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Heidi,

I also vote Oto and I feel your pain about wanting to start a log but feeling like you can't hang with these big dowgs!

Also, I am glad the Excel did it for you. I used to use the stuff all the time until I went broke.........

It happens when you decide to get married......not married yet but I will be in may. Lets just say that marrage and college should be very carefuly mixed with a fish problem.

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

Heck I might just start one to irritate the "Little_Fish" and any reason is a good reason to post about a tank right Well, definately gotta take more pics of the tank if I decide to start a log of the tankand there is no time like the presenthml

EDIT: You are definately right, marriage, college, and fish keeping should be carefully mixed otherwise you have no funding for anything Thus, no college, no spouse, only fishkeeping, and i'm still with no fundingit all goes to the fish and the job:%)

Last edited by houston at 06-Nov-2005 16:48

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Yup, Megil is right, it is an Oto

And Heidi, there is no requirement at FP that you would have to have CO2 to write a log . Just go to the aquascaping forum and look at my 20G and 29G log (although it is not listed in the last 14 days option).

And tetratech, proudly I say that I have not budged and followed the EI from beginning to today .

Wingsdlc – does your fiancée like fish? And don’t worry about logs and big dowgs, I have no idea what I am doing .

Ingo

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

Also, the fact that I list my fish in my profile makes it easier to guess what fish might be in a picture.

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 06-Nov-2005 16:55[/font]

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LIttle_Fish,

She likes fish. Not quite like I like fish but she seems to like them. Normaly the bigger the better the fish is for her. I guess that means I can build my super tank and breed some big new worlds someday.

This weekend she actualy suprized me with some fish information. I guess she really does love me.

For our wedding reception I though out a random idea of putting fish on all the tables. Something like bettas in small vases. She actual thought it would be neat. Now the trick is to see if we can get them for super cheap somewhere and figure out what to do with them after wards because I don't want 30 some bettas!

P.S. Think I could pull off a log for my planted 40 gallon? Should I make this a log?

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

Wingsdlc,

I don’t know about this Betta idea, sounds like you either have to take all of them or trust your guests to create a proper environment for them if they should keep them. Scary.

Can you pull of a log? Sure you can, everybody can. A log does not have to begin at a setup of a completely new tank. I think I would not use your existing thread as a log as it has already a life on its own, if you know what I mean. I would say you should find a point in time where there is more to do then just moving things from left to right. How about a major rescape .

And I would suggest that you either link your pictures directly into the thread (so people don’t have to click on a link to see some shots) or, even better , you become a premie and attach your images to your posts. I see various older logs that originally had embedded images from some photo collection sites, but once you remove the image from there you have a dead link here.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Little_Fish,

That was the major problem with the Betta's was what kind of home they might be going to.

As for the log.....I will probably wait until I get some sweet cash flow and time play with stuff. I need to steel my friends camera again and take some more picters. I have moved stuff around a bit, put up a background, and started putting moss on the DW. I really want to get some low growing plants but I haven't found what I wanted yet. Plus I am poor...

Thanks for your help!

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

Tonight it clearly feels as if a new season in my tank’s development is starting.



Almost all the algae is retreating and the Espei fry is starting to swim in formation. But as usual, all good things have a bad side – what are the Otos and the fry going to eat when all the algae is gone? We will see…

Within 3 days of adding Flourish Excel the tank becomes a delight. based on tetratech’s advice I reduced subsequent dosing to 20ppm.

Here is a not so good shot of the Espei fry in school formation right below the surface (I think there are 11 in this pic)

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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And, just in time for a nice clean tank, a new blossom on one of my Anubias Barteri

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Sounds like a good time to kick back grab a beer and really enjoy your tank. Then you can get to the scaping phase, but I would enjoy watching the algae shrivel up and die a horrible death.

BTW - Where in the word is Bensaf ]:|

My Scapes

DIE ALGAE, DIE

Yeah, that sounds good – sitting back and enjoying the view. But I think I am a worrier by nature. It keeps my brain busy to think about all the awful things that can happen now.

As I said earlier, I wonder what the fry and the Otos will eat. On the other hand, I certainly have enough fry that is large enough to eat my small flakes and maybe it is only right that the population growth in the tank is stopped.

The good thing about having fry is that they grow slowly and as such increase the tanks bio load gradually and beneficial bacteria are getting enough time to increase in numbers. I think I will wait a little before adding new fish to the tank, but the one I am keen on would be the Pearl Gouramy. I am not sure if its ph requirements are compatible with my tank, but as tetratech said in his thread “I will have to do more research before I go out and buy”.

Ingo

PS: I certainly hope Bensaf is only on a long vacation, we shall call the Jakarta police if he doesn’t show up soon.

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I wouldn't worry about the otos. If the algae disappears they will eat the algae wafers. When I drop when in they are all over it.

The fry can probably eat flake food. Just grind some it between your fingers. Even with excel doing it's magic, there will be plenty in their for them to eat.

I'm not big on gourmais, I thing Bensaf has quite a few.
I guess will give him another week, before we contact the authorities.


My Scapes

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I remember bensaf saying somewhere that since the end of ramadan was coming up, a lot more bars would be open the week after it ended, therefore he'd be spending more time...well... out enjoying the pub life

Like I said, that may have been a while ago, and I may also be nuts, but I'm pretty sure he mentioned somethign along those lines...

Also glad to see the excel method is working for you too

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Back in the saddle!

Yeah,

Bensaf mentioned the bars. I hope he didn’t get shanghaied while being drunk and is now sitting on some pirate ship setting the sails .

Why no Gouramies, tetratech? I think the pearl look similar to Keyhole Cichlids (to some degree).

Yeah NowherMan6, I saw the effects of the Excel within 2 days only, just amazing.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I guess gourmais are just not my thing. I think with the long fins in the front they are somewhat too "how should I put it" delicate looking.



