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That is very nice of Bob, do you guys live in the same town? What kind of Rotala did he give to you, Indica? I think Indica is also called Rotundifolia, right?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yeah we live in the same town. I am not sure the type of Rotala because I haven't taken the time to look it up. Too many other things to do.

It gets pink tops though!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Here are some pictures of my tank!

Attached Image:

Most natural color

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Straite on shot. This gives you the best view of the layout.

Attached Image:

Strait on

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Dwarf Lilly and Rotala from Bob. The Rotala has some nice red to it. You can also see some of the Sunset is turning pink.

Attached Image:

Red

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Two of the three or four CRS. They often hang out in this spot.

Attached Image:

Cherry Red Shrimp

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Being it has been about a year since this tank has started I though I would give a little over veiw of the changes as inspired by LF. (Oct, 25)

Attached Image:

Starting out

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

This is still before I went to pressurized CO2 and a canister filter. The pictures date is from December '05.

Attached Image:

Look at that "THING"!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

This is from the end of Jan. '06.


Attached Image:

First days of the rainbows

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Mid March. You can see my new toys in this tank!

Attached Image:

Can we say growth!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

The end of march.

Attached Image:

Even more growth!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Things were getting a little out of hand! (April,10)

Attached Image:

Over growth!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

For some reason the tank is really dark... oh wait! The plants are growing across the top.

Attached Image:

I think I was busy then...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

This is after I got married and moved and such... The tank was a bit over grown but I kind of liked it in this stage.

Attached Image:

Post Wedding Day

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

The Sunset hygro was a little over kill. (Mid Aug.)

Attached Image:

Hygro Monster

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well I guess that is all I have for now. Let me know what you all think. I should really get going on my water changes then try and get some homework done tonight so I can take I can take it a bit easier tomorrow.

Thanks for all your help in the past year or so!

Edit: I am only doing a trial premium membership. I don't know what happens to the pictures after the 48 hours.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well congrats on the year .
Definitely a big improvement from the first pics when the "thing" was in the corner.

Why did you stop in mid "August". Is there a current pic.
Anyway based on the last pic it looks like the tank has more shape overall, but IMO what you need to work on are leaf shapes. Most of plants look to be big leaf plants and you need more constrast to show off the plants better.
I might have missed this, but why is the moss gone or is it there and playing a smaller role? You definitely need some fine-leafed plants. Even green cabomba would probably help if you could get it to stay in a tight group. somewhere in the left-mid back. Most LFS always have some.

Otherwise plants look nice and healthy and I don't see any protists from this distance anyway.



My Scapes

Tetra,

Sorry about the confusion. The first three picturs on this page are from last night before the water change. Durning the water change I did a bit of triming and thining.

Here is a simi-close up of the left side this morning. This should show you a little more of what is going on for leaf sizes. I still havent figured out how to take good full tank shots yet. It probably doesn't help that I am using a different camera every time.

Attached Image:

Thined crypt

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

That's what happens when you show things out of order. hey, that may actually not be such a bad idea, I could re-arrange my images so that the pretties ones show last. I will have to think about that.

Anyway, does that mean you have now a new light fixture from Current? How is that one working out for you?

And yes, big improvements ever since the "Thing" had been shown for the first time

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Interesting to see the transformation in the tank. I like how the tank looks, especially with the pretty new plants. Nice & pink

Cheers
TW

Anyway, does that mean you have now a new light fixture from Current? How is that one working out for you?

Not really new. It was a gift from a coworker of mine. Her dad gave her his old salt tank and this was the light on it. She is now doing Plants in the tank but had a different light that she wanted to use that gave her 2wpg.

I am not really happy with it i like my Coralife much better but it limits the amount of light. 130W, two bulbs with the Coralife where the Current is 260W, four bulb. The reson I don't like it is because something is messed up with the balist or something and the lights flicker sometimes. Most of the time I can turn it off and back on and it take care of the problem but not always. I never had issues like that witht he Coralife.

That's what happens when you show things out of order.

The year show off was kind of an after thought....

Thanks for the comments and input this far. Any ideas in terms of the scape?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Yeah, the coralife's are a bit better build than the Current fixtures. They are also more expensive, which brings about the though "you get what you pay for". Since your current fixture was free, you got a lot more than you paid for. They do tend to have problems like that, from what I've read. They just aren't built with as quality of parts(mainly ballasts) as the coralife. If the bubs are of the same wattage, you might be able to replace the ballast of the bulb that is flickering. It all depends on the wiring though. If they are the same(2 bulbs per ballast or 1 bulb per ballast for example) then you could just do a switcheroo. Also the coralife ballast would have to litterally fit inside the fixture. That's a lot of if's but it might be worth a try. All this is assuming that you've at least tried to switch the bulb out for another, that would be my first attempt before messing with anything else.

Nice 1 year summary by the way, things are continually looking better.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Yeah, the coralife's are a bit better build than the Current fixtures

That's for sure. I had a current usa fixture on my 72g in the beginning and the ballast failed pretty quickly. Customer service wasn't that helpful. In Wings case as as you mentioned he got a for nothing so it's a win-win, but I will never buy another current fixture. Also the 36" fixture came with 4 plugs (2 fans, 2 lights, really annoying). Those fixtures run hot so you have to have all the fans on or it will crack you top. BTW their current usa satelite fixture 4 x 65watts is $200. That's pretty much the same price as the coralife one. Oh yeah they give you 2 lunar lights woo hoo!

My Scapes

Thanks for the ideas about pulling the good stuff out of my Coralife to fix the Crapo Current. Maybe if I can get an hour or so I will mess with it. I like to take things apart.

Also thanks for the coments on my tank and what it has been through. I really like your input in most cases.

Right now I am really swamped with school. It is my last semester of real classes before I go into my student teaching. Because of the work over load I am going to have to lay off of the FP. I tend to spend a lot of time here that I could be doing home work or wedding thank yous.....

At this point I have already cut my work hours back and plan on pulling some late nights. I will be back in full force when things settle down a bit or I have a major issue with the tank. I don't see that happening for a couple of months or so.

Take care and thanks!
Doug (wings)

Take care everyone!

