AquaRank.com

FishProfiles.com Message Forums

faq | etiquette | register | my account | search | mailbox
# FishProfiles.com Message Forums
L# Freshwater Aquaria
 L# Planted Aquaria
  L# 72 Gallon Bowfront Setup Log
   L# Pages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119
 Post Reply  New Topic
Subscribe72 Gallon Bowfront Setup Log
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
And finally a full tank shot in the room because of some guy named Dan.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
I guess I will have to steal some of Bob's wisteria thats like a tree!

Actually I've seen Bob's photo's, he doesn't have any Wisteria. What he's identified as Wisteria is actually Water Sprite, quite similar in looks but completely different in habits.

Tetra, nice av, you look just like I thought you would

Glad you like the Blyxa. Having the right selection of plants in the right places is half the battle.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
saltnewbie
-----
Enthusiast
Posts: 277
Kudos: 168
Votes: 1
Registered: 04-Feb-2004
male usa
Hey Bensaf whats the diff. from water sprite and wisteria..J/W because I have water sprite and when I bought it I thought it was wisteria. Thanks in advance!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
Bensaf,

I knew something was up with his stuff! It just didn't look quite right. Thanks for the ID! I am thinking of sticking that stuff in the back right corner of my tank by my wisteria.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Hey Bensaf whats the diff. from water sprite and wisteria


Wisteria is a stem plant. Water Sprite is actually a rossette type. If you look at the Sprite, the leaves unfurl from a central crown, while it may at first appearance look like a stem with leaves it's actually one big leaf. Wisteria is a stem with 2 leaves on opposite sides per node. It can be trimmed and it will branch out. You can't really trim Water Sprite in the same manner.

Water Sprite is a plant that deperately wants to float and does quite well as a floater. The large leaves will produce plantlets and if left to do this will eventually disintegrate into a lot of plantlets that will float with the roots hanging down. It sucks up a lot of nutrients particularly NO3. You can stop this by trimming off the plantlets as they appear.

Water Sprite grows at alarming speed, definately the fastest growing plant I've ever seen. While very pretty it's not a plant I personally like to use because of the growth rate and tendency to produce so many plantlets. I find the Wisteria easier to maintain and to use in a scape. It's just a bit prettier too IMO.

Both are very easy and can do well in moderately low light. The Water Sprite is definately more tolerant of lower light though.

If you want to fill a lot of space quickly, Water Sprite does that well. For something easier to control and shape Wisteria is the way to go.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Looking very nice tetratech,

I will wait a while and see what growth the Blixa will take on. I could see it replacing my rather boring Dwarf Sag and Chain Sword, at least in some places.

Good job ,

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I don't think your chain sword or sag is boring.
One thing I'm quite certain of is when you do finally add some hardscape it's amazing how plants that you thought looked so so, look much more interesting. Everything reacts off everything else.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
This morning I checked on the fry and I believe I have 3 still kicking in the 5gallon tank. They are still tiny being feed only Hikari First Bites.

I can't see any in the 72 although it's possible some have surivived but probably not.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
I will wait a while and see what growth the Blixa will take on. I could see it replacing my rather boring Dwarf Sag and Chain Sword, at least in some places


Great, yet ANOTHER trendy addition to the planted tank... first glass diffusers, then UVs, now this...


Sorry to hear about the further fry loss, but as LF pointed out somewhere above, your rams will breed again, Im sure this wont be the last batch you see.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Well I can't do another breeding tank so I could do one of these scenerios next time they are ready to spawn.

1. Take my fish in my 12g and put into my 72g and let them spawn in the 12g.

2. Parition my 72g somehow

3. Remove some of the tetras most notability the mini-barracadas (I mean pencilfish) from the tank.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Blixa always intrigued me but I seem to remember that it is capable of reaching at least medium height. This would work fine in tetratech’s tank but not in mine as I would like to use the plant more in the foreground.

About tank partition: If you care tetratech, look at the [link=First Picture]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/61406.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] in my 29G log. There you can see how I separate the left front corner of the tank with a standard tank divider. I think they might come in your tank height as well.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
As far as Blyxa I think the height depends on the light.
I like that "height depends on light" anyway if the light is strong it will grow bushier if not as intense it will grow lankier and taller. It also will turn during colors depending upon light and fert parameters.

Yes, I remember the paritiion. A possible way to go.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Just my opinion, but if you're really intent on breeding rams and selling the offspring, or raising them etc. then you might as well do it right and set up a breeding tank for them and a grow out tank for the fry. It's a tough sell to put all that work into aquscaping your main tank and then plopping a big divider into the it and cutting off part of it. Breeding tanks wouldnt be too much work, no substrate, low lighting with a few pieces of slate for them to breed on, and a few clumps of java moss.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks nowher, see post a few up. I can't have another tank (my wife will take my sawsall to them) so I have 3 options.

BTW - My surviving fry are in a 5g aga bowfront with:

Airstone
Some java moss covered rocks (removed from my 12g)
Wisteria cuttings (I find so many uses)
No filter, 50% wc every other day.

Any comments?

Last edited by tetratech at 03-Jan-2006 11:01

Last edited by tetratech at 03-Jan-2006 11:01

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa


Sorry to hear you've been cut off.. I guess I better start collecting tanks now before I tie the knot


That set-up should work fine for now with the fry. I think at this stage it's important to keep the water very clean and not just for the usual reasons... as they grow these little fish are releasing natural hormones that impede the growth of their siblings. It's all natural selection and the like, but if you want them all to grow up big and strong using AC or in this case water changes is a good idea.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Yeah that does happen. If I had to do it again I would have gotten a prenup for like 10 fish tanks max. You don't want to get greedy

I was thinking about getting this filter to have around it would also look good with an open-top nano tank

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9821&N=2004+22769

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Great choice, I also planned on getting at least one of these for my smaller tanks when they materialize. Nice looking and should do the job.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
My thoughts exactly. That would look really cool on a small acrylic tank with green coming out the top.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Did a cardinal count today and I counted 9. This is from a total of 21 purchased from a few different stores about 2 months ago.

So after 2 months I ended up with a 43% survival rate.
At an average of $2.08 per fish and taking into account the 43% survival rate this brings the average cost per surviving fish to $4.86. So if this average holds and I want to have a solid school of 40, it would cost me a whopping $194 to establish the school.

Now I haven't introduced any since I got into the wonderful world of UV Sterlization. So I'm not sure how that would affect the survival rate.


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Well since Bensaf is still cleaning the algae off his glass, I'll have to bore everyone with some more pics.

This first shut is a comparison with today and a few weeks ago (13 days) to exact. In the top photo you can't see the stargrass because it's too low and 13 days later a hugh change.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
A closer shot of the front of the tank. You could see I removed the wisteria from the middle and it'a pretty much Blyxa there. I'm not sure I love it, I need to fine-tune and blend it more with the surrounding flora. I like this shut because you could clearly tell it's a bowfront tank with the black edging left in.



tetratech attached this image:


Last edited by tetratech at 04-Jan-2006 22:16
[/font]

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's a shot of the rotala that has come back. I see alot of red, so I guess the UV isn't having a big impact on the availability of FE for the plants.





tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
FRANK
 
**********
---------------
---------------
Moderator
Posts: 5108
Kudos: 5263
Votes: 1690
Registered: 28-Dec-2002
male usa us-colorado
Hi,
I missed something... Why would a UV light affect the
Fe in a tank?
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

You never bore us with pictures , except if you show us the Wisteria in 10 shots in a row from just slightly different angles .

I think there is some wonderful healthy growth there. In particular the Star Grass put out some large leaves.

Why did you remove the Blixa from the right side?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Frank

It has been said that UV light oxidizes some traces, most notably Fe making it unusable by the plants. I haven't been able to find any scientific data to back this.


LF,
Thanks, I was just going to upload my wisteria photo album.
I removed the Blyxa from the right because I thought it looked kinda lost. I think I need to add a rock or something so it looks like it's part of the main group.

There is something unusual in this photo, I'm sure LF will find it.




tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
I'm sure LF will find it.


Hm &#8211; first guess would be red, aka dying, brush algae on the rock in the left front.

Next guess, and more remote, one of the stems from the Stellata is actually a Willow branch

But I stick with the first guess

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Believe it or not your second guess is much closer.
I put a skewer bbq stick in there to help the stella grow straight up. It keep growing into the rotala and another piece into the diandra.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
I think the Wisteria might have told the Stellata that you are into the flat design and all the Stellata tries to do is to please you so you don&#8217;t have to pack out that whip .

Do you think cutting it shorter would help? I don&#8217;t know, just guessing.
Does it get light from straight above or slightly from the front?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
LF

Do you think cutting it shorter would help? I don&#8217;t know, just guessing.
Well, I'm going to cut off the tops once the new growth get's bigger. It's one big stalk so I don't want to cut back yet. From what I understand the bottoms sometimes don't grow or take a few long time to regrow.

It does get light from pretty much straight above.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
This is more a photography question. These two pics are pretty much the same except the top one was taken with a white balance setting of Tungsten and the lower pic is with a auto white balance. Your suppose to match the white balance setting to your light source to get the most accurate pic. With photography you could try to match the real conditions or use a setting which looks best. Let's face it many of the high scapes you see I'm sure do just that, including Amano. Which of these pics do you prefer.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
including Amano


Oh, of course. He's a photographer just as much as an aquascaper... I noticed a lot of little tricks and even photoshopping in the photos of his tanks - its all about making them look good, afterall

Personally the bottom one looks much better. Much warmer, brings out the reds nicely and leaves the black background black, rather than rendering it with a blueish hue. And notice how the tungsten setting renders the reds greyish or white, washing them out completely. Blegh!

Tungsten doesn't looks good in tank shots, mainly because we don't used tungsten lights over them, we use fluorescent i find that either a fluorescent setting or even regular daylight (probably what your camera chose) look the best. The tungsten WB makes it look like you're using an actinic light over the tank.

Last edited by NowherMan6 at 05-Jan-2006 10:41


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Yeah,

Without a doubt I like the bottom one better as well.

It shows the color differences so much better.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Yes, I agree with both of you. The bottom actually is more realistic. I think in the real world the tank looks alittle lighter.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
ChaosMaximus
*******
----------
Enthusiast
Posts: 163
Kudos: 39
Votes: 9
Registered: 15-Dec-2005
male usa
Hey, something where I have some expertice, photography

I agree the bottom picture is better and I think I can explain why it is better. Im going to assume that your lighting is about daylight (65-6700k). Tungesten is significanly lower, is very orange in general. Your brain tends to do its own white balancing so you dont notice it. Tungsten is orange, the more steril looking florescents in offices are genreally green. The camera is doing what nowhereman said because the tungsten assumes the lighting is X ammount to orange and it ajusts all the colors accoringly. Thus you loose the nice red on the tips of those plants and the gravel, which I think is black in sunlight looks blue in the top picture.

In general when you are wondering about the color balance of a photo and have several to compare, the one that has the best color contrast, it kind of 'pops' more is the correct one. The wisteria for example has much better detail overall in the correct photo. If you had a photo with a color balance set for 1000k you would loose detail again as everything became too orange.

I dont know how much of what I am seeing is easily observed because it took me a few months of doing my own color photo printing to really start to see this stuff.

Hope it was reasonably clear,

Chaos

Actually, just to mention it, the bottom photo is probably a little to orange. The gravel isnt black in that photo either. So the perfect photo may be a little inbetween but much closer to the bottom one.

Last edited by chaosmaximus at 05-Jan-2006 12:21

__________________________________

- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
ChaosMaximus,

Thanks, yes that did make alot of sense.
Your definitely in the right place. Your photographic knowledge with planted tank interest are definitiely a tough combination to beat in terms of challenge and beauty.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
The camera is doing what nowhereman said because the tungsten assumes the lighting is X ammount to orange and it ajusts all the colors accoringly


Right. Take a shot of a person under incandescent lighting and their face is orange, with tungsten film () or a digital setting it's much cooler.


Of course, if people shot RAW you could do whatever you want with it no matter the camera setting.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
ChaosMaximus
*******
----------
Enthusiast
Posts: 163
Kudos: 39
Votes: 9
Registered: 15-Dec-2005
male usa
nowhereman

Is RAW an acronym of some kind? or do you mean somthing else? just wondering

Chaos

__________________________________

- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
I think you've used the Blyxa perfectly, it looks it's best against rock where they show each other off. Also you've planted it in an ideal triangular configuration (been studying your Amano principles ? )

But I do think it still looks a bit bare there though. I'd like some bunches of a small Anubias there, at the bottom of the rocks just behind/alongside the Blyxa. The braod leaves of the Anubias, with the thin Blyxa and the rocks would all set one qnother off really really well. It'll also give a more "aged" appearance.

I know you tried Anubias before and didn't like it. But the variety you had was a bit too big and not enough of it. I'm thinking a few thick bunches of small Nana or Petite. Grouping or tying a few rhizomes together gives that nice bushy look.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks for the comments bensaf. I agree it looks alittle empty in the mid are where the Blyxa is especially with the fullness of the wisteria. Not sure about the Anubias because I don't have anyting to anchor to over their. Are you saying to just anchor them to each other.

Another option might be to ad more rocks and try some riccia to add green to that area.

My new challenge now is BBA. It is starting to overwhelm the rocks and wood, I also noticed some of it on the Blyxa.
What's interesting is that it seems to be growing more where there is water movement from the spraybar which is positioned on the left wall of the tank pointed at a 45 degree angle. You could see the Blyxa swaying from it. It pretty much hits that mean rock and driftwood. I also noticed it accumulating on my intake right where the co2 is going in. Many aquarist on APC complained about the same thing. I have not touched my co2 and I know it's in the 30s unles my kh and ph tests are wrong. I've begun to overdose excel.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
You don't need to anchor them to anything as such. Tie or rubber band small rocks or stones to them,to weigh the plant down and plop them in. You can hide these stones easy enough or push the stone down into the substrate just make sure the rhizome is not covered. You can pile up Anubias pretty easy.

Current doesn't seem to make a difference to BBA. It will always settle on hard scape/equipment first. Equipment should be cleaned/bleached regularly. It can be hard to keep of hard objects even with good Co2. But it's always worthwhile to check Co2, test for KH and pH. It's easy to get got out. KH can shift from rocks etc. Needle valves can move and reduce the bubble count without you noticing etc.There's a few ways it can move, you need to keep an eye on it or you may find you're running lower Co2 levels then you thought. Always a good idea to check KH and pH regularly to make sure your where you want to be.

