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	Getting the show on the road - planting my 80gal
just beginning Moderator Literature Nerd Posts: 1879 Kudos: 1380 Votes: 198 Registered: 17-Dec-2000	I've had long-term plans to eventually turn my 80 gallon room divider tank from the rocky mbuna set-up it is now into a planted discus and South American garden. With five weeks holiday from work coming up I think it's a good time to get started. The idea for this tank is an aquascape made up primarily of driftwood coated liberally with anubias and java moss, to create an almost tree-like effect. Around the base of this largely central structure I wanted some sort of grassy foreground plant. At the moment the tank only has about 80 watts of light, but I'm hoping to get a triple CF unit that should give me 165 watts. 2wpg, in other words. My biggest concern is how to combat algae growth. I don't wish to have any stem plants in the tank, but I've always had great difficulty keeping slow-growing anubias free from algae, especially the black brush algae that is currently dominating this tank. What's my best bet? One advantage I suppose is that I will be able to keep algae-eating fish that would never have survived with the mbuna. Also, what plant would be best as the foreground plant, with that lighting? I'm thinking either tenellus or hair grass, but have never had much luck with either, even in a tank with similar lighting. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde
Posted 21-Dec-2006 02:45
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	I find the SAEs do a good job in both tanks. If possible can you get any Anubias nana it is easy to grow and makes a wonderful low plant I have it on several rocks and DW throughout the tank. The only concern is if you have or age getting any CLs they just love it that is to nibble at the edges of the leaves. *Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info* Look here for my Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 21-Dec-2006 02:53
just beginning Moderator Literature Nerd Posts: 1879 Kudos: 1380 Votes: 198 Registered: 17-Dec-2000	Yes, I think most of the anubias I use will be the nana, with a few others thrown in for variety. This is the one I seem to have most trouble with algae on though. SAEs would be great if I can find the true ones. I don't plan on getting clown loaches at all, trying to keep it mostly south american (with the exception of the SAEs of course!) The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde
Posted 21-Dec-2006 03:14
mattyboombatty Moderator Tenellus Obsessor Posts: 2790 Kudos: 1507 Votes: 1301 Registered: 26-Mar-2004	Neither tenellus nor hairgrass will grow in 1 wpg, and hairgrass probably won't do well under 2 wpg. Anubias nana and many of the crypt wendtiis will do well as foreground plants. Short rocks and driftwood covered with java moss would do the trick as well. If low light plants are the desired objective I would recommend having low light(not upgrading to 2wpg). This will help keep algae at a minimum. That and plant every nook and cranny of the tank from the getgo. Another algae eater you can look out for is the amano shrimp. They do well in large numbers though, so I'm not sure if you'd want to consider that or not. They do well with hair type algaes, which is hard to find critters to eat. You'd also have to carefully plan out your stock, as they can be a good snack to some. Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Posted 21-Dec-2006 05:56
Wingsdlc Fish Guru What is this? Posts: 2332 Kudos: 799 Registered: 18-Jan-2005	Another shrimp that might do well for you is the red clawed shrimp. They get about 3 inches long and seem to love hair algae. Less of a chance for them to become a snack as large as they get. http://www.petshrimp.com/redclawmacro.html I also vote for using crypts as your forground plant. 55G Planted tank thread 19G Container Pond [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Posted 21-Dec-2006 15:26
just beginning Moderator Literature Nerd Posts: 1879 Kudos: 1380 Votes: 198 Registered: 17-Dec-2000	Not many shrimp at all availble to us Aussies I'm afraid. Will have to make do with the SAEs and maybe a couple of bristlenoses. I've spoken to my electrician fiance and he's going to make me a fitting himself. So I can probably get him to do something with space for four T5 bulbs, giving me 220 watts or 2.75 wpg. Obviously this will give me a bit more freedom with foreground plants, but will it be too much for the anubias and therefore too encouraging to algae? Should I just stick with the 2wpg or even what I have now, and go with the crypts as suggested? The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde
Posted 22-Dec-2006 09:08
jase101 Big Fish Posts: 345 Kudos: 273 Votes: 1 Registered: 06-Jul-2004	in my opinion, the best algae eater is the royal whiptail, sturisoma panamense. a gorgeous fish, beautiful mottled markings, very interesting behaviour patterns, south american, and they keep my 6 foot tank algae free.
Posted 22-Dec-2006 10:16
Wingsdlc Fish Guru What is this? Posts: 2332 Kudos: 799 Registered: 18-Jan-2005	I would say if you can go with 2.75 then try it. You will have much broader options for plants. A s with the Anubias. Try and keep it partly shaded by taller plants. It should be fine. 55G Planted tank thread 19G Container Pond [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric
Posted 22-Dec-2006 15:15


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