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LF,
I really like tetratech tank. His is balanced though with wisteria on both sides (corect me if I am wrong). With mine it is just a tangled area in the corner of the tank and the other side is a mix of plants. Maybe I need to do some trimming and I would like it better.

tetratech,
What do you do to yours to keep it trimed up? (or down?)

Something else I am not liking with my tank is my mellon sword. It is growing really well but all I have is a bunch of big leaves laying on the gravel. It doesn't grow up at all. Maybe I need to switch to some sort of crypt or something.

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

What do you do to yours to keep it trimed up? (or down?)
I really just kept topping it and replanting, topping and replanting. After a while it started to only grow horizontially. You might want to try and keep it taller in the corner and keep replanting the tops and let it kinda blend toward the front by having it grow toward the middle (kinda where that sword is) and then wrap around. I like when thinks kinda blend and gradually stop, but that's me and it might not be what you had in mind.

Also what light are you running, 2 wpg? I'm running about 2.8 wpg. The stronger the light the more likely it will stay down and not try to reach for the light.

Last edited by tetratech at 30-Nov-2005 18:52

My Scapes

I am running a 130W coralife. So that gives me.....3.25 wpg.

So when you say top it. You just chop off the top and replant it. Do you leave the bottom there or pull it out?

I think I understand what you are talking about with the wisteria blending. That might work out well for a transition. I will have to keep spreading the stuff.

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

Oh, plenty of light. I've been replanting the tops and leaving the bottoms.


My Scapes

Ok thanks tetratech! I will probably start doing some trimming later this weekend or something like that if I get bored before finals!

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

Love the tank wings! The thing is looking good now that the rest of the plants are growing well. Have you thought of some sort of fore-gound plant just in front of it, off to the right or left hand side? It might look nice that way, somthing with fine leaves. Although I still think it looks great the way it is!
I love the way the wisteria looks.

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

luvmykrib,

Thanks so much! As for a forground plant I am working on it. I am thinking glosso but that means I will have to order it some wheres and I just don't have tons of cash right now.

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

I was at my friends house tonight and I completly forgot to ask him about stealing his camera! Thats ok though. Tomorrow or Wednesday I am probably going to do another mini-replant. I like what I did last week but something still need a little help. More pictures will be coming sometime soon I hope!

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

Wingsdlc,

Too bad you don't have any new pictures to show

About Glosso for the foreground - just get one small order, plant it, and wait for it to grow in. Once the population is taking off it will not take too long (5 to 10 weeks, I guess) until the whole front would be covered.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Where would you order it from? Also isn't the shipping the worst part of ordering online?

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

Wingsdlc,

Yeah - shipping is the worst part, in particular in the winter time when a package could freeze before I find it at the door step ]:|

I usually prefer over-night over the 2-day option. There is a premium to pay, but at least the plants are not out of the water for that long.

I ordered my Glosso from [link=Here]http://www.freshwateraquariumplants.com" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] but I read that theirs is currently regrowing, so none will be available for 2 to 3 weeks to come.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

Thanks for the site I will have to check back in a few weeks. Maybe I will have some Christmas money to play with!

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

Well I have been getting quite a few snails in my tank lately so I picked up a couple of Skunk Loaches from work tonight. Maybe they will help me cut back on the snails. It was like magic one day I had tons of them!

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

Finally I have some pictures for you all!!

A little recape:

First go at it
#2
#3 I was going for the rubber band look...
#4 Redone and removed rubber bands Sorry about the reflections.

The NEW Stuff:

Whole Tank
Thing
Sword
Left Side
Right Side
Skunks!
Oto

Right now I am not liking my sword. It is growing really well but I don't like how it lays out flat to the gravel. I would rather have something a little taller and bushier there.

On the right hand side I am thinking about thinning out some of the giant hygro. I think things seem to bunched up.

What do you guys all think? All coments(good and bad) are more than welcome!

Last edited by Wingsdlc at 08-Dec-2005 12:08

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

Wingsdlc,

You know what - I love it

Seriously, even the thing looks good now , I like that there is more space in the fron of it.

I would not thin out anything at this point, I am sure the solid green on the left is the part that levels out the mass of the thing.

WHat would I do next? Hm, is that Cabomba in the middle back? That plant seems a little off compared to the rest of the tank. I will think about what might look better there.

And, we will have to do something about the foreground cover. What was our issue with the Glosso again?

Ingo

Keep it going

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

Thanks so much!!!

As for the plant in the middle back (coming out from behind the "Thing". I think it is Cabomba but I am not super sure.

