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Thats me. Good story with that fish.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
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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

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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

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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:

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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!!




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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

Wings,

I like it

I think your "thing" has come a long way since you introduced us to it

I would say the Bacopa groups have to be more bushy, tight now they look like soldiers that have been lined up. Grouping them with taller ones in the back would look very nice.

Of course there is nothing wrong with trying other plants either.

Good job my man ,

Keep it up,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

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.

From Chuck's planted Calculator by adding 1/4 tsp I am adding in 3.46 ppm of K. I have no idea what leafzone is running. I do plan to be buy some dry ferts here some time this week but I need to drop Bob an email and see if he wants anything.

LF,
The bacopa is not going to stay behind the wisteria. Right now I think I am going to stick my Mondo back there to see how it looks then start the search of some (as tetratech would say) "completely submerged" plants.

You guys seemed to go way to easy on me. Make my head spin or something....



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

Just for fun...

Attached Image:

First whole tank shot

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

Round #2

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#2

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

Round #3

Attached Image:

#3

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

Round #4

Attached Image:

#4

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

Any ideas for what I should do with the right side of the "thing"?

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

Couple of new pictures. Sorry they are not the greatest!

Attached Image:

Whole Tank

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

Added in the Mondo Grass

Attached Image:

Right Side

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

Moved some Wisteria to the Left

Attached Image:

Left Side

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

Ok I have to jet to work!!


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

Wings,

I think the Mondo Grass is way too dense in its current configuration. It actually looks more like you parked them there because you don't have time to plant them (sorry to say that).

Are these 2 bunches or are they groups that you can separate? Could you put them behing the thing so that the bottom half is invisible?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I think the Mondo Grass is way too dense in its current configuration

Remember the mondo grass has an anubias like rhizome so you would have to split that to make it less dense.

This is my take on your current scape. Hey I like that "Take on your current scape"

Could you put them behing the thing so that the bottom half is invisible

Right on Ingo
Take the mondo grass and put it right behind the "thing" Try to raise it up so it breaks the surface. This will probably give it a better chance of surviving long-term. Remember it doesn't have to be buried in the substrate. Sandwich the roots between two rocks hidden behind the thing.

Get rid of that left corner plant. It's just there, there's not much in front of it. Can be trimmed and keep in a fuller bunch moved maybe midtank. Add even more wisteria to wrap around left front of thing and maybe some e.tell in the front as well. Done




My Scapes

This is my take on your current scape. Hey I like that "Take on your current scape"

What??

e.tell?? Picture? Help me out here...

The mondo grass I basicly threw it behind the wisteria to get an idea of what something grassy would look beind it. I am pretty sure I want something like it back there but something much less huge like the mondo grass is now.

Mondo behind the thing. That might be nice. I don't really like how there is nothing behind it right now so I will have to give that a try.

The bacopa is coming out and going in the 20 gal. (aka plant storage tank) It really doesn't fit in.

Should I just build up wisteria like on the right side for the left side? Work it high by the "thing" then low to the corner?

Any ideas are more than welcome.

Sorry again about the crappy pictures. I was in a really really big rush this morning trying to get them in and run off to work. Thanks for all your help once again.

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

Sorry Wingdsc, I'm referring to the foreground plant that nowher and LF have echinodorus tenellus (pygmy chain sword)


My Scapes

Thanks Tetratech! I just couldn't put my finger on it.

Here is a link to a new picture of the tank. Sorry no more direct pictures. I was only playing with the premium membership. As soon as I get a digital cammera of my own I am for sure getting the PM.

I ripped out all the bacopa and moved some of the the Mondo Grass behind the "thing". Now there is a big open spot to the left of the "thing". I am thinking of growing the Wisteria high by the thing angling to the back corner of the tank. Then having dwarf sag in the forground. For the Right side I am probably going to angle the wisteria back to the mid side of the tank and play with the dwarf sag some more.

I hope that makes sence.

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

Wingdsc,
Oh my God, that looks soooo much better

Look at this pic of your tank. Now nothing competes with the "thing" and it's the high point of the tank with the mondo grass behind it.

Where I put a "W" more wisteria "P" Pygmy Chain Sword".

You could also go with other species with similiar height.


Attached Image:


My Scapes

tetratech,

Thanks very much! I really like whats going on around the "thing" Now I have to get everything else to work with it.

Would it be a bad idea to mix Wisteria and Water Spirit? I am thinking that putting much taller growing water spirit next to the giant hygro would help balance things off a little. Then I would have the wisteria but up to the spirit and over to the edge. Feeling any on this?