My Scapes

Actually I did kinda like this gourmai



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes

That's a Sphaerichthys osphromenoides, aka Chocolate Gourami, as listed in our profiles (although almost all the pictures seem to be wrong).

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 08-Nov-2005 13:03

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

BTW - Where in the word is Bensaf

The beginning of last week was Idul Fitri, which is the biggest Muslim holiday (marks the end of Ramadhan) and starts the longest holiday period in Indonesia. Basically the whole country shuts down for 2 weeks and everyone either goes home to their family or goes on holiday. Sort of like Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays combined. My guess is Bensaf either went abroad or visited his wife's family in Kalimantan (Borneo). Hardly any bar would be open during this period as there would be no customer. I bet he'll be back next week.

Last edited by upikabu at 08-Nov-2005 18:19

-P

Yes, Ingo can countat least to 11that or I can't count eitherand that could be a possibility

Anyways would the Flourish (i think that is what you're using to get rid of algae) kill off the black algae that is starting up in my 2.5 tank at school? It's irritating the snot out of me, and with it being allergy season that is saying a lot

love the fry, but why not add a betta to the tank

*goes to hide* hml

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Houston you have a problem?

That Black stuff looks like BGA which really isn't an algae but a bacteria. You can do a blackout or use Erethromycin(EM)tablets. I bet that tank is near a window or something. BGA is caused by too much light and not enough nitrate.



My Scapes

Upikabu – Thanks for this update, I guess we will give him one more week, but that’s it

Heidi – I hope you have a hankie ready . As tetratech says, if it is BGA (Blue-Green Algae) then the best treatment would be some form of Erethromycin, I personally used the Maracin I tablets in my tanks. If it is BBA (Black-Beard-Algae) then the Excel should help.

Ingo

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Oh,

I forgot to mention an observation I made during the last couple of days, maybe the Excel recommenders would be able to comment.

Ever since I started to add the Excel the bubbling of my plants has been reduced to almost nothing. The bubble count is the same for at least the last 2 weeks.

Do you have a similar experience?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Same for me. I started using it about the same time as you and what I took for "pearling" has stopped. I am just assuming that what I had was algae "boiling and bubbling." I have less algae now after several cleanings and the Excell but it hasn't totally stopped growing on the leaf edges and such.

Great log BTW.

jan

Ok the tank isn't by a window, it has a black out from Friday at 5 pm to about 8 am on Monday every week...
The lights are only on from about 8 am to 5 pm each day...does that help anything? I'm also doing a 100% water change on the tank and cleaning everything every week
So what's the problem with this tank? Grrrrrr, i'm understanding what you were going through and still going through with that algae Ingo:%)

OK tomorrow I'll take pictures of the "yuck" and post in my own thread

Thanks for the help...now back to Little_Fish's thread

What do you mean we have no new pictures tonight? I was hoping for more pictures, ok i'm out of herenight night, Houston

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Thanks puddle cat and Heidi for the input,

I was busy last night taking a few shots of my [link=29G Setup]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/61406_3.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link].

I only have a few updates on this tank. One thing that I saw last night was that my Egeria Najas is completely melting away . I have no idea why, maybe the Excel, or the fact that I trimmed all of it last weekend and it doesn’t like that (although it didn’t melt other times), or it finally had enough from sitting in the water stream of the spraybar (far away, but within its current).

On page 13, I asked a question about one of my plants as I can’t identify it. I assumed it is an Alternanthera reineckii "roseafolia" and Bensaf verified that finding. But yesterday my Amano books arrived and in one of them he has a picture of a tank with all green plants and one red, called Althernanthera sessilis. It looks to me as if that is that plant. Anyone can clarify this? I didn’t order it, but quite a few plants in my order had been substituted.

Ingo

Here is the plant in question:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Ingo,

I know for a fact that Elodea/Anacharis (Egeria densa), which is in the same family as Egeria najas, is extremely sensitive to Excel (mentioned in my recent thread]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Photo%20Booth/66106.html?08507044#[/link]). I've experienced this firsthand in all 3 of my tanks. Everytime I added Excel (even less than recommended amount and not as often), the Elodea immediately melted away, while the other plants are unaffected. It baffled me initially, especially since it's been growing so well in my 42g for over 3 months (I only added Excel to it once, to try to get rid of BBA). It wasn't until I saw [link=this plantedtank.net profile that I realized Excel was the culprit. Once I stopped applying Excel, the remaining plant eventually did grow back.

My guess is Excel has a similar effect to Egeria najas.

Last edited by upikabu at 10-Nov-2005 05:41

-P

As I mentioned you can't be all things to all fish and plants. Eventually you have to see what works well with your conditions and go with that set. That is really the key. Otherwise you're constantly setting conditions that will have a counter effect on something else. LF - So your reading up on the master
- Tetratech

My Scapes

upikabu,

Thank you for this update, I guess that means we found the culprit
It is not too much of a problem though as I think all the people who said that I have too many stems anyway are right (first one was Bensaf). This means that I can go out and find dome nice replacements .

tetratech,

Yeah, I am learning from the master himself.
I have to say that my initial reaction was being disappointed. As soon as the package arrived I opened it and started with book 1 (I got all 3, plus the Tropica Catalogue) and I couldn’t find any mentioning of what plants are used in the tanks. Next day I took the book 3 on the bus commute and in there (and in book 2) are the names of the plants. Book 3 because it is large tanks

Ingo

PS: anyone any idea about this plant above?

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Wow, you went for the whole collection. Your going to be an Amano apprentice for sure. I just have the first cheapo book "Aquarium Plant Paradise" that came out before the 3 big volumes. Amano's books I think are more visual than detailed analysis.

I don't know the plant you have in question. Where in the world is Bensaf when you need him.





My Scapes

Wow, you went for the whole collection.

What can I say, once I have an obsession I follow through with it .

