Sam's Nano Journal

[lljdma06]

Well, if I could train my lotus, you can certainly train yours, although since you don't have a lid, it would be nice to train yours to flower, which means allowing leaves to reach the surface. But if your lotus leaves are not too big, the crypts will appreciate the shade an a night-blooming pink flower would probably look very cool. I have another lotus in my 10g that would have been perfect for you, smallish leaves, shorter height. Too bad you live across the sea. That would have been the lotus to train to flower rather than the gargantuan living in my 15g.

Tank looks great. I love the HC carpet. Modernhamlet's going to hook me up when I return to Miami, now it's just a matter of finding the Pogostemon helferi in the US. I'm not copying you, I'll probably select either a rotala or even a tonina as the main stem plant. Some of those tonina species are absolutely fantastic looking, and my tank is deeper and wider, so I can get away with bigger stem plants.

Yeah!! Yours was the nano that has inspired me!

 

[Themuleous]

Bloo - no probs

Llj - Well i reckon its got to be worth a go, if all else fails I'm sure I can find a home for it or send it to someone with a bigger tank. Shame about your lotus, sounds perfect. If the bloke had let me I would have got the one from the tank shop and probably been willing to paid over the odds too, it was just perfect, should have taken a pic! Doh

You tank sounds cool, and its ok if you want to copy me, I know I'm the nano king so its all good Imitation is the highest form of flattery after all but your tank sounds like it'll be a character all of its now. I could set up another tank, with exactly the same kit, plants, etc and it would probably still be different, no two tanks are the same.

Glad you've managed to get some HC it is a cool little plant, hope the hunt for the Pogostemon helferi is as fruitful.

Thanks for your comments

Sam

 

[Themuleous]

My new lotus

Full tank with arch and leaves coming out the front

Close up

Without the arch - the HC needs to fill in the gaps but you get the idea, think I prefer it without and once the leaves gets nice and red it'll look stunning hopefully.

Close up

When I planted the lotus I managed to rip all the leaves off as they weren't attched by much, was really careful but it didn't stop me doing it. These came off in three clumps so have planted these hence the pics, and seens as when you normally buy it, its a bulb I planted this too so hopefully be ok, not so sure about the leaves thou

Sam

EDIT - I can guaranttee most of you people will prefer it with the arch

 

[Luke_e]

Looking sweet sam... the HC is really taking shape! Where did you get the lotus from, looks like its pearling alread or is it my eyes?
Can i ask why you have your diffuser at the front or is it just to show people which you have incase they ask?

 

[kennygater]

your tank looks smart sam. i like it

 

[Grim Reaper]

looking good

 

[Themuleous]

Looking sweet sam... the HC is really taking shape! Where did you get the lotus from, looks like its pearling alread or is it my eyes?
Can i ask why you have your diffuser at the front or is it just to show people which you have incase they ask?

I thought that, but not sure could be thou. The diffuser is at the front as the only way I can get the tubing over the side of the tank without it bending and stopping the CO2 flow is to have it like that, it also keeps it flat against the glass rather than sticking out into the water.

 

[lljdma06]

Both ways look fine, but I actually prefer the lotus without the arch since it gets much more room, but the lotus isn't nearly as red as I thought it would be. Looks like you got a green one. It doesn't really contrast enough with the crypts. But that could change with the iron you dose and time will tell. Your tank is still smashing, though.

 

[ChrisP]

Looking great, I love it!

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Sam, it looks fabulous!! I like it better without the arch. What do you think about adding some kind of rock? Nothing big -- but some kind of rock, shale perhaps, jutting out of the substrate?

 

[Themuleous]

Both ways look fine, but I actually prefer the lotus without the arch since it gets much more room, but the lotus isn't nearly as red as I thought it would be. Looks like you got a green one. It doesn't really contrast enough with the crypts. But that could change with the iron you dose and time will tell. Your tank is still smashing, though.

Oh no dont say that! its N. Lotus 'zenkeri' is that not the red one? Are there different colour forms then? Thought it might just have been the shop, as it doesnt have very good lighting so thought it would colour up under my nice strong lights? I blooming well hope so, paid 11quid for it! If not Ill order a red one from greenline or birstall, thats if they have them, was really hoping for a nice bright red colour.

Sam, it looks fabulous!! I like it better without the arch. What do you think about adding some kind of rock? Nothing big -- but some kind of rock, shale perhaps, jutting out of the substrate?