Edit: Well my pictures are off the easy view able site but they are still there for the looking.....I should really spend the cash to get a camera and a real membership to this place....maybe that can be my Christmas present.


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Things with school are going fairly well. I have been busting my butt and so far things are paying off. This week has gone well but that just means I have to start the work this weekend for next week.

Tank Update:
Plants are growing well with no issues.

I added 4 more brillian rasboras last weekend to up my school to 8 fish. The tank is much more alive now. It gives me a nice break from my school work.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I added 4 more brillian rasboras last weekend to up my school to 8 fish. The tank is much more alive now. It gives me a nice break from my school work

That's just what you want Wings, something soothing to look at during your breaks.

Your comment reminded me of a tank of I saw this weekend in a LFS. I am sure it must have been grossly overstocked. It was packed full of colourful male guppys, neons & cardinals. Just the prettiest sight of constant moving colour & activity. I'm not meaning that I think your tank is crowded at all, just that your comment "The tank is much more alive now" reminded me of all that lovely colour in constant motion.

Hope your school work continues to go well.

Cheers
TW

That's just what you want Wings, something soothing to look at during your breaks

Well along with the new fish I also started feeding more. Not really sure why but I think I had my head somewhere it shouldn't have been.

With the addition of new fish and more feeding came with it some BBA and Hair Algae. It isn't too bad right now but it sure wasn't soothing to look at during my breaks.

The Hair Algae is kind of floating around in different spots in the tank. BBA is on the dying leaves of the Aponogeton crispus. This plan hasn't put out a new leaf in months but had put out more flowers than I can count.

I have added another 5 CRS to the tank from the 2G hex. Some of them were getting big enough for the 40G and I have two females with eggs so I wanted to thin the population. I also added 4 more Amano Shrimp from work.

Shrimp numbers now are:
9 CRS
5 Amano

I saw the one Amano I already had in the tank chowing down on the BBA so I figured a few more would help matters.

My game plan is to do my weekly water change. Making sure to do a heavy gravel vac and get any extra junk floating around. Remove what I can of the BBA and hair algae and start dosing excel.

I think I can take this stuff!

Any thoughts are more than welcome.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Not many thoughts here from the master of all algae

I guess you must have been right on the edge between good and evil with your setup, and the few fish and addditional food just pushed you over it.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I guess you must have been right on the edge between good and evil with your setup, and the few fish and addditional food just pushed you over it.

I like to say that I walk the line my friend. 260W on a 40G long is a lot of light. Something was bound to happen. It is really not that bad. I just need to keep a close eye on things.

Something I should have did was do some test before the water change just to make sure things were not out of wack. I have not changed my dosing really since adding the second light. Maybe I am causing more up take than before and running low on things.

Who knows! I will keep you posted. Thanks for stopping in. My log tends to be kind of dead but I don't really have time to play around much any more.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well being I am slacking off today and I have my brothers cammera still, here is a little photo update:

BTW: These are probably some of my better pictures. I have been setting the camera for sports shots and also using a tripod with the camera on a timmer so I am not touching the camera as the picture is being taken.

Full tank Matty style


Some closer shots
Center: No fish
Oto on DW
Center shot1: Rasboras
Center shot2: Rasboras

Amano on Anubias As you can see from this picture I have some Green Spot on the Anubias. I have been upping my Phosphate but how high does it need to go to get rid of the stuff? Should I cut back on the lighting a little too? Right now I am running about 9.5 hours with the second light on for 1.5 hours.

I still have some BBA on the Crispus leaves but that is the only spot. I don't see any Hair algae floating around any more either. I am going to keep the excel flowing in this tank just to make sure things will be ok.

Here are some 2G Hex shots too...
Last picture
New Picture

Alright I guess I should get to my homework! Let me know what you think! Good, Bad, and Ugly comments are all welcome.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Nice clear shots Wings. I guess the tripods & auto timing must help a lot with that. I was hoping to see a peek of your kribs - any chance?

Cheers
TW

Thanks Robyn!

So I don't have the Kribs any more. Taken from the words of Tetra... "you can't be all things to fish, plants, and inverts." I really wanted to have CRS in this tank (and Amanos now too). Not that I didn't like the kribs but they prevented me from doing the shrimp. Lets just say that they were shrimp eaters! I moved the kribs into another tank (29G) for a while. One day at work one of the regulars came in and we worked out a deal. The last I heard was that they died. I guess she is having some problmes with her tank. It was a little sad to find this out but things happen.

Sorry I never got good pictures of them. They were quite pretty fish.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Oh, that's too bad that they died.

Cheers
TW

Well nothing much new on the tank this week. I did get a few couple of new crypts. Bob had some tank problems and had to strip his tank down. For this he hooked me up with a ton of plants. Most of them went into work but some went into the hands of a couple of my co-workers that I have been planting the plan geek seed into.

I ended up bring home a sword for the 55G Convict tank and a few of the smaller Cryptorcoryne balansae or retrospiralis. I am not 100% sure how to tell the difference in them. Next time I see Bob I will have to ask him what it is.

Sorry but there will not be any new pictures for a while again. I gave my little bro back his camera. Not that many checked out the pictures anyways, or at least commented on them. Oh howith my log is dead! Or the forum in general.

Edit: I almost forgot to talk about my algae issues. Last night I did a PH test and it was at 6.6 right before the lights when out. The fish seem to be doing fine with this low of a PH and high of a PPM of CO2 (121 ppm). I am going to leave it cranked up and see what will happen. The BBA doesn't seem to be really spreading but just there in the tank. I am also not so sure if the shimp are touching this stuff any more. Feeding has been a light feeding about every other day.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Sorry wings, I checked out the pics before but had to run and forgot to comment. The tank looks great, plants look healthy, but seems to me to have too many small bunches of plants. I think each species needs a bit more continuity, and maybe a couple less groups of plants. Other than that it looks great to me.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

What happened to Bob's tank?



Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

What happened to Bob's tank?

He had a power outage and his canister filters seal leaked on him = big mess. When I stopped over there yester day he had the tank drained and moved with a chunk of the carpet pulled up.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

He had a power outage and his canister filters seal leaked on him = big mess. When I stopped over there yester day he had the tank drained and moved with a chunk of the carpet pulled up.

