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By week 30, I added a few additional fast growers (hygro) and greatly increased the mass of Star Grass just to avoid another algae disaster. Nevertheless, it didn't help too much, in shifts hair algae and BBA became frequent guests in this tank and that is still true today.

Attached Image:

Week 30

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a shot from week 36. You can see that I gave my fast growers as much space as I could to help me control my tank parameters, but to no avail. New plants have been added to replace infested old ones, just to be infested themselves.

Attached Image:

Week 36

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

For weeks in and out, like here in week 41, all I did was trying to regulate plant growth and trying to keep the algae in check. This was (and is) the most un-enjoyable phase since setup as all is geared towards control rather than moving forward.

Attached Image:

Week 41

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a picture from week 47, and you can see that not much has changed. All of the last 20 plus weeks I spent on control and I have to tell you that it bores me to death. I am sure you folks must feel similar as you had to listen to my whining for the entire time.

Attached Image:

Week 47

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is now the latest full tank shot from this weekend. As you may see, some plants in the right front have changed; actually have been exchanged with the 40G. Some Blyxa and Pearl Grass went over to the other tank and in return some micro swords have been planted in here.

On a downside, I put the Rainbow that was weak under as I did not want to risk any infestation of the tank. But I don't know what the problem was.

Attached Image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THE FULL YEAR REVIEW ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE

So,

With this series I would like to express my gratitude to anybody who ever contributed in this thread, one would not be able to imagine how this tank would look like now without all the help I got from you folks.

Thanks to all of you,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

On to two more detail shot from the tank from this weekend. Here is the new micro sword section shown next to the wisteria lane. I wonder if it would do well in this kind of substrate. If so then it may be a much better ground cover plant in this tank than it was in the 40G where it was much too tall.

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New Swords

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is the male Apisto inspecting the new lawn to see if I may have brought in any goodies with it. If you look carefully then you will be able to spot a few types of algae on various sections of this shot, but I don't want to get into that topic now, this weekend is the anniversary and it will be a happy one (right? ).

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Apisto in Swords

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Congratulations on the 1 Year anniversary. /:'

Cheers
TW

Well I have to say that my favorite pic is week 15. IMO that's a stunning planted tank. Congrats on the 1 year. I remember that I celebrated mine on the 38 by starting to forget about it and eventually tearing it down. I hope the same doesn't happen to yours.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hi Ingo,
You know, I'd like to see all of us do a annual recap of
our tank pictures as you did. It really brings home how
much a living tank grows and changes over time.

Thanks!

Frank

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

Nice recap. I would have to agree with Matty, that week 15 maybe 18 was the most attractive looking from the pics anyway, but the tank was in need of some DW which we all know you eventually got.

One thing not discussed much is the frequency of trimming. How does that affect uptake of ferts and the ability of algae to be kept away. Some times I think the frequency of trimming is more important than actual mass, because the plants seem to increase their growth from triming. I truly thing the words "It's a lifestyle" quoted by the "Master" is the expression of the year here at Planted Aquaria. I think if you had more time LF, you might have had less issues. But these are just my thoughts, I could be way off base.

If you are going to start over, when I look at the first setup pics I could kinda see a grassy field amongst those rocks and maybe the return of the glosso to the front. But I would only suggest that if you have the ability to live the "lifestyle"



My Scapes

Thanks all for the input,

I agree, week 15 and 18 looked very nice, in pictures

But the reality was that at that stage the Apons and the Crypt Retrospiralis started to shade out the tank so much that over half of the Ludwigia group to the right died off because it didn't get any light anymore. And the moss was out of control with algae and trimming created a huge amount of free floating pieces that I still find in the tank today. The glosso was a mess and would have required almost weekly trimming.

So, even then the tank was not stable.

Coming to think of having more time for the tank in order to live the lifestyle: I don't know if that would work for me, I would mess with it every day I guess. I just cannot keep my hands out.

Anyway, Tetratech - your tank is today one year old as well, maybe you should follow suit and show us an annual review as well

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Anyway, Tetratech - your tank is today one year old as well, maybe you should follow suit and show us an annual review as well

Did we start on the same exact day. I can't even remember. I know the dates are all screwed up in the thread, but I was thinking of just letting you have the day....

My Scapes

tetratech - I share all my days since one year with you, and I have no problem sharing this one as well

Yeah, I think we started at exactly the same day, with different end results though

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Congrats on one year with this tank. Keep up the good work. I think the tank looks very nice as always.

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

tetratech - I share all my days since one year with you, and I have no problem sharing this one as well

Thanks LF. It might have to wait till tomorrow because I'm having serious issues with my &*$% laptop and I might have to transfer all my pics to another computer, but I do have fresh pics of my nano (check log) and I'm about to post a new 12g pic as well.



My Scapes

LF,

Isn't is crazy how much our tanks can change in the course of a year. A while back I was looking at some of my old tank shots and couldn't beleive that I was happy with it. (I might have had 10 plants in there total!) Now today it is getting closer the the LF jungle style - the algae and maybe I have just been lucky that it hasn't taken over as I am now running 6.5WPG.