The Excel's a good idea, harrying and hassling BBA helps.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
FRANK
 
**********
---------------
---------------
Moderator
Posts: 5108
Kudos: 5263
Votes: 1690
Registered: 28-Dec-2002
male usa us-colorado
Hi Guys,
I did some initial research on the UV vs Fe effects.
This is a series from "The Krib" about it:
[link=http://www.cam.org/~tomlins/comments.html#m15]http://www.cam.org/~tomlins/comments.html#m15" style="COLOR: #FF00FF[/link]

There are others too, but the chemistry gets kinda deep.
The short is that it looks like there are no worries.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

You say that you overdose Excel, why? Have you tried the regular dosage for at least one week first? It worked very well on my tank. Back to your question picture - maybe it was an illusion on my end, but I thought I see some red algae on the rock to the left. Once it turns red it is dying and all you have to do is to keep up the regular dosage for a little longer.

About the Anubias: Bensaf is right ( what else is new? ), they don't need to be tied to something. Actually, all of mine were shipped to me with small regular roots already expaning from the rhizome (sp?). I buried all of mine in the substrate making sure the rhizome is above the ground. These roots become rather big after a short while and the plant will be savely anchored.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
LF,
As far as the excel treatment. I haven't really dosed the regular amount. I assume you mean the 5ml for every 50g.
How many doses did you do to see any change? I dosed 35ml yesterday and was going to do this for a week every other day. No, that wasn't bba turning red, just some red color on the petrified wood. By the way when the bba turns red and dies do you jus leave it in the tank or do you remove it some how.

In terms of anubias, I didn't know you buried those in the substrate. I guess if the rhizome is hidden from view it would look alright. Thanks for the info.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

I guess I didn&#8217;t dose the normal dosage either, but I had a different regiment.

I started off with the first dosage (means there is no Excel prior in the tank) at the suggested amount, being 5ml for every 10G (suggested after 40+ % of water change), in my case I added 50ml, for you it would be the 35ml that you added.

Then I subsequently dosed every day 20ml, so maybe 15ml for your tank size, for one week. Changes occurred around day 4.

I think dosing every other day may not be as effective, on one day you attack the algae and the next day you give it a break &#8211; supposedly Excel stays active for only 24h (no evidence to back this up though).

About the Anubias: I will take a picture on the weekend and show you how it looks in my 29G where the roots are clearly visible from the front of the tank. I kind of like the look of the roots as it reminds me of a Mangrove tree.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Anubias roots, when planted under the gravel, will grow thick, white and quite long, not unlike large crypt or sword roots. When we normally see them, the roots are green and on the thin side; not so when buried. During my replant I noticed one set of A. barteri roots that were roughly a foot long. Just be extremely careful when burying the roots as to not bury the rhizome (said often enough, I'm sure, but nevertheless...) It will rot and the plant will die at the slightest bit of being underground, and with the other ground cover you have you probably won't even know it.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
LF,
Thanks. Did the bba in your tank every come back and when it turned red did you end up cleaning it off hardscape and cutting leaves or did it pretty much just distegrate into the water column?

Thanks LF and Nowher for the anubias info.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

Before I treated the tank for the first time I had serious black rims on the Anubias and various other plants and hardscape. Never came back, except some small bushles (I actually assume of a different algae type) on my rock. This one has been eliminated during the last (second) sweep with Excel. I never physically removed any remains. As far as I can tell it turned red, then gray, and then disintigrated.

Ingo



Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
O.K. Thanks LF.

I guess my fear with over dosing the excel too much is the E. Stella which looks like it has "I'm melting" written all over it and the tolerance of the Yamato Shrimp which now total 5 in my tank.




My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's a pick of some of the bba on the recently named "Krusty Peak"

A greenish-grey in color. It actually doesn't look bad, if it could be contained, but it's definitely spreading too much.

tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
Are the shrimp eating it at all? Is there anything that finds it tasty? Would otos be of any service? I have many questions, no answers. I don't remember if you tried otos in that tank at all. Mine do ok but I'm still scraping all kinds of algae off the glass. My vacation and the direct sunlight coming in for an hour a day led to all kinds of algae growing everywhere that it wasn't growing before. No GW water though knock on wood.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I have a 9 otos in the tank and at times I have seen them clean a path of bba on the dw, but I they can't keep up with it. I also do think the bba is their preferable type of algae and there is some spot algae (normal) on the glass for them. I have 5 shrimp and I can't say I've seen them bother with the BBA. They stay on that piece of dw all day and nibble on that attached piece of java moss.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Ottos usually won't touch BBA. They prefer diatoms and the soft stuff. But then again a lot of fish will peck at any algae if it's young and fresh.

I agree that algae on rocks and wood look better with a coating of algae. As long as it's the right type, one of the more "attractive" algaes. The soft green ones are ok. Unfortunately ones like BBA and staghorn are just plain ugly.

Was the Excel already added when you took that pic ? I usually find that grey bba is very unhealthy bba on it's way out.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Was the Excel already added when you took that pic ? I usually find that grey bba is very unhealthy bba on it's way out.
No, the bba I have has been grey from the getgo. Definitely accmulating more in the path of the spray bar. As I mentioned other apc members have experienced same.

Co2 I know is high ph 6.2 to 6.4 and kh 3. I could start guessing buy I'm I think I'm done playing perfect scientist. Other than some nice healthy spot algae there is no other algae in the tank, leaves are very clean, full.

Bensaf, I would love to send you some of my stargrass, it is growing madly. (Starting to sound like LF). I'm glad I regrouped my rotala and stargrass from little pieces, much more satisfying than buying more. Especially the stargrass I had replanted 1 to 2 inch pieces, by tomorrow morning it will be the tallest plant in my tank.

Last edited by tetratech at 06-Jan-2006 20:49

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Starting to sound like LF


And what would be wrong with that

Slight shift of topic,

As promised, here are 2 pictures of an Anubias Nana planted in the gravel.

Full Shot:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:



Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Close-Up of the roots. You can see the rhizome is way above the substrate (middle of picture):

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:



Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks for the pics and info on the Anubias. I think they definitely have their place. One reason I guess I'm not a big fan is something I was thinking about and something Bensaf said in the other thread "they are plastic plants that grow". That said, I guess they do offer good contrast with "real" looking plants

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Post Spawn

Well I don't think any fry survived in the tank unless they are hiding in the elaborate network of wisteria. with the 5 pencils and 9 cardinals I don't think they had much of a chance. The few I put in the 5g did not survive and never really got any bigger, so I think it was a nutrient issue without BBS or other adequate food. It was kinda a hapazard setup next time I might go all out trying to rear them. Here's a post spawn pick of the ram still showing exceptional color. This pic is taking with auto white balance and is natural. Whoever said bolivians don't have color they should tell it to this girl. The color and spawning hopefully is a testament to good quality water.

tetratech attached this image:


Last edited by tetratech at 07-Jan-2006 10:14
[/font]

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
dvmchrissy
-----
Big Fish
Posts: 477
Kudos: 301
Votes: 38
Registered: 09-Oct-2005
female usa us-indiana
Your Rams are just absolutely gorgeous! IT makes me even more excited and anxious to get my tank up and running so that I can get my Rams!!! I hope mine are even close to as pretty as yours are! I hope you have better luck next time with the spawning. Like I said before I would love to work out a deal with you on a pair of them. I am sure I can speak for everyone when we say we are rooting for you and your Rams! Keep up that great tank!


Christina
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile Yahoo PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
dvmchrissy,
Thanks for the ram and tank commments.

As I predicted the Stargrass now is competing with the Rotala as being the tallest plant in the tank. You might notice from this pic I had to cut back the diandra for a couple of reasons. One it was growing into the stellata wideleaf and also at closer examination some of the stem bottoms were getting black. It's amazing how healthy a stem plant could look and then two-thirds down the stem the has a completely dead spot - solid black. That show's I guess that the roots on those plants are there for anchoring only and most nutrient is thru the leaves. The diandra remembers me of a cross between cabomba an rotala r. The leaves just fall into alot of pieces like cabomba. When I saw the black stems it reminded me of when I first started and didn't know anything, but this plant got black stems with alot of space between them and I think enough light 2.7wpg cf. I get the feeling this plant needs really heavy light. Maybe I should give some to LF.

Anyway here's a pic showing the stargrass and cut back diandra.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's the pic:



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
She is absoulutely gorgeous!

If the rams are at all like the kribs, the female will be that colourful each time they come into breeding mode. Mine is all by herself in a tank with barbs and otos, a SAE and 1 lonely danio and she colours up more intensely about every three weeks. Then she chases the barbs around and gets testy with the other fish. She hasn't hurt them, but she lets them know when to stay away.

When I'm ready for a bolivian ram I will be trying for a female. The male kribs aren't much to look at and I'm thinking it may be the same with rams.

Last edited by luvmykrib at 07-Jan-2006 15:01

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
luvmykrib &#8211; Male Rams are at least as gorgeous as their female counterparts .

tetratech &#8211; I know you don&#8217;t mind a little criticism, right? In my opinion there is one thing missing from your tank: flow. It appears to me as if your tank has 3 (or even 4) distinct sections, left wisteria, right wisteria, mound group, and maybe the blyxa group. If that is intentional then you achieved your goal there. I personally like it better when groups flow into each other and it seems like you are working towards that with the Diandra flowing into the Wisteria on the right. Just my thoughts.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
LF, I always want your comments, thoughts, etc.
Acutally if you look at page 32 in one of my full tank shots after I added the Blyxa to the middle, I commented:

I'm not sure I love it, I need to fine-tune and blend it more with the surrounding flora.
So right now I'm getting a feel for the growth, The stargrass also needs to be moved in to get more cascading action going, but that plant I'm afraid to touch.

This is a pic when I compared now and when I had some of the wisteria still in the middle area in front of the rock. It obviously blends both sides together. Another thing also is the wistera on the right toward the middle is almost to the front of the glass (remember it crawls) and needs to be cut back to lessen it's impact. It should really support the center and not take over, but you know that wisteria.



tetratech attached this image:


Last edited by tetratech at 08-Jan-2006 06:35
[/font]

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Makes perfect sense

You are right, the Wisteria in the middle made it blend together.

Do you like this one?

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:



Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Actually I did think about doing just what you illustrated, but I felt that wisteria was too powerful with it's bigger different leaves and would overwhelm the setup. If it was a similiar ground cover it would work well, so I'll be shifting, blending, trimming etc. You might also have noticed that I have some dwarf hairgrass growing in 2 different locations, although I kinda like the constrast with the black eco I want to see if it comes in better the second time around.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Some random pics of the tank. First full tank after water change. Move some of the wisteria on the left to overlap some of the blyxa. I also moved one blyxa in the right group further right to blend. I might decide to cover some of those rocks in front of the blyxa with riccia to bring more green into the area.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's pic 98.7 too big as usual.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Some rotala.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Estellata



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Estellata, hoping this starts to color up.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Blyxa. You know it's false pearling, when your dying bba pearls as well.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Twin peak. The middle dw is the only place so far that javamoss as taken to.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

I think I am falling in love with the Blyxa. If it doesn't get too tall then it would be much prettier than Dwarf Sags or Chain Swords. I will watch yours grow and spread and then maybe adopt this plant in my tank as well, if you don't mind.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Full room shot from my kitchen sink. LF, I must have missed something, who is Dan?

tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Close up of my favorite occupant.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
This is a fun shot. Looks more like outspace than a fishtank in my kitchen. See the shooting stars.




tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
I love the Ram shot, great picture that shows its beautiful color

The only Dan I know is a member of this site, why? Did I mention a Dan somewhere here? Dan at FP has his own log with 4 65G tanks on a rack.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
The Blyxa is a very nice plant. Seems like it works best when used at the base of structure, similar to tenellus... the question is how big it grows etc. Another planted tank fad... UVs, glass diffusers, Blyxa... what next?


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Ingo,

The Bylxa won't get very tall. It'll get wider by producing side shoots. It's a very easy plant to control unlike the chain sword which can get out of hand.

Blyxa Aubertii is another one that would work well in your tank. Unlike the Japonica it's more of a true rossette type plant. Get's a lot taller and very wide.Similar texture and shape leaves to the Japonica, but a lot longer and softer.In your light it would turn red on the top portion quite easily so may give a splash of color while still retaining that grassy look.

I find it grows a lot faster then the Japonica.

Tetra,
If I may be a little critical.....

I do like your tank a lot. It's well laid out and the plants look full of health. But it also leaves me a little cold. It seems a tad sterile. There's no small details. I don't feel any mystery and because of that I don't feel any desire to investigate and look further. It's like "wow what a pretty tank"....and they I move on.

The Blyxa I think accentuates this problem. A pretty plant well laid out, put in the right place and then...nothing. There's a few rocks there but they're just sitting there doing nothing, they don't distract but they don't add anything either.

This may partly be due to my own bias. You know while we both appreciate any well done tank we also have quite different personal tastes. I certainly go for a more crowded look.

The most important and painstaking parts of my own tanks are the minor details, the ones that unfortunately don't come across in photographs. The greatest personal satisfaction is when I see somebody looking at my tanks and they crouch down, try to look thru the sides or they are almost breaking their necks trying to get a closer look at some detail because they think there might be something else there, even if most of the time there isn't.

Generally the placement of stem plants comes rather easy to me , more thought goes into the choice of species. But I have spent hours trying to get small details of where wood, rock and plants meet, so as the whole becomes greater then the sum of the parts.

All the good tanks have this I think. There's always sections of the tanks you can't see, at least not at first. There may not actually be anything there but you want to look to find out for yourself.

The thing with your tank, at least at the moment, it may change as plants fill out, is that I can already see everything.

Slight edit. You posted a new photo while I was typing this. The full tank shot showing part of the room. I have to say that it looks more impressive in that shot. Still think some detail around the Blyxa would be a big bonus.

Last edited by bensaf at 08-Jan-2006 21:06


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Bensaf,
I could definitely appreciate your comments. I think I'm always torn between keeping my tank simple (less species) and letting this simple but dramatic layout show off a large school of fish (which I don't have yet) or adding more flora and giving it more complexitity. As you of course know some of the most striking tanks are one's that have only a few species of plants, not to say that certain elements aren't located strategically to add interest.

