Starting Over Again, New Plants, New Plan

[Sammy1911]

Before back in Aug last year,

Had a few problem with dissolving swords, the tank sprung a leak (had to empty the lot) so everything died apart from the vallis and a couple of crypts. I have rearranged and moved the vallis to the corners. I've been reading up and quite like the idea of a 'valley'/ V shaped arrangement. So I have got the following now:
<a href="http/s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc316/sammy1911evan/Fish%20Tank/?action=view&amp;current=Feb12FrontUpper.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http/i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc316/sammy1911evan/Fish%20Tank/Feb12FrontUpper.jpg" border="0" alt="Feb12"></a>

I have ordered 15 mixed crypts, 5 x echinordorus amazonicus and 5 x alternanthera reineckii (not yet arrived). I have just taken delivery of Easycarbo and Profito which arrived today and I already have the root tabs for the amazon's. I'm thinking of grouping the amazon's along the sides/corners of the tank and reineckii to go at the back just off centre and the crypts to go around in the front & up the 'valley'. Fish wise I am looking to add in the summer a couple of rams and some corys so I was wondering about changing the valley for sand? Leaving the gravel at the sides and somehow getting the play sand (I already have) to run down the middle? I'm heavily pregnant due May so want something that will remaining looking gorgeous and grow whilst remaining green and not dissolving again (I'm hoping the liquid Co2 and ferts will help with this!) - please, please all ideas welcome!! I want something beautiful to look at whilst I'm walking the floor boards in the middle of the night doing night feeds again lol

 

[richpowell1989]

Most crypts and plants will disolve when planting them for the first time while they get used to Ur water conditions nothing to worry about they grow back most plants are grown imersed in the farms for quicker growth

 

[Sammy1911]

Thanks Rich, I'll try and be more patient this time lol

Quick update, I decided I didn't like the current arrangement on the right hand side so I changed that and got.....

And here it is with the plants in..... ta daaa!!

My existing vallis (yes they are still in there, believe it or not!) anyway, they're looking a bit sorry for themselves but I'm hoping that KittyKat can help with out with that area

 

[Sammy1911]

Had a slight balancing out of the plants and added two anubias barteri var nana to the bogwood on the left. Crpyts have started to sprout new leaves which I'm really pleased about. Looks like the easycarbo and profito are working! Not sure about the reineckii though... oh well, over all I'm quite pleased!! Any suggestions for improvement graciously appreciated

P.S. I've ordered some red vallis (to fill out the rear corners and mix in with the green vallis which hopefully will start growing again now) and I've ordered an anubias coffeefolia which I'm thinking of putting on the 'flat' bogwood on the right!?

 

[Million]

How about something tall for the back, vallis or similar?

 

[Sammy1911]

How about something tall for the back, vallis or similar?

I actually have loads of vallis already in there (u can see a few of them on the first pic) coz they are spreading sideways with runners but they're just so short lol I'm hoping that ferts and easycarbo will improve the situation and I'm also waiting on some red vallis to mix with them which I am hoping will fill the void at the back

This said however, I have read that vallis don't get on with liquid carbon but I don't know what else would be a good replacement for the vallis should this not work and they remain stunted (!!!)

 

[Million]

Ah, my mistake, well given some time I'm sure it'll get there - just needs to mature

 

[Biulu]

Vallisneria doesn't like liquid carbon. Apart from that it is a root feeder. I had the same problem with the vallis only growing sideways before I added laterite to my substrate. Another possibility is working with root tabs.

In other words: try to get some nutrients into your substrate to see if that helps your vallis growing.

 

[Sammy1911]

thanks will do! Shud i stop the easycarbo and just stick with profito n root tabs then? Or just add more root tabs in addition to wot i'm already doing?

 

[Biulu]

Discontinue the liquid carbon, or at least lower the dose if you have other plants as well.

 

[Sammy1911]

Discontinue the liquid carbon, or at least lower the dose if you have other plants as well.

I do have other plants and I've only been using the easycarbo for about 10 days now - the Wendtii crypts are responding well. Most of the others are starting melt but I'm hoping they'll soon bounce back as I've recently restock the plants. I have 248l tank and am using 2ml daily of the liquid carbon and 2ml ferts, so I think I'm probably best to increase the ferts and keep the carbon as is??? I was being cautious and would like to keep using it (carbon) due to the response from the crypts (had 3 new leaves in a week for 3/5 of the Wendtii)

I've noticed over the weekend that the vallis are growing at last, got about 2/3" new growth yay!!! Am I right in thinking they have a large root structure so maybe they've found the root tabs I put in with the new plants!?

 

[SO19Firearms]

Apart from that it is a root feeder.

There isn't really such a thing as a "root feeder" - Obviously it will feed through it's roots but equally it will take nutrient through it's leaves the same as other plants. The results we get when using a nutrient rich substrate (or high CEC substrate or root tabs) are more to do with the fact that there is a good source of available nutrient rather than them being "root feeders"

IMO

Am I right in thinking they have a large root structure so maybe they've found the root tabs I put in with the new plants!?

When you're dosing carbon you need to be supplying a full range of food - Nitrates, phosphates and potassium being the big three - you're Profito is more of a trace mix (all the minor ones) If you stick with the EasyLife range you'll want Kalium, Fosfo and Nitro to complete the set.
Your root tabs might be supplying a better source of nutrient than what you're dosing into the water column.

IMO

 

[Sammy1911]

When you're dosing carbon you need to be supplying a full range of food - Nitrates, phosphates and potassium being the big three - you're Profito is more of a trace mix (all the minor ones) If you stick with the EasyLife range you'll want Kalium, Fosfo and Nitro to complete the set.
Your root tabs might be supplying a better source of nutrient than what you're dosing into the water column.

IMO
[/quote]

That's great thanks for the info, I feel like I'm getting somewhere now! I'm due to start maternity pay in May and will have a very limited income. Once I've got everything in place (plant wise), I could do with a simply maintenance routine for the cheapest outlay (as we all are I'm sure!) Would an 'all in one' powder self mix be better value for money!? Is there one you would recommend?
I am considering APF wich I read about on the ukaps.org website as being good (link below)has anyone tried it? Or in there something else you would recommend?
http/www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/fertilisers/all-in-one/aquarium-plant-nutrition-refills/apf-plant-nutrition-refills.html?options=cart

 

[SO19Firearms]

That's great thanks for the info, I feel like I'm getting somewhere now! I'm due to start maternity pay in May and will have a very limited income. Once I've got everything in place (plant wise), I could do with a simply maintenance routine for the cheapest outlay (as we all are I'm sure!) Would an 'all in one' powder self mix be better value for money!? Is there one you would recommend?
I am considering APF wich I read about on the ukaps.org website as being good (link below)has anyone tried it? Or in there something else you would recommend?
http/www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/fertilisers/all-in-one/aquarium-plant-nutrition-refills/apf-plant-nutrition-refills.html?options=cart

I'd think it will do the job, they don't say what's in it so it's difficult to tell how much you need or how strong it is.
If I was to guess though I'd say it's probably based on the recipe here

 

[Sammy1911]

I'd think it will do the job, they don't say what's in it so it's difficult to tell how much you need or how strong it is.
If I was to guess though I'd say it's probably based on the recipe here
[/quote]

thanks again