Thanks for all the post with weekly/now yearly updates. It has been great to follow and learn from.

PS. I really like the chain swords up front. I think you need something low like that to add depth.



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

Thanks guys for the comments

Yeah, the chains looked nice in the front for a while, I agree. But then they started to spread out to the back, the front ones got covered with some form of thread algae, they also got so dense that they shaded each other and created a lot of dead leaves in the process, overall - it got messy.

And currently, the few remaining chains are barely hanging in, sometimes they seem to die all together, for no reason that I would know off.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Congrats on one year LF

I came into this log a little late, a few weeks into it I believe, when you tetra and bensaf were like the Three Stooges on the board. My appreciation for planted tanks has taken off since then, and I really believe it started with this log, so I thank you for that /:'

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Back in the saddle!

Oh thanks NowherMan6

Yeah, I remember the 3 Stooges, and then we moved on to the Brady Bunch as we became a larger family. I wonder what organization level we have reached now.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yeah, I remember the 3 Stooges, and then we moved on to the Brady Bunch as we became a larger family. I wonder what organization level we have reached now.

The 3 stooges People in "glass cages" shouldn't throw stones.

Anyway, it's interesting that this site is open to pretty much everyone in the world and the regulars are 2 jersey guys, 2 new yorkers and a gal from downunder

My Scapes

Odd, I somehow totally missed the previous page with the full year recap. It's actully quite a good idea, I may consider doing something like that too In any case, congratulations on the full year anniversary. Even with all the algae trouble, in my opinion you have one of the most beautiful tanks on these forums, well worth the effort it takes to maintain

Congratulations on the one year mark. To your credit , despite the issues you had, you kept ploughing at it and even increased the number of tanks.

Unfortunately, for reasons you are aware of, I haven't been able to participate much recently. But I do try to keep up to date with various logs. Still interesting after a year and so many posts

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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.

Oooohhh Bensaf,

It has been a long time since you last posted to my log, did the 3 Stooges comment get you out of hiding or was it the anniversary?

I hope all is well with you, my friend

And thanks for the compliments on me not caving in, I appreciate it.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I hope all is well with you, my friend

Everything swell, just been awesomely busy. Basically I'll be unemployed after this week so I'll have a bit more time for writing. Although I will be busy preparing to pack up.I'll definately be moving on at the end of Oct., it's just a matter of to where.It looks like I'll be returning to Ireland.

Of course in our world packing up means tearing down all the tanks I'll have to find good homes for the fish and plants.

Chances are I'll be out of the hobby for quite some time. I'm wondering if the pull will be there to start up from scratch again ?

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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.

Hi Ben,
I'm saddened to read of the employment issue and the need
to move. I wish you and your wife luck, fair winds and
following seas. I hope that you will find time to write
now and then.
Sincerely,
Frank


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

Boah,

That is tough stuff there, Bensaf. I don't think we are ready to loose you to the inactive side of the hobby. Instead you should see this as an opportunity to start a brand new tank and with it a LOG here at FP (just trying, I know it is lame).

Hang in there,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Best wishes Ben! You could always go the the Tetratech micro mini tank thing. You have been great help to many of us!

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

Best of luck, Bensaf. Godspeed to you as well in your new endeavors.

I certainly hope your time out of the hobby isn't too long, and I certainly hope we'll all be here to welcome you back when you return

Just don't get rid of that beautiful rimless tank you have, there's a certain pull to those things that will get you back into it as soon as your able.

Thanks again for the help and words over the past year.

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Back in the saddle!

Bensaf,
This is the first I've heard of these issues. I'm sure it will all balance out nicely just like your scapes. We'd love to have you in the states, any chance of that happening? In all honestly, I'm not sure if I would have my tank today if it wasn't for your voice of reason coupled with a kin since of humor. We miss your input around here, but I'm quite confident I will see one of your scapes grace the forum in the not too distant future.


My Scapes

LF, I forgot to say how much I enjoyed your annual recap.

You know, I'd like to see all of us do a annual recap of our tank pictures as you did.

Well Frank, where is yours. I don't know if I've ever seen any pictures of your tank & I think it would be nice to have a peek at it.

Bensaf, I hope you don't stay out of the hobby too long. Thanks for the help you gave me when I was starting out.

Cheers
TW

Bensaf, I'm sorry about the tough luck and need to move. I've moved all over this country, and I hate it every time. At least you might be going to the land of Guinness. That can't be all bad. I'm sure the pull will be there to start back up from scratch. It only took me a couple weeks to start missing mine when it was down this summer. We'll be here when you get back into it. Good luck with the move.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Good grief guys, you all sound so morbid It's starting to feel I'm attending my own memorial service Appreciate the kind words but really it's nothing too serious , just a big pain in the butt to be honest.

Without wanting to move the thread off topic, but just to put peoples minds at ease I'll give you a quick rundown of what's going on.

