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Once here, I will post a picture of it and start tying it to the wood. Tryst, I saw you mentioning (in another thread) that the wood should be boiled first when algae is present. I guess I would have to do that as well because I have ever so little algae on mine too. Wouldn’t the moss simply starve the algae underneath?

No, I didn't see too much algae on yours in the pic, just tie it on. I suggested boiling in that other thread because the poster said there was a lot of BBA on it. The moss will grow over the algae as long as there isn't too much of it and block it from the light. It will just outcompete it as long as you take care of it and you can say bye bye to the algae on there.

I would love to go on a plant shopping spree in Singapore. I would probably go nuts though, such a change from the 10 different plants usually available from the LFS.

Thanks Tryst,

I haven received it yet, got all excited last night when I came home from work, but no package arrived.

I guess over-night does not mean the day after you order, rather the day after they ship (whenever that is).

About the boiling - I guess it wouldn't harm if I scrub the wood a little in "old" tank water.

Till soon,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well, the Xmas Moss is here and the pot-roast is prepared

I called the plant store this morning at about 7:30 their time and, after I only got the answering machine (no wonder) I hung up. 5 min later the guy calls me back based on caller ID and asked what my problem would be. I mentioned that I haven’t seen a tracking entry at the US Postal Service site and that I got worried it wouldn’t be delivered. He assured me it’s on its way, and, what can I say, it was at my door an hour later

So, without further delay, I removed the driftwood, gave it a little scrub with a sponge, and prepared the roast. It doesn’t really look pretty yet, I also don’t know if I did it right, but here it is:



LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

What did you tie it down with, cotton thread?
Looks pretty good already. How is your cabomba doing? I'm surprised it looks so green with 2wpg and no co2.

My Scapes

Tetra,

Yes, I tied it down with brown cotton thread, can you spot it?
I read that the thread will dissolve around the time when the Xmas Moss would be anchored, might have been either bensaf or tryst that stated this.

The Cabomba is doing ok; I just haven’t really found a good spot for it. It’s in the tank for about 2 months and has been moved a lot. Just to avoid any potential misunderstanding, there is only one stem of Cabomba in this picture, in the middle all the way to the top (cut this one about 15 min ago). The other 2 stems you see there (left, and middle just above the driftwood) is Ambulia which is doing just great in my tank.

And, all looks so green because I use a 65w 6700K light. See This Link for my first reaction when I switched to this light

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 13-Aug-2005 15:27

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

OooooOOOooooOOOoooo

I really like the moss.

Should look great once it upholsters that whole piece of wood.

Gang,

It’s been 15 days since I added the Xmas Moss to my tank and I decided to give you a little update, if you don’t mind

Overall, quite a bit has happened in my tank world, yesterday I bought a 125G and a 20G long. The whole story of this event can be [link=Seen Here]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/General%20Freshwater/63561.html?200508281037" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link]. The big one will need some time until I have all the pieces, the 20G was set up as soon as I got it.

For my 29, this meant that almost all plants got a major trimming. Various plantlets of the Pygmy Chain Sword have been removed, most of the Cabomba, Star Grass, and Ambulia as well. The Rotala Rotundifolia had at least 15 stems cut back, one Green Wendtii was moved to the right, another removed. A few of the Ludwigia Repens have been cut back as well. All of the cuttings have been set up in the new 20G (above link contains a photo of the whole setup) and will serve eventually as plants for the 125.

The Xmas Moss is beginning to grow in nicely. I had some confusion during the last week because there was a different plant in the moss, thanks again to Bensaf, Tryst, and Cup for helping me identifying this plant, Riccia Fluitans. Here is [link=A Link]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/63423.html?200508260338" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] to the problem and its resolve. I removed the Riccia today and placed it under a vegetable net on a rock.

I also have a few problems with the tank. Since maybe 5 days I see that a few old leaves of my Green Wendtii are melting away. I might lack a strict fertilization routine, but this plant has been in the tank before I even knew what fertilization was and never showed this problem. My the Ludwigia Repens still looses quite a few of the old, lower leafs; they get little holes first and then turn yellow and brown and fall off. Some also seem to wither away to some degree before they fall off. I figured it is a lack of potassium and dosed it more, with no change.