Remember that I am “in the business” for only 9 months now and I already have 3 tanks, one of which it this high tech beauty. I am old, I have no time to waste .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Whatever floats your boat. Speaking of boats, I think we are in the same one. I'll be 43 in May

My Scapes

No f*ing way

You, Bensaf, and I, we are all in the same boat, Bensaf being the senior and you the junior, but still within a 7 month time span.

I can see all of us in a small rowboat paddling on the great lake of life, already able to see the other shore.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yes f'ing way

Although I thing Bensaf is already in a rowboat with Plantbrain and Amano in some remote south american location looking for new species of flora. I understand the excurison will last years.

I can't wait to see what they've discovered

My Scapes

Pardon my interruption of this conversation regarding your advanced ages (), but LF, I have a question, if you don't mind:

I've been looking over all the pics of your espei fry. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't espei closely related to harlequin rasboras? If so, how did you get them to breed so easily? I've read some sources that say harlies are fairly easy to breed, but most say it's very diffcult... yet yours seem to be breeding like jackrabbits, or like multis (the jackrabbits of the aquarium)

What's your secret, do you do anything special? I assume your water is soft with a low pH because of the CO2... anything else?

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Back in the saddle!

Pardon my interruption of this conversation regarding your advanced ages
Nowher I'm afraid to ask how old you are?

**BENSAF UPDATE**
All I can say is that he is alive. Anything further would be an invasion of his privacy.




Last edited by tetratech at 10-Nov-2005 16:54

My Scapes

I actually turn 23 on Saturday... and I already feel old

Good to hear Bensaf is alive and well, cheers for the update

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Back in the saddle!

NowherMan6,

Well my son , you mentioned something that I had observed myself. On one hand I wanted to keep it a secret (at least until the fry is big) on the other I couldn’t wait to scream it out. I am very well aware of the fact that most references to Espei say that they are extremely difficult to breed, with requirements like a ph of 5 to 6 (which I never had). Just look at the FP profile for this fish (soon I will suggest a bunch of updates).

I am a little embarassed, but I am (was) considering to submit an article to TFH, or at least a detailed question reading the rareness of my breeding success. Also, I was thinking of writing an article here for FP called something like “Beginner’s Luck”.

But I decided to do more research if this fry explosion is really that rare. I already found one website where a Scandinavian reports of easy breeding success. As disappointing as it is to find others with the same success, as helpful it is to avoid making false statements.

I just think my Espei love the messed-up environment, with loads of different algae types to feed on. Nevertheless, now that there is much less algae I still have a large number of very young fry (few days old).

It also could be that nowadays the Espei come from a farm and have become much easier to breed, but that is a pure guess on my side.

Good observation NowherMan6,

Ingo

PS: A toast to Bensaf, wherever he may be right now.

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 10-Nov-2005 17:58

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

*Raises glass of uh tea? to Bensaf* Take us with you

Anyways, I wish my harlies would get in the mood, but then again I might just lose all my mind if they went after itMy metaes are enough to drive me crazy

So Ingo, could the "little red plant" be acting like a crypt and melting away, but will regnerate (so I've been told) after a bit? Don't worry, by the looks of the tank I don't suspect you will lose it all

heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Heidi,

You misunderstood. The little red plant seems to be just fine, it is a green stem plant on the right of the rock valley (in the back) that is melting (Egeria Najas) .

I easily have now 50 Espei fry of all ages in the tank, I think I would be able to keep maybe 30 (plus the 12 adults) and I will have to see what to do with the rest. Maybe it is soon time to get some Pearl Gouramies, I think they might like "a snack" .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

ok what can I say yesterday, was a bad bad bad day, and this week yeah that explains itor rather

same thing, maybe it will regrow? heck if i know...and if you're just going to feed the fry to a gourami ship them southi might be able to find room for them

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Well,

What can I say, I am a fool. I just spent 6 hours messing with the tank (including water change), hoping to make it look better by moving plants around. Honestly, I think it is just as “unorganized” as it was before .

Without further comment, here are a bunch of pictures from the process:

Before the Reorganization

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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With Plant Group on the right removed

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

With Corkscrew Vals removed

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Back of Rock Valley planted with Corkscrew Vals

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Rest of Tank replanted

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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A close-up of the Corkscrew laid out for replanting

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The school of Espei fry in the open space during replant

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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A closeup of Rock Valley, the only part I kinda like

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

With all of that, the Egeria Najas, Rotala Rotundifolia, and the last (sorry tetratech) Wisteria are gone.

I also repositioned to spray bar so it is horizontal just below the surface on the left tank side. I think the current created by this arrangement is strong enough, so I also removed the last power head that I had in the tank.

In addition, I stopped adding Excel, let’s see how quickly the algae can return.

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 12-Nov-2005 16:50

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,
Wow you've been busy. I hope the wife took you out for a nice dinner after that.

I definitely like the Corkscrews behind rock valley. I think you need to decide if your going to keep that focal point or do something more random with groupings and pieces of hardscape. I'm sure you'll get some good ideas from all those Amano pics. Right now your tank looks like two tanks:



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes

I hope the wife took you out for a nice dinner after that

Right, sure .

How excited do you think she was after I disappeared for 6 hours into the basement ?

Very very good observation tetratech, it surely looks like two tanks. My vision went only so far as I knew what to put behind the Rock Valley. The rest was more like “where do I put all the plants now?” Honestly, I like the Rock Valley much better. I guess I will look around for loads of tall grassy plants.

Ingo

Just now I looked at the tank and on the right hand side is an Espei fry meeting. Unfortunately the pictures didn’t come out well (I will show one of only 5), but there were at least 30 “older” fry hanging out in formation, COOL.

Here are the 5:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Good Heavens I haven't been here in ages, but am just in time for the new pictures!

Wow LF everything looks to be growing really well, I get what Tetratech said about two tanks, hmmmm. I never really understood why you didn't put rock valley in the middle but I guess that would look a little staged and too garden like rather then river like.

am very sleepy but just wanted to say it looks brillant

GFG
xx

ps where is bensaf? I want to start my 5 gallon and need to pick his brains.