Yikes, poor guy That's every aquarists worst nightmare. Not that this is what happened to him, but always secure your tubings and pipes!

Reminds me of the time in my pre-cannister days when the outlet pipe from the UV filter slipped out of the tank and started pumping water allover the bedroom carpet Messy and scary, and amazing that I woke up just as it happened.

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Back in the saddle!

Uh, that is pretty bad (your story too, NowherMan6).

That was his discus tank, right? Where are the fishies now? If he kept them, why did he get rid of the plants?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

This was his discus tank. He did keep the discus. I believe he said that they are up in a hotel right now. He did also keep some plants. I guess his game plan is to try something a little different this time around but he wanted to keep some of what he already had.

I think the leak came from the actual seal from the filter where the motor clamps down to the canister. I didn't really talk with him long so I am not 100% sure.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

You wouldn't happen to know what kind of filter, would you Wings?

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Back in the saddle!

I think it was an Eheim of some sort.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Sorry Wings to use your log for this line of comments on Bob's tank, but it relates to all our tanks - and filters.

If I am not mistaken then Bob has a 2028 and an AC 110 on the tank.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Sorry Wings to use your log for this line of comments on Bob's tank, but it relates to all our tanks - and filters.

Thats fine... Now say something about my pictures posted above!

If I am not mistaken then Bob has a 2028 and an AC 110 on the tank.

Yeah that sounds right...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well I guess LF is too busy worring about his 125 to talk about my pictures. I guess it doesn't matter much any more anyways because it has changed since then!

In light of Matty's comment...

I think each species needs a bit more continuity

I did a little work to group things together a bit more. At the time of getting some new plants I kind of spred things out to see where I liked them best. I am still not so sure abou tall of my groupings but it seems a bit better.

Also, I did an experment with Java Moss on the little plastic mesh things and hair nets that Tetra uses for his Riccia. I wanted to be able to pull it out and trim the moss easier. Right now it looks kind of dumb because the moss is not grown over the plastic mesh and through the hair netting. Thus you can see the edges of the plastic. I will give it a couple of weeks to see if it gets any better. If it doesn't I am not really out much. The plastic mesh was only $.35. The hair nets were $20 for 144 of them but I could use them for other things.

Tetra,
If you ever come back in look in my thread I would like some input on what it did with the moss.

In the corse of the mini rescape I pulled out the mother Java Fern, slit it up and took it into work along with some Sunset hygro and Wisteria.

I also now beleive that some of my algae problems is due to flow in the tank. I found one stem of wisteria that was covered in BBA. It was growing behind the tall grouping of Rotala that blocked the flow to it. Some time next week I will do some PVC plumming and move the out put of the filter to the other side of the tank.

Matty I might want your help for this!



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

The pictures look great. Don't forget to show us the rework you just did. I have a question for ya? Are the stem plants in the three center picures Bacopa?

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

Are the stem plants in the three center picures Bacopa?

Bacopa caroliniana

Right now I don't have a camera on hand any more so pictures might be a while.

Thanks for stopping in slickrb!

I was doing some looking around at This algea page I would have to say that I have Staghorn algae not BBA.

Also I am going to a fish/plant auction tomorrow. Any plant sugestions? Kind of looking for something with smaller leaves that is darker green.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well I guess LF is too busy worring about his 125 to talk about my pictures.

I have to say I am sorry, but I think I didn't even see the entry that had the links. Must have had my mind on the 125

But it did look very nice, Wings.

Fish/Plant auction: mostly you will have to go by what will be available. Don't they usually first have a showing where you can check what is there? I would suggest to bring a plant book to quickly read up on the plants offered. This would be in case you find one that fits your size / color needs but you don't know what it is.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks for the in put on bringing a book. It would have been good idea for fish. As for the plants there wasn't much there that I have not seen before.

We got there about an hour after it started so we were left with the second half left overs. I picked up a combo package of Riccia and Java fern. I really didn't care to have the fern being I have some and just got rid of a bunch of it. There is probably about a cup and a half of riccia though. I got the combo for $5 plus a $2 fee to have it put up for auction early. I figgure $7 isn't bad being I have seen small squares of it going for more.

I also almost came home with a bunch of BN plecos. You could pick them up for about a buck each. Overal there was a lot of both plants and fish there but the fish were really the best deal. Will probably be getting some fish from auctions in the future.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Riccia,

First, I rip off tetratech by using a wisteria lawn in the 125, now you come around with the Riccia

He is going to regret to have made his bet with his wife as he may have missed his chance on stopping us to copy cat his successful features.

Are you planning on Riccia-Rocks?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Are you planning on Riccia-Rocks?

That or using the plastic mesh stuff. I would kind of like to inter mix it with Java moss rock to creat some contrast.

Most of all I just want to play with it a bit. If I can get it growing pretty well I will probably take some into work for sale. I know there are some plant geeks that come in the store that would be into it.

Poor tetra....

Edit: BTW

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/threads/31544.1.htm?0.9783042#

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well I started playing with the riccia yesterday. I am a bit worried that I wrapped the hair net too tight but we will see.

Also tetra is going to have to help me with this plastic mesh stuff. I couldn't get it to stay down.

Anyways I had enough riccia to cover about 6 smaller rocks and 1 larger one.

Now I just hope it likes my tank and will grow!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Good going Wings,

For the mesh, why don't you place a few small rocks on top of it to hold it down. Tetratech also has it slightly buried, at least that's what it looks like in his pictures.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

For the mesh, why don't you place a few small rocks on top of it to hold it down.

Good idea! I am going to be taking out my Java Moss messy meshes soon. I really don't like how they look. Plus I picked up some more plants last night.

Bolbitis heudelotii and Marsilea quadrifolia (4 leaf clover)

My game plan is to have the 4 leaf grow around the riccia rocks. It is dark in color compared to the riccia so it will be a nice contrast. Right now the stuff is really tall as it has been grown emersed. Once it start to settle in a bit I will trim the emersed leaves and pray for lower growth. I am guessing with CO2 and 6.5wpg it will stay low and travel around.