At this point I would like to see how things grow in a bit. Although I'm very happy with the Blyxa it has reduced the flow (as LF pointed out) and I need to make the necessary adjustments for it to work completely.

Any comments are always appreciated.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Well maybe I should clarify a little. Certainly I wouldn't suggest you go mad and add a lot more species. Something I've certainly been guilty of in the past is too many species with none making a impact. I'm trying to control that urge these days.

Certainly I think you've handled the stem plants very well and certainly wouldn't add more species. Let what's there fill out. You may even decide to drop one of the species later and it would still be impressive.

I''m thinking more of the smaller details. The mid/foreground areas. Accents for rocks etc. You really wouldn't need too many more species 2 or 3 would do it.

Certainly I wouldn't suggest you go down the road that my collectoritis forced me. These days I'm removing more species then I'm adding.

I think one phrase you made probably highlights the differnce in our attitudes. You want a tank with a striking background for a school of colorful fish. I lean the other way. Cardinals, Neons et al, while beautiful fish don't do it for me. They just seem to sit there. I prefer the fish to be more interactive with the environment. Gouramies gracefull winding thru plants, Bettas prowling through a mass of Anubias leaves, Pencil fish pecking and poking thru everything, and Ottos being Ottos. I got into the habit of building 'scapes to encourage that kind of behaviour. This works against me sometimes. Things I should keep simpler I end up overdoing.

You can see this trait even now. Remember when I re-did the tank? While the overall layout is the same it was much simpler and cleaner at the start, you can see in the last pics everything has got denser, more complex and darker (even though I now have more light over the tank). Guess I just can't help myself.



Last edited by bensaf at 09-Jan-2006 00:41


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I think one phrase you made probably highlights the differnce in our attitudes. You want a tank with a striking background for a school of colorful fish. I lean the other way. Cardinals, Neons et al, while beautiful fish don't do it for me. They just seem to sit there. I prefer the fish to be more interactive with the environment.
That's a very good distinction. I'm always hesitant to add more fish because I feel it would eventually clutter the big school I plan on having one day. Although in a tank of my size I do want and have some fish that use the layout like pencils, rams, otos. I also currently have 5 yamato shrimp. As I said I need more tanks, I'm always torn between a tank with maybe two or three plant species and a large school or one with more variety buy not Dutch like. I really need 3 medium size tanks, this way you'll always have one show tank and the others you could play with.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I've definitely observed my otos munching on the bba. I don't have alot of algae on the menu, so maybe they are desperate. I've also caught the yamato shrimp pictured here making a snack of it.




tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
That is a beautiful shot tetratech

I guess all you need is about 100 more shrimp (). At my LFS they go for $5 each.

Ingo

I really like this picture


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks for the pic comments LF.


I guess all you need is about 100 more shrimp
Yeah exactly, that' what Amano always says, so simple, $500 later. I don't think the 5 I have will put a dent in it. BTW I got all my yamato shrimp at aquarium adventure. They were $3.99 each minus 25% for being a AA member which was free since I signed up when the store opened. Wow $5 is high, I thought $3.99 was high, I wonder what Bensaf pays. The cherry shrimps were $5.99 but were not in stock.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Megil TelZeke
 
**********
---------------
Fish Addict
Posts: 863
Kudos: 890
Votes: 393
Registered: 21-Jul-2003
male usa us-northcarolina
get other shrimp apart from yamato's. there are other algae eating shrimp that will eat a different variaty of algae than yamatos and also reproduce in fw.

Just avoid az gardens for shrimp.

Last edited by Megil Tel'Zeke at 09-Jan-2006 13:36

Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Just avoid az gardens for shrimp.


Any experience you'd like to share?


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Megil TelZeke
 
**********
---------------
Fish Addict
Posts: 863
Kudos: 890
Votes: 393
Registered: 21-Jul-2003
male usa us-northcarolina
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/71/sort/2/cat/4/page/1

I believe everything is covered there. The shrimp shipped were miniscule , and as stated hot very good survival rate.

Last edited by Megil Tel'Zeke at 09-Jan-2006 13:47

Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Megil,
Sorry to hear that. What kind of shrimp did you order and how many? Did any survive to reproduce?

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
ChaosMaximus
*******
----------
Enthusiast
Posts: 163
Kudos: 39
Votes: 9
Registered: 15-Dec-2005
male usa
Hey, i was wondering what kind of a camera you are taking the photos with. Because you were asking about photo exposres before I thought I might add a little more info. I believe that your camera is automatically over exposing your photos. [I see the etherial quality of many of your plants as evidence of this, though perhapse you like to use this as an awe inspiring effect? ] It depends on the kind of camera but you may be able to ajust its settings. What it does whne you take pictures, all of which seem to be without a flash which is great imo, is that it tries to make the net exposure for the immage what is called middle grey, as far as light inensity goes. The camera does not understand that your background is supposed to be black or that snow for example is supposed to be white. Because of this it over exposes the aquarium pictures with large ammounts of black in them. The 'false pearling' picture has good detail overall, because of the normal balance of light and dark. THe one below it shows heavenly wisteria. Anyway depending on the camera you might be able to force better exposures, but it depends.

Chaos

__________________________________

- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Chaos,
Thanks for any advice, I am certainly not that photo savvy.
My camera is a Canon S2 IS, not an SLR, but from what I understand a pretty good camera, some shots I believe are limited because of the iso setting only going up to 400 and insufficient light. Most of the shots you see in my thread are taking with the manual seeings using shutterspeed as a priority.

The settings are using 1/10 - 1/20, f 2.7 to 4.5, with 2/3 underexposure. I do have a black background and black substrate so I do like the way it makes the plants pop out.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Gee,

am I glad that I am reading this thread.

I was going to order my shrimp from there, I guess I will have to find another source then.

Thanks Megil also from me, I am sure you saved me quite some money (and hair).

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
LF,
If I spend $70 for shrimp shipping my tank really would be over my head like in my avatar.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's another shrimp shot. It's interesting to watch them. When a fish swims close the shrimp put up their arms in an effort to defend themselves.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
I was going to order my shrimp from there, I guess I will have to find another source then.


Hehe, I was thinking the same thing. Maybe shrimp are just poor shippers? Never had them shipped before, but it seems the death rate shouldn't be as high as megil says it was. Will have to do some more searching for online retailers, I think I saw some place online called Frank's something-or-other, little pricy though... and there's always aquabid.


Chaos,

All true enough, but taking a pic of a tank with a black background/ substrate and high lighting is like taking a pic of a guy in a big black coat out in a snow covered field on a bright sunny day - if you expose to capture either extreme perfectly, the other is going to look crummy. if you want straight from the camera .jpegs, in the case of planted tanks I think it's best to underexpose only slightly - the point is not to see the background at its best, but to capture the detail in the plants. For straight out of the camrea .jpegs I think the exposure is pretty good. Ideally I think one would underexpose a little - no more than a full stop - and then play with shadows/ highlights in Photoshop... or if shooting .raw files it would be that much more effective.

Sorry, that was off topic. I'll control the photo-nerdness from now on


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Megil TelZeke
 
**********
---------------
Fish Addict
Posts: 863
Kudos: 890
Votes: 393
Registered: 21-Jul-2003
male usa us-northcarolina
[link=http://www.franksaquarium.com/freshwatershrimpfarm.htm]http://www.franksaquarium.com/freshwatershrimpfarm.htm" style="COLOR: #001700[/link]

Heard good things about him. probably worth a shot. When ig et around to restocking the 20G again i'm ordering from him what i can't find locally. (going to try getting some from deb first)

but to answer the earlier question none lived long enough to reproduce. shrimp aren't that delicate of shippers AZ gardens just has shotty quality. well I do have some rudolphs still, they are about all i ahve left from the purchase.

Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Day 1 - The excitment

tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Day 12 - Innocent growth

tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Day 38 - I had at all (in my naive mind anyway)



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Day 65 - Innocence Lost



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Day 77 - The comeback

tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Hmm... an obvious lack of GW pictures here, tetra... youre not telling the whole story here!


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Day 97 - Happy New Year!

tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
3 Days ago - Nowher, not now, I'm on a roll!



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Today - reworked blended foreground to appease my critics



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Are we done yet

Nice collection and naming of each set

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Yeah I think I got it all out, actually I think I skipped a few pics. Nowher, GW never visible from front, sometimes bad photo skills come in handy.

If you look at the foreground I spread the blyxa further and scattered some wisteria into the middle to help blend. I guess I'll let it grow in and see how it looks. The poor Blyxa has been uprooted and moved like 4 times already.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
tetratech,

Things are looking really nice. I can't wait until I can do some more work on my tank!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks Wingdsc.


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
The poor Blyxa has been uprooted and moved like 4 times already.


Well don't move it again

It's a relatively delicate plant, it does not take kindly to being moved. It takes quite a while for it to root and establish, every time you move it , it has to start over.

I'd go as far as to say the secret to growing it well is stick it in and never move it.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Nowher, GW never visible from front, sometimes bad photo skills come in handy.



Not bad photo skills, I just dont think you had GW nearly as bad as mine, probably why it took your UV less time to make things sparkling clear for you. Anyway, I like the new look of the tank, even though Hendrix Rock is no more.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
It certainly does flow better, although I still find the left side Wisteria group to be isolated.

Also, from the pciture, one cannot easily see the driftwood stick on the left. I am sure that when looking at the tank directly it creates a flow towards that left side.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Speaking of wisteria groups, holy cow! Look at the right side of that first pic - empty!


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Speaking of wisteria groups, holy cow! Look at the right side of that first pic - empty!

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Edit error on previous post. Anyway your referring to the day on pic right Nowher, yeah, the wisteria was left over clippings from my old 46 gallon and there wasn't much of it when I first started.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
It's just wild to look back on it and see it so lacking in wisteria because wisteria has become such a ounced and dare I say, defining element in your tank.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Oh it's got depth baby!

For those of you who mentioned my tank lacks depth (you know who you are) I wanted to show this side shot. The grouping of blyxa is on three different levels with rocks pushing up the substrate aroundthe big rock. You could also see the big rocks are staggered as well at different depths. It's hard to see this from the front.





tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

Yeah, I see the depth, from the side of the tank

I never doubted it is there, but sometimes it is hard to see it from the front of the tank (aka standard photo position). I am sure that it will look deeper once the area in front of the main group has filled in some more.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks Lf,

Question? I'm on day 5 of the excel treatment I've been doing about 20ml everyday, I haven't seen the bba turn red, but looks like it has stopped spreading. I think you said your's turned red around day 4.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Yup tetratech,

That is what it did for me, and proportionally on a smaller dosage than yours.

Maybe it doesn't work equally on all tanks or on your particular type of algae.

I would say keep it up for at least 3 more days.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Actually I missed a dose while I was out of town.

See my other thread http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/General%20Freshwater/67955.html?200601111643

Last edited by tetratech at 11-Jan-2006 16:58

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
I have seen the other thread,

But I didn't dare to comment in it as one never knows if an entry was your last, once you are on a roll .

Maybe the skipping set it back, let's hope that this is the issue then dosing longer should fix that.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
It's just wild to look back on it and see it so lacking in wisteria because wisteria has become such a ounced and dare I say, defining element in your tank.
Yes, you may say that. It just comes in so nice and it's low maintenance.




tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
For those of you who mentioned my tank lacks depth (you know who you are)

*whistles nonchalantly*

Pity most people look at the front of a tank and not at the sides

To be fair though, pictures never do a tank justice. They always look better in person, can't beat the 3 dimensional view. Photo's do tend to flatten the look of a tank, moreso when you use any kind of zoom.

Maybe we were a little harsh.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Maybe we were a little harsh.
I can take it, keep the honesty coming.

Anyway here's a pic of the E.Stellata Wideleaf. I'm starting to enjoy the constrasting leaves. It hasn't colored up so I'm thinking of upping my FE dosing or maybe my light isn't intense enough to get the color.

Current dosing schedule:

n03 - .5 tsp
po4 - .05 tsp
Flourish - 10 ml
Flourish trace - 5 ml
Flourish excel - 20 ml (currently treating bba)
co2 - slow moving stream of bubbles

Although plants look really healthly I don't get much pearling. Although I don't necessarily associate pearling with plant health I do like to witness pearling at times, so I've changed my co2 diffusion from canister intake to a limewood airstone under my spraybar (too cheap to buy a glass diffusor.) I do see all the tiny bubbles bing wooshed to the plants. I want to see if it increases pearling




tetratech attached this image:


Last edited by tetratech at 12-Jan-2006 09:57
[/font]

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
saltnewbie
-----
Enthusiast
Posts: 277
Kudos: 168
Votes: 1
Registered: 04-Feb-2004
male usa
I have a glass difuser setup for a few days so far and I have already noticed some pearling..Not on any of my wisteria tho.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
The Excel will definately reduce pearling. So you may not see much until you're finished with that treatment.

Depends on the plants too. Heavy oxygen producers pearl heavier, faster. Riccia is the classic example, Java Fern while slow growing makes a lot of oxygen and will pearl at the drop of a hat. Wisteria seems to be somewhere in the middle.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
bensaf,

Why does the excel cut back on pearling?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Don't know. But it's certainly widely reported and it's something I've experienced myself in the past.

Maybe it somehow slows down the plants oxygen output or reduces the amount of oxygen in the water.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Pic update. I believe it's Day 110 (give or take)

The tank has definitely entered a new phase of lushness with the revival of all my stem plants, plus the additional ones. Here's a shot looking through the left size.




tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Oops alittle too big,



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Shot of the main group showing contrasting colors and shapes


tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Full room shot,



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
tetra,

Tank certainly does look great, but looking at how well the stem plants are growing, I can't help but feel that you can take it to the next level by doing something with the right side of the tank, building up more height with stem plants etc. The hardscape is there, it just needs to be filled in.

the wisteria carpet can remain, of course...


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
You know what,

For the first time this tank looks to me like a 20G Long. It seems tiny, what happened?

Don&#8217;t misunderstand me, it is very very beautiful and the shot you took makes it look like a piece of art, but the fact that this is a big tank is not coming across.

Maybe it is because of all the small leaved plants, I don&#8217;t know.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Tank certainly does look great, but looking at how well the stem plants are growing, I can't help but feel that you can take it to the next level by doing something with the right side of the tank, building up more height with stem plants etc. The hardscape is there, it just needs to be filled in.
I could appreciate your comments, but I probably will not do that. I feel keeping the stem plants bunched in a tight group off center gives me my stems, but also allows me to have the drama of open water which will eventually be populated by a big school of something. Again I need more tanks.