As usual, any input and help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Ingo

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I guess the image didn't like to be attached, I try it again.

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well, my decorating ideas stink, but can I comment on the "fry"? too late gonna do it anyways They are growing up so nicely and are adding such color to the tank Before you know it I swear you are going to be having more fry So how exactly did you get that potroast together? When I was doing the water change and maintenance last night I found that the java moss had not attached to the driftwood, and the fishing line had been removed grrrrrrrr my talented little corries that I have That is going ot be looking really nice, I'm so envious heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Well gang,

A month and a half have passed since I posted the last picture of my tank. I have been too busy setting up a 20G and my latest addition, a 125G.

Not much has happened regarding Aquascaping, just the occasional pruning, in particular of the Pygmy Chain Sword and the Rotala. Various stems of the Ambulia were shooting up and have been cut down, by now the plant has moved all the way from the right to the left of the tank (via runners). The Xmas moss has grown in beautifully (I think) and soon I will have to start trimming it.

Also, my baby Platies have babies themselves, at least 2 survived so far by hiding in the Chain Sword.

Here is a picture from today.

Ingo

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

:#(:#(:#(

PLEASE come and do my tanks LITTLE FISH. PLEASE!

it looks lovely.

if I didn't like you so much I'd really hate you right now! as it is I settle for being green with envy.

my platies don't grow that quick and I can kill java fern.

it really is a lovely tank.

GFG

_______________________________________
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.
Harvey S. Firestone

GFG,

If you buy the ticket and hotel, count me in, I will come and do your tank

All

It is a month ago that I posted the last picture. Not much has happened in terms of changes, but given that I have a new camera I thought I should post some more pictures.

The only changes are:

- trimming of the Ludwigia
- trimming of the Rotala
- reducing the size of the Tenellus group by taking out the perimeter plantlings

Comments and suggestions are welcome as usual,

Ingo

Here is the Tank:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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And from the left

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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And from the right

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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A Close-Up of the Xmas Moss on the Driftwood (time for a trim)

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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The Tenellus group with some Crypt Wendtii on the left

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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2 Platy fry searching for food in the Tenellus, that’s where the very young ones hide out until they are too big to be eaten

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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A male Sunset (Sunburst) Platy eating at the surface

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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And last but not least, a Close-Up of the Xmas Moss, really close

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Tank looks nice, good pics!

My comments:
The moss covered DW is obviously the main focal of the tank so you should build around that. Everything else should compliment it.

1. The cabomba in the right corner behind the DW is about the same color and has a fine-leaved texture like the moss and takes away from it's beauty. Besides will the Cabomba grow well in that dark corner, It will it just be kinda stringy.

2. The stems on the left, look like there just hanging out trying to get into the game. Right now they distract from the moss focal point. They need to be organized in someway.

3. Right behind the Tenellus a trio of branches (If you could acquire them) poking out from behind that bush would look really good.

Just my thoughts. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

My Scapes

Very attractive tank.

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http://justanothertank.com

I hope my tank will look as good as that, I will be ordering plants on monday probably...Nice tank

tetratech, czcz, and Lookin_around

Thanks for the comments and encouragement. The tank is in a stage of “waiting” until I find more time to mess with it. On one hand I can see tetratech’s explanation of imbalance; on the other hand I know my limited abilities of “beautifying” a tank.

But I have some ideas; let me surprise you (and myself) with the results some day soon.

Thanks again,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ok,

I changed the tank today in a major effort that involved [link= My 20G]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/63901_2.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] and [link=My 125G]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/64425_21.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] as well.

I am very tired as the operation took 12 hours, so forgive me if I don’t write too much.