I am not 100% sure what I am going to do with the Bolbitis yet. I am kind of thinking of spliting it and leaving the smaller chunk in the 40G while adding the larger chuck to my 55G. I am actually starting to get a plant mass in that tank, which is cool being I have convicts in there.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

Hey - did you get the Bolbitis idea from me?

Anyway, I have toyed with the idea of getting 4-LG as well, actually quite a few times. The downsides that struc me most is that it does not seem to form a dense carpet by itself, plus that it is rather tall for a foreground plant (unlike glosso), and that it usually does not maintain its 4 leaves per stem but rather often has only 1 or 2. You show me otherwise, ok? As I would like to see how it goes for you and then maybe get it myself

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hey - did you get the Bolbitis idea from me

Well I have seen the plant around online and thought it was neat. I love how it looks like the ferns I see growing around my fishing spots. I amost picked some up twice this weekend. First at a shop I stopped at then at the auction. I held off both times for some reason. Last night when I went into work I saw the sweet shipment of plants we got and had to bring some home. In the shipment was the fern and the 4-LC amonst other plants I wouldn't mind trying out.

I guess you could say I got the idea from you but I have seen the stuff around for a while now and wanted to play with it.

Here are a couple of links I have pulled up on the 4-LC.
http://www.floridadriftwood.com/aquariumplants_marsilea_quadrifolia.html
http://naturalaquariums.com/plants/marsilea.html

From these two links I think the plant will work out really well. The pictures make it look good at least. I don't really care if it keeps its 4 leaf pattern or not as long as it stays short, though a blanket of 4-LC would look sharpe.

Something I didn't know was that it is actually a fern. (I think I learned that from tropica).

Anyways... Thanks for stopping in and I will keep you posted on how the 4-LC does.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wow, we get that stuff in all the time, but I never knew that it was the emersed form we got and it was so much bigger than the submerged growth. When it comes in the leaves are about the size of a quarter each and stems are six inches tall or so. I'm quite surprised how nice this plant looks in an aquarium and don't know why I haven't seen it used more.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I'm quite surprised how nice this plant looks in an aquarium and don't know why I haven't seen it used more.

I know what you mean. That is why I am trying the stuff out. It is also a darker green so it will create a nice contrast to the lighter great everywhere else in the tank.

One of the biggest issues in my area is that doing live plants isn't really big. I am constently trying to tell people they can do it if they pick the right plants for what they want to put into it for equipment. It seems that half the people that come into my store for fish are either the people that don't care about what they are doing or are big salt water geeks. I have had a part in getting a few of my co-workers hooked on plants. Both their tanks seem to be doing well too. This will help them talk with costomers about plants.

Wait a mintute... guess that didn't really have to be said... little bit of a rant...with some...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wait a mintute... guess that didn't really have to be said... little bit of a rant...with some...

Nah it's best to let those frustrations out everynow and again. Just take a deep breath....close your eyes and imagine you are on a white sandy beach with the clear waters swashing back and forth all soothingly...Warm sunshine on your face, no worries in the world.....you are feeling sleepy....very sleepy...now when I snap my fingers you will think you are a dog...



Anyways I was looking at your profile and I can't figure out what guppy grass is...wanna clue me in?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

wanna clue me in

Ok fine! But then I have to get working on the last bit of homework for today!

http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=174
close up from the same site

My profile is a bit of a mess right now I am sure. I haven't looked at it in a while....

Edit: for some reason I feel the need to scrach behind my ears!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

don't give in to it

Ah I know that as najas grass. Thanks. Now get to that homework. I've been bogged down the last few days as well.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Wings,

That marselia looks pretty cool. I've never seen it down here in Houston though. Did you order it from FloridaDriftwood.com or did you find it locally?


Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

Just to get back to the 4-LG thingy:

Yes, I have in the past seen both of your links, but instead of going for the FD site image, which is indeed very nice, I looked more at your second link, by Rhonda Wilson. I have very high opinions of her, although she is not a high light/tech person. If you look at her pictures then the 4-LG looks more like a really bad growing of Glosso.

And that is why I never thought of getting it.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ah I know that as najas grass

Yeah I know it as that too but guppy grass is easier for me to remember.

Did you order it from FloridaDriftwood.com or did you find it locally?

It came from the store I work at. We just got a big shipment of plants from a place in FL. I do know know who it exacly came from.

I have very high opinions of her, although she is not a high light/tech person. If you look at her pictures then the 4-LG looks more like a really bad growing of Glosso.

I know what you are talking about with the bad growing Glosso. I am guessing though that with my 6.5WPG and CO2 the stuff is going to stay lower and grow thicker. It is suposed to grow much slower than glosso so it should be easier to handle.

Time will tell!

Thanks for your input though!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

the stuff is going to stay lower and grow thicker. It is suposed to grow much slower than glosso so it should be easier to handle

That's what I am hoping it will do for you as well. As, if it does so, I will get it then, too

I wonder if it grows even slower than HC

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Marsilea sp. are easy to grow Aquarium plants. These plants tolerate low light levels

That looks a really nice plant Wings and looks like it would work in my tank (low light), but I take it, it will grow higher & not be as nice as when with higher light.

Don't worry Wings about there not being enough interest in plants where you are, here I think the interest is even less. I have never even seen NL Java Fern, so I doubt I will find 4-LC - but I will look out for it - very nice plant. Ricia can only be bought from other hobbyist on ebay - at least from what I can see. Finally won a bid & my fish ate the lot. .

I look forward to seeing pics (when you can beg, borrow, steal) a camera of when the plant is established in your tank.

Cheers
TW

I wonder if it grows even slower than HC

I will do some poking around to see what I can find out about it. I have never messed with HC or 4-LC before.

I will try to let things settle in for a week or so then try and steal a camera again.

Thanks for stopping in!

PS. LF Java....I want to get my hands on that but it is never on a list when I get to make the order.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

LF Java

Little_Fish Java? I am not selling

Anyway, while walking around my backyard yesterday (no, I did not bury the Apisto) I looked at all the regular Clover that is replacing the lawn in some spots ( ) and I was wondering: has anyone ever tried to add this one to the tank? Why would 4-LC work but not 3-LC? I know, one is probably a land plant while the other is probably a marsh plant (which, btw, makes it also questionable for long term submersed growth), but did anyone ever try?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The vast majority of plants we keep in our aquariums aren't true submersed plants. Most are bog/marsh plants, but will do fine submersed. The clover you find in your backyard is a different story. It's never in it's biological history been consistantly under water and wouldn't last long there. You can try though.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Little_Fish Java? I am not selling

Dang it! TYPE-O!