I worked here for the Indonesian production center of a Singapore multi national. Basically the Jakarta factory was closed down in August. What was disapointing to me was the manner in which the closure came about. It wasn't due to any of the normal financial or business reasons but mainly to do with a CEO and shareholder who got themselves into personal difficulties. Their behavior since has been shoddy and unprofessional to say the least.
For the best month I've just been cleaning up the mess, selling off the assets etc which has just kept me very busy and not much time or inclination to post.

As for future plans - well at this stage of my life my #1 priority is the happiness and comfort of my wife. She is my life, end of story, period nothing more to say. While my first preference would be to move back home it's a bit more difficult for her. She has a very large family here to whom we are both very close ( see the AV ) , she never lived away from home til she married me and moving to new continent would be a huge step for her. It's a step she's willing to take but a few more years here would be preferable to her. So I agreed to try to find a job here before making a final decision. I owe her that much at least for the joy and love she has brought to my life.

A westerner trying to find a job here ( or at least a job I'm willing to take) is not so easy. There are still a couple of possibilities but nothing definate yet. If nothing suitable is found by the end of October we have decided to head back to Ireland. I still have a house there and work is easy to find, my main problem would be choosing who to work for, so really there's no financial pressure or concern.

The company did want me to move to one there other locations but I would no longer work for these people if they were the last employers on earth . I've had other offers in Asia and, yes, even the US tetra , but I've turned them all down. If I'm going to drag Safrina around the world it's best to head back to the 'oul sod, where we have friends both Irish and Indonesian, plus my own family who adore Safrina as much as I do ( I'm sure my Dad likes her more then me, he learned how to use a cellphone just so he could text her ). All of this will greatly help her settle in.

A decision will be made either way by the end of October.

As for the tanks, well if I stay here it'll be just a matter of tearing them down and setting up in our new home, fairly painless. If we move back to Ireland well I'll have to give everything away, can't be dragging all that stuff around the world. Of course everything is more expense in Ireland as regards the hobby and certainly I won't have access to all the rare plants and fish I do here. Plus I'll be busy settling in to a new job, getting the house ready etc, so it could be a while.

So all in all it's no biggie. All part of the Ex-pat life really. I've been travelling for ten years now. Been a blast. The best and worst time of life. I've seen so many things and met so many people. Lots of dreams have come through for me because of this life, there's been a few nightmares and truly desperate moments, I've seen things I'll never forget including some I desperately want to forget, but they made me a man, or at least the man I am now and I wouldn't change any of it, the best decision I ever made was to become an Irish nomad. I did good for a skinny kid from a ghetto on the northside of Dublin. But it's done, the draft Guinness is whispering my name and to top it off I get to walk away with the greatest most beautiful woman in the world. I'm very much at peace with what's happening, so no need to worry.

Whatever happens I'll still be around to nag you guys. Enough with the 3 Stooges ( Ingo was Curly right ? )and bring on the Marx Brothers - I have dibs on being Groucho !!! Just need time to get settled.

Of course I'll post some pics before I tear down the tank, it's become a stunner !

So that's all I'll say on that subject.

We will now return to your normal programming schedule.....

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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.

Well Bensaf,

That sure is a major move there and I wish you all the best for it. As you can see, your latest entry completely stalled the entries to this thread as we are all speachless. I am sure all of us sit around wondering how long it will take you to get your internet connection up and running wherever you will move to. Screw the tanks that you may or may not build, as long as we can talk to you

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Weekly Tank Update - Week 53

This week has seen no changes in the tank, except more growth. I was considering to trim the Star Grass and Hygro this weekend, but then got too lazy. So, next weekend I will have to trim them for sure.

With the new filter in place now for a few weeks I don't see much of a change in the tank yet. It may be a little cleaner on the bottom when I vacuum, but green hair algae is still growing on the Anubias and wood in particular.

Here is a shot of the tank from last weekend:

Attached Image:

Last Weekend

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is this weekend. As you can see, in particular the Hygro group causes quite some shading at the front of the tank. I think rather sooner than later I have to bite the bullet and re-arrange the hardscape so I can form a more scape like tank (rather than a mess as it is right now).

Attached Image:

Now

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Already on to the last photo of this session.

Can someone say "well fed" ???

I don't think my Otos are compaining too much about the algae in the tank

Attached Image:

My Tummy Hurts

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I think your oto is very happy & thanks you for very much for his/her dinner. If this is your plumpest, if your theory is right, it should be a girl - right?

Cheers
TW

Yeah, from the shape of the belly I would assume that this one is a female. I have 6 otos in this tank and only some of them are this fat. But all have the same food source, a tank full of algae .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

You only have 6 Otos in your 125? I am running 10 in my 40G. You could probably add some more if you wanted to.

What are others Oto to Gallon ratio?

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

I have 4 in my 50. I'd like to get a couple more though. If I had an algae supply like LF(no offense ) I'd have 20 in there. Couldn't hurt at least.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hello LF

(Hello Bensaf! good luck with the move - was worried there for a bit, I have a six gallon tank that was inspired by your desktop tank - the little one?)

sorry LF, back on topic, your ottos made me laugh! I have started buying new gravel for the 35G, and will start the big scary re do in two weeks time.