Last edited by goldfishgeek at 12-Nov-2005 19:09

_______________________________________
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

I like the rock and grass and really enjoy the third pic you posted it's truly my favorite Now at least you know where the fry are hidingmaybe that lends a clue as to where the adults are going This is exactly why I refuse to try and aquascape, I can't organize a room, much less plants in a tank

And I don't suppose your wife was happy for you to disappear for 6 hrsso did you take her out for dinner to make up for it? That might help heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

GFG,

Thanks for the encouragement.

In general, using the middle of a tank as a focal point is not a good idea. The old Chinese (I think) found out that harmony for the human eye is created by a “golden rule” of division which takes any length, divides it by 2.6 (roughly) and then puts the focus on the 1 mark either from the left or right. So, as an example, a tank of 72 inches length, divided by 2.6 gives you about 27.7 inches. You should put the focus about 27.7 inches either from the left or right.

Heidi,

No, I didn’t take her out to dinner. Instead she spent the afternoon and evening with her friend and I took care of the kids. That is worth 10 dinners . And the fry is always hiding all over the tank, too many for one spot only.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Weekly Log Update – Week 7

A few things have happened since last week, in particular the algae has been defeated and a replant concluded in two distinct layouts, let’s call them Left Tank and Right Tank (thanks to tetratech who identified the split).

I treated the tank for one week with Flourish Excel, 2 x 50ml and 5x 20ml, with the result that pretty much all algae has gone. The only noticeable negative side effect was that the Egeria Najas didn’t like the Excel and melted away. A small price to pay .

The replant didn’t conclude in an optimal tank, but I think it gives me a better idea of where to go from here. Maybe I will leave it like this for a while so the plants can settle, but on the other hand I am already itching to move on. Darn addiction.

Since about 3 weeks I have the following fertilizer and water change routine:

Sat – 50% water change
Sat – 2tsp Baking Soda
Sat – 0.5tsp Seachem Equilibrium
Sat, Mon, Wed – 1tsp KNO3 and 0.25tsp K2SO4
Mon, Wed – 0.125tsp KH2PO4
Sun, Tue, Thu – 0.5tsp Plantex (+ Iron)

I would say that I inject about 4 to 5 bps of CO2.

Here is a series of tank development pictures.

Week 1 (one week after setup), plants starting to grow in

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Week 3, tank is becoming a jungle, in particular the right hand side (Water Sprite)

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Week 5, most of the weeds (Water Sprite and Wisteria) have been removed, first smaller replant took place

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Week 7, today, after major replant

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Ingo it is definately looking nice and 2 tanks in 1? heck who can beat that

Glad you gave the wife a night off to go and spend with her buddies without the twins and you're right that is worth 10 dinners at least so is quite fair

Again the tank is looking good...

houston

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

most of the weeds (Water Sprite and Wisteria) have been removed
]:|]:|]:|

Please refrain from calling Wisteria a weed. Mine is very smart and I've trained it to crawl. It's taking up a consirable amount of real estate in my tank and I'm proud to display it in my avatar

Last edited by tetratech at 14-Nov-2005 07:05

My Scapes

Funny, they only become weeds when you get tired of pruning them...

It's not their fault they like your tank so much!

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Back in the saddle!

Heidi,

Thanks for letting me know that you like the tank. It is not really want I want in the long run, but at least it gives me more ideas of what might look good. Maybe I should get another 125G and make one like the left of this tank and the other like the right *hides from the wife*.

tetratech,

I knew I could pull your strings when I wrote this. But you know that it served only in a temporary role in my tank, namely helping me to get established. BTW, I wonder how established I am after replanting anything larger than 3 inches.

NowherMan6,



All,

Last night I did a rough headcount on the number of fry. Just counting the larger ones, I guess they are between 3 and 7 weeks old, I came up with over 50. I guess I am stocked .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I knew I could pull your strings when I wrote this.
I guess you have my number on that one.

BTW, I wonder how established I am after replanting anything larger than 3 inches.
Sorry missed that one, what do you mean?

My Scapes

tetratech,

With established I meant the plant mass. I know the water and the filter should be established now, but loads of plants have to reestablish the root system.

On another note, I went to the LFS to look for plants that could be used in my “left” tank. Nothing, nada…
All they had were tiny sprouts that would take months to grow to a feasible size. I will have to keep on looking as I also couldn’t find anything reasonable online.
While I was there I “inspected” the pearl gouramies. It was just a get-to-know kind of thing, trying to sex them, seeing how aggressive they are to each other, etc.

Here are some new pictures, beginning with another plant identification question. I posted this plant before but it was rather shaded at that time. Now it is in the open (the tall one way in the corner). I got it as a 3 inch long stem mixed into the large plant order I received when setting up the tank 7 weeks ago.

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:


Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 15-Nov-2005 04:39[/font]

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

A Ramshorn munching on algae (I hope) on the Glosso

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

An Oto resting on my dwarf sag, BTW I was able to count all 6 that I should still have, I haven’t been able to do that in quite some time

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Tank from the right

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And last but not least tank from the left

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Nice pics LF, especially the one of the ramshorn. I found those snails to be incrediblly destructive, although in your 125 I wouldn't worry. I had them in my 12g and moved them out to my sons palidium tank along with the bristlenose.

I really like what you did with the corkcrews behind the rocks. I think you need more red in the corners and slope down with green toward the rocks.

Last edited by tetratech at 15-Nov-2005 06:50

My Scapes

Quick Question:

Does anyone know anything about the plant Isoetes Lacustris, aka Octopus plant, aka Quillwort?

[link=Here is a drawing of it]http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/lindman/519.jpg" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link]

I saw 3 of them at my LFS yesterday and I might go out tonight to buy them.

Thanks,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF, That looks like an onion plant. I've seen those at Aquarium Adventure.