How about another chunk of DW on the left side? Something like the one on the far right? Bigger or smaller? I am thinking bigger to have it add the thing but not so big it takes away from it. Maybe tall and thin...

Can anyone give me a comparison of dwarf sag and the P. Sword. In terms of hight, needs, likes or dislikes... ect...

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

Wings,

You definitely need some vertical lines to add definition to the tank. The mondo grass gives you some feel for those lines that can be attained with c. balansae in my tank or the c. retrospiralis that Ingo is attempting to control in his tank.

I do like the flow of plant height but the polysperma seems to overwhelm the driftwood. The chain sword will add some foreground interest but you are very green, very monochromatic. How about a lily to provide a hint of color to offset all that green?



Attached Image:


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

Wings,

tetratech and Bob gave you good advice. But so far you have already come a long way .

Soon we have to cut you off from our support as your tank will look better than ours .

Have fun,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Bob,

Maybe we will have to go plant shopping sometime or I will just make the boss order me some stuff. I do like the idea of something darker in the tank like your lilly. Maybe a brown crypt? Something vertical would be nice also.

LF,

Better than all ya all's. I don't know about that. Things are comming along though. Thanks so much for your help everyone.

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

Well I don't have any new pictures but I should probably work on that one. Maybe over spring break when my face is hurting from having my teeth ripped out...

Any who... here are a few up dates...

Fish List:
1 Sliver Molly
4 Otos (as of the last water change I only found three..)
3 Guppies (1 male, 2 female)
?? Guppy Fry
1 Clown Pleco
2 Skunk Loaches
9 Dwarf Neon Rainbows
1 Flying Fox

PLANTS
Java Fern
Java Moss
Wisteria
Giant Hygrophila
Sunset Hygrophila
Anubias nana
Dwarf Sag
Crypts
Mondo grass
Anubias barteria

I made a Greg Watson's order and I am now dosing
1/2 tsp of Potassium Nitrate MWF
1/16 tsp of Potassium Phosphate M,W,F

Just ordered a Co2 kit and 2L of flourish from the Dr. F&S. I probably should have spent the extra buck or two but I went cheap. Hopefully it will work out.

Flourish will be dosed T,R,Sat

I am thinking of upping my school of rainbows to 12 and maybe adding in a second school of fish. Maybe 5 or 6 Brillant Rasboras. Then my fish load would be getting pretty big.... maybe just keep it simple with a big school of rainbows... and add a few more loaches....who knows...



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

Maybe over spring break when my face is hurting from having my teeth ripped out...

oh, that must hurt

yeah, a picture might help to see the recent beauty of your tank.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Pain is all in the mind... (have to have my wisdom teeth pulled before I get married and loose my good insurance from my parents.)

I will have to see what I can do to come up with a cammera. Things have changed a bit. My plants are looking pretty good although I am starting to get some holes in the leaves of the giant hygro. I guess it needs more Potassium. It seems to be really K hungry. I can fix that problem though.

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

Another quick little update... sorry no pictures still... too much work to be done first...ei.. homework...

I have my CO2 system up and running. I am not really happy with the glass diffuser that I have though. The hose keeps sliding off the connecting end! Really burns me!

How many BPS should I been running? I will post a new thread for this question too.

I am starting to get some algae growth. Nothing too bad yet. The stuff that I am worried about is the black looking stuff on the Giant Hygrow leaves by the filter out put. I am also getting some beard algae(?) in the area too.

I am guessing that being I have been gone for a week, just started using real co2, and dosing Flourish is why I am getting this stuff.

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

Alright... I just broke down and bought some test kits. This is what I know now.

PH 7.8
KH 17 degrees

CO2 then = 8 ppm

My Nitrates are at 10ppm after not adding any since friday morning.

Tonight is my water change night so I will do my 50% as normal, bump up my CO2 a bit, and add in my normal dosing.

1/2 tps Potassium Nitrate
1/16 tps Ptassium Phosphate

Micros will come in the morning.

Having a test kit ising half bad.

Edit: Just one more thing. I counted 4 Otos after this water change so I have only lost one since I got them months ago. So I think anyways.

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

Another little update:

Still having a few issues with my Co2. Every time I turn up my neddle vale the bubbles start going out like crazy but after a little bit they seem to have not changed from the original change.

At best my Ph seems to be somewhere around 7.3ish. My test kits run from 8 something to 7.4 and from 6 to 7.6. It makes fining out which test I need to use really fun. My fish haven't been having any problems with it thus far so I guess I will just keep an eye on them.

Added a small school of Brillaint Rasboras today (5) all seem to be doing well thus far.