What I ment to say was NL-Java Fern. I think this plant would work much better in my set up than the normal JF. I guess if you don't want to sell me any LF-NL-Java Fern I will have to just keep looking......

As for the Clover talk... I am with Matty! I think they are two very differnt plants. If the 4-LC doesn't do well then I am not really out much as I got them as a trade off for other plants I have brought into the store.

One more thing: Last night was the first night that the riccia has pearled for me. It was only one rock though. I am starting to think that I put this stuff on too thick/ too tight. If by next week I don't start to see some growth I will cut the hair net and try again. I guess its a good thing I got the 144 pack of hair nets!

Is tetra ever coming back?!?!?!?!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Is tetra ever coming back?!?!?!?!

If this weren't the internet we'd have scrapped his tanks for parts by now. <----calls dibbs on new lights.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

If this weren't the internet we'd have scrapped his tanks for parts by now

First call - I take his Riccia scape

Wings, you may have to give it some time to settle, don't rip it apart after one week already.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I wasn't going to rip all of the rocks a part just a couple of them that look too think and too tightly wraped.

Last night a couple of them were starting to look a little better though so we will have to wait it out a bit longer... Maybe two weeks worth...

I want his Rotala and the tank...



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well last night we had a power outage. I think it went off around 4pm and didn't come back on until 12ish (who really knows when there is a time change!)

When I got up to reset the timers I found one of my rasboras in bad shape. It was simming in a shakey jolty way. This fish also had some weird red streaks through the mid part of its body. I don't know if someone in the tank kicked its butt or it has some sort of infection. Being I am not a big fan of treating a take with meds I just put the fish out. I didn't think it would hang in there for too long anyways.

For the next couple of weeks I am going to keep a close eye on the rest of the fish. I really don't want to get into a habbit of losing them.

As for the plants:
The old leaves of the 4-LC are starting to die off. It looks like the plant is starting to root itself in well so I will be trimming the old leaves off tomorrow and will start hopping for some new growth.

Everything else seems to be doing fairly well. I am probably going to do a small replant tomorrow if I have time. Right now I am thinking of just moving two groups of plants (Baccopa and crypts). Pictures will come in a couple of weeks......maybe if you and I are both lucky!


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

Sorry to hear about the fish. I have to say that it is, IMHO, doubtful that the issues are purely power outage related, maybe the fish was sick beforehand and the outage intensified the symptoms. 8 hours is nothing, except:

- If your filter was really dirty (cannister, right?) and your tank did not contain any good bacteria (unlikely)
- If the temp in the tank really fell far down and then heated up really fast again after the power came back on (or did you add hot water?)

About the 4-LC: Take your time with the trimming, is my suggestion. How long do you have it now, one week?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Sorry for the loss Wings.

Good luck with 4-LC

Cheers
TW

Losses happen. More often than I would like sometimes but it happens.

I don't really think the loss came because of the loss of power. It just so happened that I noticed the fish at this time.

The temperature might have been an issue but its hard telling now. I did not add any hot water to the tank. I would guess that the Air temp in the house couldn't have gotten below 55 degrees. The water temp would have been much less effected.

I got a few plants from one of my co-workers yesterday. One of them I thought was Anubias Nana Petite from his picture. It for sure isn't the Anubias but could be some type of ludwigia as the under sides of the leaves are redish.

The Riccia is doing pretty well. I am seeing some growth in all the rocks but one. The one without any growth I think is wraped too tight. Will try to fix it up sometime this week.

Thanks for stopping in once a again.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

The tank looks good. I still think you need tigher groups and some more constrast. Don't worry about the riccia being wrapped too tight. It usually takes about 10 days to start taking off.

My Scapes

WOW WOW WOW! Tetra is back in action!

Thanks for the in put with the riccia. I will run with it for a while if you don't think I should worry about it yet.

As for the tighter groups. That I something I have been slowly working on.

Contrast is another issue too. I am having a really hard time finding plants that fit was I want. One of the biggest things I am looking for is something with small leaves. I think this is going to help the tank look much larger than it is. The second things is it has to have dark leaves or something with a bit or color too it. I was thinking that Ludwigia would be nice but I have never had good luck with the stuff. I guess I will have to make an online order sometime..

Thanks for stopping in tetra, you have been missed around here.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well I did make just enough time to do a little replant. I only moved two groups of plants (Cryptorcoryne balansae and Baccopa). The baccopa is now in a much tighter group and looks much better. I think I need a few more balansae though to make it stronger. I guess I will have to do some digging in the discus tank at work to see if I can find some smaller ones.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Just a couple of new things.

I had one set of lights go out on my tank the other day. Last night I picked up two new bulbs. I went with the Coralife 10,000K. They are much cleaner in color than the 6,700K. I probably would have went with the 6,700K but we only had one bulb and i wanted to get two.

I also picked up some rotala wallichii (sorry tetra!) I like this plant because it has super small neadly leafs and had a bit of color to it. I also might try some Ludwigia for something darker in the tank later this week.

Everything seems to be growing really well right now. Over the past couple of days the Sunset Hygro has growing inches from the very short tops I left in the tank. I am really impressed with the riccia right now. It is starting to fill in nicely.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I had one set of lights go out on my tank the other day.

What, it literally went out? It must have been in bad shape then for a while already, except if you dropped it or something like that.

No wonder your plants do great now.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The bulbs were a little over a year old. I have also had some issues with the bulbs flashing every once in a while. I am not sure if it was an issue with the bulbs getting old or the ballast is going out. I messed around with using differnt bulbs in the ones that flashed with out any problems so I figured I would get new bulbs because one of the originals burned out.

Today will be the first day with the new bulb. So the extra growth can't be contributied to the new bulbs. I am guessing it has to do with me being better about water changes and the ferts.