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tetratech,

Onion Plants are of the genus Crinum, this must be something different, I guess?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ok,

I bought the Isoetes Lacustris, they had 3 plants left. It is the tall round grassy plant in front of the Red Rubin Sword. Also, there has to be an Espei Fry in the picture

What do you think?

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well,

I also bought another plant and forgot its name as soon as I arrived at home. It is a crypt, but for the live of it I cannot remember what the second part was. All I remember is that it started with S (I think). It’s longest leaf is about 10 inches long and it was sold to me as a plug and I put it in the tank as one piece. The leave structure is thin and long and green. It looks a lot like it could be Cryptocoryne Albida. And one can second this? The reason why I am not sure about this is that Albida should be only up to 10cm tall, this one is much larger.

This plant also had a second surprise for me, as can be seen in This Thread]:|.

Here it is, the thin leaved plant in the center of the picture

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:


Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 15-Nov-2005 19:46[/font]

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,
Enjoy your new plants, can't help you with the IDs that's a job for Bensaf. LF some of your plant questions might be better answered at APC.

BTW - I just got back from one of my LFS and I bought another bolivian ram and as stupid as this sounds 4 more cardinals. This is a different LFS than the other one I bought the first 10 from. I almost bought a croaking gourami, but I did't like the way it looked.



My Scapes

I just finished all 20 pages of this thread. I love your tank! It definitely makes my wee 25 gal. look like I just threw a bunch of plants in and planted them where they landed! Way back on page 4 or 5 Tetratech mentioned his tank was clear in the morning and hazy in the evening, this happened in my 2 gal. what I was able to find out was it was a bacterial bloom, the bacteria 'hide' at night and come out by day, forming a haze by evening. My source recommended less light and a mild anti-bac, I used mela-fix at half dose and this seemed to take care of it. Anyway, I didn't see any other advice and thought I'd throw it out there. I'm new (first year) to fish-keeping, and very new to this forum so I'm poking around and getting all kinds of big dreams for future tanks. I can identify with having three kids, a hubby and my herd dog all feeling abandoned when I go into fish mode. Anyway great thread, love the pics, I will definitely be checking back.



"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

tetratech,

Doesn’t sound stupid to me, you want to build up your group and one setback should not change your goals. On the other hand, I did the same to my ever dwindling group of Neons, just kept on buying new ones. Now I have enough, I must have bought about 25 over time and I have 2 left – no more. I will have to read up on the croaking gourami, sounds interesting.

luvmykrib,

Wow, now that is impressive. Reading all these pages is quite a challenge. Thank you for your comments about the tank and thread. Don’t worry about your tank being just a random plant storage facility ([link=My 20G]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/63901.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] is the same), just hang around at FP and don’t be shy asking questions and in no time you will be a happy plant keeper . I like your Mammals in your profile and I certainly agree on the kids.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ok,

I haven't posted to my thread in more than 24 hours and begin to get the feelings of withdrawal . Well, I have something to ask you guys:

I ordered a few more plants and I wonder if you have something to tell me about them (except the obvious).

They are:

Aponogeton Crispus
Cryptocoryne Lucens
Ech. Uruguayensis

Supposedly they will arrive on Saturday. If the plants are of any decent size then a major major major replant will have to be done. Plants will have to be moved throughout my 3 tanks, swapping things all around. For example, I would like to add some of the Star Grass to the big one from the 20, some of the Tenellus from the 29 to the big one, Bacopa to the 29, Ludwigia to the 20, and so forth.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Apon crispus is a beautiful plant, I've seen them quite large. I see you're going for more rooted, bigger plants. Any reason for the change, or you just liked the way they look?

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Back in the saddle!

Yup NowherMan6,

There are reasons.

1) Bensaf says so (he really did tell me to go for less stem plants, for maintenance purposes).
2) Ever since I broke up my tank into 2 last weekend (see major replant entries about 1 or 2 pages back) I began to like the right hand side much better. There, I have more stringy type plants and the new ones would fall more into that schemata (I hope)
3) Wow, the shortest list ever written by me, I have only 2 reasons.

Why, do you think that it is a bad idea?

As a piece of info for all readers: Aponogeton Crispus is supposedly one of the few (if not the only one) of the Apon family that does not require a dormant period in the aquarium.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

The Ech. Uruguayensis where would you position that. It almost looks like a big swordplant?

Also LF, you've grown alot of Rotala Rotundala(Indicia) what do you think is the lowest amount of light it will grown in. You know I throw some cuttings in my 12 gallon and it only has about 1.1 wpg cf.



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tetratech,

yes, Uruguayensis is a big sword that I plan to put on the left side of the tank (somewhere), I will have to see how all the new plants look like once they arrive. I will get 3 of the other two plants each. All my Ludwigia and Bacopa will be removed (sniff), I think. That will leave me with very few stems.

Rotala grew very well for me in my 29G at 40W, so about 1.3wpg. If all goes well this weekend though it will be bye bye for it, as it got stringy and thin. The Bacopa will move in its place (I have 65W on the tank now), although the whole tank will change in its plant positioning.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Rotala grew very well for me in my 29G at 40W, so about 1.3wpg

That's good to hear, but why is it stringy and thin. Did you not want to bother replanting tops or did you do that and it still didn't grow well. What other conditions was it growing in. (Excel, ferts, etc.)

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tetratech,

I never took out existing stems, all I did was to add new cuttings to increase the size of the group (that is the main reason for the stringy part). They develop a bigger (not giant) root system and I didn’t like the idea of having a big mess in the water column.

Ferts etc.: Any condition was fine. Initially I only had Flourish Excel, Iron, and Flourish and I never dosed on a schedule. Then I added Flourish Potassium, and later Flourish Nitrate. In the end (now) I add only Flourish Excel and my dry elements from the 125G setup (less dosage) and only once every 2 weeks (too infrequent, I know, but I have been busy with this tank).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

O.K. Thanks!

I think your on a good path by going with the look of your right tank.