For the first time this tank looks to me like a 20G Long
You caught me, I knew I couldn't fool the LF eye for long. It is a 20g, I just couldn't admit it with your big tank.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
No, it&#8217;s not a 20G

I know that the plants cannot be that small when proportioned down to the size of a 20G, except if you would have miniature versions of each in which case I would love to have some of them.

I guess once a load of schooling fish are swimming in the tank and they become visible in the picture then it will be much easier to judge the tank when comparing the size of the fish to the rest of the tank. Yeah, I guess that&#8217;s it, thinking about it more made me realize that even some of Amano&#8217;s tanks would appear small if there wouldn&#8217;t be the 100 Cardinals swimming around.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
That's a very good point about Amano's tanks. Sometimes the only way to get a feel for the size is by seeing a large school of fish. Speaking of Amano did you see this additional link I put in that shows more pics of his big tank in his home. It also is part of a gallery of pics from ADG and Oliver knott that will make you sick.

http://www.pbase.com/plantella/niigata2005amanoshome

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
For the first time this tank looks to me like a 20G Long
"Cheeky young pup" Stick this in your 20g.





tetratech attached this image:


Last edited by tetratech at 13-Jan-2006 16:09
[/font]

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I thought this pic was a good fusion of fish, plants and art.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Cheeky young pup


You are flattering me, not with the cheeky part, but with the young pup one .

Looking very nice, the Star Grass is really coming in strong. Also, the front of the hill (do we have a name for it yet? ) is coming together. Did you trim the Diandra?

Is the right side the area that the Rams call their home? Or are they perusing the whole tank?

What&#8217;s the latest on fish? What are your current thoughts on the large school. Wanna have about 20 Espei?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
The front of the hill (do we have a name for it yet? )
Not as of yet, I'm open to suggestions.

Did you trim the Diandra?
Yes, I think I mentioned it in an earlier post (I know it's hard to catch them all) that I was amazed at how well the diandra grew and then when I looked closer to see a black section 3/4 down the stem. I guess it shows that the plants get most of what they need thru the water column. So I cut back. It's kinda struggling, I don't know if it's one of these plants that doesn't do well with the excel overdose treatment.

Is the right side the area that the Rams call their home?
How did you know. They do peruse the whole tank, but are on the right side 99% of the time.

Still haven't decided on the large school yet, your espei's do look nice. Here's an updated pic from tonite. The stargrass is almost to the top as well as the rotala. I'm not looking forward to the trimming. I'm torn between replanting all stem tops as opposed to cutting and letting the lower part regrow.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I also decided to change my method of co2 diffusion. There was nothing wrong with the canister injected method, plant health was really good, but I wasn't getting any pearling. As Bensaf pointed out it could be a possibly of the excel treatment that you pointed out as well, but I wanted to try something else. So I setup a limewood airstone right below my spraybar. Here's a pic as the microbubbles go up and then across the tank. (I'll probably eventually get the glass diffusor for aestetics and for effectiveness,although this limewood airstone gives off really nice small bubbles.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
tetratech,

I just set up my 2nd DIY Co2 with a limewood block. I really like the small bubbles it makes too. Right now I have the ladder going on one side of the tank with the block under my filter. I havent noticed tons of change but its only been going for a day. My Bacopa did crack the surface today but I have added some other stuff in the mix too.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I hear ya Wingdsc. Something about those little bubbles.
Make sure you test your co2 levels with both of those going.

BTW - I was in my lfs the other day. I picked up some otos for my 12g as well as 2 kuli loaches to help move around the sand and on my way out I noticed they were selling riccia.

So I took some as well. Fiqured it would be fun to play around with it. I thought it was interesting the way it was priced $1.99 per ounce.




Last edited by tetratech at 15-Jan-2006 18:48

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
saltnewbie
-----
Enthusiast
Posts: 277
Kudos: 168
Votes: 1
Registered: 04-Feb-2004
male usa
Nice find on the riccia!..I'd like to see how it turns out in your tank setup
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
I thought it was interesting the way it was priced $1.99 per ounce.


So how much surface area is an ounce?

As far as my Co2 levels go....
I might have to actualy go buy some test kits but right now as long as my fish aren't freaking out then things are good. I was actualy thinking of hooking up a 3rd bottle just to see what happens.

Edit:
Maybe that will have to be a new thread.....

Last edited by Wingsdlc at 15-Jan-2006 21:47

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Fiqured it would be fun to play around with it.


It is fun to play with. But once you've got it, you pretty much have it for life. It's remarkably easy to grow and grows fast. You only need one little tiny scrap to survive and you have a whole new batch.

I got rid of mine a while back to make room for other plants. Thought I got rid of it all but it keeps cming back. Even in the small non Co2 tank it keeps popping up.

Not a big problem it's easy to remove. It pops up tangled in moss , ferns Anubias. I just leave it be til there's a big ball of the stuff, then I pull it out. But a tiny piece will remain snagged somewhere a few mionths later you have a big ball again.

I think it will work well in your tank. Just hold it down on a stone with a hair net or mix some in with the moss.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

Yeah, I think Riccia is a very nice plant, look at all the Amano tanks that have full ground covers with it.

But I also believe they are a pain in the neck to keep trimmed. You will have to cut them short frequently to avoid the bottoms from dying off and the rest floating to the surface (or being swirled around the tank and settling all over the place).

And unfortunately I currently know one other person who has problems with not maintaining his ground cover right .

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
You will have to cut them short frequently to avoid the bottoms from dying off and the rest floating to the surface (or being swirled around the tank and settling all over the place).
Yes I have heard that. I plan on just using it on a few rocks, etc., but I know the little pieces are going to be a pain.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I really like the look of the E.Stellata Wide Leaf. It reminds me of exploding fireworks (especially if it starts to color up more), unfortunately it has a very week stem structure as you could see it's being straighted with a bbq stick.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Eusteralis Stellata, var. barbequii



It is very pretty though

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Eusteralis Stellata, var. barbequii

You know I read this and for a second I was going to look up that name. Not enough coffee yet:%)

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Untitled No. 4
----------
Big Fish
Posts: 488
Kudos: 452
Votes: 33
Registered: 07-Nov-2004
male uk
I'm sorry to intrude in such impolite manner, but according to what I see in the pictures, especially the last one, you have Limnophila aromatica there, and not Eusteralis stellata. I say this because of the shape of the leaves and also because of the slight colour that can be seen on the underside of the leaves.

According to my experience with L. aromatica, your problem is lack of nutrients rather than lack of light. Try to add a little more fertiliser before you mess with your lights and see what happens. If that is the problem you'll see that it colours up very quickly (2 - 3 days), and it will also become more robust so that the skewer will not be necessary anymore.

Last edited by Untitled No. 4 at 16-Jan-2006 13:29
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Son's of a $%#&amp;. I know the aromatica is many times sold as E. Stellata. This pic below from the Krib is saying it's E. Stellata and this is exactly what my plant looked like when I purchased it. The new growth looks much different from the original growth tha melted away.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa


And where have you been all that time Untitled No. 4? I missed you.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I've heard of the water sprite for wistera trick, but this is ridiculous.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Untitled No. 4
----------
Big Fish
Posts: 488
Kudos: 452
Votes: 33
Registered: 07-Nov-2004
male uk
That picture from the Krib shows a really poor E. stellata, if you ask me. It can, and it often does, look much better. But there's nothing wrong with L. aromatica, it's actually quite a nice plant. Add some more Flourish/TMG/whatever it is you're using and see how nicely it grows as it developes deep purple shade on the leaves, first on the underside and then on the top as well. It's also a little less moody than the E. stellata, but it shows right away when it doesn't get enough nutrients.

As for where I have been, I was here lurking most of the time. I was also busy at work (not all of us have the time to surf forums from work...) and then busy with setting up a new tank a few weeks ago. And anyway, I don't think I've had much to add to all that was going on here, but it is nice to see both of your progress.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Untitled, yep I think your right I pretty much confirmed that it's the aromatica, but each one looks very similiar here's two better pics from the Plantfinder at APC. The first one is aromatica and the next is e. stellata. These pics are taken from the same tank with the same conditions.

First the aromatica:

null

tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
and the E. Stellata



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
The E.Stellata is smoother and does grow bigger as well.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
They usually sell Aromaitica and Stellata side by side here in the same tanks. When I see them together they look almost identical yet there's always a difference I can't quite put my finger on. Seen seperately I can never tell the damn difference.

The narrow leaf Stellata is very easy to spot, but that's one finnicky plant.

I prefer the Aromatica anyway, it's easier to grow. like the light purple undersides, real nice shade. I think it's a bit more subtle too, the Stellata is a bit "show offy" for my taste.

If it is Aromatica I agee with untitled the color will come from nutrients rather then light. Think about it, the main color is on the underside of the leaf, light is not going to play much of a role there.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
If it is Aromatica I agee with untitled the color will come from nutrients rather then light. Think about it, the main color is on the underside of the leaf, light is not going to play much of a role there.
That's really an excellent point. I'm going to try and up my Flourish dosing. I'm not using a dedicated FE supplement, the diandra is not coloring up as well. Guess they aren't getting much FE from the roots thru the eco. I was hoping with the eco and the flourish they would be fulfilled in the FE department.

Last edited by tetratech at 17-Jan-2006 06:23

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
My stargrass has reached the top of my tank, from maybe a 1 inch clipping in about 30 days time. So that's about 3/4 inch per day based on my tank being 22inches tall.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
And what are you going to do with it now, tetratech?

I am very keen on finding out how the next trimming will go.

I will keep my fingers crossed,

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
And what are you going to do with it now, tetratech?

You must be reading my mind. After I put up this post I was going to edit and say "what do I do know?"

It looks really good right now, but I know it's just a moment in time. I know last time it stalled after cutting it back, but I wasn't running the same levels of no3 at the time. I did prune some stems and they did grow right back. Maybe I should run a poll?

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Well,

How does the bottom part of it look like?

My tall ones usually have very thin bottoms, with loads of water roots (that sometimes find their way back into the substrate), and no leaves at least in the center parts of a group.

I guess not trimming it is no option anyway, so the poll should be like:

a) just trim off the tops
b) replant the tops and dispose the bottoms
c) other options (please explain)



Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I guess another possibility is to trim out some of the middle stems to allow more light to enter the middle. Not sure how that would look.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
I like the idea of replanting the tops for this one. With a tall stem plant theres always the risk of making it look stringy. If they're tall they should be bushy, IME


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
saltnewbie
-----
Enthusiast
Posts: 277
Kudos: 168
Votes: 1
Registered: 04-Feb-2004
male usa
Wow..Nice growth!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's an updated pic of the foreground area of my tank.
I covered two rocks with riccia and placed them jutting out from some of the other rocks that are now almost forming a border with the wisteria in a more classic open foreground look. (Need some bigger rocks to complete).

I also decided that the controverial E.Stellata is better suited as a midground/background plant because of it's one thick stalk, so I'm going to attempt to move that forward a bit.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Nice picture tetratech,

It also seems that the Blyxa has settled in nicely.

I agree with you that you need bigger rocks to make an impact with the Riccia.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
I think the Riccia is a really good choice in your tank.

You'll be able to propagate it pretty quick. When the current rocks get to "haircut" time you can use the clippings to make new rocks. It'll fill in that central area where the group of 3 Japonica are real nice.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks guys!

As you can see, my 1 ounce at $1.99 riccia didn't go that far, but as Bensaf points out I'll probably just wait for it to grow. One concern I have with the bowfront and growing foreground plants is this. I have 2.7 wpg the tank is 22inch deep. The bowfront does have a darker area in the front of the bow, so I'm hoping there is enough light to grow the riccia.

I agree Bensaf, the riccia works well with the dark substrate in that center area it will green it up without being too distracting.


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

I think the Riccia will be very distracting as it will create the bubble effect that you always wanted and as such draw a viewer&#8217;s attention to it in no time. A living air stone .

But in a good way .

I hear your concern about the lack of light in the front section. You might have a point there. The Riccia I have (and yes, I do have some that came in with the moss) doesn&#8217;t look too good in the areas that are low light within the moss. I guess we will have to wait and see how low the light in front there really is.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I think the Riccia will be very distracting as it will create the bubble effect that you always wanted and as such draw a viewer&#8217;s attention to it in no time
You give me too much credit


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Well my little experiment with my co2 diffusion methods definitely confirmed something. I had recently changed my diffusion from thru the intake to a limewood diffusor under the spraybar. Both methods have kept my ph at around 6.2 to 6.4, but I'm noticing pearling on both my rotala and stargrass which never happened with the thru the intake method. So Bensaf's comment about the bubblemist is dead on. I'm sure I would get even more pearling with the finer bubbles that the glass diffusor makes.

Here's a pic (not a great one) showing current diffusion method. The wood airstone is right below the pic. You could see all the small bubbles going up and then sprayed across the tank. My bubble counter is set to a slow moving stream.

tetratech attached this image:


Last edited by tetratech at 19-Jan-2006 19:09
[/font]

Last edited by tetratech at 19-Jan-2006 19:11

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
You should try the glass diffusers. You'll get much smaller bubbles. Your 'ol mate Robert @ Aquabotanic is selling some nice ones for $8.99 - on sale.

If I remember correctly the wood airstones will corrode and disintegrate over time due to the CO2.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Errr, ya'll know my feelings on glass diffusers


But whatever works for ya... by the way, what did you do with the tubing going from the CO2 tank to the airstone? Did you hide it or am I missing something?


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
NowherMan6,

You don't like the glass diffusers? I must have misses something, some where...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Love 'em my friend, love 'em. One of the best moves I've made. Neat looking, cleans up easy, not at all unsightly, does a great job saturating the water.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
Thats what I thought but I guess I read into your post wrong.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Your 'ol mate Robert @ Aquabotanic is selling some nice ones for $8.99 - on sale
I think I'm on his do not sell to list.

Bensaf, you know the wood diffusor is just a bridge to the glass one.

Nowher the tubing is there, right in the middle of those bubbles.



Last edited by tetratech at 20-Jan-2006 00:10

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
NowherMan6,

I guess you didn&#8217;t know that tetratech is also known as &#8220;The Man in Black&#8221;. He managed to so almost completely into stealth mode for his entire equipment, all black.