Also I forgot to tell you all about the 4-LC! It is putting out new leaves. The new ones are a single leaf and the stem is only about 1/2 inch tall. If it starts spreading around I am going to be quite happy with it.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I just replaced my CO2 a month or two ago and it went dead last night! Now the question is, is there are leak or did I drain it down when I had my CO2 issue? Or both?

The lighting has been reduced to about 6 hours.... With a lighting nap time to see if I can get rid of the GS algae again. I also dosed with excel this morning just to keep some carbon in the tank. I am not sure when I will get a chance to refill it again....maybe friday....


First the lights then this!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Good news on the 4-LC, or should I say 1-LC?

Bad news on the CO2. Hard to tell what caused it to empty so quickly, just one thing is for sure: that was way too fast.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

For the C02, I would guess it to be from your C02 mishap. From memory, you had it running for sometime (was it 30mins) at almost full throttle. That would sure go through a lot of C02.

I hope that is the reason and not that something is faulty.

Cheers
TW

CO2 for sure ran out way too fast. I am guessing that it was due to the "full throttle" issue or at least hoping for that. If there is something actualy broken or leaking then I probably wont replace it for some time.

Just to add to my issues with equipment I came home last night to strobing lights! I am guessing that the ballast is bad so I will have to start looking into getting a new one. If I can't get one or its too much $$ then I will probably just go back to the 3.25WPG. Things grew just find with that before so it shouldn't be that big of a deal.

First the lights then this!

Then right back to the lights!


Should I be cutting back on my ferts now that I don't have CO2 and my lights have been cut back? I am dosing Excel everyday thus far.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Sorry you now have light problems too. Well you what they say, "it never rains, but it pours".

I don't know how to work out the amunt of reduced ferts, but the others will quckly pipe in with advice. I would say yes, you do need to reduce. In my non C02 tanks, which are only half your size, I dose excel daily and KN03 1/4 tspn once a week & just a pinch of KH2P04. Once a week 5ml traces.

I don't think I have things quite right though, as I am having some algae in both tanks.

Cheers
TW

Yep, I'd cut back the ferts to less than half what you'd normally do. That's if you are running at the 3 wpg or whatever. If there's no light, then no ferts. If you are going with the 3 wpg I'd definitely make sure to cut it back so the high light is maybe only an hour a day and the lower light is on for 8ish.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Yes, cut back, but not to nothing. As you know, plants do a lot of food uptake during night, so they still need stuff.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ok here is what I have going on.

I do not have a high light any more. Just 3.25 as compared to running two sets of light at 6.5.

Right now I have the lights set to run for 3 hours. Take a couple hours off and then back on for another 3 hours. I was doing this for quite a while and I think it worked pretty well to get rid of my GS algae which has come back since I stoped the lighting nap.

Ferts:
Yesterday I cut the N back to 1/4 tsp from 1/2 tsp. The K and P I only lowered a little, from 1/8 to somewhere under that.

I talked to my boss yesterday and I might be able to get a new ballast. Hopefully cheap! I think I will probably get the CO2 back up tomorrow night.

Also I never increased the amount of ferts much when I doubled the amount of light. Instead of doing strait 1/2 tsp I started doing a light heaping 1/2 tsp of N.

Thanks for all of your input. As always, it is welcomed.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

The K and P I only lowered a little, from 1/8 to somewhere under that

Wings, what are you adding there, Mono Potassium Sulfate? Why only lower it a little? You are doing EI, right? Adding 50% (1/8P vs 1/4N) of posphates will not keep your balance to be roughly 1/10, you will have much more P in proportion.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

you will have much more P in proportion.

And more P will help take out the GS right? Or at least not let it take over any more!

I am probably doing about half of a 1/8th tsp. I don't have a smaller one yet so I just guess. The whole point of EI is to guess right??

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

The whole point of EI is to guess right??

Well, I would call it "making an educated guess".

You may not remember, but not all too long ago I had the discussion here about high phosphate levels. While all agreed that high levels are not dangerous with regards to fish and algae, the definition of high was "2 to 3 ppm". Nobody but myself at that time had experience with 5ppm ++, and I believe that it does cause issues. So, all of you, here is something to "discuss"

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I think my normal dose for P was around 3 to 3.5... maybe almost 4. I would have to go look but I don't have time right now.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Ok so my normal dose of P is 3.24ppm. None of my dosing has been really great this past week because I haven't had a chance to get the CO2 up again. It is in todays game plan. I have to make a trip to the school I am doing one of my internships at and the welding store is right on the way.

Other than that I have been dosing excel everyday and the plants seem to be growing just fine. Even the riccia has showed some nice growth and will be needing a trim here in a couple weeks.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Ok so my normal dose of P is 3.24ppm

Why so much? Do you have such a high uptake for P? Or is that the sum for the entire week?

Glad to hear that your plants are doing ok without the CO2, so far.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I am doing that 3 times a week!


40-60 Gallon Aquariums
+/- 1/2 tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- 1/8 tsp KH2P04 3x a week
+/- 1/8 tsp K2S04 3x a week
+/- 1/8 (10ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change


http://www.barrreport.com/articles/42-ei-light-those-less-techy-folks.html

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well I got my CO2 back up and running. I did away with the cheap buble counter as it was leaking. I have never really paid too much attention to it any ways. I tend to look at the stream of bubles coming out of the diffuser. I was not able to check my PH last night but everything seemed fine when I got home around 11pm. Meaning the fish were swimming not floating. It was kind of nice to see all the bubles again even though much of the pearling was probably from the water change. The riccia was truly loaded with bubles. Very cool stuff. I will actualy be home tonight so I can check the PH to see where I am at.

Also I opened my lighting back up to one full chunk of time. 1-9pm so 8 hours. From the 3 and 3 hour split.

Edit: I hit 300 post in my log! Some day I might catch up!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Also I opened my lighting back up to one full chunk of time. 1-9pm so 8 hours. From the 3 and 3 hour split.

Why?

I hit 300 post in my log

Nice Wings

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Also I opened my lighting back up to one full chunk of time. 1-9pm so 8 hours. From the 3 and 3 hour split.

"Why?"