There really isn't a right or wrong, it's what's gonna make you happy when you pull up that chair and look at your tank. You have alot of space to fill up so your job is definitely more difficult than mine. I think when you setup that rock valley that was more "Amano-like", but the rest is more "Dutch" I think you have to go one way or other other.

My Scapes

Just goes to show you what a real challange it is to aquascape and get a unifying flow or theme in a tank as large and long as a 125. When i was looking through your log for bensaf's remarks re: trimming plants I noticed i was thinking to myself that if (when ) I someday get a tank that large I'm just going to fill it with huge pieces of branchy driftwood - maybe a sword or two - and have it as a large SA cichlid tank. Seems MUCH easier to hardscape than to aquascape with plants. If you had a big ol' piece of DW in there, or more extensive rock work it probably would make things much easier.

I give you all the credit in the world for trying, LF.

Last edited by NowherMan6 at 17-Nov-2005 13:59

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Back in the saddle!

Thanks NowherMan6,

Driftwood was my original plan, but I cannot get my hands on any decent sized piece for the life of it. And believe me, I tried hard.

I have a few more of the same rocks at home and I am considering to add some of them this weekend. The problem there is the limited height of the rocks, none is as tall as the Rock Valley group.

Thanks again,

Ingo

And tetratech, Amano-style - Dutch-style, I call mine the Ingo-style .

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 17-Nov-2005 14:07

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The Crispus is a good choice. Definitely a background plant and a space filler. Lightning fast grower, expect a new leaf to hit the surface every couple of days. In good conditions it has a beautiful shade of green and a nice soft texture. Had one in the old tank, but it didn't fit into the new set up unfortunately.

The Uruguaysenis is a real nice sword, one of my favourites, still have one. Not a tank buster by any means, but quite variable depending on conditions. I actually like to use it as a mid ground plant as I like the way the narrow upright leaves show off other plants to good effect. You'll have to see what size you get when it arrives.

Lucens is a real nice crypt. Get's a lot taller then the normal Willisii so it's not a foreground plant. Plant it tight, 3 plants at least together, don't spread it out too much. It's a slow grower (it'll take a few weeks before it does anything) but give it time and plant as above and it will turn into a beautiful thick bunch in a few months.

Going back a bit, nobody answered your plant id questions. The stem plant is strange. Looks a little like Bacopa but at the same time doesn't. Definitely nor Caroliania, maybe Monnieri . But there&'s a voice in the back of my head screaming Rotala Macrandra "Green" variety , but I'm trying to ignore the voices screaming in my head.

The Crypt is Retrospiralis.

As to the aquascape. Well of course you like the right side better , it's more natural, and uncluttered then the other side. It's quieter. Not mad keen on Corkscrew Val. It's too "gimmicky" looking. Something really thin leaved like Val. Nana or Natans, Cyperus Helfiri . Tall crypts like Balansae or Spiralis would be about the same width as the Corscrew but much more aged and natural looking.

As for the left side well I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's damn near impossible to 'scape a tank with plants only. There needs to be an anchor to build the scape around, driftwood or rocks. The left side has no anchor . You don't need the perfect piece of wood, a few crappy branchy pieces can be built up. A big percentage of the wood should be hidden anyway. You can try something with smaller rocks , moss them up , anubias in the gaps etc, you just need something "solid" looking. Failing that bigger plants like Swords/Nymphaea can be used and the stems built around them . Lastly a previous suggestion bigger, wider more striking stem plants in a thick group would help - Limnophilia Aromatica, Ludwigia Cuba , Ammania Gracillis etc.


Last edited by bensaf at 17-Nov-2005 22:00

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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.

Welcome back Boss ,

Hope you had a good time.

To sum up my response to your entry:

You are right, and you are right, and, hm, you are right

I am not too wild about the Corkscrew Vals either, but you have to work with what you got. I was seriously trying to get some Cyperus Helferi, but to no avail. It would be my first choice. I might use the Aponogeton Crispus in its place, will have to see how that looks though.

Driftwood is always a big problem here, all pieces are small and if you find a long one it is also very thick (not to say ugly). I have maybe one piece at home that I could plug in there, but I think it would look lost in this big of a tank. I will try to add more of my rocks, I played with them last night (arranging some to a group) but it didn’t look all that good. An additional concern with placing wood/rock on the left hand side (more than the 2 that I have already) was that it would create a second focal point. This morning though it dawned on me that a 6 foot long tank should be able to handle more than one main area. Do you (all of the guys) agree?

Bensaf, I’m glad that you like my new plant pickings, most of them are based on your advice anyways .

I am with you when you assumed that it is Monnieri, I don’t think it would be a Macandra ‘Green’ as the leaves are so much smaller (than the red Macandra next to it) and it seems to grow side branches everywhere, like a bush.

About the Retrospiralis: maybe – I have seen them in Amano’s first book, but there he doesn’t mention plant names. No matter what, it looks very nice . It currently is too shaded in my tank, but all this will change on Saturday anyways (I hope).

Thanks,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

As for the left side well I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's damn near impossible to 'scape a tank with plants only. There needs to be an anchor to build the scape around, driftwood or rocks. The left side has no anchor .
Well they do that with the "Dutch" style but as I said the plants need to be in tighter groups and then if you want the variety you pave some "streets" from mid to front. But yes, a piece of rock here and there will do wonders. Same think with Matty's tank. [link=http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/52902.html?200511161838 ]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/52902.html?200511161838 [/link]
He needs hardscape desperately.

My Scapes

Gang,

I am currently in another low again,

The closer I get to Saturday’s replanting the more unsure I get of how I would do that. I have too many ideas in my head but I am afraid that I will end up with just another mixed-up tank again (would be the 3rd time around).

But there is no turning back because a) the plants are coming, b) the tank needs something done, and c) I don’t want to .

I guess I am just trying to prepare myself for the fact that at the end of Saturday I am not going to have an Amano tank (go figure ).

