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Two tall groups in the corners would be nice - if there isn't another in the center. But if you have 3 tall groups I think it will be distracting. I'd choose to put the crypt in one corner and the bacopa and vals in another. We have too many center group dominated tanks I've decided (thanks to me copying LF).

EDIT: spelling

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

We have too many center group dominated tanks I've decided (thanks to me copying LF).

Lets see it!!!

If I do anything the Vals and Bacopa are out. I like my Crypt right where its at.

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

I think Matty has not yet seen that the 125G does not have a center anymore

Or does it?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I forgot all about that! I should be home free in Matty's world then.

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

<--------Oblivious

Don't let me stop you from going with the island look....I'm just commenting on recent trends.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Just a quick update on the tank.

I have started to move some Blyxa over to the right hand side. I am still going to need some more. For this I will have to either buy some or wait for it to grow out.

I am having issues with the Blyxa too. FLOATERS!!! So far I haven't been breaking the stems but the stinking things need some roots!

Coming in the mail today or tomorrow is a couple stems of Downoi. I am not sure how I am going to work them into my set up but I look forward to growing them.

Thats all folks!



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

Arrr,

I am very keen on Downoi, I was considering to purchase some. Now I cannot have it as you got it already

On the other hand - the fact that tetratech is the tamer of Wisteria didn't stop me from having it in his style in 3 tanks

About the Blyxa: It was suggested to me to place one of these plant weights (lead, but not really) upright in the lower part of the plant, just to hold it down to the groud long enough until the plant develops sufficient roots. Of course I didn't do that as I had over 30 stems in there.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Arrr,

Who is that? I go by Wings or Doug thanks!

I am very keen on Downoi, I was considering to purchase some. Now I cannot have it as you got it already

On the other hand - the fact that tetratech is the tamer of Wisteria didn't stop me from having it in his style in 3 tanks

Funny story about the Downoi. It seems the guy I bought it from took my shipping address from my paypal account instead of the one I gave him. The plants ended up at my parents house on Thurs. or Fri. When I called my mom last night for Mothers Day she told me I had a package. Therefore the plants sat in the box for a few days. I had her open the box up to see if it was my plants. All checked out to be fine but I need to figure out when I can get up there and get my plants....

The Downoi are now sitting in a glass of fish tank water in a south window. Think they will be ok?

About the Blyxa: It was suggested to me to place one of these plant weights (lead, but not really) upright in the lower part of the plant, just to hold it down to the groud long enough until the plant develops sufficient roots. Of course I didn't do that as I had over 30 stems in there.

Being I work at a LFS. I can get my hands on enough weights to sink a small ship. If I keep having problems I might try your method. Thanks for the info!

EDIT: Is it just my computer or does the forum have spell check now like word?

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

Wings, with "Arrr" I meant to express that I am jealous

I have no idea if the downoi will be fine at the window, maybe a shadier place would be better, ?

Whera ist thet spl sheck?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Wings, with "Arrr" I meant to express that I am jealous

I know, I was just kidding.

I have no idea if the downoi will be fine at the window, maybe a shadier place would be better, ?

It is not a direct light window.

Whera ist thet spl sheck?

Must just be me as I can see it doesn't work with your computer. All your words have red lines under them.

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

Wings,

Nah - no red lines here. I wonder what fancy setup you are having over there. What browser do you use, IE7, Firefox?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Firefox. I just did a bunch of updates so it might have came with that. Pretty nice to have the spell check here. Though it doesn't work in the other forum I use.

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

Wings , Hi , love the tank . Just starting out and have been reading Ingo's logs .Love your contributions and am just starting on you log now . Will probably bother you with some dumb questions , hope you don't mind
Garry

Countryfish,

First of all, welcome to the site. It should be a great help to you. I know it has been to me through the process of learning how to do this planted tank stuff. As your wife has already pointed out to you. It is a very addicting hobby.

Feel free to ask any questions you like. Most of us don't mind a little thread hijacking. Frank will always let you know if you cross the line so don't worry too much about it!

You can also make you of Private Messages to let us know you have a thread with a question if you don't get any responders.

Thanks for stopping in. Someday I might even take a few picture of the tank again.... if I can ever get my hands on a camera!