I'll have to reread some of your log.

I can't believe its been a year. amazing.

GFG

_______________________________________
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.
Harvey S. Firestone

Thanks Wings, Matty, and GFG

Well, more Otos is always a nice thing, but more fish is more poop. The 6 in my 40G have quite some significant output there, as I could always nicely see on the top of my Anubias leaves .

Honestly, I think at this stage of the tank they are more decoration than anything else.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I see your point for not adding any new fish in right now.

Half of my fish load are Otos (10) while the other half are med sized Brillian Rasboras (8).

When I start thinking about our tanks in general it really amazes me that some of use have little to no problems while others are cursed as we are all running very similar systems. The only major differences I can really think of is Plant choise and fish load. Maybe tetra and I got off easy be cause we worship the wisteria.

Any new thoughts on a Ingo redo?



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

this thread still going?!1

tank still looks great littlefish, just going to spend the next 3 days reading all whats been going on

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

Karl,

How have you been? Long time no see. Was that all because of the early English exit from the world championship

Anyway, yeah - the log is still going, although I have to say that the entries are more sporadic these days. People must be sick and tired of hearing my complaints over and over again .

Talk to you later, have to work now,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The only thing I'm tired of is lack of entries. I hate when this site dies down like this.

*twiddles thumbs*

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

We haven't seen Mr. and Mrs Apisto in a very long time.

Nor have we seen the Pearls! Have they ever shown any signs of coupling off or breeding? How goes the espei management?

I haven't been posting much either. Busy with work AND life so that doesn't leave me much time. Trying to find the time to set up my own new tank, but that got put on hold because we may be getting the apartment painted... and I'm sure there's NOTHING in the world like trying to move a 700lb. tank away from a wall and keeping it properly protected so it doesn't get paint chips and fumes in it You can see my frustration with the project.

Just so I'm thinking of this right, LF, you have in the tank now:

espei
dwarf neon rainbows
pearls - 2
apistos - 2
and otos, correct?

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Back in the saddle!

The only thing I'm tired of is lack of entries. I hate when this site dies down like this

Tell me all about it, it ruins my average posts per day.

NowherMan6 - Sorry to hear about your crazy work schedule, but why should you be better off than me

Yeah, you got that right, these are the fish in my tank. I have never seen the Pearls showing any signs of interest in breeding. One reason why I held off with the second filter for so long was that I hoped he would build a bubble nest on the right tank side where the surface current was really weak, but nothing happened. Now I have loads of current and I assume that even if he tried to build a nest it would float away.

The Espei population seems stable now, maybe one or two fish came in since the last trade with the LFS. I am sure the Apistos and Rainbows have something to do with it.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

I used to have a lot of hair algae to say the least in my 42 hex. I even had it growing on the substrate. I tried several kinds of fish and the japonica shrimp that were supposed to be good at grazing on the hair algae, but they just couldn't keep up. Then I read about the American Flag Fish (Jordanella floridae). My LFS was able to order some for me and I bought one male and two females. Within 5 minutes of releasing these fish into my tank they began to feed voraciously on the hair algae and within 3 days there wasn't a strand of hair algae to be seen! I haven't had a problem with it since that time as I think the algae eating livestock I have more than keeps up with the pace now. I will say that I had to move them out of the tank into another one because they would nip at the fins of my Angels, but it was well worth it until there job was done!

Just a thought that I haven't read about anyone trying on here.

Dan

Dan,

Thanks for the tip . I have thought about these fish, but turned them down rather quickly. Mainly for the reason you mentioned, being rather aggressive fish. Also, they for sure would go after my smaller espei.

Weekly Tank Update - Week 54

Not much has happened to the tank this week, just feeding and ferting (new Ingo word ). The maintenance this weekend saw the trimming of the hygro and the star grass, plus the repositioning and trimming of a few stems of Alternanthera.

Here is the tank last weekend:

Attached Image:

Last Weekend

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

By this weekend, the star grass and the hygro had grown even more, so did the duck weed on the surface. I guess my plant food is working out pretty good (including the new tropica micros - on a much reduced dosage from the TMG, 20ml x 3 vs. 50ml x 3).

Here is the tank before trimming, almost all lower parts are shaded all the way to the front:

Attached Image:

Before Trimming

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is the tank after the trimming. Note the now larger group of Alternanthera towards the right. I used to have the individual stems more dispersed throughout the tank:

Attached Image:

Now

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Last shot for now, a closer look at the center area. A little off to the right, in front of the star grass, sits a larger Crypt Wendtii Red. This plant, for unknown reasons, melted pretty bad during the last week. Only some of the smaller leaves are still there. I don't think it got shaded too much and I have no explanation for why this happened.

Attached Image:

Where is the Wendtii?

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Just going to have a moment of green with envy induced meaness.