Tetratech,

What do you think about the “not-one-but-multiple” focus idea?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I don’t want to

That's the spirit!

I really feel like the left side would benefit from a big honkin' piece of driftwood, something like this]http://cgi.ebay.com/DRIFTWOOD-CRAFTS-GARDENING-AQUARIUM-TERRARIUM-BIRDS_W0QQitemZ7725677319QQcategoryZ66790QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/link] or [link=this

It can be overwhelming, but ya gotta do it until you get it right. Or maybe you don't, and just do it so that there's always a little something left to be done, that way you won't get bored. Either way, be creative. You've already got the plant health part of it down pat, that's the hard part - now you just need to find a way to make them look as nice as possible.

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Back in the saddle!

LF, Does this goal statement still hold true for you?

The focus of this tank is neither to win an aquascaping contest nor to win a fish contest. I would like to create an environment where I can play with lots of plants and enjoy the various fish that it will house as I believe this concept will give me the most pleasure for the buck.

If not, take out your plants, take out rock valley get yourself a big piece of driftwood. Get your kids and wife out of the room. Now close your eyes and drop it in. Pause for "big splash" Now have fun rescaping around the driftwood. It's that simple. I really think you will be amazed at how it comes together.

Nowher, yes he does need a big piece of driftwood, but if he simply puts dw on the left and leaves rock valley on the right it will look to contrived.

My Scapes

Thanks NowherMan6 for the encouraging words.

I am a major chicken when it comes to buying driftwood that I cannot see in person. To give you an example:

The first link you provide looks like a great piece. But it was fished out of the ocean? How did it get there? How long was it truly submersed (in other words, is it underwater ready)? What is the bug and fungus situation on it?

The second link could be nice too. But the owner doesn’t even mention (or I didn’t see it) the usage as an aquarium piece. Also, it looks like it had been rotting for a while, so will it fall apart soon? And again, what is the bug and fungus situation on it and how long was it truly submersed?

As I said, chicken .


Tetratech – You know how hard it is to find this “large” piece of driftwood here in our area.

“I would like to create an environment where I can play with lots of plants and enjoy the various fish that it will house as I believe this concept will give me the most pleasure for the buck.”

Well, you got me there . First off, the Espei had their own plan as to how “various” my fish will be. And all this fuss about left side, right side, plants in, over, and out again – that is my way of playing . As much as it seems that I get very frustrated sometimes as much I enjoy pulling myself out of these phases (with the help of you guys, thanks for that).

Thanks again,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

I was in aquarium adventure last week. They had tons of driftwood. I think you need a big piece to lay down that will take up a considerable amount of real estate then you could plant in groups all along the back sides. You could also compliment the dw with the rocks you already have.

There's got to be an aquatics store closer to you that would have large pieces of dw.

My Scapes

but if he simply puts dw on the left and leaves rock valley on the right it will look to contrived.

::looks at own aquarium with rocks on left, DW on right::

What's wrong with contrived?

But seriously, any aquascaped aquarium looks contrived to a certain extent. That's the whole point of aquascaping!What's the opposite of contrived anyway? Is it "natural?" Surely dutch style aquascapes look contrived, with their neat bushels of plants here and there...

Maybe then go with more rock buildup on the other side?


As for the DW, I've bough DW off of ebay many many times. Never gotten a bad piece. In any case, you boil it, bake it, scrub it like mad. Sometimes it leaches, sometimes alittle bit of fungus grows but that's normal. I wouldn't take a piece out of the ocean, but as the nearest bodies of water to me are the Hudson River, the East River and Newark bay I don't really have a choice as to where i get my driftwood

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Back in the saddle!

Hudson River, the East River and Newark
Ooch!

Well I'm talking major rock on one side, major dw on the other. I think you need to blend both in. I think LF and I did say something about your white rocks.



My Scapes

NowherMan6,

You are in our (tetratech and mine) area as well?

How funny . Are you in NJ or NY?

And have you ever tried to boil and/or bake a 26 inch long, 18 inch deep, and 16 inch high piece of driftwood?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

All the driftwood I ever bought is that dark malaysian stuff. I soaked it for a few days and put it in. I never had a problem.



My Scapes

I have thought about boiling a really bit chunk of DW before. I just never got around to it. At home we have this giant stainless steal tub. I think it used to be used for housing milk or something.. Any ways it is really big and I thought about filling it with water and lighting a fire under it for a few days. Ok maybe not that long but for a while at least.

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

So do I tetratech,

I just got one piece this week and soak it right now for the 20G. Problem is that the ones I can buy in my area are all too small to even make a dent in my 125.

One day I will get a nice piece and then I will drive you all crazy again with "Where do I put it in the tank and what plant goes where", just the usual .

Ingo

EDIT: Wingsdlc - didn't see your post until I had posted this one. I guess the wife would have a problem if I buy a giant pot, put it in the yard, and make a big fire underneath . BTW, there are people that say boiling is actuallyy bad for the wood as its cell structure gets destroyed.

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 18-Nov-2005 11:07

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

When you guys talk about boiling DW are you talking about DW you find when your like walking your dog. Cause I found some nice pieces that would probably look nice but I was afraid to use them in my tank. Not sure what types of wood is suitable to put under water long-term.

My Scapes

tetratech,

All you ever wanted to know about finding driftwood is right [link=Here]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/63086.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link].

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

Yeah I understand what you are saying. I really don't know how we got the giant pot but we have it. In fact I don't know where we get most of the stuff that is laying around my parents house come to think of it.......

Personaly I think the boiling thing really depends on the type of wood and how long you boild it for. But that is just me.

Be on the look out I have a bunch of new pictures I am going to post of my 40 gallon. I would really like your guys's in put. Thanks



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

And have you ever tried to boil and/or bake a 26 inch long, 18 inch deep, and 16 inch high piece of driftwood?

Point taken...


But still, i think you can make due with any kind of DW you find. I'd be wary of stuff that just fell off a tree, but I've heard of people finding older pieces near a stream or in a woodsy area and using them.