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

Thanks Wings , look forward to many interesting discussions .
Garry

Well I sort of got my hands on the Downoi. It's at my house floating in my tank but I am in Asheville, NC for a couple of days. Maybe I will get a job....

Too bad I am here tell you about my plants that I haven't seen yet instead of spending time with my wife of one year (today! ). Don't worry we spent some time together yesterday before I had to leave.



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

Too bad I am here tell you about my plants that I haven't seen yet instead of spending time with my wife of one year (today! ).

Congrats on the aniversary hope you will be getting home soon for both the wife and the plants
Garry

Congratulations on the one year Wings, I hope you had a fine evening together.

Thanks for the good wishes Dr. and Garry. We did have a nice night together. I am finally back home from NC. Being on the road and away from my wife for 4 days wasn't overly exciting. I did though, ended up making a couple of good contacts and getting a interview. We will see where this leads me.

My tanks seem to be doing well. All the fish seem to be swimming and healthy. They were getting a little hungry but I fixed that problem this morning.

Water changes are a couple days overdue but I will fix that also later today.

The only a couple of problems with the 40G.
1. Blyxa floaters!! I might have to try LF's weight idea.
2. I can only find one very small Downoi plant. I hope my fish didn't think they were food and scarf them down! I am sure they will come up when I start my water changes a bit later. I hope!





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

Wow it has been a long time since I have updated this thing!

The tanks life is coming to an end in the next couple of weeks. I just found out last Thursday that I got my first teaching job in North Carolina.

The game plan for my tanks is to set up my 55G as a low tech planted tank and a high tech 20 long.

Pictures will be coming so you can see how the tank looks now.

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

So what is going to happen with this tank then as you mention only the 55 and a 20?

BTW, a 20 Long high tech is quite a challenge. I would have to say that you should go for a Iwagubawuba () as any other scape will cause you to spend major maintenance time with the limited height of 12".

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well right now I have 6 tanks and a moss filled vase set up(40G long, 2-55G, 29G, and 1.5G). Being it is such a long move and we are not sure how much space we will have (I already take up a large part of our house we are in now) I have chosen to cut back the number of tanks.

~40G will probably come with and get stored or go to my parents house.

~One 55G will come with (the nice one). The other will probably go out to the curb where I found it. I will post pictures to explain later.

~29G might end up being my classroom tank.

~1.5 will come with but I am not sure what I will do with it.

Pictures will come in the next couple of days. I want to clean things up a bit before I do a nice photo shoot.

Also I had some issues last night.

Here is a picture to give you an idea.
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/?action=view&current=PH.jpg
With a PH that low I am guessing I had CO up to about 400ppm. I lost at least a couple of shrimp and no fish that I know of. I really don't know what happened...

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

I lost at least a couple of shrimp and no fish that I know of. I really don't know what happened...

Sorry to hear that, could it be that your bottle goes on empty and blew out the rest? I think that was what happened in my 40G a while back.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is what the Regulator looked like
The lost Amano
Here is what I did

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

Looks clearly like a blowout to me, your high pressure gauge is all empty.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi,
The regulators are a two stage. They depend on
there being gas in cylinder to offset the spring and
diaphram in the regulator case. When the gas ran out in
the cylinder, there was no opposing pressure and the
gas quickly exited through the output line and into the
tank. Had you been there to observe it it would have looked
like an airstone running full blast till the last of the
gas was exhausted.

That huge blast of CO2 drops the pH like a rock, and the
fish wind up at the surface gasping and in great distress.

I check my cylinder, looking at the high pressure side at
least once a week. At two bubbles per second injection,
I know that I can pretty much not worry about it till the
5th or 6th month of operation on that cylinder (5 pounds).
Once the gage starts to drop, I generally have about
2-3 weeks before the tank is completely empty.

I never let my cylinders go completely empty. I always keep
a pound or two (positive pressure) in the tank.
This prevents internal corrosion of the tank.

Frank


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

Well when I got home last night. The CO2 was coming out pretty quick but not really much more than normal. I did clean the GD out a week or two ago. Could that have caused the extra CO2. Or could it have been that my needle vale could have moved some how?

Thanks for the info Frank.

My cylinders have been running out much quicker than 5-6 months. I wonder if something is wrong with it. I know I have been running it higher but it has been 3-4 months at most since I refilled it. I don't know...

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

Well being that all my tanks are coming down in the next couple of weeks here are some pictures of things you have not seen yet.