Sounds good with the new diffusion method. This glass diffuser thingy (that I am sure you will switch over to in no time) is very seducing. But I think I would have to give it a little more thought before I am sold on (for my tank, that is) the hassle of splitting the line and making sure each end gets the same amount CO2 worries me.

tetratech, I am a little surprised about your bubble rate. Given that we have the same unit you must be injecting more than I do (although my flow rate is fast too, it is not a low stream). Is your rather low ph a target you desire or is it a necessity because of the CO2 level you try to achieve?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
The Man in Black
Might have to come up with a new av!

As far as the bubblerate. I'm a believer that the co2 should be pushed to the highest rate possible. Right now my plants look good and the fish seem really good to.
Could also be my diffusion rate isn't as good as the glass diffusor cult members. My ph looks to be between 6.2 and 6.4 late afternoon, so with a kh of 3 that gives me anywhere between 36 to 58 ppm.






My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Yep I gave up counting bubbles too a while back. Just a steady stream going in, i'd guess 4 or 5 bubbles a second .I try to keep the pH at 6.6 but my Kh is higher at 5.


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
I guess you didn&#8217;t know that tetratech is also known as &#8220;The Man in Black&#8221;.



Hate to burst your bubble here, but there's only one Man in Black, and his name is Johnny Cash. Sorry tetra. Still, maybe he liked fish tanks, I dunno...

As for the bubble rates, I'm in a similar position as tetra. My CO2 is somewhere in that range - according to CG calc. - but fish have shown no signs of stress, and that's good enough for me.



Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
his name is Johnny Cash
Yeah, but does Johnny Cash have:

Black trimmed AGA tank
Black self stick background
Black substrate
Black heater
Black intake tube
Black tubing

and black diandra stems

I really doubt it!

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Ye forgot the black beard algae !

I'm going down down down into a ring of fire, a ring fire


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I'm going down down down into a ring of fire, a ring fire
Are you having a bad day?

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
It's Saturday. Getting ready for beer. Just humming my favorite Johnny Cash song.

Always thought that particular song would work well in an advertisement for hemorrhoid ointment.:%)


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
OMG! Every time I peek my head in here I leave laughing so hard it's just not right. (After three kids laughing too hard is not a good thing...)
The things you guys get up to!
Funny I've often though the same thing about that song!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
I really wish I could join in on the singing and beer drinking, but although it is Saturday I will have to go to work for a few (up to 14) hours. ]:|

That is my ring of fire, at least today.

Ingo



Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I'm going down down down into a ring of fire, a ring fire
I must admit I don't know many Johnny Cash songs. Sounded more like something out of "Lord of the Rings" You know, movie stuff.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Some updated pics and changes. I decided to establish a "beachfront" since I was so close to it anyway with all the petrified would. So the wisteria is now contained behind pieces of rock leading to the open foreground that contains blyxa and riccia and some hairgrass. I also trimmed some of the stargrass (yes, I blinked first) and planted it on the right of the main group so again I have stargrass bordering the group. The diandra is still very weak and it's now behind the new stargrass stand on the right. It has been given me alot of problems and I don't have the luxury of adjusting my parameters to fit it and I don't have another tank that I could play around with. Could be lighting or the excel treatment weakened it.






tetratech attached this image:


Last edited by tetratech at 22-Jan-2006 10:29
[/font]

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
In case it's hard to see in the previous pic the whiteline follows the rock border.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's a comparison of before and after the beachfront.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Closeup shot of some of the rock border to the right showing riccia cover rock. Missed a few spots covering the rock with the riccia also I have some duckweed I noticed trapped under the hairnet. &amp;*$% lfs



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Yes I can grow moss. This is one of the few places it grows well.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Blink Blink

Well, looks nice, and so far the Star Grass on the right of the main group fits right in. Once grown in, it will give the Rotala and the Stellata more of a center stage in the tall plant group.

Funniest thing is: I just finished my maintenance (couldn&#8217;t do it yesterday, worked 13 hours in the office) and opened FP and what do I see, your beachfront. I just happened to start the removal process of the Glosso and cleaned the area in front of Rock Valley, making it an open gravel space, like a beachfront . More about this later this evening in my thread (can&#8217;t take good pictures now, have to wait until all the bubbling wears off a little).

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
I like the beachfront look, it adds a different dimension to the tank, I wish I new more to be able to say that better but I do like some open ground in a planted tank, I think it gives the eye a path to follow and a place to rest in between all the green. Tetra your tank looks great as always and I'm sure the riccia will fill in and cover the whole rock pretty soon. Ingo I can't wait to see the pics of your new beachfront. Man that glosso really grew though!

Last edited by luvmykrib at 22-Jan-2006 13:53

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks for the Beachfront comments,

LF,
Yep, pretty much fine-tuning the center display. Looking forward to seeing your beachfront.

Lumykrib,
Thanks for the comments on the beachfront, still adjusting a few things, but so far I'm happy with it. I agree that it breaks it up more and gives more constrast.



Last edited by tetratech at 23-Jan-2006 04:53

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Yeah dude, that beach front thing literally works. The right side of your tank can now be called the wisteria jungle, because it looks very much like a miniature jungle on the edge of a beach. Ever been to the carribian, to any of those islands down there? Seriously, that right side reminds me of flying over some of those silands in a plane, looking down from above. very cool.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Seriously, that right side reminds me of flying over some of those silands in a plane, looking down from above
I'll take it!

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Any new ram breeding? it's been a while now...


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Any new ram breeding? it's been a while now
It's funny that you said that. Just the other day I noticed that rich brown-orange body color again. So the courtship as begun once again.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Must've been all that time relaxing on the beach together. A few new life spectrum coladas, some brine shrimp cocktail served chilled - it was a regular honeymoon for them!


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's a closeup of the ricca after about 5 days. Seems to be growing. I didn't do the greatest job covering the rock and as I mentioned I trapped a piece of duckweed in there as well.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
The rock looks very natural that way, moss doesn't pop up and entirely cover a rock all at once, it takes over gradually, you've captured the look where the moss is showing it's potential and the rock being slightly visible doesn't detract at all from the moss. I would give it the time it needs.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
luvmykrib,
Thanks for the nice comments about the riccia. I of course agree with you. I think in another week or so it will really look good.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
More Rams to look out for, lovely

I like the Riccia Rock and I can&#8217;t wait to see its progress. If you haven&#8217;t done so already, try to make pictures of it from the same distance and angle all the time so maybe one day you can post the stages in comparison.

Having it on a rock should make pruning rather easy, I guess. Do you see any fish nibble on it? I think my Platies in the smaller tanks do that.

Ingo



Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I thought this was an interesting pic. It shows the microfine co2 bubbles that are coming off my wood airstone that aren't even strong enough to break the surface. If you look closely you could see some pearling on the rotala.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
I notice I get the same thing periodically, though to me it's more of a bad thing than a good thing - it means my filter outflow has slowed down enough that there's no longer enough water movement throughout the tank. That's when i know to clean.

In the past I've noticed this buildup of little surface bubbles right above plants that are pearling heavily. The bubbles would be so fine they wouldnt break the surface. Before the redo it usually coincided with BGA showing up somewhere...


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
That's an interesting point. I really didn't contribute it to reduced flow just that the bubbles are so fine coming up from the diffusor that they aren't breaking the surface. In fact I have these little bubbles all across the 4 feet of tank. Another thing you'll love about the ehiems is that with all those bioballs instead of pads your clean out your filter every 3 to 6 months.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
I really didn't contribute it to reduced flow just that the bubbles are so fine coming up from the diffusor that they aren't breaking the surface. In fact I have these little bubbles all across the 4 feet of tank.


It's most likely quite different in your tank than mine. I have a HOB, remember, and the intake and outflow both take place nearer the surface of the water than with a cannister set-up. What SHOULD happen with mine is, little bubbles go up to the surface but dont break cause they're so small, but then get pushed around to the filter outflow and get broken up eventually. When mine sit I've learned to associate this with a dead-zone forming. Since the intake on a cannister is much lower in the water you have sufficient flow lower down, something I don't have... yet. That's why to me it's a lovely looking thing... but nevertheless I try to avoid that with my present set-up.

Another thing you'll love about the ehiems is that with all those bioballs instead of pads your clean out your filter every 3 to 6 months.


Already looking forward to it...


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
The bubbles clinging to the surface is quite common, even for fairly large bubbles. Normally there will be thin film or slick on the suface of the water. How thick that film will be is dependent on a number of factors.

The bubbles get got under this film and cling to it raher then bursting.

By the time they get to the suface they may not even be Co2 bubbles but rather o2. As the small micro bubbles reach for then the surface and there's agas exchange where the co2 is dissolved and replaced by O2.

This is probably one reason why so many where sceptical about the glass diffusers and so surprised when they worked. People assumed the bubbles just went to the top and burst. Waste of gas was the common perception. Chances are most of the bubbles hitting the surface are no longer Co2.

I notice myself, as maybe you do, that a very large proportion of the bubbles produced by the diffuser make it to the surface - yet we have no problems getting and mintaining the good required Co2 levels. QED.

Last edited by bensaf at 24-Jan-2006 20:42


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.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
here is a thread from another place and this kind has kind of a neat set up for diffusion. 200G with DIY Co2. A little crazy if you ask me but his tank looks nice.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
I guess I'll bring my thread back to life with a pick.

Here's a current shot of one of my riccia covered rocks.
Growth in length, but not too much add'l coverage. The riccia is really beautiful and it's not hard to see why it's so popular as a ground/hardscape cover.

LF I promise I'll get a comparison shot soon.





Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 22:55Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Looks like a Chio Pet, or however this is spelled



Ingo,

No really, looks nice


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 22:58Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
It really does look nice. I still like the bit of bare rock sticking out. Not really like a chia pet at all, that's just grass or something, the riccia is much more interesting.
This is one held on with a hairnet right? What's your plan for removing the hairnet when the riccia is fully attached? Please do give a comparison shot to one that is tied on, it will be neat to see if there's a difference.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 23:20Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks luvmykrib. You know that LF, he has such a way with words.

Actually the comparison between hairnet and thread is in my 12g tank with java moss. This tank has only riccia held down with hairnets. The hairnet will remain as long as the rock is in there. Without it the riccia will simply float to the top since it's incapable of really attaching itself. The comparison was going to be by time not by how it was held down.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 23:53Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
I got them mistaken, so a comparison of attachment will be showing up in the other thread then? Using a hairnet to hold the riccia on is a stroke of genius, I never would have thought of it...then again I don't have hairnets on hand...or wear them...ever!
A growth comparison to what exactly, from when it was planted to now? Do you have some in another tank to also compare it to? That would be neat, but if not it will still be interesting to see how much it has grown.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 27-Jan-2006 00:08Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
Update:

1. Beachfront completely established with rock.
2. Added a bigger piece of wood to left to match the other two pieces.
3. Stargrass on the right has taken off and is growing in front and behind the center DW. Stargrass on left is also growing in front of DW.
4. The diandra is pretty much gone. I left it to fend for itself behind the stargrass on the right.
5. Cut one stalk of E.stellromatica to bring the grouping closer to midground. I would like to wrap another plant behind it if possible.


Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 27-Jan-2006 00:30Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Tetratech,

Looking very nice.

You said you trimmed the Star Grass but it seems (with the other plants in the group) to still reach the surface. Is it growing that fast?

If I would have a say (which I don't ) then I would recommend to let the Star Grass group on the right grow only half heigh.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 27-Jan-2006 02:01Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks LF,

Yes, it growing extremely fast and I do plan on "blinking some more" in fact I'll probably end up cutting both stands of stargrass lower than the rotala and stellaromatic.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 27-Jan-2006 02:25Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
EditedEdited by Wingsdlc
tetratech,

diandra...is that....http://www.freshwateraquariumplants.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=FAP/PROD/SAP/DD

I kind of like the way that plant looks. Why types of problem are you having with it because I have been eyeing it for sometime now.

Edit:I was really thinking of this stuff......sorry!
http://www.freshwateraquariumplants.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=FAP/PROD/SAP/ENAR

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 27-Jan-2006 05:40Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Wingdsc,
I had the diandra I never had the egeris. Both seem to be fine-leaved. The diandra kept getting black stem sections 2/3 the way down. It seems like my lite wasn't strong enough for it.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 27-Jan-2006 16:06Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Wings,

The Najas is much smaller in diameter than the Diandra. Also, it is by far not as pretty, and it will melt when one is using Excel (to kill algae, for example).

But on the upside it needs less light than the Diandra.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 27-Jan-2006 17:11Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Just did some testing as far as kh and ph. Lately my kh has been 2, usually 3. PH is anywhere between 6.2 and 6.4

Assuming the kh kit is sound (pretty old - more than 1 year) my co2 ppm is anywhere between 24 and 38. That's a pretty big range. I think this is a classic example of why you have to watch the fish and plants. Many might interpret their ph as closer to the 6.2 and swear their co2 is in the 30s, but it is actually in the 20s.

I'm still getting bba and if Tom Barr is correct my co2 is probably closer to the 20s. Plants are growing and pearling so things are good I just want to beat back the bba without going broke using excel.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 27-Jan-2006 20:38Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
Excel is just cost too much but it works so well. What is a guy to do? I have actualy stoped using it in my 40 gal but I have upped my DIY Co2 to two brews of mix. Things are growing really well. I have plants that are growing to the top of the tank. Its way cool.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 28-Jan-2006 01:59Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Wingdsc,
Glad to hear the plants are doing so well. I guess I'll have to up my bubble count to raging rapid.

Anyway here's a comparison pic of one of my riccia covered stones. The angle is slightly different, but you could definitely see the flatness under the hairnet and then 9 days later.



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 28-Jan-2006 02:40Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's a pic of it against a backdrop of wisteria and some blyxa to the right. I think it constrast very nicely with the petrified wood. What do you think? I'd really like to know

Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 28-Jan-2006 02:44Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Looking nice and growing well

The only thing that I can say that would not be perfect (if I had to ) is that it is too small to make an impact.

We need more of this stuff, either on larger stones or maybe on growing matts .

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 28-Jan-2006 11:58Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks,

I do plan on greening up the center area with more of this stuff. As I mentioned I barely had enough to cover the two rocks. Now that I have the border of rocks I will be added more rock to the inside in selected areas and they will be covered with riccia. Maybe I'll do a different chia sculputure of each one in your honor.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 28-Jan-2006 15:18Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
More would be better but it does look really nice. I am thinking of getting some Pellia moss. I like the looks of the stuff.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 28-Jan-2006 17:10Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
EditedEdited by LITTLE_FISH
Maybe I'll do a different chia sculputure of each one in your honor


Yeah

How about if you start with a Little Fish

I am glad that you are planning on expanding the Riccia group, it could be very very pretty (or a mess, but as long as it is not free in the tank you can easily dispose of it).