My crypts don't melt!!!!! *evil laugh* and I have moved them and washed them and every thing!

of course all my other plants die or fall apart, as well as some fish



GFGx

_______________________________________
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.
Harvey S. Firestone

That is funny GFG

I guess you like the rest of the tank then . Well, it is working its way back up to having more BBA, I can see the first signs on the wood again.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Wow, can't believe I missed this big change

Looks good LF. I'm very impressed with that mass of NL fern you have. It's a pretty fast grower I've found, and grows pretty large too (starting to outgrow my nano... ... not really, but still getting big)

Anyway, I think it's BEGGING to climb the ladder of that big DW piece. As it is it seems to be just forming a flat mat across the lower section - why not, at some point, break it up a bit and make it more dynamic? Tie some bunches up the length of the branch a little, similar to the way you've used the Bolbitus in your 40G. This would also work on the right side piece of DW.

Just throwing it out there, as usual

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Back in the saddle!

Good idea NowherMan6,

I have been thinking about that, but then decided to hold off until I know what to do about the big log, and with it the rest of the tank, in the first place. I think my current setup does not permit me to move forward and a change is needed, at least a change to the driftwood.

But I have neither time nor courage to do this right now

The NL fern looks so flat because there is quite some current in that area that pushes the leaves horizontally to the left.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I was going to comment on your fern too. It sure looks like it has grown a ton. I hope to get my hands on one either with our next plant order at work or at the auction I am going to next weekend.

I also like the idea of having the fern grow up the DW but I understand you wanting to wait to do it unitl you have things figured out.

Quite the trim job too! You can see the plants on the bottem now! Before it just looked back.

How is the chain sword doing?

Has work been a bear latly? Is tetra still alive? Maybe he just doesn't like his tank with the 4 foot light....

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

Maybe he just doesn't like his tank with the 4 foot light....

Maybe that's it. I asked to see a picture of the tank with the new light, and he just plain disappeared

Cheers
TW

I think the light is just a coincidence. I doubt that it messed up his tank soooo quickly, actually, I think that it probably made everything grow even better.

About the chain sword - what chain sword? I have maybe 3 to 5 plants left, spread out throughout the tank. I find that in all of my tanks, high and low tech, chain swords do not like to be moved. Once established and later moved they all did really poorly. I don't know why though, because all did really well when moved into the respective tanks.

Work is mad, but I am getting used to it a little better.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I find that chain swords do very well with being moved if it also involves a bit of thinning out so they get more light. Usually I pull them all up, take out the largest half and then replant the smaller half. Then in a month or two I have to do it again. I usually make a few bucks off of it though. In fact I may need to do that today.....I'm snowed in so there's not much else I can do. Good ol' Buffalo, Lake effect snow in October.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Yeah,

It was pretty cold down here this morning as well, but certainly no snow yet. Glad we got the Apistos shipped earlier this year.

My tenellus was behaving like yours in the beginning as well, maybe it takes a few moves before it has enough of it. I have no other explanation for it, as the tank conditions in my various tanks have not changed while tenellus growth got worse with each move.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

About the chain sword - what chain sword?

I thought that chain swords were fairly easy to keep. But I guess with any thing they probably do better for some people than others.

ood ol' Buffalo, Lake effect snow in October.

We got snow here but not snowed in at all. Don't really want to go outside so I guess you could call it snowed in. It did look pretty outside yesterday with the snow stuck to the colored up trees.

BTW: Come See!


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

But I guess with any thing they probably do better for some people than others

I do not know if it is the people that make the difference, as I grew it very successful in my tanks. But no longer

Anyway, I got up extra early this morning to upload, trim, and resize my pictures for this week's update (late, I know, but have been busy yesterday), but once completed the site was down, at least I could not post anything anymore

So, it will have to wait until tonight then, nothing major happened anyway

Ingo

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Better late than never -

Weekly Tank Update - Week 55

Nothing happened to the tank this week, besides feeding and fetilizing. I think the increased water flow help, at least my duckweed grows by its name, weed

Here is the tank this weekend:

Attached Image:

Now

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Now on to some more or less detailed shots, in random order.

Here is a closeup of the Alternanthera group. Hard to believe that all these plant are from one small accidental plant that I got when the tank was initially set up:

Attached Image:

Alternanthera

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And here is a closeup showing my diffusing style, in case you forgot. First I have the diffuser hack the CO2 bubbles in small pieces, then the above sitting powerhead redirects them vertically (and makes the bubbles even smaller).

I have not cleaned the diffuser in at least 2 months except for dripping Excel on top of it during the water change.

Ups- have to read a story now, will continue in about 30min.

Attached Image:

Hack Em

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Nice, the wife will be reading to them, so on with the entries:

Here is a closer look at the Narrow Leaf Java Fern. The main focus though is not intended to be the fern, as you will be able to see better in the next shot.

Attached Image:

NL Java Fern

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This one is specially for Matty, as he toys with the idea of putting $40++ of plants in a darker spot of his tank. Nana Petites will grow well there, but noone can see them in the pictures. When I hole the camera real close and extremely overexpose the image then one can see that I have 5 petites lined up in front of the fern. Actually, a waste in my tank:

Attached Image:

Nana Petite

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Here is one group of my Pearl Grass, I guess it will need some trimming soon. This one is in the left front corner of the tank.

