SuperColey1
Planted Section
Whilst dealing with the algae problems in my first ever tank, which I am now going to let grow like a jungle to try and combat the algae that is growing in there, I have learned a few things and trialed quite a few plants eventually deciding upon ones I like, ones I don't, ones that grow well, and ones that don't plus the ones that love algae and the ones that seem immune to it.
I have after all this time decided upon the look I want in the tank and am looking for any advice or warnings or even opinions or different ideas on what I should do.
The tank is the existing 33USG Tall with 2.5WPG and pressurised CO2 and will feature Lilys for the most part (Nympar Lutae, Nymphae Rubra etc) but I am looking to use these to block the high light!!! Why not cut the light I hear you say.
1. because its there already and would be a PITA to remod now I have it.
2. I want some of the Lily leaves to reach the surface and also I want the Red to come out in the leaves (Thisshould be point 1 really. lol).
Will the high light (2.5WPG) cause a problem if the Lilys are reaching up and blocking it?
The plants that will be 'sheltered' underneath the ceiling will be a selection of Crypts with Java Fern and Anubias underneath. Maybe using Anubias Barteri 'Petite' as a carpeting plant as this will be a tank that is planned to last for a long long time with minimum pruning (low light under the Lilys should I presume mean that only the odd Lily leaf needs pruning every now and again)
The wood I already have will remain after a serious scrubbing down, as will the slate mountain which I am planning to turn into a slate cave instead.
Substrate wise I will probably try Tropica underneath the playsand with some Leonardite that I have eventually found in the UK as the very bottom of the substrate.
I have most of the plants already growing in my algae infested tank so I shouldn't need to buy too many, and as I let the jungle evolve it will hopefully reduce the algae in my current setup as it grows awaitng my rescape.
The plants I have and will reuse are:
Tiger Lotus, Spatterdock, Anubias Barteri v Nana,Anubias Barteri 'Petite', Phillipine Java Fern, Christmas Moss.
With the Tiger Lotus can I turn 3 bulbs into 6 by splitting them or will this kill the plant? I know the Spatterdock can be sliced down the middle.
I will of course pack it with fast floating growers for the first couple of months too while everything slowly
Also any other ideas or suggestions on low light plants for the shadows underneath? wether it be crypt varieties or others. Pics of yours appreciated.
It will contain the current livestock of 11 cardinals (will introduce 9 more to reinstate their loriginal large group that the failed moss wall has trapped and killed one by one) 3 Otos and 4 Pitbull Plecs.
Will I need to dose fully as I do at the moment seeing as most of the plants that are in there are slow growers?
The Non CO2 Nano tank I had in the pipeline has not been forgotten and is also being planned for March time when the 33G tank should be up and running and growing nicely (but slowly)
I have after all this time decided upon the look I want in the tank and am looking for any advice or warnings or even opinions or different ideas on what I should do.
The tank is the existing 33USG Tall with 2.5WPG and pressurised CO2 and will feature Lilys for the most part (Nympar Lutae, Nymphae Rubra etc) but I am looking to use these to block the high light!!! Why not cut the light I hear you say.
1. because its there already and would be a PITA to remod now I have it.
2. I want some of the Lily leaves to reach the surface and also I want the Red to come out in the leaves (Thisshould be point 1 really. lol).
Will the high light (2.5WPG) cause a problem if the Lilys are reaching up and blocking it?
The plants that will be 'sheltered' underneath the ceiling will be a selection of Crypts with Java Fern and Anubias underneath. Maybe using Anubias Barteri 'Petite' as a carpeting plant as this will be a tank that is planned to last for a long long time with minimum pruning (low light under the Lilys should I presume mean that only the odd Lily leaf needs pruning every now and again)
The wood I already have will remain after a serious scrubbing down, as will the slate mountain which I am planning to turn into a slate cave instead.
Substrate wise I will probably try Tropica underneath the playsand with some Leonardite that I have eventually found in the UK as the very bottom of the substrate.
I have most of the plants already growing in my algae infested tank so I shouldn't need to buy too many, and as I let the jungle evolve it will hopefully reduce the algae in my current setup as it grows awaitng my rescape.
The plants I have and will reuse are:
Tiger Lotus, Spatterdock, Anubias Barteri v Nana,Anubias Barteri 'Petite', Phillipine Java Fern, Christmas Moss.
With the Tiger Lotus can I turn 3 bulbs into 6 by splitting them or will this kill the plant? I know the Spatterdock can be sliced down the middle.
I will of course pack it with fast floating growers for the first couple of months too while everything slowly
Also any other ideas or suggestions on low light plants for the shadows underneath? wether it be crypt varieties or others. Pics of yours appreciated.
It will contain the current livestock of 11 cardinals (will introduce 9 more to reinstate their loriginal large group that the failed moss wall has trapped and killed one by one) 3 Otos and 4 Pitbull Plecs.
Will I need to dose fully as I do at the moment seeing as most of the plants that are in there are slow growers?
The Non CO2 Nano tank I had in the pipeline has not been forgotten and is also being planned for March time when the 33G tank should be up and running and growing nicely (but slowly)
I think the idea of having a mat of floating lily leaves would be a great idea, as it would help prevent the algae and also allow slower growing plants to be used with a lower risk of them becoming an algae magnet.
