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I am now starting a new log for my 40 gallon planted tank.

Tank: 40 Gallon Long
Sub: Flourite
Light: 130W Coralife 6700K
CO2: Azoo, Glass Diffuser
Ferts: Powder form from Greg Watson, Flourish, and Excell
Plants: Giant Hygro, Sunset Hygro, Crypt, Wisteria, Ludwigia, Anubias nana, Anubias barteri, Java fern, Java Moss, Aponogeton crispus
Fish: 10 Brilian Rasbora, 6 Dwarf Neon Ranbows, 2 Skunk Loaches(May up this), 4 Otos (may up this too), 1 Clown Pleco, 1 Flying Fox, 1 Male Guppy

This is a picture of my new idea

So here is what has been going on. I have been running ths tank for almost a year and things have been going really well. No major algea isues to speak of. I am moving in about half a week and all my plants are going to need to be pulled up so I can get the fish out of the tank. This means I can start over and try something new. Right now I am thinking of placing the tank at a right angle to the wall making a T. Thus the tank would be veiwable from three sides. The link above is a picture of a basic layout I am thinking of. Though as I start to put it all back together it will probably change.

I would like to use this log to tell and show you(as often as I can, no camera on hand) the process of building up my tank. I would also really like to hear from anyone willing to give me input.

Link to my tank as it was a couple of weeks ago

Link to my old log


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

Wings,

I guess we will have to wait and see how the tank actually looks like once you have moved it. I see from the picture that the "thing" will also be in the new setup .

I guess your setup is layed out to have the tall plants at the side that is against the wall, right?

In any case, glad to see the new lo here in Planted, let's hope you will not have too many conversations with yourself anymore .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well I am moving all my stuff. Why not move my tank log too?

The "Thing" will be in the new set up. At least for starting things out. It may change though I really like the thing but I am really starting to like branchy DW for a couple of reason. 1. it looks nice. 2. It gives you more planting room.

The game plan for the layout it to have the tall stuff by the wall and the storter stuff at the other end. Kind of a triange look.

I sure hope I wont have to talk to myself over here in the planted world.

I know my drawing ising great but what do you think?



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

Hi Wings

Good luck with the move. I guess its a good opportunity to play around with your tank - but a lot of work too. Hope it goes smooth. Your old tank looks nice too, but I look forward to seeing how your new look pans out.

BTW, every now & then when I read your posts - I see the reference to the thing. What exactly is the thing - I'm curious

Cheers
TW

Robyn,

The "thing" is the big chunk of DW on the left side of the tank. The name was giving to it because LF didn't quite know what it was from my super great photo skills.

Thanks for you best wishes with my move!

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

Wings -

Ok, you are really asking for it

I would say that you should not add the thing back in, here you go.

I think it does quite a few bad things to your tank (actually 2 that I can think of):

1) It takes up a lot of space
2) Its size dictates to you what kind of plants can be used around and behind it. With that size, all the plants have to be massive as well. I am sure you could make this tank look much larger if you had the ability to select smaller plants.



Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

I was asking for it? Where was I asking for it? Ok, I probably was asking for it somewhere back there.

I might have to ask my boss to order some branch DW for me. We have tons of DW right now but most of it isn't quite my favorite stuff.

In terms of my plants, I really wouldn't mind getting rid of the Giant Hygro. The Sunset I would like to use this more as a defining plant. Similar to your Star Grass.



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

Well I havent trimmed the tank in a couple of weeks and I have plants growing everywhere right now. I was kind of thinking that when I rip everything out I will trim then and get some new growth quicker. We will see what happens I guess.

Game plan:
Tomorrow all the plants are coming out of the tank.
Tank will be moved on Tuesday and replanted.
Right now I am thinking the see through idea is out.
I am looking at a chunk of DW at work right now. Kind of a stump with three branches. Not sure if I can make it work or not though.



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

Well I havent trimmed the tank in a couple of weeks and I have plants growing everywhere right now. I was kind of thinking that when I rip everything out I will trim then and get some new growth quicker. We will see what happens I guess.

Game plan:
~Tomorrow all the plants are coming out of the tank.
~Tank will be moved on Tuesday and replanted.
~Right now I am thinking the see through idea is out.
~I am looking at a chunk of DW at work right now. Kind of a short log with three branches. Not sure if I can make it work or not though.

Will keep you all posted if anything bad happens.


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

Wings,

Where do you store the plants for that one day between uproting and replant?