Attached Image:

Pearl Grass

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And here are my 5 Rainbows. After I had to put one of the original 6 down a few weeks back it seems like nobody else is getting sick. I remember that I lost my 3 females within weeks of each other with similar symptoms.

Attached Image:

Rainbows

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With all this picture taking, my male Apisto did not want to be left out. He paraded along the tank front for me and gave me plenty of options to capture a shot of him:

Attached Image:

Apisto

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But after about 10 shots that I took he got bored and started to yawn.

Sometimes he does that, I assume to keep his mouth flexible so he can eat huge snails


Attached Image:

Tired?

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And just to prove that I am having my own Wisteria Creepery in my tank (what is going on tetratech, did you break your hands and can't type?), here is one of my two Wisteria patches:

Attached Image:

Wisteria

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Look At The Previous Page For Way More Pictures

And the last two shots are in Matty style, aka crazy angles. I usually don't see my tank in this perspective, but it shows the duck weed on the surface. This was after I removed about 50%.


Attached Image:

Duck Weed

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And an even weirder shot is this one, again showing the duck weed. Don't worry, what seems like loads of algae on the back is just a reflection of the the duck weed on the surface.

That's it,

Have Fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Crazy Shot

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Nice pic of your apisto yawning LF. I also like the upward angles on your tank. I can imagine you laying on the floor taking pics . I have to say the larger group of alternanthera is stunning. That should have happened much sooner. Larger groups of plants seem to make a better impact on the viewer IMO. The star grass needs to pop back up a bit, and then the tank will look very nice I think.

I happened to notice the petite nana in the first pic, but I can see why you would say they are pointless there. You don't need them there. That's a very nice little portion in your tank with the NL fern. However, I do need something in that spot in my tank. Otherwise it's an eyesore. Mesh and pvc don't lend themselves to a natural planted tank, like most people would think. I'm just trying to come up with the best possible solution as I can see the glosso doesn't cut the cake....or cheese(maybe that's what those bubbles are ). I need something that isn't large(won't shade out the glosso below it on the substrate which gets plenty of light), grows in lower light, will attach itself to mesh, and doesn't need substrate. Any other ideas?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

see the glosso doesn't cut the cake....or cheese

Thanks Matty for the input (sparse these days, my tank must be too boring for words)

Yeah, I really way lying on the floor when taking the upwards shots

Also, I agree, the Alternanthera group has never been prettier.

And with regards to your "dark spot", I feel your pain. Moss is no good as it would creep out of control. Anubias Nana Petite cost $$$. How about narrow leaf java fern, grows slow enough to be maintainable?

Ingo

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Scrolled back over an earlier page of pics, where you can only see a hint of your alternanthera. I'm so glad you've given it room to shine. I also like that we can see beyond the plants to the back of the tank. I used to think that all of the back wall of a tank had to be covered in tall stems, but I like this look, where in places you can see the black beyond. More interesting & gives more depth. Hard to maintain that though, as some of these darn stems grow so fast. Always needing trimming to keep them the right height.

Does the floating duckweed block your light & cause shading. I don't think I'd dare try it in my low light tanks, but I guess you guys with better lights, have the wpg to spare?

Cheers
TW

Does the floating duckweed block your light & cause shading

Yes, it does. I currently run an experiment on my 29G with 65W and almost the entire surface covered with duckweed, we will see how that goes. On a positive side, it is a major nitrate sucker upper , as much as I know.

Robyn, thanks also for the overall comments on the tank, and I agree with all of your points. Just last night I looked at the Alternanthera group and thought about its time limited beauty. In not too long of a future I will have to trim that group and it will never look the same again.

Ingo

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Ok,

So I didn't want to make a big deal out of this, but I jst cannot resist. I ordered a few more plants:

- 3 Bunches of Ludwigia peruensis
- 6 Pots of Tenellus
- 3 Crypt Wendtii Green

All entities arrived, although the Wendtiis are way more than 3, but little plants for that. Here is the order:

Attached Image:

Plant Order

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As I will not really plant anything today, I cleaned and "parked" the plants for the time being.

Here are all the individual peruensis stems planted in the 125G:

Attached Image:

All Peruensis

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One thing that this last shot made ovbious is that they appear from the distance very similar to the Alternanthera.

In a closer shot of the main planted group one can appreciate them more:

Attached Image:

Peruensis I

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And here is another look at the peruensis that I lined up in front of the tank, as I said - just parking them for the time being.

Are these the ones that Matty has in his 50? I forgot.

Attached Image:

Peruensis II

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The other plants are parked in the 20G, I didn't even remove the Tenellus from the pots. I guess that is all right, right?

The Crypts are most likely to stay in this tank, but for sure not in that spot. I ordered them because I felt like making the order worthwhile.

Attached Image:

Park Em

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The reason why I ordered potted Tenellus was because the explanation made it appear as if they were grown submersed, and the loose ones where grown emersed.

But the bud endings on some of them make me believe that these were grown emersed as well.