Yeh could do, it does seems very 'planty' now the arch has gone and the wood on the right isn't really a feature. Will see what I can find.

Wait, wait... you planted the lily/lotus/sorryicannevergetthenameright leaves directly into the substrate? Did it have a mini bulb when it came off or is it just stems?

Sorry, I'm kinda slow today hehe.

Lovely growth, as always! It looks good, with or without the arch. But I agree with LLJ, the lotus have more room to grow without it. Good luck training it to grow small!!!

p.s. Since when did aquascapers turn into bonsai artists?? I trained my creeping jenny to grow small too

Well yeh, you know how amazon swords plantlets look when you take them off the stem? Well the leaves looked just like that, 4/5 leaves all joined at the base, with some roots. And I had three of these, but none had any bulb/rhyzome to speak of. The blub looks in good health, nice and plump and doesnt seem to be rotting so if all else fails hopefully it'll grow new leaves?

Will see how the bonsia lotus goes! to be honest if it was quite big I dont think it would be the end of the world as it would be nice to have some floating leaves to give a bit of cover over the tank and as Llj says hopefully it might flower

Lastly - No arch it is then! will burn it this weekend mwahhhh no only joking im sure I can find a home for it somewhere.

All - thanks people will keep the pics coming, I may even take a few from different angles! Now that would be crazy wouldn't it!

 

[lljdma06]

Oh no dont say that! its N. Lotus 'zenkeri' is that not the red one? Are there different colour forms then? Thought it might just have been the shop, as it doesnt have very good lighting so thought it would colour up under my nice strong lights? I blooming well hope so, paid 11quid for it! If not Ill order a red one from greenline or birstall, thats if they have them, was really hoping for a nice bright red colour.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but I have N. Lotus 'zenkeri' var. 'red'. You probably have N. Lotus 'zenkeri' var 'green'. As far as I know, it comes in a red, green, and mixed form. Unfortunately, you can't tell the varieties by just looking at a unsprouted bulb. I had order a red and a green, but ended up with two reds. It was no biggy, however, since I prefer the red variety much more, and with iron dosing they turn SUPER RED. Almost like R. macrandra. Can't wait to get more for that 36g, it's going to look incredible with a sea of glosso and crypts.

Sorry Sam,

llj

 

[simonbrown403]

Wow that's looking bloody brilliant SAM

The HC lawn is tops and the Lilly sets it of nice

keep up the good work.

Simon.

 

[Themuleous]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but I have N. Lotus 'zenkeri' var. 'red'. You probably have N. Lotus 'zenkeri' var 'green'. As far as I know, it comes in a red, green, and mixed form. Unfortunately, you can't tell the varieties by just looking at a unsprouted bulb. I had order a red and a green, but ended up with two reds. It was no biggy, however, since I prefer the red variety much more, and with iron dosing they turn SUPER RED. Almost like R. macrandra. Can't wait to get more for that 36g, it's going to look incredible with a sea of glosso and crypts.

Ill order a new one, bugger

Wow that's looking bloody brilliant SAM

The HC lawn is tops and the Lilly sets it of nice

keep up the good work.

Simon.

Thanks Simon as you've probably read I was hoping for a red lily but that'll take time now as Ill need to get the bulb and to grow it, but glad you like it as it is

 

[Themuleous]

Right Ive been thinking (yes it did hurt, lots. And now my brain has melted to mush and is oozing out of my ears) Im going to get rid of the HM it just isnt right for this tank, believe it or not it just gets to big and when I prune it, it ends up looking crap for weeks. It is also constanly covered in thread algae (dam shrimp, do some work you lazy gits!) Soooo Ive had a look at greenline and come up with the following -> remove the HM completely and replace with either

SAGITTARIA NATANS (DWARF SAGITTARIA)

or

ELEOCHARIS PARRULUS (DWARF MINI HAIR GRASS)

Either have them as a line along the back on their own or I was thinking perhaps a line of the sag's at the very back with some eleo in front just to give it a bit more shape.

Any thoughts on these people and the plan? Anyone got experience of growing them? or an alternative plant? I think I want something long and thin like valls but much smaller obviously!

Oh and if this lily doesnt get redenough I might get some NYMPHAEA STELLATA BULB (RED TROPICAL LILY BULB) instead, advice on these would also be appereciated That said have just looked at the current lily and there are new shoots growing and they look red woohooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!