1.5G with Hair Grass grown with Sun light. This tank was doing pretty well until it got really hot. I had a little bit of a melt down and lost the Cherry Shrimp I had in there. The plants were also doing better at that point too.

[link=29G that is basically a plant grow out tank. I was also going to try and breed BN plecos in there.] http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/29G.jpg[/link] Most of the plants in this tank are things that I wanted to keep around but not use in the 40G.

55G: this tank houses my Convicts. I have had the male for about 5 years.

Shot of the 40G. This is of the center of the tank.

Of the right side

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

So is the 1.5g a Natural Nano Iwagumi

The 55 looks like an earthquake struck a highway and it eventually got submerged and the convicts took over.
Wings, don't take this the wrong way, but I'm into scaped tanks and this one really isn't so I can't really comment much.

The 40g looks great, nice growth, but I expect nothing less from the Co2 extremist.

My Scapes

Wings , Congrats on the new job , hope you like North Carolina sounds like a very historical preety place to us Aussies .
Love the shots of the 40g , thats some jungle you've got going there .

Good luck with the move , hope it all goes well .

When do you start? How far away is it ? Is it a big town ?
So many questions ,
I'm sure its an exciting time for you and the wife .

Again good luck mate .

Garry

The 55 looks like an earthquake struck a highway and it eventually got submerged and the convicts took over.
Wings, don't take this the wrong way, but I'm into scaped tanks and this one really isn't so I can't really comment much.

I know there really isn't much to say about this one. I plan on setting this tank up similar to what it is now but use more plants and more light. Right now this tank is run on 30Ws which is only about .5 WPG. I plan to up this to about 130Ws and use tons of Anubias, Ferns and Crypts.

So is the 1.5g a Natural Nano Iwagumi

That was the game plan. It was working out pretty well until it got so hot a while back. The sun came through the window and about boiled the water. After that I had a snail explosion and haven't really had much time to play with it. When I head south I will probably try and set this tank up again and use my 19W Coralife.

When do you start? How far away is it ? Is it a big town ?

I have to be down there Aug. 14.

Lincolnton, NC population is about 10,000 compared to 72,000 of Kalamazoo, MI. I am looking forward to living in a smaller town.

More pictures to come later today after my water change and trim.



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

Wings,

In order of appearance:

- 1.5 looks like Arizona with a snail problem
- 29 is nice, a little short on hardscape though
- 55 is clean, I would do a tank like this very different though, like either with rocks piling up on either side or a row rising on the left side and falling on the right
- The 40 is the one that is so well planted and in such a good shape that it is a shame that this one should not be put up again

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

Thanks for the comments. I think you hit the nail on the head.

I am kind of thinking of having the 55 take the place of the 40 but I am not sure yet. Time will tell....



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

Well I know everyone likes pictures so here are a few more. This time they are of the 40G.

Full tank before the trim. This was taken the night I had the CO2 issue.
The 4-LC has gone nuts in this tank. It pretty much grows everywhere at this point. Almost as invasive as the java moss.

[link=After the water change and trim.] http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/40%20gallon%20part%20XIX/lower.left.jpg[/link]
Same thing from the right side.

Will snap a few more when the batteries are ready to go.

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

Hey Wings,

Did you have the Prime bottle open when you took these pictures?

Sure some very interesting angles there, but hardly qualify as a comparison of before and after.

Interesting fact about the 4LC, always good to know what species to watch out for

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hey Wings, sorry to be a space cadet about this, but I don't recall - did you java fern start out around that size, or did it grow over time into those giant masses. They're great looking, but I just want to get an idea of your starting point.

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Back in the saddle!

Did you have the Prime bottle open when you took these pictures?

Are you talking about the not so clear water? It was less than 1/2 hour after the water change.

Sure some very interesting angles there, but hardly qualify as a comparison of before and after.

More shots to come when the water clears and the batteries are charged.

Interesting fact about the 4LC, always good to know what species to watch out for

It really isn't too bad but you need to keep it in check. It will grow through just about anything.

This is for you Nowher. It started out pretty small.

What I find more interesting is the leave shapes that its putting out. Look like forks. Do you guys get that some times?

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

More pictures!

From the right

From the left

Another from the right

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

More pictures!