I guess a bucket of water, with heater?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Plants are going in a bucket but I am not so sure on the need for a heater. It says pretty warm in my apartment. I am not going to do any pully until late tonight. The tank will be moving Tuesday afternoon. I have a feeling I will need some time for the tank to clear up after pulling everything up.

Not only do I have to worry about moving this tank but I have 4 others to move too! Ahh! Moving sucks!

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

Wings,

Yeah, I cannot imagine moving my tanks. But at least it is for a good reason that you move. Getting married is better than being kicked out because the floor cannot hold that much weight .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hey Wings, congratulations on the wedding. When is it?

That is an excellent reason for moving. All the best.

Cheers
TW

Thanks you too!

The wedding is Saturday at 4. Being that both of you are so far away, wedding gifts (aka rather super cool fish tanks and planted tank accessories) can be sent to:

Mr. and Mrs. Clark
5555 Newly Wed Ave.
Kazoo, Mitten Land
USA

Being that I am moving this week, getting married on Saturday, and leaving for a couple of weeks for my honeymoon I probably wont be around FP much for the next 3 weeks. Thank you guys for you best wishes. It has be sugested that I post some pictures of my bride and I so be on the look out for that in a few weeks.

Question about my tank now... Being I am going to be gone for a little over 2 weeks with out being able to check on my tank I am thinking that cutting the light hours and CO2 back to 5 to 8 hours while I am gone. I really dont want to come back to a mess. One of my co-workers is going to be stopping by every once in a while to take care of things but I dont want all the hell of an algea war when I return.

As for ferts when I am gone. Any sugestions? I plan to pre mix them but I don't think that he will want to show up at my house 6 days a week for two weeks as he doesn't live really close so I am thinking of doing a little bigger amounts less often? If the light and CO2 are cut back then they wont need as much anyways. Any help would be great!

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

Wings,

Well, that is going to be tough with the tanks. Paulus once left for a few weeks (when he saw the great Bensaf besides other things), but he had the advantage of having settled tanks at home. If I remember, here is what he did:

- NO CO2 during the time
- Severe trimming before trip
- Normal dosing before trip, none during trip
- Lights? I am not sure, but I think he reduced it to a few hours per day.

And all was good when he came back.

Hope this helps,

Presents to 5555 Newly Wed Ave. are on the way

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

- NO CO2 during the time
- Severe trimming before trip
- Normal dosing before trip, none during trip
- Lights? I am not sure, but I think he reduced it to a few hours per day.

Lets see here.... I can....
~Cut the CO2
~Do some good trimming (in need anyways)
~Dose as normal as posible this week
~Cut the lighting back(How little is too little?)

Thanks for your in put!

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

Oh thanks in advance for the gifts! I can't wait!

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

It has be sugested that I post some pictures of my bride and I so be on the look out for that in a few weeks.

I was going to ask you for those pics too. Put them on "the post your picture" thread, so we'll all know where to look.

It was hard to wrap that hexagon shaped tank, but, it's on it's way.

Cheers
TW

Wings,
Just want to make sure I got a chance to say CONGRATS!
Welcome to the married world. Now you tank will truly be a place to escape the real world

Only kidding, marriage is great, been doing it for 16 years.

As far as the tank I would cut back slightly on lights and co2. Dose before trip. Without a water change ferts should still be availabe in enough quantitites to get the plants thru.

Congrats again!

My Scapes

Thanks for the tank TW!

Teratech,
Thanks for the input on both the tank and married life.

Here is a little tank update:
~I ripped out all the plants last night. It was kind of sad watching all work get pulled up.
~Plants are now in a 5G bucket. They just about fill it! I have way more plant mass than I thought.
~The tank should be moved tonight. I hope! Right now the landlord is slacking on getting the house done. There is a handful of little things that need to be finished up and they all take place where I am putting my tanks. but we get free rent for this month!

When I move the tank(s) I am going to:
~Put the fish in 14G rubbermaids in tank water and stress coat.
~Drain the tank
~Remove gravel from all tanks but the planted tank as flourite makes a mess.
~When I reset up the tanks I am going to add Cycle and more Stress Coat.
~When the fish are in the rubbermaids I will have air stones runnning.

Does this sound ok?

As for the fish in my used to be planted tank. All seem to be ok but I only count 2 Otos. I used to have 5!

I am pretty sure that the thing will not be going back in the tank. So I will be on the look out thin branches.


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