Please let me know what you think,

Thanks for any input,

Ingo

Here is a picture before I started

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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A picture after all the Rotala, Ludwigia, and Pygmy Chain Sword have been removed

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Next, the driftwood was moved and the Xmas Moss on it was trimmed

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Followed by adding Bacopa and an Anubias Nana to the left side

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Then, the right back corner got some Bacopa

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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And last but not least the finished tank, with Sag Subulata and Pygmy Chain Sword on the right

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Please let that tenellus grow back into a HUGE bush in the front. That was awesome. And give the bacopa some more room(meaning a bigger group) on the right and a little trim...it sticks out a bit. Bacopa can look pretty nice when cut short.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 19-Nov-2005 21:35

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I really like what you've done with this one. It is so much more than what it was before, and yet it looks really natural. It is good to see what one can do with a tank this size. It gives me hope that someday my planted 25g will look as good. Especially if I keep learning things from you guys here at FP.
I really like the moss on the dw, it looks like an underwater tree. The tank looks to me like a nicely kept underwater park, the platies could have picnics under the tree. But maybe that's just me and the kids have finally driven me over the edge.:%)

Last edited by luvmykrib at 19-Nov-2005 21:43

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Matty – Yeah, I loved the big Tenellus bush as well, but it had one major disadvantage. It is the optimum hiding place for small Platy babies. I simply have too many of them as it is and I am a sucker when it comes to giving them a chance to grow up. The “jungle” had at least 50 plants in this small space, and that after I took out about 20 a few weeks back when I planted the 125G.

luvmykrib – Platies having a picnic under the tree, sounds nice to me . Thanks for the compliments and I assure you that everyone can do this. It is just a question of time and learning until one has it down. And my kids have driven me over the edge a long time ago , that’s why I needed a hobby like this where I can spend 12 hours per day with my arms submersed .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Please read my comments on your 20g, before reading this. Well, this one to be honest I don't really like. I think your still having trouble working the stems plants into the arrangement. Also I don't know if it's the picture but you really can't see any hardscape. The DW is too centered in the middle and it looks like a scary tomb. Also I don't know how sustainable the moss in the foreground right nex to the chain swords is.

My Scapes

Lookin good Little_fish...I hope my 29 will look that good...but only time will tell

All three tanks must be a lot of work

Wow,

I took me 5 days to realize that someone wrote an entry to my own thread, shame on me .

Anyways, lookin_around – Thanks for the compliment. No, the tanks are not a lot of work, just a lot of time spent on my hobby .

tetratech – So hard to please

The idea was to take the golden split and have everything high on the left of it and then a valley to the right. The DW does not really look like a scary tomb (), I will try to get some close-up shots that proof the difference. The Bacopa will eventually be cut more like a terrace.

Also, I wanted to try something different from the other 2 tanks, maybe a little bolder. Pictures of details will follow today or tomorrow.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Just wondering but have you made any new changes to this tank?

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

Wingsdlc,

No, I haven't done anything, except some small pruning on the Bacopa.

I don't even dare to post a new updated picture as tetratech will rip me apart for the design .

Once I have more time I might try something different with it, but it will have to wait a little

But thanks for asking and checking in,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

don't even dare to post a new updated picture as tetratech will rip me apart for the design
I promise to behave myself[img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

Just look at my avatar would that face lie?

Last edited by tetratech at 03-Jan-2006 13:04

My Scapes

would that face lie

There is an old saying that goes like this:

Don’t trust the upside-down aquascaper, especially if he wears goggles and has a snorkel.



Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 03-Jan-2006 13:20

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well,

I learned another lesson, or I have been reminded of one that I should have learned a while ago.

It was time to do the bi-weekly 50% water change on the tank and I noticed a small patch of BGA in the Xmas Moss. I decided to take out the wood and use that chance also to trim the moss a little, as it hasn't got a trimming in quite a while (and that is the lesson - don't let it grow like that). Once the bathtub was filled I proceeded to trim the wood, just to discover huge patches of BGA hinding in previously spots on the wood. I continued to cut them out unitl I reached the bare wood, and not surprisingly the moss in that section had died (no light) and it wasn't attached to the wood anymore. Long story short, I removed almost all the moss, tied a little but back on, and placed it back in the tank.

On the upside, this gave me the chance to rotate the wood into another position. What do you think?

