still withing a reasonable time period.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I'm still waiting for the pygmy chain swords to start spreading. But they've only been there for a month, and the roots weren't great when I planted them. So, I'm still withing a reasonable time period.

In my experience, they do nothing and nothing and nothing and TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

 

[sharkweek178]

In my experience, they do nothing and nothing and nothing and TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

I only planted them on June 30. So there's time. They have a nutrient rich substrate and a good amount of light.
The roots weren't great. I couldn't get most of them to hold in the substrate so I laid plant weights on top to keep them down. I'm sure they've rooted by now but I'm a little afraid to take the weights off. I'll wait until I at least see runners. I'm thinking that needing time to develop a good rooting system could delay their spreading.
I'm actually more worried about the s repens. Those are going through a pretty rough melting period. But I'll give them time. My philosophy is if it's still green then they're ok. I'll wait until they start to rot before I give up on them.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Yeah, don't give up on the S repens too soon. I've found them a little finicky but they're a really nice little plant if you can get them to grow. As for the chain swords, I'm guessing they'll start going crazy in the next month or two. You're right; it can take them a long time to establish roots, but once they start really growing there's no stopping them. Once you see runners you're definitely good to take the weights off.

 

[sharkweek178]

Yeah, don't give up on the S repens too soon. I've found them a little finicky but they're a really nice little plant if you can get them to grow. As for the chain swords, I'm guessing they'll start going crazy in the next month or two. You're right; it can take them a long time to establish roots, but once they start really growing there's no stopping them. Once you see runners you're definitely good to take the weights off.

I was showing a friend this tank. She asked me if people just skip the livestock and have little underwater gardens. Which is an interesting idea. I still want to add the shrimps though.
I actually like this part of the process. I spend a long time setting up. I think a lot of people do. That's why MTS is a thing. Because setting up the tank is the most interesting part.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Are you familiar with Dutch style aquariums? Some of them don't have fish at all.

 

[sharkweek178]

Are you familiar with Dutch style aquariums? Some of them don't have fish at all.

That's true. They look beautiful with the contrasting colors and textures. But I don't think I'll ever use CO2 and the maintenance looks like it would be a bit much for me.

 

[sharkweek178]

The first runner has appeared.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

The first runner has appeared.

 

[sharkweek178]

View attachment 371210

I'm happy to see it because the s repens looks like hell. I'd like to have both but I'll be happy if one of them thrives.

 

[sharkweek178]

I set up a quarantine tank. I'll set up the main soon and start planting. In the meantime, I'll cycle this one. When the time comes, I'll add the shrimps to the main tank and add one of these sponge filters. Then I'll quarantine the crabs in this one. When I do that, I'll add some salvinia minima here.


View attachment 367219

OTOH, I messed up here. I neglected the cycling of this tank and the cycle. Basically had to restart it. Now it's been sitting at 2ppm ammonia and 0 nitrate for a while.