What's with all the pics all of a sudden. Now that you have a teaching job (congrats!)did you buy a new fancy camera?

Anway, tank looks great. For this setup with a wild center and great growth, I would ideally like to see a tigher, lower, single species foreground.

My Scapes

What's with all the pics all of a sudden. Now that you have a teaching job (congrats!)did you buy a new fancy camera?

Nope just took my brothers so I could get some pictures of the tank before it comes down this weekend or early next week.

I would ideally like to see a tighter, lower, single species foreground.

I know its not super clean. Never will be. I think if I could grow it I would like glosso as instead of 4-LC. Maybe things in NC will work better.

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

Hi Wings, this is belated, but HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. I can't believe it is more than 12 months since we were talking about your upcoming wedding. Congratulations on the new job too.

Loved looking at all your pictures. Shame the tanks have to shut down & you can't have them all at your new home.

Look forward to seeing your new setups, once you've settled in your new home.

Cheers
TW

TW,

Thanks for all the kind words!

Shame the tanks have to shut down & you can't have them all at your new home.

It's more about moving space. We are going to try and move using two cars and a 5 foot x 8 foot trailer. This move thing is starting to get a little stressful.

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

The tank is starting to come down....

Here is a picture of the Anubias nana that I am starting to cut up and sell off.

In the beginning there was a small nana and then...well you saw the first picture.

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

Here is a picture of my Java Fern. Does anyone else get growth like this? I am guessing I get it due to high light and CO2. Just my guess...

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/fern/?action=view&current=trileaf2.jpg
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/fern/?action=view&current=trileaf1.jpg

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

wow, I always though anubias were slow growers. How long did it take to get to the end result?

Cheers
TW

TW,

About two years. Maybe 1.5 yrs.

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

Well the tank is now drained, washed out and upside down on my back deck. It is a little sad.... but this just means I can try other things now.


This is the tank after 99% of the plant mass has been pulled out.

I was trying to clear up the water a little bit so I could catch what was left of my cherry shrimp.
Cherries in the 1.5G
A little bit of a closer shot

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

Wings, Sad indeed , but think about the possibilities
I always think that setting up is one of the best parts of the hobby .
BTW , how many shrimp have you got !!!!?
Good luck with the move , hope it all goes well .

Garry

BTW , how many shrimp have you got !!!!?

Way more than I thought I had in there! I am pretty sure I didn't get them all either... poor guys....

I had about 3-4 Amano shrimp in there the first night. Yesterday morning there weren't any to be found in the tank. I am guessing they tried to make a run for it.

Right now we are in stage I of the move. In this stage we are packing our junk and moving across the street for a couple of weeks (our stuff in one house and us in another...). Once my wife is done working we are packing our stuff up in our cars and heading to North Carolina.

Thanks for the good wishes!


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

Ugh....I hate moving. This is the first time in 5 years I'm not moving. I feel for ya. One year I had 7 tanks to move. After that I smartened up a little. I never did lose any fish or anything due to moving thankfully, but it was still tough.

Good luck to ya. Nice lot of cherry shrimp BTW.

Also I have seen growth like that on java fern. It's actually a cultivated variety. Yours seems to have both normal and tri-lobed growth, which is odd.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Also I have seen growth like that on java fern. It's actually a cultivated variety. Yours seems to have both normal and tri-lobed growth, which is odd.

The tri-lobe growth is something that is kind of new. It started doing it in the past 5-6 months.

This time around I am cutting my tanks down to three. 55G, 20G long, and a 1.5G. I did have 2-55G's, 40G, 29, and 1.5G set up. Being I am moving 12 hours away I figured I should down grade.

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

Wings , Saw you comment on one of Ingo's logs , are you all unpacked in your new home .... Started setting up the tanks yet ???

Garry

Yep, we made it! The trip down here was a bit crazy but all worked out well. It seemed that if it could have gone wrong, it did. I can explain more later if you really want.

As far as tanks go. I have a 20G long set up bare bottom for fish/plants storage. Most of the plants have been taken out and planted but a few haven't yet.

The tank I am working on first is a 55G. It is mainly going to be planted with anubias, java ferns, cryps, and vals. I will probably plant the foreground with 4-LC. I still don't have a digital camera so I can't quite share pictures of where I am at with the tank so I don't know if I will actually start a log for the tank.

Thanks for checking in!

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