Ingo

EDIT: NEXT ONE IS 1000 - Leave it for tetra


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 28-Jan-2006 21:24Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Yes, it's the 1,000 post to my log that was started about 4 months ago. Biggest conclusion is "You can't be all things to all inhabitants. If you constantly try to fine-tune parameters, etc there is always a conter reaction. You most pick your flora and fauna wisely if you don't want to .

Here's a pic from today. Trimming time is overdue and has already cost my a blyxa that was unfortunately under the canopy of the overgrown stargrass and rotala. Also the pencilfish are pulling at the blyxa and riccia like spagetti. They are starting to bother me. But all this is a foregone conculusion.

LF, Thanks for saving me the 1,000th

Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 00:59Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
You are welcome tetratech,

I think 1000 is a very special number, the next one of that kind would be 1 million, and if it takes us 4 month for 1000 then it would be 4000 months, or 333.33 years to 1 million. I don't think you and I will be around for that one .

Anyway, from your statement I take it that Blyxa needs to be in full light. Good to know, as this means that the plant would have a hard time being the borderplant between tall and short plants as rather often than not the tall plants will create some shadow.

And yeah, trimming is overdue

Congrats to the 1,000

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 01:37Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
saltnewbie
-----
Enthusiast
Posts: 277
Kudos: 168
Votes: 1
Registered: 04-Feb-2004
male usa
Hopefully by replying I can freaking veiw the last 2 pages of your log! Whats up with this? Some kind of glitch from the new fish profiles look?
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 03:51Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
saltnewbie,

Right on the money. You are seeing everything there is the see. There are just extra pages beeing added here and there on some of the threads.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 04:03Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
Interesting side note I recently introduced 6 add'l cardinals tetras to my existing school of 9. This is the first group I have added since my UV has been running. All other groups that I have introduced prior to my UV resulted in some inevitably getting an infection within a few days and dying. So far after about a week all 6 are fine and I see no signs of any infection. Is the UV the answer for fish that are sensitive to pathogens and other diseases. It's only one group of six, so I'll probably purchase anothe group shortly and see if I have the same success. And yes LF, my rummys do school with my cardinals at times

Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 18:00Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Glad to hear you're having success with the new cardinals! I was wondering how they would do, since you hypothesized earlier that going from UV holding tanks to your non-UV tank may have been shocking their immune systems. As you've been saying, keeping the tank clean is one thing, keeping the fish infectionf ree is an added bonus. You're on your way to that big school


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 18:11Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks nowher UV good, GW bad

Speaking of big schools, looks like my rams are getting the honeymoon suite ready. Colors are out of control, pushing gravel around. What do you think if I just use a net breeder in the tank and feed BBS. Think any will survive.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 18:19Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
I'm not familiar with how a net breeder works

The important thing is getting them away from those hungry cardinals and pencils. As long as you get any fry to their safe house, whatever that might be, mix them with some java moss for them to peck through and feed them the BBS they should be OK.

Another option, if you want to help the fry survive, is maybe putting a clumo of java moss right next to their rock in the back. This way they'll have a hiding place to run to to keep away from the pencils til they grow a little larger. They should be able to feed themselves with little bits of whatever in the moss/ on nearby plants.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 18:28Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I'm not familiar with how a net breeder works

I'm just referring to those little rectangle nets that people hang in their tank. It's about 8" wide. It would set in the 72g and I could siphon some free swimmers right into it.

The javamoss is a good idea in the back. I guess the wisteria isn't dense enough and the pencils go thru it.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 18:39Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
You know me well tetratech, the rummie in the school was the first thing I noticed

A netbreeder might be worth a try, just make sure it doesn't hang in full current or a stale area. Also, it shouldn't be in direct light.

Glad to hear the Cardinals are doing well.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 30-Jan-2006 18:41Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks LF,
As you know I have a million and one uses for wisteria, so if I get the net breeder I will fill it with wisteria clipppings to block light, etc.

When I take pics of my tank it look's empty but there's actually 45 inhabiants in the tank.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 31-Jan-2006 22:50Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
45 fish in your tank. That is really wild being you never see any thing in your pictures. How do you do that??

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 31-Jan-2006 23:04Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
yeah, post some livestock pictures

1.) so we can get an idea of what fish are included in the 45

2.) to fill up this log so something actually appears on pgs 40-41


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 31-Jan-2006 23:15Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa

I don't think I'll ever catch up to the last page they keep reproducing like LF's espei. I'll have to do that but the flauna list is as follows:

15 Cardinals
9 Otos
8 Pencils
4 Rummys
2 Corys
2 Bolivan Rams
5 Shrimp

45 Total





My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 31-Jan-2006 23:24Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
All pretty small fish. I don't think I could get a shot of my tank with out a fish in it. Most of my fish are bigger than yours though. Pictures would be cool as Nowher said.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 31-Jan-2006 23:36Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
The riccia grows real fast. You'll be able to give it a haircut soon and use the trimmings to make new rocks.

The fish will treat it like spaghetti, I once made a post with a series of pics of all the different species of fish I had treating the Riccia like it was an all you can eat buffet. Usually the stuff grows faster then the fish can damage it.

The Blyxa definately can't take any shading. I've had prblems with mine where the sags around it have gone wild and are shading choking it out.

It's the monsoon season here and it's almost like the plants can sense it, everything is gone wild growth wise and I can't keep up with the trimming. Even with trying to do some work on the tank every evening I have some plants growing out the top of the 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.
Post InfoPosted 01-Feb-2006 05:09Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
bensaf,

Thats a very interesting thought. I wonder if the out side stuff plays a role with our little worlds...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 01-Feb-2006 05:15Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
EditedEdited by bensaf
I wonder if the out side stuff plays a role with our little worlds...


Well certainly the temperature has dropped. This is the coldest I've ever been in this country. It a wintry chilly 25oC 5 years in this country and I've never even owned a jacket , I bought one a couple of weeks ago. Mainly for wearing indoors, most places still have their AC set high, so it's a bit chilly in most indoor places. Going to the cinema is like watching a movie in a fridge.

Most plants are seasonal, usually aquatic's slow down in the hot summer months. Maybe the temp drop as kicked them up a gear or maybe it's the glass diffuser working do well. But everythings getting bigger, growing faster. A sword I've had for almost a year and a half has suddenly decided the tanks too small for him and is producing leaves over 2 feet in lenght and about 3" wide Java Ferns think they're Hygros


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.
Post InfoPosted 01-Feb-2006 08:37Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
Sounds like you are having fun then. Good luck with all that!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 01-Feb-2006 15:23Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
When I take pics of my tank it look's empty but there's actually 45 inhabiants in the tank


Tell me all about it. As you know I have 100 in my tank and in full tank shots you can barely see 5.

Yeah Bensaf, makes sense with the growth of the plants based on climate changes. The same applies to fish, as much as I know. Some species are getting in the mood when there is a storm approaching. I would explain both with a change in conductivity (or something like that, I am not a weather guy) of the air. This sends a message to all living things that it is time for action.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 01-Feb-2006 15:39Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
The Blyxa definately can't take any shading

Oh great now he tells me. Is there a moderator in the house?

A sword I've had for almost a year and a half has suddenly decided the tanks too small for him and is producing leaves over 2 feet in lenght and about 3" wide

Do you expect anything less in your Amano Paradise Utopia Setup

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 01-Feb-2006 18:24Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
EditedEdited by luvmykrib
25 C is chilly? You need a jacket? It is just about perfect from where I see it. We haven't dropped down to -30 C yet this year, it has been an unnaturally warm winter, my heaters haven't had to work nearly as hard as they did last year. My house temp is set at 19 C, or 20C when I feel cold, to save on heating costs, yet the tanks are all set at 26-28C usually. Must be nice to live in such a tropical area. When the temp drops here I'll be asking for any pictures of sunny places, palm trees that sort of thing. I'll tape them up on the tanks so the fish think it's really nice here and won't wonder why the people are all bundled up!

Oops, when I posted this I didn't realize there had been more pages added to it. Everytime I go to the last 2 pages there's nothing there!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 01-Feb-2006 22:36Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Oh great now he tells me. Is there a moderator in the house?


Well you didn't have it in a shady spot. I'm just beginning to realise that light is it's only real finicky thing. It's growing terribly slowly for me. Lots of side shoots but they take forever to do anything. I suspect it's because the tank is relatively deep (almost 24" and they are struggling for light. I'd say the same light in a shallower tank and they'd be much happier.

Well, the "Paradise" is badly in need of some heavy work. I haven't had time for much more then trimming. Chain sword/sags need to ripped up and thinned out. Anubias need to be adjusted slightly, moss needs trimming and sculpting badly etc etc, it's a very thick jungly paradise at the moment.
luv,
It's just relative. I've grown used to >30o heat and high humidity almost the whole year round. 25o , storms and heavy rain that we are having makes it seem wintry here when actually it's more like a typical Irish summer day. I lived in Russia for a couple of years, it'd get down to -20 there so I've been thru all the extremes.


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.
Post InfoPosted 02-Feb-2006 04:14Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
Uncle bensaf,

What is up with living all over the world?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 02-Feb-2006 14:38Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
What is up with living all over the world?


Who knew so many countries had extradition treaties !


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.
Post InfoPosted 02-Feb-2006 15:53Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada


"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 02-Feb-2006 20:04Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
bensaf, you must have done some pretty dodgy things to get thrown out of russia of all places...


No offense meant to our russian friends...


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 02-Feb-2006 20:08Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
Ouch!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 02-Feb-2006 21:14Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
bensaf, you must have done some pretty dodgy things to get thrown out of russia of all places...


Well if I'd known at the time she was Vladimir Putin's daughter ............


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.
Post InfoPosted 03-Feb-2006 04:15Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
It is getting deep in here. (where did I leave my chest wadders?)

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 03-Feb-2006 04:18Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Bensaf, you're a strapping young lad, I'm sure I'd want you on my side in a donnybrook... but if you messed around with Putin's daughter, well, you wouldn't be here talking on FP - you'd be up in that big Amano Paradise in the sky!





Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 03-Feb-2006 05:03Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
EditedEdited by bensaf
I'd want you on my side in a donnybrook...


Donnybrook Now there's a phrase I haven't heard in a long time. Do you know where it comes from ? Donnybrook is a district on the southside of Dublin close to where I was born and raised. There's was a bit trouble there way back, bit of a spat between some rebs and the British army. The Dublin boys were armed with pretty much just their fists and anything else they could grab at the time. Hence the phrase.

Sorry I'm bringing this thread way off track.


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.
Post InfoPosted 03-Feb-2006 05:22Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
bensaf,

It happens... I don't mind so much being I just learned someting...other than fish stuff... which I learn tons from here. It is tetratech's log though and he would have to forgive you.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 03-Feb-2006 05:30Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
I knew it was an Irish term, knew it was named after a town, but I just thought the town was a bit of a rough neighborhood - didn't know the bit about the British army.

You guys ever been in a donnybrook? Every guy should go through one at some point I went to an all guys high school, it happened there more often than you'd think. Then there was that one time in London...

alas, you're both right, this is tetras thread and all. He's been on sporadically the past few days, he's still traveling maybe?


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 03-Feb-2006 05:46Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Ironically Donnybrook is one of the poshest parts of Dublin.

I used to run an Irish pub in Beijing. There was the occassional err..."misunderstanding"

The funniest one is a story that I tell over a few beers and usually has people rolling around the ground laughing. Lets just say it involves a German girl, a lit cigarette shoved in my ear by a drunk Canadian cowboy, a psychotic Belgian chef who refused to cook Irish stew, a missing pair of dentures that turned up 2 days later in the back of a taxi, and the Chinese secret police.

All the makings of a donnybrook !

That was a good one. I've still got a scar.


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.
Post InfoPosted 03-Feb-2006 06:51Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
upikabu
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 591
Kudos: 393
Votes: 44
Registered: 08-Jun-2005
male australia
The funniest one is a story that I tell over a few beers and usually has people rolling around the ground laughing. Lets just say it involves a German girl, a lit cigarette shoved in my ear by a drunk Canadian cowboy, a psychotic Belgian chef who refused to cook Irish stew, a missing pair of dentures that turned up 2 days later in the back of a taxi, and the Chinese secret police.


You didn't tell me about that one (maybe because you were sober? ). I thought the one about the gun smuggling, "Ice Cream", Irish PM, and Chinese secret police was good too. Hmm...do all your stories always end up with police at the end?

-P
Post InfoPosted 03-Feb-2006 07:10Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
AAAAAnyway,

tetratech, did your premium membership expire?

Images and color - all gone

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 03-Feb-2006 11:15Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I'm back
A guy goes skiing for a few days and finds his thread in a in a ganglion of knots.

The ram eggs are back to. The were laid right in the left front on one of the beachfront rocks.





Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 05-Feb-2006 16:42Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Welcome back tetra

Nice to see the rams back at it. And this time right out in the open like that - the tank must be their property now


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 05-Feb-2006 17:01Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Yeah,

Welcome back, I thought your kidney stones were acting up again .

Nice ram eggs, should be plenty of photo ops to see them hatch.

Got to run, will post latest tank pic in my thread and then have to sign off.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 05-Feb-2006 17:16Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
Thanks Nowher and LF, It's good to be back.

So let's see I leave for a few days and...

1. My log is in shambles
2. My rams spawn

and

3. My log gets taken over by some sorted tale about a german girl, a lit cigarette, a drunk Canadian cowboy, a psychotic Belgian chef, Irish stew, a pair of dentures, the back of a taxi, the Chinese secret police, Putin's daughter and Bensaf.

I've reported all those involved to the necessary authorities.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 05-Feb-2006 22:24Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
I've reported all those involved to the necessary authorities.


That's ok, but for God's sake, man, just don't tell them where I am


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.
Post InfoPosted 06-Feb-2006 03:32Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
O.K, I've joined the ranks of the co2 glass diffusor users.

That's ok, but for God's sake, man, just don't tell them where I am

Bensaf, if I find out your on the payroll of some sorted online aquarium supplier pushing these devices to ignorant americans like me I will find you, even if I have to search every sleazy pub on half the globe.

Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 06-Feb-2006 16:58Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
All right tetratech

Once again you can serve as a tester for things that I have on my list. If you easily get the desired results on your 72G with one diffuser then it might be worthwile for me to try it as well . Hope you don't mind me copying you (see Star Grass).

What size of a diffuser is that, and where can I learn more about it?

Thanks,

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 06-Feb-2006 17:10Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Nice, tetra. As I said in my thread, I had bubbles going straight up to the surface, no blocking the, or shooting them back down, I was getting great saturation. It must be the fine bubbles that do it


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 06-Feb-2006 17:16Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
LF, I bought mine at aquabuys. Here's the link:

http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=j_co2_diffuser&Category_Code=i3&Product_Count=1

I didn't measure it but you'll see by the description that it's supposely good for up to 120g. It does blow the bubbles since my spraybar is directly above it, clear across my tank.

BTW - What do you mean you copied my stargrass? No patents on these things? All the planted tanks are combinations of plants, wood, rock, etc. No two exactly alike.


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 06-Feb-2006 17:34Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Thanks for the link tetratech

Sounds like it could be big enough then for my tank as well. I am a little sceptical to use diffuser(s) if I would need 2 and had to split the line.

Copied your Star Grass: Well - I used your tank to see how well it does under similar conditions. And it does well, so I gave it a shot in my tank too .

Thanks,

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 06-Feb-2006 17:38Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I doubt if you would need two, but again you have the 6-ft tank not me. For me also it's a little different because my main grouping is off center to the left where the diffusor is, so we only talking a few feet the rest of the tank is you know "weeds"

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 06-Feb-2006 19:54Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Pretty good shot of my ram eggs closeup. I expect them to hatch in a day or two.



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 02:24Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
tetratech,

Very nice picture. Congrats! What are your plans?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 02:26Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Very nice picture. Congrats! What are your plans

There's the rub!

My pencilfish and 15 cardinals are already licking their chops. I probably will attempt to remove some into a floating breeder in the tank and some others into a 5gallon that I have running (future nano tank).

Last spawn none survived in the 72g and the 10 or so I put into the 5g didn't survive, but I also didn't feed live food. This time I plan on hatching BBS.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 02:37Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
The whole trying to breed in a commuity tank is tricky stuff. In my 55G I am keeping a pair of Cons (aka cichlid rabits) and I almost never have the fry make it. At least in any kind of quanity. Right now I have a 3 or 4 week old fry that has some how made it up to this point(2 spawns later).

I tryed the breeding net and I lost the fish faster than the parents did. I guess I messed something up... I have heard you can take the eggs out and put them in a different tank so that might be something to try... Good luck!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 03:34Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Darn tetra found out about my link to the Taiwanese Aquatic mafia - the Okidifusserwas

Yes my shameful secret I hang around schoolyards trying to hook younsters on diffusers. I'm responsible for a whole generation of MTS sufferers

Welcome to the club.

Ingo,
If you decide to go down that route I can get nifty little Co2 T-bar's here real cheap. They allow you to run 2 co2 lines off one needle valve. I can post one over.


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.
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 04:06Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Yes my shameful secret I hang around schoolyards trying to hook younsters on diffusers.


Really!

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 04:57Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

Nice egg shot, I hope we will see many wigglers coming out soon .

About the diffuser option, I will create a thread specific to the topic at hand.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 15:27Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Well don't think I'm going to have any ram fry this time around. This morning they were all vibrating and when I looked a few hours later all but a few eggs were gone and the parents are both visible in the front of the tank. My hypothesis is that the eggs being laid in the front of the tank made it very difficult and stressful for the parents to secure them. I have so much thick ground cover it's hard to believe none will survive in there. It also might be water conditions. From what I understand ram fry don't tolerate high no3 levels, which probably do exist in my tank.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 18:36Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Sorry to hear that tetratech,

Give it one more try and if it doesn't work out and you decide you would like to safe some fry then you might have to set up a breeder tank (I think).

Ingo




Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 19:09Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
If you're really set on raising up some of the fry, and since the pair is well established, you can probably get away with using that spare 5 gallon as a one-time breeding tank. Use plant clippings and few spare rocks to create cover, put them in there and see if they lay eggs. Once the eggs are there you can always remove the parents back to the big tank.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 19:13Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Yeah, you guys are right. I guess I'm trying to have my cake and eat it too.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 19:32Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
The ram's are breeding nicely, too bad they haven't managed to raise the fry though. Do the parents leave the other fish alone as well? Many cichlids become incedibly aggressive when breeding, even kribs. Which is why I am not brave enough to get a male! Although it probably has a lot to do with tank size right?

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 19:40Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Luv,
The bolivans do chase the other fish away to protect the spawn, but nothing too aggressive. Actually the first spawn the parents did a good job there's just too many little fish (no pun) who want a piece.


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 21:17Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
At least they're not killing the other fish! I was warned that the kribs would kill the other fish if they were ready to spawn, never mind what they'd do after they were finished and any had escaped the first purge!
Are you going to have the 5g as a breeding and grow-out tank? You don't have to try and keep them all. I think it would be neat to breed them at least once successfully and raise some of the fry.
Other than that anything else new going on in the tank?

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 21:21Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Kribs and Bolivians are pretty far apart in terms of aggression. I had two kribs for awhile and after a week I had seen enough and returned them to the LFS.

Yeah, I'll probably start using the 5. A little concerned it might be two small for two bolivians. I'll have to look into that alittle more.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 21:30Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
You could get a ten.

Couldn't you?

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 21:34Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
luvmykrib,

If you could convince his wife he for sure would .

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 21:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Yeah, I'll probably start using the 5. A little concerned it might be two small for two bolivians. I'll have to look into that alittle more



Spare rocks, spare DW pieces, lot of clippings. No susbstrate necessary. bare bones. or use one of those coconut caves. like i said, they're proven breeders, i can't imagine aggression between them. if anything it may be post-breeding, when one wants to to guard the eggs... in which case you just move the other back to the big tank.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 21:48Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
If you could convince his wife he for sure would

That pretty much says it all.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 21:50Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

We are sitting in the same boat

All I wanted for Xmas was a small 55G African Cichlid setup

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 21:55Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
We are sitting in the same boat

Yes we are. Sorry you didn't get the African Setup. I guess you'll have to keep working on it.

I think I might have scored some points by taking the two little kids away on a ski trip without the mrs. Little did I know how much work it was getting the two little ones in and out of their ski gear ever day, etc. Well at least we drank enough dark beer to make even Bensaf proud.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 22:18Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Well at least we drank enough dark beer to make even Bensaf proud


You and the little ones?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 22:21Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
You and the little ones


Yeah Bensaf pushes diffusers and I push black & tans.
I should have been more detailed. My friend went with his "little ones" as well.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 22:25Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
You guys are nuts... not that I am not being I beleive it takes one to know one... Sorry to hear about your fry. Who knows they might make it. I have a random Convict fry still hanging out in my 55G.

A 10G is really no threat. So small.. so little time and effort. Tell the wife you can make money doing it!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 07-Feb-2006 22:44Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I have a random Convict fry still hanging out in my 55G.

What else is in the tank?

See if I had a basement maybe, but when I setup a tank it's gotta go in the kitchen, den, bedroom. I actually have 5 setups around the house

72g - Kitchen
12g - Bedroom
10g - Kid's room (newt/fish setup)
5g - Den (setup for possible ram fry)
.5g - Kid's room (Betta tank)

Yes and every tank has some wisteria in it.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 08-Feb-2006 02:55Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
EditedEdited by Wingsdlc
Lets see...

I have my rescued oscar...they had the poor guy in a 20G hex for a year and a half. M + F Con, Rainbow shark, 3 gaint danios, two B. Rainbows and a pleco.... I think thats it..

Ahh I see your problem... buy a new house...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 08-Feb-2006 03:55Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
You could sell some of the wisteria to pay for the new tank and sell the ram babies to support your fish habit.

It would be very profitable to make that wisteria available to those of us up North who cannot find any and have to make do with water sprite, a very poor substitute for wisteria.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 08-Feb-2006 03:57Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1978
Kudos: 1315
Registered: 08-Apr-2004
male ireland
Yeah Bensaf pushes diffusers and I push black & tans.


By that comment I take it you're a Guinness man. My estimation, which was already high, has increased ten fold.

Liquid paradise. There's eatin' and drinkin' in it.


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.
Post InfoPosted 08-Feb-2006 08:24Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
By that comment I take it you're a Guinness man

Yes I am and then some.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 08-Feb-2006 23:20Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thought this was a good pic showing my wisteria as a ground cover. This pic is taking thru the right side of the tank. The lower part is the wisteria pressed up against the glass.




Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 00:33Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Good shot of my E (cough) Stellata Group. The underside does have purple coloring but the top is mostly green. I don't think there's enough FE in Flourish, been dosing 15ml every other day. I will be trying a dedicated FE fert soon. Either way nice plant.




Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 00:46Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Pretty much full tank shot showing the reworked center. Everything trimmed. The E.Stellata has been brought forward and right behind the main rock with the rotala behind it. The stargrass now cascades over the left dw and rock.



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 01:29Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
Tetratech,

Wow your tank is looking great! My wisteria doesn't even come close but its on its way!! Look out for when i get my real Co2!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 01:41Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks Wings,
I'm sure your wisteria will look just as good once you get the co2 going. Here's a full pic from the front.



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 02:15Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
upikabu
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 591
Kudos: 393
Votes: 44
Registered: 08-Jun-2005
male australia
I don't think there's enough FE in Flourish, been dosing 15ml every other day.


No, there isn't. Did you see this thread tetra? Turns out there's a lot less iron in Flourish than the online calculators (FertFriend, APC Fertilator, etc.) lead us to believe (only 10%). So 15mL of Flourish in your tank only gives you less than 0.02ppm of Iron (instead of 0.2ppm). 5mL of Flourish Iron gives you about 0.2ppm.

I just started dosing Flourish Iron in combination with Flourish last week (after reading the APC thread) and the difference in the red plants after just a couple of treatments was very noticeable.

-P
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 02:19Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
So 15mL of Flourish in your tank only gives you less than 0.02ppm of Iron (instead of 0.2ppm). 5mL of Flourish Iron gives you about 0.2ppm.
'


Thanks Upikabu,
I actually did see that thread and never read it. I would say that is quite a difference. All this time I was trusting the fertilator and I was only getting a 10th of what I thought I was getting.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 04:12Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
That actually explains why dosing Flourish Fe every three days my plants are still showing signs of deficiency! I figured because I have very low-light and no CO2 I would not need to dose as much or as often as if the light were higher and had CO2. I don't get the cloudiness though unless I dose more. But I don't have to dose a lot more to get the cloudiness, this is probably my high KH and pH.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 04:21Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Better shot of the tank this morning.



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 16:37Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Looks beautiful and very natural tetratech

But, just like you, I have a hard time with giving unconditional compliments

It seems the Blyxa is not growing in. Is that because it gets shaded by the beautiful group behind it?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 16:46Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Riccia rocks looks great, that wisteria is amazing, it sur elikes your tank man. Good chatter above pointing out the iron situation with flourish, that's quite helpful to a lot of people.

how are the new cardinals doing, any losses?


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 16:48Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks guys

Blyxa:
As bensaf noted is very light sensitive and I keep moving them toward the front because they do get shaded by the main group. Which I hate moving them because they are very sensitive. Also because of their so growth they are getting some bba on some of the leaves. I also don't know if the excel treatment is affecting their delicate leaves as well. To complicate matters further the bowfront where they are located is not the brightest spot in the tank.
I'm actually thinking about putting an additional light on the front of glass canopy to see if it has a better impact on any foreground plants there.

Flourish:
Yep, I'm definitely gonna look for a dedicated fe fert, any suggestions besides flourish.

Cardinals:
Beleive it or not I haven't lost one since I got the UV. I added 6 a few weeks ago all are good and I'm going to add another 6 this weekend which will give me a total of 21 on my way to 35 to 40.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 17:22Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
tetratech,

I can't wait for you to have a big school of cardinals. It will look super sweet to the max! Are you going to cut down on any of the other fish?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 23:21Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
SheKoi
******
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 667
Kudos: 553
Votes: 4
Registered: 11-Feb-2004
male uk
tetra - great looking tank

question - how do you keep the wisteria short? and so it doesn't look cut?

mine is about 7-8inches tall and growing quickly - i want it to bush out not up?

do i just cut it?

cheers Karl

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk
Post InfoPosted 09-Feb-2006 23:54Profile Homepage MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
First off make sure you have wisteria not water spirit. Just cut it and replant the top. The old bottem will start regrowing again. This is the tetratech method btw. I use it and it works!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 00:08Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
SheKoi
******
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 667
Kudos: 553
Votes: 4
Registered: 11-Feb-2004
male uk
simple as that - cheers

i'll do some trimming tommorrow, while doing water change.

Cheers

Karl.

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 00:17Profile Homepage MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
Thanks Shekoi,

What wingdsc said is true, I just keep cutting and replanting, but when you replant don't plant it straight up, plant it on an angle like 30 to 40 degrees this way more of the stem comes in contact with the gravel and will root along the stem keeping more of it down.

Also if the plant is growing fast, it only looks cut for a day or so because the new leaves are coming out so fast. When you cut and replant eventually the cut stems getting hidden by the leaves.






My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 00:48Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
SheKoi,

tetratech forgot to mention that he has a special whip to get the wisteria in just the right shape

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 01:11Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
SheKoi
******
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 667
Kudos: 553
Votes: 4
Registered: 11-Feb-2004
male uk


always with the whipi perfer the red hot poker myself - probably not much use in water

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 01:17Profile Homepage MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
tetratech forgot to mention that he has a special whip to get the wisteria in just the right shape

O Ya, forgot the whip. I think they sell them on eBay.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 01:25Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
Brand? Style? I want to be sure to get the right one!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 01:30Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Brand? Style? I want to be sure to get the right one!

Tetratech of course. Not to be confused with that company that puts out the Tetratec line of aquatic products.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 01:39Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
SheKoi
******
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 667
Kudos: 553
Votes: 4
Registered: 11-Feb-2004
male uk
i couldn't find them!
http://search.ebay.co.uk/tetratec_W0QQfromZR40QQpqryZtetratech
sure they're on ebay - should look american site

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 01:44Profile Homepage MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
DeletedPosted 10-Feb-2006 01:46
This post has been deleted
SheKoi
******
----------
Fish Addict
Posts: 667
Kudos: 553
Votes: 4
Registered: 11-Feb-2004
male uk
looks fantastic

how tall is that at the front?

how often do you have to trim it?

