My Planted Tank
- Thread starter OrangeCones
- Start date
Added some gravel and rocks to hold the manifold at the bottom to test its functionality. No leaks, adjusted flow to not hit the opposite wall. I hope the fish will enjoy the 'stream' in the making.
Decided to reverse the flow, added all the wood, and began filling the tank.
Wood tied down to terra cotta pots that will be burried under the gravel. Lots of tannins.
Decided to reverse the flow, added all the wood, and began filling the tank.
Wood tied down to terra cotta pots that will be burried under the gravel. Lots of tannins.
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Wood soaked, and while doing 5th complete water change, plants arrive. No time to do a 'scape yet. Besides, once the wood is waterlogged, will redo the wood placement.
The right side of the tank showing (for now) the powerheads.
The left side of the tank showing (for now) the sponge filters.
The right side of the tank showing (for now) the powerheads.
The left side of the tank showing (for now) the sponge filters.
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Its a JUNGLE! HAHA! I'm terrible about making something look right, so will likely ask questions around the 'look' as I move forward. I'm waiting for the wood to be waterlogged so I can place them where it looks right.
I absolutely LOVE the wood for this tank. Because all the fish are small fish, the branchy (is that a word?) aspect of this type of wood really appeals to me. I love plants too, sooo...its a fine line between lots of plants and too many plants blocking the view of the wood for me!
I absolutely LOVE the wood for this tank. Because all the fish are small fish, the branchy (is that a word?) aspect of this type of wood really appeals to me. I love plants too, sooo...its a fine line between lots of plants and too many plants blocking the view of the wood for me!
Yes, its fully stocked already.
Boraras brigitte x19
Otocinclus cocama x10
Badis badis x3
My definite plans are to increase the B. brigitte shoal by 24, and to add 12 Danio margaritatus (waiting for the temperature to come down for shipping).
Future possible plans are to add Indostomus crocodilus x12 and/or Inpaichthys kerri x12. I. crocodilus will take culturing live foods, so I have to think about if I have the time for this. They are a very unique fish that I've kept before and would love to find them again. My supplier should be able to get them when the temperatures come down so hrmm...what to do?
Seems like a lot of fish, but they are so tiny and bioload is very small for these species.
Boraras brigitte x19
Otocinclus cocama x10
Badis badis x3
My definite plans are to increase the B. brigitte shoal by 24, and to add 12 Danio margaritatus (waiting for the temperature to come down for shipping).
Future possible plans are to add Indostomus crocodilus x12 and/or Inpaichthys kerri x12. I. crocodilus will take culturing live foods, so I have to think about if I have the time for this. They are a very unique fish that I've kept before and would love to find them again. My supplier should be able to get them when the temperatures come down so hrmm...what to do?
Seems like a lot of fish, but they are so tiny and bioload is very small for these species.
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Plants are all growing well, had a bit of hair algae so adjusted the photo period down a bit. With 96 watts over 40 gallons, it should be medium light, but the reflector (thanks AHSupply! 96 Watt Bright Kits ) seems to make things medium high to high. I have to use Excel daily to keep things in balance, with liquid ferts 3x a week. I need to set up my DIY CO2 on the tank since my glass diffusers came from England last week.
The plants came with some Lemna minor (duckweed) hitchhiking in the box, which I absolutely HATE. It is a great plant, don't get me wrong, but requires too much effort to keep under control. Floating plants are great for a new tank, as they have the advantage of being closer to the light, and can get CO2 from the air, so can really soak up a lot of nutrients from the water column. But once the tank gets established, I prefer other plants as floaters that don't grow so well as duckweed does!
My Najas guadalupensis (guppy grass) is taking off like the weed it is. I love the plant and it can be rooted or left floating, which is better than duckweed to me. Plus, it is much easier to control. I pulled 3/4 of it out today and filled a quart sized bag easily. It was blocking too much light to other plants.
I trimmed a lot of stems, some of which had reached and grew out of the top of the tank since a week ago. I've left the tops floating which will help them grow some roots more quickly than immediately replanting them. I will check this weekend to see if the wood is now waterlogged. I love the pieces I have, but the plants block too much of them. I need some 'grass' to plant under some of the pieces, that will not grow tall enough to block the view.
Side note, my rasbora LOVE the river-manifold. They shoal down low on the sponge side of the tank and rise up and hit the 'current' as one, and fight it all the way back to the powerheads. The look like they are having a ball.
Now the hard part, IDing the plants I have!
The plants came with some Lemna minor (duckweed) hitchhiking in the box, which I absolutely HATE. It is a great plant, don't get me wrong, but requires too much effort to keep under control. Floating plants are great for a new tank, as they have the advantage of being closer to the light, and can get CO2 from the air, so can really soak up a lot of nutrients from the water column. But once the tank gets established, I prefer other plants as floaters that don't grow so well as duckweed does!
My Najas guadalupensis (guppy grass) is taking off like the weed it is. I love the plant and it can be rooted or left floating, which is better than duckweed to me. Plus, it is much easier to control. I pulled 3/4 of it out today and filled a quart sized bag easily. It was blocking too much light to other plants.
I trimmed a lot of stems, some of which had reached and grew out of the top of the tank since a week ago. I've left the tops floating which will help them grow some roots more quickly than immediately replanting them. I will check this weekend to see if the wood is now waterlogged. I love the pieces I have, but the plants block too much of them. I need some 'grass' to plant under some of the pieces, that will not grow tall enough to block the view.
Side note, my rasbora LOVE the river-manifold. They shoal down low on the sponge side of the tank and rise up and hit the 'current' as one, and fight it all the way back to the powerheads. The look like they are having a ball.
Now the hard part, IDing the plants I have!
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