For the "I Spy" fans, there is a baby platy in this picture as well

Attached Image:

Emersed?

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Now,

"What does that all mean?" is probably a question that you all ask yourselves (or not).

Anyway, if I tell you it has to do with me taking Friday off and use it on this tank, I assume you know what it means

So, if you have any suggestions, you have about a day and a half to let me know about them.

Ingo

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Well, good luck with your Ingo tank re-do. Is it a major or a minor redo. Anyway, I'm nowhere near enough of a scaper to make useful suggestions - but I hope you have fun.

Have fun with your new plants, they look very nice.

I'm at work, so this is a very quick visit. With only time for a quick glance, I didn't spot your baby platy - only what I thought might have been a snail or two. I will play "I Spy" later when not at work (and won't cheat by looking at any other's answer first)

Cheers
TW

The potted chain swords are definitely emersed grown. They'll do fine anyways.

The ludwigia peruensis aka peruvian ludwigia is usually the false name ludwigia glandulosa is sold under. That is what I've gathered from my searching around. Yours have 2 leaves per node though, and every picture of ludwigia glandulosa I've seen only has one leaf per node. Otherwise yours looks very similar to mine when I bought it, green on top red underneath, real thick stems. If it ends up changing forms from emersed to submersed and only has one leaf per node and turns bright red(top and bottom), you know what you have.

BTW I can't find the platy

Good luck with the makeover

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thanks for the input and Matty - thanks for the ludwigia glandulosa info.

Yeah, I think I should explain why I am willing to do another major overhaul again. During the last few months I mentioned quite a few time the fact that I am not too happy with the location of the wood and that relocating it would mean that it a) has to be removed first and b) that it has to be cut in managable pieces. Now that I have the 40G, which has its hardscape pretty much in place, I can see how rather easy it is to do small changes to enhance the scape. I would like to lay out this tank so that following changes are managable, but to get to that point a more permanent arrangement of hardscape has to happen first. And unfortunately this means that I have to pretty much remove most of the plants and excisting scape first anyway

Ingo

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That's the LF we know!

Hardscape on the left is needed, and go heavy on the hardscape throughout the tank if you can. Plants will grow in around it and you may not notice a bunch of it, but it's important that it's there to give some structure.

The tenellus looks less emersed than when I first got mine - many of the leaves are short and flat as they should be, but there are also some tall stringy ones with the seed pods, and that's a sign of emersed growth. It'll be a little messy in the first few weeks, but they'll shed quickly enough.

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Back in the saddle!

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/photo-album/36681-75-gallon-gallery-56k-warning.html

This tank is pretty impressive. At lest it is to me. The thing I wanted to point out about it the amount of DW in it. Once the tank is planted most of the DW is gone.

My only sugestion would be to keep the plants low in the front and work your way up in the back. I think this makes the tank look much deeper than it is. Right now your NL fern is just too huge up front.

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

Thanks guys for the input

Wings - why do you have to show me this picture and make the stakes so high? . I cannot live up to this by a long shot.

The main concern is to move and cut the driftwood, although I don't have a clear vision on what to put where. Nevertheless, I feel more confident now than ever before as I think my 40G setup worked out pretty well (and don't you guys dare to tell me otherwise now ).

Ingo

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To go along with what I previously said, LF, I would check out AF for driftwood options, they have probably the best stock I know of and it's not too pricey. Avoid blocky pieces, look for branchy pieces with long bits sticking out. You can also use smaller pieces together to look like one piece. I would suggest not skimping, as Wings has said.

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Back in the saddle!

Interesting

I was actually not planning to add new wood to the tank and have not even considered this option.

Instead, I plannned on cutting up my big piece and use the branches individually. This should eliminate that big trunk in the front.

Ingo

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That will work as well, but just in case you pre-plan and find you may want more to work with, give AF atry, they've had some very nice pieces.

How will you make sure the branhces dont float?

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Back in the saddle!

If I get new wood from AF then the color etc will not match (see the critics that I got a while back for my 20 QT). So I would need all new pieces.

The existing wood is in there now at least 6 months, I hope it will stay down by itself. If not, some rocks will have to be either used as weights or I will squeeze some wood between 2 rocks.

Ingo

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So....hmmmm.....where was the platy?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Forgot all about the platy fry

BTW, currently there are maybe around 8 fry in the tank. And here is the one that was the subject of "I Spy":

Attached Image:

See It?

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And here is a super zoom closeup of the fry, in case you thought I sell you a small leaf in its place:

Attached Image:

Closer

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I can't beleive you guys didn't see that thing! It is only bright white(or yellowish) and happened to be right in the middle!

LF,

Good luck with the redo today! Rock it out my Friend!/:'

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

The big tank is looking pretty good. Good luck with your fish day.

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

Thanks guys,

Just a very quick update:

I am almost done, but I have to take a family break before I can finish.

So far: belh

Ingo

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Well,

All done for today, took me only overall 8 hours,

Here are the steps:

First, the tank before the start, this morning:

Attached Image:

Tank Before Change

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Next, I removed all the plants and placed them in tubberware containers, one of which I even quipped with a heater. The water was from the tab, but I used prime.