/:'

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 01:56Profile Homepage MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
It probably ranges from 2 to 4inches, but if you look at my tank from the front. The area in the pic around the driftwood is going up a hill so it looks taller than then it really is. My tank slopes up to the main grouping on each side so the wisteria looks like it's going up a hill.

The wisteria seems to be very no3 hungry. So if all the othe things are in place (light, ferts, co2) it will grow very fast. I trim different pieces every week to keep it looking like a smooth hill.

BTW - That search on ebay


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 02:04Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
Send some trimmings my way! I really cannot find any locally, I ask and I get water sprite.

It looks really good though, I could just sit and stare at the wisteria.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 03:57Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

That is a very nice shot of the side of your tank. I like how the Wisteria creates a natural slope upwards towards your plant mountain.

And did something special happen in front of your tank while you took the picture? All fish seem to look out into that direction (almost all).

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 12:40Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
And did something special happen in front of your tank while you took the picture

I was doing my daily tetra dance to keep the tank in balance. Don't most of you do a dance in front of your tanks to keep the gods happy and balance your tanks

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 20:06Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Count me amongst the apostates, tetra. During the green water plague my prayers for balance and clear water were answered with only more green water.

All hail the mighty UV idol! /:'


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 20:25Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Don't most of you do a dance in front of your tanks to keep the gods happy and balance your tanks


My fish usually hide in the darkest corners of the tank when I start to dance

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 10-Feb-2006 20:46Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Interesting,

My kh this morning was 2, it's usually 3. Which means if my ph is 6.2 than my co2ppm is 24 and not 37 at same page but a kh of 3.

This might be part of my bba problem.
I guess I'm going to start adding baking soda during WC.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 11-Feb-2006 17:11Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
This might be part of my bba problem


I guess you assume this relationship because of the lower CO2, right?

Your lowered KH is a reminder to all of us that tab water conditions change, sometimes very rapidly

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 00:39Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I guess you assume this relationship because of the lower CO2, right

Yeah, Tom Barr seems to repeat this over and over again like religion. I have to assume he knows his stuff.

The only other wildcard is light. I was playing around with my light and tilted it toward the front. When I did this the front got much brighter making me realize even more the dark front the bow creates. It might simply be the reduced light is slowing growth and letting the BBA get hold.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 02:01Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
O.K. Here's the tank with the grouping of Rotala Wallachi I added today:





Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 03:57Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's a closer shot of the Rotala W.

It definitely adds more color, but does it take away from the main grouping. I plan on keeping it about the height it is now, so the slope up to the middle remains.



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 04:00Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
As you could see from this depiction:



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 04:08Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

Looking nice

It is going to be interesting to see what the group of Rotala wallichii will do. Sounds like it will not take too long until you have to trim it already.

Tropica's description of it sounds very promising.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 15:38Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
Are you thinking of adding a second light? What type of light are you running now?

In my tank I just took off my glass lids because the hing was blocking too much light...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 15:55Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Yeah I know another stem plant. I must be crazy.

Here's a pic of my Acer palmatum dissectum (Japanese Crimzon Queen Maple. Might give me an idea for a future scape.

Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 15:56Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Are you thinking of adding a second light? What type of light are you running now?

I'm running 192 watts (2.7wpg), but because of the bowfront the light intensity is weak toward the front, because the light sets on the back piece of glass behind the hinge.

How is your light suspended that you removed the glass cover?

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 16:01Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech - Nice driftwood Chop it down

Wings - May I say CONDENSATION?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 16:20Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
I have a Coralife 130W so I have the legs on that sucker!

Maybe stick a small t5 set up on the front of your tank?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 16:23Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
tetratech - Nice driftwood Chop it down

My wife would surely have my head
Actually that tree is growing thru a 4 by 4 opening in my deck that of course is covered by the snow.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 16:23Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Wings - Once again (in case you haven't seen my last entry on the previous page), may I say CONDENSATION? You are going to wreck the Coralife fixture. If I am not mistaken that Coralife explicitly states to use the fixture only with a glass top.

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 16:34Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Hey tetra, keepin gthe new rotala that height may become a pain, especially if it doesn't take too kindly to trimmings (i.e. wants replants all the time) I can see it growing a few inches higher, to the height of the DW, without taking away from the slope effect


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 16:39Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
Maybe stick a small t5 set up on the front of your tank

I might do that, only problem is the inconvienence. Everytime I open the top I'll have to remove ther reflector.

I'll tell ya I might eventually decide to do a MH light suspended from the ceiling. The wife will love it in here kitchen

Nowher, I'll have to see how the Rotala W. does. Curious to see if it will keep it's pink color. It really looks alot like a pink Mayaca

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 12-Feb-2006 17:06Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
LF,

Thanks for the heads up with the glass lids...Going to have to do some thinking..Maybe I will just have some glass cut so I dont have the hing in the way.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 02:24Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
When your snowbound, not much to do but take some pics.

Here's some pics from above. First E.Stellata (or so I'm told) This plant was the best surprise so far from my online plant order. It has grown very well, both bottoms and replanted tops. Some have developed multiple leaders as you can see from the stalk on the right.



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 03:02Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Next is the R. Wallachi from above. Nice plant for a LFS anyway. I'm cautiously optimistic.



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 03:05Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Here's a closeup shot of the main area of the tank. The rotala r. is alittle unruly but you could see the mound shape of the layout. My only problem right now is the foreground. I believe the blyxa and other foreground plants aren't getting enough light because of the bowfront. It's either that or co2 too low, so I've started added baking soda to bring the kh up a bit, but my gut know is telling me it's light related and slow growth is allowing the bba to take hold. Although if I have bba there has to be a cause which brings me back to the co2 level. So we'll see.






Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 03:09Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
FRANK
 
**********
---------------
---------------
Moderator
Posts: 5108
Kudos: 5263
Votes: 1690
Registered: 28-Dec-2002
male usa us-colorado
Hi,
With the Rotala ind, turning pink, I would probably
suspect something other than the lighting. The Rotala
does not normally turn pink in less than favorable
lighting.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 08:45Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Hi Frank,
Actually the lighting on the rotala I. and other plants I think is good, my problem is the light reaching the blyxa and other foreground plants in front of that big rock. It seems to be a dark area with the the current lighting setup because of the bowfront.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 10:32Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Nice close-ups of the plants, tetratech

The Stellata looks very nice and full, should it change color soon?

And what are you doing up at this time of the day?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 12:57Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
The Stellata looks very nice and full, should it change color soon

I really need to find a concentrated FE fert. I guess I'll try Flourish Iron for now.

Couldn't sleep last nite, worry about my blyxa and the 2 cherry shrimps I haven't seen since I dumped them in what a week ago.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 15:18Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
worry about my blyxa and the 2 cherry shrimps I haven't seen since I dumped them in what a week ago.


They're probably off getting ready to produce babies as cherry shrimp tend to do.



I understand about the rock shading the blyxa, but i think it's that and not so much the bow front. It's not as if the blyxa is right up the the front glass, it looks to be pretty much under where it should be getting light, it's just being shaded by the rock and the other taller stem plants.


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 15:27Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
I understand about the rock shading the blyxa, but i think it's that and not so much the bow front.

Yes and no I think. It's probably a combination of thinks. Remember the light is coming from above and right now when I look thru the top of the tank. The Blyxa are in the clear, but because the lighting fixtures resides on the back part of the glass canopy the only way to get to the blyxa is on an angle and partially thru the main group. My tank is 15" on the side with the bowfront pushing out another 3". Another fixture on the front of the canopy would solve the problem, but be inconvienent. The BBA also affected the hairgrass I had all the way in the front that wasn't shaded by the main group.

If the cherry shrimps are off breeding somewhere I guess between ram fry and shrimp fry I could throw out my fish food.




My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 16:00Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
FRANK
 
**********
---------------
---------------
Moderator
Posts: 5108
Kudos: 5263
Votes: 1690
Registered: 28-Dec-2002
male usa us-colorado
Hi,
I see the more forward plants are in the shadows. I think
you are right, either move the light so the angle is
different, or add another strip.

I tried both the Ghost and Cherry Shrimp. I even bought
the iodine that they need to supplement their diets, but
like you, I seem to have only enhanced the diets of the
tank denizens (Black Skirt Tetras, and Cherry Barbs).
As expensive as the shrimp were, I'll not do it again.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 17:14Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Frank,

The cherry's I purchased are quite small so I'm not sure yet what has become of them. I have so much ground cover that I bought a few amano shrimp about 4 months ago and didn't see them for weeks and then one day they appeared and are living in that center piece of driftwood with the moss growing on it. They only leave the driftwood at nite.

I find the amano shrimp to be bigger and more resilent than the ghosts.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 17:28Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

I saw 2 cherry shrimp for sale at my LFS this weekend and couldn't believe that they were even more expensive than Amano shrimp ($6 vs. $5 a piece).

Did you have the same experience?

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 21:13Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
LF,
I paid $3.99 each, 2 for $7.50, but they were really small. Maybe too small because I haven't seen them. I also haven't research shrimp that much. I don't thing they fight with Amanos and Ghost because I have both in my tank.
The Amanos are by far the biggest and the only ones I've seen munching on BBA and other algae. Ghosts really don't do much.



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 21:19Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
Ghosts really don't do much


Except,

Die quickly.

They supposedly have a live span of a few months to maybe (just maybe) a year.

That's what I have heard,

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 22:39Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
They supposedly have a live span of a few months to maybe (just maybe) a year


I did not know that

Actually this sounds pretty stupid but I bought 2 Amano shrimps and was so happy with them I went back and bought 3 more when I got home I realized they were ghost shrimps. I have seen 2 as of last week and I bought a few months ago so I guess they won't be around too much longer. The shrimps have totally different behavior. The amano stay on that piece of driftwood all day and seem to defend it against any fish that swim nearby the ghosts just run across the front of the tank all day. Maybe they die of exhaustion in a few months. And the cherry's either hide or became lunch. They were small maybe the fish thought they were "brine" shrimp instead.

Moral of the story is always watch what the LFS employee is doing because you might be surprised when you get home. A couple of times I got a few neons in with my cardinals.

Any LFS FP people, please don't take offense. Just like anything else, some LFS employees know their stuff other ones are just "there"



My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 13-Feb-2006 22:57Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Wingsdlc
*********
----------
Fish Guru
What is this?
Posts: 2332
Kudos: 799
Registered: 18-Jan-2005
male usa
And sometimes things just happen the wrong way...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Post InfoPosted 14-Feb-2006 01:57Profile AIM PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Did alittle trimming to the E.Stellata and the rotala r. to help reduce shade on the blyxa. For the first time I'm deciding whether I should replace my main rock to help with the lighting situation on the foreground.

What do you think. Keep it or change it to something shorter and maybe wider.



Attached Image:


My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 14-Feb-2006 03:10Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
FRANK
 
**********
---------------
---------------
Moderator
Posts: 5108
Kudos: 5263
Votes: 1690
Registered: 28-Dec-2002
male usa us-colorado
Hi,
Actually, I think I like it where it is.
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Post InfoPosted 14-Feb-2006 06:14Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
luvmykrib
*******
-----
Fish Addict
Posts: 585
Kudos: 256
Votes: 27
Registered: 08-Nov-2005
female canada
I agree with Frank, it looks great where it is and the way it is. I also like the new trimmed look, the blyxa looks like it's getting a bit more light. You may wind up pulling the one closest to the rock a bit more forward if it's not getting enough light where it is though. It's your tank though so do what YOU like and what you think it NEEDS.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus
Post InfoPosted 14-Feb-2006 06:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
**********
---------------
----------
***** Little Fish *****
Master of Something
Posts: 7303
Kudos: 1997
Votes: 670
Registered: 20-May-2005
male usa
tetratech,

That is a tough one.

On one hand I think the taller rock keeps the focus group nicely together and removing it can conclude in the group flowing into the rest of the plants and as such lose its destinction.

On the other hand, that flow might look very good as it connects all elements of the tank.

If you don't try it you will never know. So, you may want to think about the effort it takes to change it (and maybe change it back later), and if you conclude that it is not too much hassle I would say go for it

Ingo


Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Post InfoPosted 14-Feb-2006 11:47Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
Thanks for all the comments. The rock is probably overdue for a cleaning so I might try to take it out and give it scrubbing and I could play around with some other rocks. I guess what I'm afraid of is a chain reaction and I'll end up adjusting different things to compensate.

LF, I see what your saying about the flow and that's where the above might come into play.

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 14-Feb-2006 16:34Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
NowherMan6
**********
---------------
-----
Fish Master
Posts: 1880
Kudos: 922
Votes: 69
Registered: 21-Jun-2004
male usa
Tetra,

Some change can be a good thing. I think you're right on track with taking it out to clean it and seeing what it looks like.

To me it seems like you're moving in the direction of adding more and more different types of plants, and with the wisteria taking up the real estate it does, and serving a purpose taking up that real estate, that's left you with squeezing all these different types of plants behind this one large rock, or around it. Something smaller will give you more room to play with different plant types and to scape the plants a bit more.

I guess what I'm afraid of is a chain reaction and I'll end up adjusting different things to compensate.


Isn't that the whole point?

But seriously, the wisteria is taking up so much space and you're not about to rip it all up, and you need not worry about lack of a hardscape because you still have plenty of it. I guess I'm saying, I don't think pulling it up won't ruin the shape and flow of your scape


Back in the saddle!
Post InfoPosted 14-Feb-2006 17:11Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
tetratech
----------
Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 4241
Kudos: 1074
Registered: 04-Nov-2003
male usa
EditedEdited by tetratech
To me it seems like you're moving in the direction of adding more and more different types of plants, and with the wisteria taking up the real estate it does, and serving a purpose taking up that real estate, that's left you with squeezing all these different types of plants behind this one large rock, or around it.

Nowher, I'm going to give you another and answer.
I'm trying to experiment with more variety and your right most of gets squeezed into the middle, but if you look where I put the rotala w. I basically cut a whole right in the middle of my wisteria slope and put it there away from the main group.

My other variable is that this tank is in my kitchen and it has to look good most of the time, so I can't experiment too much. LF is lucky his tank is in the basement and he can probably get away with more. The other day my wife looked at my tank and said "Those flowers (pointing to the top of the E.Stellata) are really pretty" My response "Aren't They" The fact that she thinks those are flowers allows me to score points on my quest for more tanks (with flowers of course)

My Scapes
Post InfoPosted 15-Feb-2006 00:13Profile PM Edit Delete