Ingo

Attached Image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The wood looks nice, what's with the two corners? It's very geometric looking to me. What I mean is two rectangles in the corners and a square in the center. Needs to be loosened up.

My Scapes

tetratech,

I was waiting for your comment .

I know I know, this is the weakest of my tanks where nothing really seems to flow together (ever).

I only did an emergency change (BGA) because I had to. You have no idea how eager I was to keep on going but I knew the other two tanks needed their maintenance as well.

Someday, when I have more time, I will try harder, I promise

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Actually I know your not really "scaping" the tank. You have three tanks I find I don't always pay attention to my second one and you have alot more gallons than me. In fact you probably have twice the gallons I have.

My Scapes

Actually, I am scaping the tank,

I am just doing a lousy job with it

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Actually, I am scaping the tank

My Scapes

It's ok LF... We all have our days...

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

Your lousy is better than my best!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

luvmykrib,

Come on now... I haven't seen your tank in a while but if I remember right they weren't bad at all!

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

Thanks luvmykrib,

But I think wings is right

Sometime I will have time for this tank again and then I am gonna blow you away

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Little fish is crazy! He is going to blow up luvmykrib! We all read it! People need not be down on themselves all the time. Be happy with your work in progress!

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

Bring it on!
After my 'Spring Cleaning', the new lights and CO2 I may be able to compete with the QT.
Then again I'm actually trying to 'scape my tanks, your QT was 'scaped as an after thought wasn't it? Leftovers etc.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Oh Wings!
I am not down on myself! I'm frustrated with the tank right now. The gravel makes me see red, the plants have some sort of deficiency, and I hate waiting until I can fix things! At least the fish are cute and have personality! And actually I still really like the way my 10g looks. I have no urge to change anything in it right now. But later when the 25 is done...

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Wings,

Now you figured me out, sure I am crazy. Why else would I be in this hobby (just ask my wife).

But I am not gonna blow, I just like to express myself in bright colors.

luvmykrib,

You are talking about my other small() tank, the 20G, right? I had some vision for it, it is not purely by accident that it looks like this.

And once you are ready to work on your tank seriously, I strongly suggest you join our gang in the planted forum (if you can stand the heat ). You always write so nicely in our posts anyway, it is only right for us to return the favor.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Start a log?! That's one more thing to maintain! And I've noticed once a log starts it never ends! Could be I'll revive my thread This is not a log and make it into a log, the before pics are already there. I was kidding about the by accident thing, I know you don't scape a tank by accident, well YOU don't, but I did!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

LF,

Quite off topic here, but what did you use to treat BGA in one of your tanks - was it Maracyn or Maracyn II? I thought it was this tank you used it in, which is why I'm posting this here...

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Back in the saddle!

Actually,

This was the one tank that has not been treated (it was the 20 and the 125).

And I used Maracyn (not II), half to 3/4 dosage over 4 to 5 days, once per tank.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And it really worked well?

I was dismayed two days ago to find that BGA was swarming all over my ludwigia (which will now be tossed completely) and made the jump to a few of my rotala leaves. Treatment must be prompt, and i don't want to blackout again.

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Back in the saddle!

Yes NowherMan6,

In both of my tanks it worked well.

I can also vouche (for my tanks) that one of the reasons for its appearance was a lack of current (stale water) in the area. The BGA outbreak in this tank probably had different reasons, but I don't understand them yet.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Quite off topic here, but what did you use to treat BGA in one of your tanks

I know you could treat BGA with Maracyn and E-Mycin, but I beat it in my 12g by cleaning up affected areas doing a few big water changes and increasing biofilter and plant mass capacity.



My Scapes

A little update on the tank, although not design related.

Yesterday in the evening I found my last remaining original Sunset Platy dead on the gravel. He (aka The King) has been with me for about 10 months and was already an adult when I got him. So, without seeing any sign of injury, I assume he died of old age.

The only other option I can see is that he died from food that he ate and that might have not been to well on him. The day before, I fed the tank some freeze dried blood worms and it could be that one piece got stuck awkwardly in his throat. But that would be less likely than old age.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club