With the lack of CO2 for that week I wanted to cut my lighting way back so I just let them have a nap. Now that I have the CO2 back up and running I figured I could open the lighting back up although I think I might keep the nap time thing because I think it works.

Any more thoughts on my dosing?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I'd have moved the lighting period back up a little slower. Give the plants some time with the CO2, then increase it hour by hour until you are back where you want to be.

The dosing is right for EI methods no doubt. Lots of everything there.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I'd have moved the lighting period back up a little slower. Give the plants some time with the CO2, then increase it hour by hour until you are back where you want to be.

Good advice, slooooow moves baby

My Scapes

The dosing is right for EI methods no doubt. Lots of everything there.

Thanks for the confirmation!

As for the lighting I guess I will cut it back a bit again with my lighting break.

slooooow moves baby

Right right... It is so easy to forget about the slowness when life is hitting you so fast. (More school work than I have ever had to do, flat tire on the wifes car, dead battery on mine....blah blah blah!)

Did you really need to call me baby? Thats just weird!


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Did you really need to call me baby? Thats just weird!

Well it's better than shnookums or cupcake or something of that nature.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Did you really need to call me baby? Thats just weird!

Just an expression Wings. I don't literally think your my baby Remember I'm from Long Guy-land!

I have my violin out for your busy lifestyle. Don't worry it gets worse than a dead battery and flat tire. I have three kids and my wife and I both work, plus I have a very hairy dog. So you could imagine between the sports, music, art and acting lessons I don't have much free time not to mention the expense. I am bascially a mule, carrying my kids things and taking them from place to place. When it comes to planted aquaria, my family is not allowed to bother me when my hands are in my tank.

My Scapes

plus I have a very hairy dog.

I just found that funny. I know what you mean though wings, tetratech may not have sympathy for the school part(old fart doesnn't remember what it was like), but I do. My car just impaled itself with it's own muffler, and I had 2 tests, a quiz and a nice fat paper all in the last 2 days. I'm pooped and my brain is fired....or fried. Maybe both.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I just found that funny. I know what you mean though wings, tetratech may not have sympathy for the school part(old fart doesnn't remember what it was like), but I do. My car just impaled itself with it's own muffler, and I had 2 tests, a quiz and a nice fat paper all in the last 2 days. I'm pooped and my brain is fired....or fried. Maybe both.

Didn't mean to be insensitive Wings, but I guess Matty is right I am becoming an old fart. Somewhere along the way I stopped becoming the primary focus of my life and that honor went to my kids. I guess when I look back craming for test, car issues, etc. those don't seem as difficult, but then again when your younger those things are difficult. I think you know what I mean. I do remember taking an Asian History Studies course (got shut out of American history)at SUNY Oswego and we used to have all-nite Asian Ritual Study Groups in which we burned our study notes when we were done and kept the ashes in the study room ceiling. Another fond memory was celebrating my 20th Bday at the college pub, with my "friends" pumping me full of 20 shots of everything imaginable. I ended up in the local hospital and I couldn't drink anything but milk and water for a year.

Yeah so I do have some good memories of my college years /:'

My Scapes

Thing really aren't too bad. I mean they suck compared to a few semesters ago but if things were super bad then I would probably be failing some or all of my classes. At this point I am doing pretty well in them. I just have to get through the next couple of weeks then finals week will be a cake walk. The car stuff really wasn't that big of a deal. It could have been much worse. We found a tire shop to fix the tire for free and my battery cost about 100 bucks after buys some tools too.

impaled itself with it's own muffler

Ouch! That could be really bad! Wasn't there a myth busters about that?





55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

No, I've seen most of the mythbusters, and I don't remember that one. It could exist though. I think it would be hard for it to actually peirce up into the car since it is pretty thin metal, but it did do quite a bit of damage to the undercarrage. I'm no car person, but there were a few things other than the muffler that they had to fix.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

When things are happening in your life - exams, flat tires, flat batteries, kids music lessons - footy - basketball - work. Whatever, at the time it always seems that you must be the most rushed, most time poor, most broke person around. That's just how it is. We all feel it that way. But I hear what tetratech is saying. I guess that means I've become an old fxxt too. The difference with kids is, things that make you rushed are usually no longer your own things. It's no longer because you're studying for yourself to set up your career (a very necessary thing to do). It's because "they" have to study, or must go to music, dance, training, friends, horse riding - whatever. You no longer have time for yourself. If your car breaks down, you'll be late for dance practice & dance fees will be harder to pay that month. There's no time or money left for your own hobbies. Eg. water change & tank maintenance starts for me around 9pm on Wednesday night. If it is a night where I have a lot of trimming to do, by the time I pack up all my equipment after (I don't have a python - it's a big container on wheels I push too & fro & empty manually) it can be 3am before I fall into bed.

At the time our stresses are occurring (students or anyone) they always seem the worst (human nature). Example, my daughter just finished her final high school exams. Nearly every night for the past 3 months, she had a headache. It must have been stress. Now the exams over now, there's no more headache. These exams were a huge burden to her.

We still have the drama of the Year 12 School Formal (equivalent to your Prom). After that & Speech Night, we are done for school in our household. Yay (but a big tear too).

I'm hopeful of a less rushed existence now, though still working full time.

So from another "old fxxt" to someone still starting out, good luck with your exams. Don't stress too much.

Cheers
TW

That's why I'm never having kids. Me me me me . Well that and I don't like them, and I'm getting old too. I'm not sure I'll ever be up for it, I hope not anyways. I'm going to let my brother and sister have all the children, I'm sure I'll get plenty of child abuse(that's children abusing me, not the other way around) just from them. My sister just had one, and one is on the way from my brother and his wife. Takes the pressure of me from my parents. I thought for the longest time I'd never be an uncle, but all is well I s'pose.

I get what you old farts are saying though. No more privacy and no more personal time. To most it's worth it though. At least you'll have someone to change your diapers when you're decrepit.

So errmm....to make this post plant relevant....ummm, yeah. I don't remember what the last thing was that we were talking about on this thread. Maybe lights? Oh yeah...sloooow moooooves cupcake. Turn those lights up slow

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I'm getting old too. I'm not sure I'll ever be up for it

You're never "up to it". It just snuck up on me & there it was.