Glosso......issue.......you haven't sent me any yet!! Just messing around. I am not relly sure what I want for a foreground plant. I am still thinking glosso but that might change. Other than that I am whats called a poor college kid with Christmas presents to by people!

Sugestions for the "camomba"? Also anything for foreground plants that anyone would think looks good I am open to hear from you!



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

Wings,

Nice layout. I might want a little color and height directly behind your driftwood. Nothing solid, but c. balansae or spiralis may add some interest and a bronze tint.

Has your sword generated any new growth? If it hasn't, it may be due to root adhesion in your substrate and substrate nutrient levels. If you like, I can give you some Pond Care root tabs to try. They have sparked growth in a new e. bleheri and e. rangeri.

Last edited by bob wesolowski at 08-Dec-2005 12:56

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

That's carolina cabomba. It's a nice plant with a different texture and usually very dark green, but it's definitely a pain to maintain and many times grows with alot of space between nodes. I think you also have to uproot everytime the stem reaches the surface. You probably don't even need it. Is that hydro sunset on the left. It kinda looks consumed in that area.

Also instead of isolating the wisteria in that corner, you could keep it alittle taller there and then gradually slope it down toward where that sword is and let it stay low toward the other side midground in front of the "thing". Is way it blends with the other side.

Just making suggestions, it's your "thing" but overall I think it looks really good.

Last edited by tetratech at 08-Dec-2005 12:59

My Scapes

Bob,

The sword has been putting out a new leaf or 2 or 3 every week or so. For my sub. I am running with Seachem Florite. It has only been running for about 3 months.

tetratech,

Yes that is Sunset Hygro on the right side. What I was kind of thinking was to thin out some giant hygro and spread out the Sunset a bit. I am only thinking takinging out one stem or so. Right now there are 5 of them crammed in there.

With the wisteria I have been slowly working on that. I just started doing some trimming of the stuff. Rigth now I have a pretty sweet slope going from low in the front to high in the back. With my trimmings I am working them farther left.


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

Wingsdlc,

Who is the guy with the Rainbow Trout?

Ingo

Sorry if I crash in here with an off topic question

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thats me. Good story with that fish.

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

LF,

I talked with my boss about getting me some glosso. The supplier that they get most of our plants from doesn't have it so I am going to have to wait until they make an order from some bigger place later this winter.

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

Wingsdlc,

In a few weeks I might be able to sell some of mine to your boss .

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Just sell me a wee little bit.

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

Wingsdlc,

Yeah, so you can grow it out and get rich .

Seriously, let us talk in a few days about it, ok?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

See! I knew the thing would look good. Now everyone likes the thing! I'm glad you kept it. The rest of the tank looks good as well. Love the oto pic. I adore my little otos, though they won't be little for long at the rate they're eating!
Hairgrass? Vertical moss? I have some vals that have stayed small, they look neat in the foreground, dwarf crypts or apons? Anubias nana is also a good foreground plant. If you have thought of these (or already have them) then I'm sorry I can't help any more. It does look great though. /:'

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

luvmykrib,

Thanks so very much. I am thinking of pulling out my mellon sword. I just don't like how its leaves just lay all over the gravel. It is also starting to take up a lot of space. If I do pull up my mellon I think some sort of dwarf crypts would be nice. I will have to look into that a little more.....maybe tomorrow when I get a day off!

LF,

I could grow it and get rich?? Thats a super idea!! That way I won't be a poor college kid any more! Your super great!

Anyways! Just let me know what you are thinking.



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

Nice tank.

I like the Giant Hygro a lot and you've used it perfectly.

The Sunset Hygro will work well if allowed to fill out and color up. It grows fast produces a lot of side shoots so should be easy and quick enough to do.

The big wood needs more then the fern, Anubias up that baby !

Dump the melon sword and replace with a nice Brown Wendtii which will work well with all the surrounding green.

Get a foreground, Glosso, HC, Hairgrass, Dwarf Sag whatever takes your fancy.

Agree with tetra let the Wisteria fill out and grow taller at the back and then slope down to the front. Something thin and grassy behind it.

I'd replace the Cambomba with something with a bit of color to work with the Hygro on either side. Ammania Gracillis/Limnophilia Aromatica would be real nice. Rotala would also do but would require more work. Real dense and bushy - that'll work well with the strong vertical lines of the hygro.

Sound like a lot but it's actually nothing major to do the above. Just tweeks and fine tuning. Keep on top of everything nutrient wise and you'll have a real nice tank

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

bensaf,

Hey thanks for stopping in on my thread!

I like the style of the Brown Wendtii but I dont want something that is going to take over that spot in the tank. We actually have some at work right now and they are just too big. I want something bushy, a little darker or different in color, and not going to be huge in my tank. (compared to my sword)

Cambomba for red ludwigia?

Forground.....waiting to see what Little Fish is going to do. (Wait until after Christmas, I am going to be gone for about a week.)





Last edited by Wingsdlc at 18-Dec-2005 18:45

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

Cambomba for red ludwigia?

Hmmmmm.... wouldn't work for me. The leaf structure of Ludwigia is too similar to the Hygro. I'd go for something with much smaller or thinner finer leaves.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Ok I see what you are saying.

I forgot about the grassy plants for behide the wisteria. Vals??

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

Good grassy plants are hard to find.

The "regular" Vals are ok, but I find them a bit bleh.
The corkscrew are a bit too gimmicky looking and the jungle vals to thick and get too tall blocking light.

If you can find Vallisnera Nana it's a beautiful plant that looks nothing like a Val !. Extremely thin tall bright green leaves.
Cyperus Helferi is a nice. Giant Hairgrass.
Some of the tall crypts like Balansae or Spiralis.That one Ingo has is real nice - Isoestes ?

Anything with strong vertical lines that's not too bold and is not not going to block light.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I really was not a big fan of the Val idea. The giant hair grass sounds like a neat idea though

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

How about dwarf onion for a grassy non-val plant? I have a water onion and it looks neat with it's leaves flowing across the top of the tank. I am thinking about getting more because vals don't like my tank! Not enough calcium I guess.

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

wow

thats a nice tank!!

i know its a sin but envy!!!

That one Ingo has is real nice - Isoestes

Isoetes Lacustris – That is a nice plant, it has round leaves that grow out of the bottom (round in diameter). The only problem with it is that it doesn’t do too much. It pretty much still looks like the day I bought it, didn’t get any bushier yet, neither did it gain any additional height. Maybe it needs to settle for a long time before it kicks into gear .

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Isoetes Lacustris :

(The skinny sticks in front of the Red Rubin Sword)

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

That doesn't look like a bad plant. I am thinking that something like that will add some depth to the tank.

Any new thoughts on the glosso?

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

See my entry regarding your Glosso request in my log, right after you bring it up there

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well I havent posted anything new this year yet so I figgured I would drop a line with an update.

I went and visited with Bob Wesolowski just before the New Year and he hooked me up with some plants. Some Crypts and Bacopa.

I moved my mellon sword that was starting to take up a lot of space to another tank and replaced it with the crypts from Bob. I like the look of this much better. It adds a little color. The Bacopa right now is crammed into a few different spots. My game plan for this plant is to put it behind my carpet of Wisteria. and maybe by my "Thing".

I also pulled out two of my stems of Giant Hygro to give my Sunset Hygro a little growing room.

Some time soon, maybe tomorrow I plan of picking up so green stump remover and start fertalizing my tank pretty soon. I think it is time to try something new and see what happends. Pray for no algae issues!

As for my fish:
I gave two my my male guppies to a freind. This leaves me with.

3 Guppies (1 male, 2 female, Fry here and there, some of the bigger fry became lunch for my warmouth and rock bass.)
2 Skunk loaches
4 Otos (the 5th was lost in action)
1 Clown pleco
2 Silver Mollies (more on the way, I watched my male fertalize my female the other day. Wild stuff!)

I am slowly trying to get rid of the Guppies and Molleis and I want to have Rams and Rainbows.

I will post some new picture as soon as I can steal a cammera. Sometime this week?

Last edited by Wingsdlc at 02-Jan-2006 21:51

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

Does that mean you don't need my Glosso anymore?

Just asking, as I still try to find a store that carries heating packs. The best I found so far last only 12 hours.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

You would be my friend....can we be friend? Is that ok?

When we do this shipping stuff we need to try to work it out to be shipped on a day that I just sit at home. Keep me updated. I could probably go looking for some 24 hour heat packs and then mail them to you. If you want...




Last edited by Wingsdlc at 03-Jan-2006 11:34

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

Eh, sure, we can be friends, if that is a requirement to send you some Glosso

Let me dig a little more to see if I can come up with a better provider of heating packs.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

One more thing about the packing and heat pack thing. When I went over to Bob's he said something about venting for the heat pack. It might be a good idea for one of us to give someone a call about it.

I don't have much going on today so maybe I will give some people a call.

Eh, sure, we can be friends, if that is a requirement to send you some Glosso

I mean you don't have to be a friend to send me stuff......I will take it anyway......

Last edited by Wingsdlc at 03-Jan-2006 12:41

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

Some guy came and sold some plants to my store tonight so tomorrow I am going to be adding in some dwarf sag and a nice chunk of anubias. The sag will probably be placed in the mid ground and the anubias some where on the "thing".

I have a feeling sometime in the next week or so there is going to be some simi-major replanting going on.

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

Lets keep the personal posts out of this shall we ....that's what PM's are for.

It keeps those that are interested in the useful stuff from having to wade through all of it...

^_^



[hr width='40%'][/font]

Sorry Babelfish.....


Last night I did some replanting once again.....I seemed to fix up the section to the right of the "thing" but destroied the section to the left of the "thing". Right now I am in the market for some more plants. Two plants that I am thinking of are Didiplis diandra and Ludwigia. Also something tall and thin for behind the wisteria. I think I found some stuff I just need to get there.

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

Still no pictures, sorry everyone. The guy I normaly steal a cammera from is sick and I don't want to get it. I do have a few up dates on my tank though.

Other than new plants and changes from a week or more ago I started using some Leaf zone and just set up a 2nd DIY Co2 bottle using a corelife Limewood block. It has realy small bubbles and I think that it will help my tank out quite a bit. I have also been using the Green Light Stump remeover for a good week now and my Java Moss has really taken off.

As for fish I am starting to think of Brillian Rasbora's. We have some at work and I really like how tight they stick togeather. I am going to be doing some reseach before I buy them but they might be a good option for my tank.


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

Well here come some picture!!




Attached Image:

Whole Tank

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

Attached Image:

Left Side

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

Attached Image:

Center

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

Attached Image:

Right Side

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

Attached Image:

Sunset Hygro

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

Attached Image:

Giant Hygro with K issues

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

This shot is the best one I could get of my new rainbows. I am sorry I suck. It was taken at night with a flash.......

Attached Image:

Rainbows

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

New toy!

Attached Image:


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

I just picked up the Green Mondo Grass and I a thinking of putting its behind the Wisteria and pulling the baccopa out and putting it either some where else of in another tank. The right side of the tank I am pretty happy with but the left side needs some help. I am thinking either a gaint plant right next to the "thing" to help balance it or posibibly finding a new chunk or chunks of DW.

As always I want to hear what you guys have to say. I am pretty much open to think about things.

Edit:
I added 6 of the dwarf neon rainbows last night. So far all seems to be going well. the skunk loaches seemed to chase them around quite a bit last night but this morning they don't seem to care any more. I am really happy with these guys so far. for 15 bucks and 6 fish with that much color it really adds some flash and movement to my tank.

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

Very nice Wingdsc I think I've been missing your thread because it's in aquascaping. I guess there's a fine line when posting between scaping and planted aquaria.
Anyway my comments.

I like the area around the "thing" and the giant hydro looks good. IMHO everything else should support that area. So in that vein I feel anything tall in the corners especially the right one takes away from the "thing" I still think you could make that wisteria "crawl" around more and toward the thing so it blends better. I think the tall plant on the right (I forget name) if possible needs to be shorter and more heavily grouped.

What's the story with the sunset hydro. Is it hiding behind the thing. I only see one stem. Again same thing I would trim make thicker bush out of it.

Your lighting is over 3 wpg, how's the co2 number? Why no K? Are you dosing N & P?

BTW - For $1 to $2 dollars you could get a limewood airstone and place it under return until you decide on a diffusion method.

Otherwise very nice job

My Scapes

I think I am probably going to keep spreading the wisteria around more. I was also thinking of getting some waterspirit to to put on the left side of the "thing".

I know what you mean about the Sunset needing to be thicker. There are probably 5 stems of it in the tank. On the left side of the thing there is the one facing the front of the tank, behind it are 3 or 4 more stems that didn't grow as much. If you look at the crapy picture of the rainbows you can see a stem of it coming out of the giant hygro, its the one thats breaking the surface.

Lighting is 3.25 WPG. I am using 1/4 tsp 3 times a week (M,W, and F. Water changes are on M) of the KNO3 (Stump Remover). I am also using some Leafzone for the time being until I place an order for the good dry stuff. Once I started using the Leafzone the Giant Hygro seemed to stop having as many issues.

I haven't tested my Co2. I should probably buy a test kit some time. Right now I am running two 2L bottles of brew. One running to the buble ladder the other is the a limewood block under the filter. You can see it in the Giant Hygro picture.

Thanks for your comments thus far.

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

The stump remover has alot of K in it So between that and the leafzone you should be O.K., Sounds like the only thing you might be missing is more P.



My Scapes