Then the wood was removed.

Here is the tank right after the messy removal:

Attached Image:

All Nekkid

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The I performed a water change and vacuumed almost the entire substrate. Only one corner was left out as the water level was falling too low already.

Here is the tank after a refill:

Attached Image:

Water Changed

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Once I started working on removing the plants I could for the first time in quite a while account for all of my Otos. After the water change I tried to find them all but was one short. I checked the tank over and over again, but could not find it. I ran to the laundry room (where the sink is with the wood and the python) and sure enough, in the empty and barely wet sink was the missing Oto , still alive. It must have been in there at least an hour and a half as it must have traveled on the wood.

I scooped the Oto out with my hand and immediately returned it to the tank. He wiggled in my hand, then swam off and was still fine an hour later. Ever since the tank is replanted again I cannot see the Otos anyway.

Here is the escaper after release:

Attached Image:

Oto Runaway

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After cleaning the back and one side panel I cut the driftwood into individual branches and scrubbed them all off. The it was time to place them into the tank (they sink by now) to outline the main group.

Here is the first, and almost last attempt:

Attached Image:

Branches Outline Main Group

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After extending the main group a little it was time to place the plants back into the tank. First, I added the ones that surround the main group.

In this stage you can see the main layout of the new tank very well. Once I was finished planting it wasn't all that clear anymore. But the point of this change was to allow me future updates without having to rip the tank apart again.

So keep that in mind, this is the basic setup now:

Attached Image:

Basic Setup

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Then it was time to add the remainder of the plants, without adding the ones back in that I don't like anymore I(don't fit into the layout).

As such, I am short on plants right now

Anyway, here is the tank after I finished, what do you think?

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

All Done

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Ingo,

The new layout looks very nice. It kind of feels like an island almost. Very neat effect. Plus you can really spot the fish!

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

I found the platy...I found it!!

Ooo...I like it. Looks like it could be a tropical island there in the middle, especially if the wisteria were to grow around the main groupind to form the sea. Lots of different scapes could form around the central group though. Very diverse, very attractive, I like it.

EDIT: well I second rick I guess.

Oh, I can't tell from the pic but did you find a more suitable place for the nana petite?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Nice work LF! I really like the Anubias work! The nana petite (bottem left in front of the DW?)

Will get back with you more later! I have a marching band show/fish auction/Chicago marithon to watch this weekend....

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

Thanks guys for the input

Yeah, it looks like an island, and I am sure that some plants will change over time. Most important to me was to create a more "styles" overall layout and, based on your comments, I guess that worked out.

The Nana Petites are spread out throughout the main group border from left to the middle. I will take some detail shots of the tank today and I will make sure to include them.

The tank is really short on plants and I may have to add the wisteria from the 20G to fill it up a little.

Oh - interesting side note: I assume that the Espei have made a packt when the tank was empty. Somewhere in the line "if we survive this then we have to strenghten the group". As soon as the main group border was in with the Anubias they went at the reporroduction ritual like mad. The were hushing under the anubias leaves even while I was planting the wisteria right next to them .

The Apistos seem to have been the ones mostly stressed by the replant, the male was hiding for the rest of the day.

Ingo

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Wow, what a change. Looks very nice LF. I like your anubias & nana petites. It's right, it does have the feel of an island & now you can have separate groupings, on both sides.

Good job with the make-over

Cheers
TW

Hi Ingo,
The overhaul looks great!
I like this placement of the driftwood with some of it
a little further into the back of the tank. The placement
along with the use of the ground cover, adds depth to
the tank and enforces the "island" concept.
I'm curious to see what it will mature into.
With the Espei's - in many cases a large water change
will prompt the spawning urge.
It looks like you put in a solid days work. The thing that
never ceases to amaze me is how elaborate a root system
our plants develop over sometimes, a very short time.
When they do it in my flourite, I always have my Vortex,
diatom filter, primed and ready to run.

What did you do with the plants you were no longer
interested in?

Frank

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

Thanks Robyn and Frank, your input is very welcome

Here is a weekly tank update, although there should not be much of a secret on what I have to tell, but it is a tradition

Weekly Tank Update - Week 56

Well, it was time for another major tank overhaul, Ingo Style. I know I am risking all kinds of things with this, but I had to get some more favorable structure into the tank upon which I can build future updates.

I am currently a little short on plants and I hope that this is not coming back to haunt me (except on Halloween, ).

To stir things up a little, I will start with some details. Here is the left side of the tank, the one that got the really short end of the stick. I grouped here all my crypts, except my red wendtiis, on the left back and side. On the right side, bordering the island, is a group of taller Pearl Grass, in between the new tenellus and some wisteria from the 20G:

Attached Image:

Left Side

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Here is the right border of the island. It has some of the reddish lugwigia still hidden in the back, then some NL Java Fern on the wood, then some red Wendtiis in front of it, and some Anubias in front of them. To the right is Wisteria only, I hope tetratech will not call me a copy cat

Attached Image:

Right Side

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