ALGAE!

I am starting to get some soft green stuff on the glass and some stuff that looks like this:

http://www.aquaticscape.com/articles/algae/bba3.jpg
with some short but thick hairs on it. I am finding this stuff only on the giant hygro near the filter and where the leaves were stuck at the surface.

Any thoughs are welcom.

Dosing has been as normal
1/2 tsp Potassium Nitrate
1/8 tsp Potassium Phosphate
MWF

2, 2L Flourish cap fulls of flourish.
T,Th,Sat



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

Wings,

That is quite a high KH. I am no expert at this, but maybe there is a way to lower the KH and this would give you a better CO2 saturation more easily.

Proportionally, I am not sure if 1/2 tsp Potassium Nitrate
1/8 tsp Potassium Phosphate is the right proportion of N to P. P should be about a 10th of N.

Try to reach 20ppm of N in then go to maybe 2ppm of P.

hope this helps a little,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

KH I guess peat moss will help cut that number down but it has side effects of brown water.

N and P

So you are thinking I should work my way up to 20ppm of N and cut back to about 2 ppm of P?

Do you think this is where my issues are starting to come into play?

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

Yup,

That and not enough CO2.

Just read about my recent issues with algae in my log

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It doesn't seem to matter how much I crank my CO2, my PH stays at about 7.4... I am starting to think of trying something different.... maybe peat...I don't know... Maybe I should do some research...

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

It doesn't seem to matter how much I crank my CO2, my PH stays at about 7.4

I would assume it is because of your buffer capability. Lowering the KH should help. This is a problem I don't hae to deal with, I actually have to raise the KH as my tab has about 1dH. Maybe it would be worth creating a separate thread for this topic, in case there are reasonable options to peat (if you don't like the tint).

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

I did a bit of reading last night about the KH deal and the only thing I could find that seemed safe was adding distilled water. This could get a little pricy and I would rather not be buying 20 gallons of water on a weekly basis. Therefor I don't know what I want to do...

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

Well I got hasty and cranked my CO2 up the other day. Just checked my PH and I cam up with either 7.0 or 7.2. I turned it down just a little. I wll do another test in a couple of hours.

7.0 = 52ppm
7.2 = 32
I am guessing I want 7.2 or 7.3 for my PH?

Fish are doing just fine, no signs of stress...

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

There is a pH adjusting product that says it lowers KH by breaking the bicarbonate down as it lowers the pH, it also says the plants can use this carbon as CO2. I believe it is from Marc Weiss and should be available at Big Al's online. I am looking into it as a possible solution to my own high KH woes, RO water is another solution but then you have the trace elements to add back in and everything else. The peat does work a bit to lower the KH, there are also water softening pillows that I have seen mentioned on this site, they go in the filter, I think they are for the Eheim canister filters, I'll see if I can find the info on them.

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

Well still no new pictures... Sorry!

I do have a little up date though. I bought my first canister filter. Its an Odyssea 4. Man does this thing move some water!

Here is the story... go into work to get my pay check. Get my check... the boss you talk to for the deals was working today and I have been kind of wanting to get a canister for the tank and ditch the screaming Whisper. Well there was one that the trays had been cracked. Everything else was fine with it. The deal I couldn't refuse.

Ok I guess thats it.

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

Ok Plant Geeks! Help me out!

I have this Black Stringy algea stuff. It is starting to get longer and branch off of each other. Its location is pretty much only on my Giant Hygro on the upper leaves. I have had it in the tank for a few weeks now but it seems to be getting worse. What am I doing wrong??

Doesing Macro's MWF
3/4 tsp Potassium Nitrate
1/6 tsp Potassium Phosphate

Tues, Thurs, Sat
2 2L capfuls of Flourish

CO2 is somewhere around 26 to 30 ppm. I think. This is my biggest unknown. I find it very hard to read the colors for my test. Should I crank it up until the fish start freaking out and then turn it down a bit?

I don't want to let thing get out of hand. Any ideas would be great!

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

It is probably the amount of light and the plants may not be using as much ferts as they were, try cranking up the CO2 and physically removing as much of the algae by hand as you can. Don't reduce ferts, if I said to reduce ferts I'm sure I'd get kicked off the site. If you still have excel give it a week of that, I think LF found a dose that worked for his tank. Increase the dosage by a bit until the algae turns red, then it is dying. You may wind up having to bleach the affected plants, although with hygo I'm not sure that would be a good idea. I had to pull some of mine out when they got overtaken, you could prune off the affected leaves and leave the rest in. Hope any of this helps. Please get some new pics soon!

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