At least you'll have someone to change your diapers when you're decrepit.

That's the plan. She wants to be a nurse & loves working with old people (she's worked part time in a nursing home for 2yrs & before that, volunteered there for a year). So, when she sets up her own nursing home (her current furture plan) - I'm in.

But back to plant/tank talk. Glad the C02 is back & running. What have you noticed in paticular about the nap time thing to show it works. Do you mean reduced algae? I'm having algae issues in both my non C02 tank. Do you think it would this nap system would help.

Cheers
TW

You're never "up to it". It just snuck up on me & there it was.

I don't even want to go there....where's bensaf and his dirty joke count? If he got 500 from a cat sleeping in my lap, I wonder how many he could get from this.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

now, now, play nice. I guess that did come out kinda funny. Just meant motherhood & responsibilites snuck up me.

Cheers
TW

Wow look what happens in these logs!

Nap = GS algea be gone! At least it did last time I did it. The idea came from "Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants" by Peter Hiscock.

The basic idea is that plants can turn photosynthesis on and off quicky, while it takes aglae longer preriods of time to get the job done.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Gosh....
I'm glad you guys changed topics...
THANKS for giving me something else to look forward to!!


Frank

Just in case I was misunderstood:
Thanks for giving me something else to look forward to
as I age (gracefully).


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Shrimp update:

This weekend I found a baby CRS in the 40G hanging out in the bushy riccia that is starting to take off for me. It is the only one that I have seen at this point but there is a lot of tank for them to hind in. My only concern is how many am I going to suck out when I do water changes?

Also I counted 5 or 6 baby CRS in the 2G hex this morning. I was starting to worry that this tank was going to be too cool of a water them for them to actualy breed in. I guess I was wrong. The nice thing about this tank is that the only thing that might pick on them is their parents. While in the 40G I have a feeling the Rasboras might take them out.

Needless to say I am a very happy CRS Daddy!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Congratulations CRS Daddy

Cheers
TW

Nice Wings,

Babies are always good as the overall live span isn't all that long with these guys.

And I will not talk about the other stuff mentioned above then, just

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Does anyone have any idea how long the life span is with the CRS or the Amanos?

Also, with the lighting nap I am not getting nearly as much pearling as I used to. The riccia didn't hvae any one it last night. I think that this plant needs longer lighting periods.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

From what I know, and that is not much, these mini-shrimp live for maybe 6 to 9 months. Amanos on the other hand between 1 and 2 years. The downside though is that Amanos will never have babies in your freshwater tank.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The downside though is that Amanos will never have babies in your freshwater tank.

That is why I have been trying to talk one of my co-workers to breed them for me!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well last week was a long week. I did not get to my water chages and did not get to dosing at all either. Here in a couple minutes I am going to do my water change. While doing so. Remove some hard scape to make room for some more riccia rocks. I am also going to try and find my self some stainless steel screen to use for a carpeting structure for the riccia.

The big news in plants for me is not in this tank but in my 55G. The plant originally came from the 40g though. This plant was the big crypt that used to take up a 1/4 of the tank on the left hand side of the tank. I came back from visiting family back home to find that I have crypt flowers. They are not the prettiest thing but are rather neat. Sorry I don't have a camera for actual proof but I found some pictures online to show you what they look like.

http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/Cryptocoryne/Gallery/wen/wen.html

I actualy have two of them on side by side plants. Needless to say I am pretty geeked up!

Here is some info on the tank:
~Water changes everyother week there abouts.
~Try to dose excel everyother day.
~Try to dose flourish 2x a week.
~30W of light on a 55g = .55WPG (the bulbs are aqua-glo that are about 3 years old.)




55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Hi Wings

Congratulations on the crypt flower. Alos, I hope the exams are going ok for you.

Your riccia plan reminded me of this listing I saw during the week on ebay. He has an interesting system - but wouldn't it cause a lot of dead area under nearly a solid sheet of glass (if you do what he suggests & line up the glass). With wire screen, you could still gravel vac through the riccia & screen down to the gravel to some extent, but I don't like the thought of gravel underneath, almost completely sealed by the glass sheeting. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/RICCIA-8x12cm-on-glass_W0QQitemZ290054286747QQihZ019QQcategoryZ66794QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Anyway, for the flower.

Cheers
TW

I did not get to my water chages and did not get to dosing at all either.

Well, did you at least reduce the lighting or feeding during that time? I am amazed what this tank allows you to do. You have about 300wpg () over it and nothing really bad happens. What is your secret?

Congrats on the flowers, I truely wish you will get a camera for Xmas so we can see something a little more frequent. I am just glad if I can keep my crypts alive.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well, did you at least reduce the lighting or feeding during that time? I am amazed what this tank allows you to do. You have about 300wpg () over it and nothing really bad happens. What is your secret?

Secret? Well first off, I have 130 watt (3.25WPG) on the tank. I still have the four bulb fixture on the tank but one of the ballest is junk so I can only run 2 bulbs. I am thinking of changing the junk one out for a 96W ballest and running the 96W bulb as the second light. This will probably happen over Christmas though. I still need to see if the ballest are the same size.

Speaking of lighting... Has any one ever thought of using halogen work lights for your tank? A customer at my store said thats what he is using and it works really well. The biggest question I have about them is the spectrum.

Something like this?
http://www.elights.com/worlig250wat.html

Back on track...
I think the biggest thing I have going for me right now is fish load.

7 Brillant Rasboras
10 Otos
9+ CRS
5? Amanos

I do a light feeding about every other day or so. Some times everyday other times less often.

TW,
Using glass is kind of a neat idea for riccia. The nice think about it is you can remove it easy for cleaning. The bad thing is that its all non natural shapes. I am going to be on the look out for some stainless steel screen because I can shape that more. To keep the ricca the site I found said to use fishing sinkers. I have plenty of those around.

Edit:
LF,
If you didn't move the crypts around so much I bet they would work better for you!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I doubt you can get a halogen light of proper spectrum for photosynthetic organisms. I bet he meant metal Halide lighting, some people say halogen when they mean metal halide. Actually with the proper ballast and bulb, you can make a relatively cheap halide pendant using the halogen casing, but that's a different story.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients