Your Input Please

[Phage]

So, I am looking for advice to improve my tank (anything that can be improved)

I broke my glass diffuser. I need something to replace it if there is something better. The white part would always grow algae on it and that got annoying. Any suggestions?
My dwarf hair grass isn't getting along well. I don't know why. It doesn't spread and turns dark green or brown. Would there be a better 'carpet' or lower type plant?
I have riccia but it turns brown in parts.
In general, I like the lotus, crypts, and sagittaria. Definitely want to keep my moss wall. What can I replace the pennywort and hairgrass with? Comments on layout too is appreciated.
I think I want to keep a lot of my equipment external. Would just my powerhead be enough flow if I put filter media on it or should I get a canister filter and take out the powerhead?

I have spot algae growing on the glass as well as black beard on my equipment and plastic holding the riccia. I bleached most of the bba.


Pardon the DIY co2, I left town for a week and my co2 tank leaked out and I didn't get a refill.


55USG, 74-76F, water change 1/3 once a week, 1/4 tsp KNO3 and KH2PO4 3x weekly and 1/8 tsp CSM+B, light 2x56W bulbs T-5 from 2pm-10pm, Aquaclear 70 power head, HOB filter Topfin 60, Fluorite substrate, 2 bps pressurized CO2.
13x danio kytathit, 1x oto, 1x danio rerio, 4x harlequin rasbora, 8x neon tetra (had 20 but my kythahit decided they were snacks but since stopped bothering them), I had cherry shrimp but haven't seen any. I think my rasboras ate them.

Plants: Nymphaea zenkeri (red tiger lotus), Microsorum pteropus (java fern), Cryptocoryne wendtii green and brown, Anubias barteri var. nana, some Sagittaria (I forgot what type), Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae, Willow moss, pennywort, dwarf hair grass, riccia

PS I ordered a different thermometer so I will take off that sticker

 

[Bobtastic]

Hi Phage,

All your plants look very healthy (from what I can see on the pictures). You can usually find very affordable defusers on ebay. The advice that I have been given for removing the algae from the ceramic pads on the defuser is to use Milton (it is used to sterilies baby bottles and the like), not sure if it is available where u are. But I'm sure there will be a similar product.

I would advercate the use of pressuried Co2 over homemade (yeast based) Co2 systems. You get a better stability of levels and instable Co2 leads to algae.

I would say that your scape is lacking flow and continuity. You seem to have divided all the plants up into different sections of the tank. I would suggest that you have a look at some other aquascapes to get an idea of how some of the others are laying out their tanks atm. Also I find the gravel colour that you've used distracting. Altho there is nothing wrong with it I don't think it compliments a natural planted aquascape.

Have a look at the AGA Aquascaping Contest for 2009 for inspiration. There are usually some beautiful, striking and natural looking scape in there. Awe-inspiring! I would love to have one in my front room!

 

[Phage]

I am very bad at aquascaping I was growing the riccia so it looks like a random blob.
I do have pressurized but there was a leak and it ran out while I was on vacation. I can't exactly take my tank on the bus to get a refill so I had to wait for a ride.
For the diffuser I had, I soaked it in part bleach solution (Aaron told me about this) but I disliked having to take it out every couple of weeks. I got a new spiro diffuser since I broke my rhinox (in my hand and that hurt )
I think I'm going to take out my HOB filter and see how my powerhead does with just that as a filter. If it isn't good I'll get an eheim canister.
I love looking at AGA, I am in awe but I can't build such a scape for myself, I suck.
My substrate is red fluorite so its black and red. Ugly I know. I want to cover it as much as possible When I bought it, I couldn't find the black.

 

[Bobtastic]

I know what you mean, but I'm sure that all the scapers in the AGA comp didn't just create the scapes on their first attempts! Practise makes perfect!

A lot of the scapers on UKAPS and probably on here re-scape their tanks a fair few times in a tanks life. Just as long as you enjoy your setup it doesnt really matter, it's you that has to live with it day-to-day.

 

[lljdma06]

Welcome back, it's been a while. Nice to see that moss wall coming along.

If you keep the plants on the left where they are, I see the beginnings of a nice triangle scape. The wood, for me is pretty close to being in the right spot, and my eye drawn to the java fern/nymphaea combination. The riccia and the onion plant (?) don't do it for me, but I like the hairgrass and the crypts. Possibly move the crypts to the left to build on the triangle and then have the rest be hairgrass all the way to the right corner.

Just my opinion, but it may create an attractive scape without needing to purchase more plants, because your plants look good to me.

 

[Phage]

Thank you I really like my moss wall.
The onion plant looking thing is Sagittaria platyphylla, I have 3 more next to it but they stayed midgets. Ill move the hairgrass to the right and t he crypts to the left.
Should I get rid of riccia all together or can I do something with it? I like it but its just a patch because I was growing it out.
Should I get rid of the pennywort?