And im in NJ, northeast NJ. The closest really good LFS I know of is Tropaquarium on rt. 35 in eatontown, over an hour away...

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Back in the saddle!

I'm sensing road trip

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Wingsdlc – I guess sometimes its better not to know where things come from . Hey, I am sure we (at least I am) are pleased to give you our 2 cents, but don’t assume that we know what we are talking about . Just let us know when and where we should look.

NowherMan6 – I am in north NJ too (somewhere there), the closest decent LFS is Absolutely Fish on Rt. 46, about 10 min away.

tetratech – Road Trip, I am coming with you .

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 18-Nov-2005 12:11

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

Oh I know we are all full of it. For the record that is. Any ways here is my updated stuff.

Click this.....I know you want to......it is just my thread don't worry....I have been starring at the computer screen for too long....


Edit:to, too, two, 2.....sometime I really hate English!

Last edited by Wingsdlc at 18-Nov-2005 13:02

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

46W? That's actually not too far from me, maybe 20 mins depending on tunnel traffic and traffic on rt. 3. I'll have to check it out sometime, I just saw their website and it looks pretty awesome - thanks for the suggestion

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Back in the saddle!

Yo, Nowher are youse ever on LONG GUY-LAND?

If you are check out Aquarium Adventure in Garden City. 11,000 square foot all aquatics. Here's the website.

http://www.aquariumadventure.com/

Little_Fish has been there, but he was kinda in a hurry, something about the wife and kids. I got alot of my stuff there including my tank, driftwood, many fish, etc.

My Scapes

NowherMan6,

Yeah, go there and check it out. There are a few employees that are good and willing (and have the knowledge) to help you out. Unfortunately, the rest of them have no clue but pretend they do. Here is a conversation snippet that I picked up there earlier in the week between sales guy (SG), owner (O), and a customer (C) with a 10G, standing in front of a tank where the C is getting ONE White Cloud:

O to C: Hey, how about a frog?
C: Don’t they jump out?
O: No, these stay in the water.
O: What else is in the tank?
C: (forgot the exact listing he gave, but basically ONE of each kind, for example one was a tetra)
O: That’s good, what are you getting today?
C: This one and a Bumble Bee?
O: (explains that they need salt then asks SG) Why did you not tell him about that?
SG: I didn’t know.

Then I had to go away, partially because I had to laugh and partially because I got mad that the O thinks one fish of each kind is a good thing.

Otherwise be warned, they are on the expensive side of things. But even with all the ranting, it is my main LFS and in good to very good shape (plants and fish).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I've been keeeping up with your progress from the start Ingo, just wanted to poke my head in and say that i'm enjoying reading and very impressed by your tank.
I havent said anything before now because I am not an ideas person! Keep up the good work.

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Yo, Nowher are youse ever on LONG GUY-LAND?

Actually my old man lives out there on the island, but when Im out there it's usually to do family stuff, not so much aquarium shopping

But i'll definetely check out that place on 46. Tropaquarium on 35 is VERY pricey with livestock, and they dont have a great deal of plant selection, mostly cichlid and reef stuff. Staff are very friendly and knowledgable though, so that makes up for it. Also, the only plants they sell are anubias barteri and java fern, and they sell HUGE specimens for dirt cheap prices. Java's with twenty something stems, maybe 18-20 inches long each were being sold for 4 dollars. Big mother anubias plants for the same price. I guess they dont know better...

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Back in the saddle!

Gang,

I am too tired to write a book tonight, I worked on tanks for 12 hours today.

Unfortunately, around Noon I found out that the plants for the 125G will arrive on Tuesday ant not today. It was too late to stop the process as the 29G was already changed and that set off a chain reaction and as such I had to mess with the 20G and the big guy as well.

The Bacopa is gone, it is now in the 29G, other plants have been moved (some are trimmed).

Please be so kind and have a look at other tanks and give me THERE a comment on what you think, as you know I value your input highly.

Here is [link=The 29G Link]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/61406_3.html " style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link].
Here is [link=The 20G Link]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/63901_2.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link].

And because it was such a nice day , here is a picture of this tank now. What do you think?

Good night,

Ingo

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hey LF just dropping in - Now that you have no algae complaints I tend to be all out of suggestions. I just think that your colorful plants need to grow in a bit. In a couple months you can have some eyecatching groups of colors.

The only thing I can think of is that I'd like something contrasting behind rock valley to create depth. The two rocks with java moss tend to blend in with the vals behind. That isn't even that major though, because in person I bet it looks great.

I really like the shape of the horizon in your tank. Everything looks really healthy....

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

You must be tired! All those changes in one 12 hr stint, it would knock me out for sure, but I really think it has paid off, all the tanks look great. I want to be sure, the plant that is covering the 'ground' in front of the valley is glosso? It is not the one that looks like grass, but has more rounded leaves? Would it need more light than my aquq-glo flourescent bulb in my 25g? I have no idea what the wpg is and I don't use CO2. But I do need a ground cover and I like that one the most so far. Great 'scaping, I'll be checking back often to steal more ideas. Oops, was that in print? ]

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Lindy – you keeping up with this thread and giving me the thumb up is honor enough for me.

NowherMan6 – I inspected a newly opened LFS in my area, called The Fish Tank, in Saddle Brooks on Friday night. They are not ready yet as I believe they still have to learn a few things about stocking Fish and Plants. Plants are few and not in the best shape, fish tanks are mostly bare bottom stuffed to the rim with very young fish. For example, they have 3 tanks with Cories (and that is all they have on the label, no species name, all are just Cories) that no larger than ¾ of an inch.They are cheap though, but that alone is not a reason for me to buy something.

Matty – I hear you when you speak of contrast around Rock Valley. I will have to wait and see what the new plants that I should receive on Tuesday look like. Then, another replant will get on the way.

luvmykrib – You are welcome to “steal” all the ideas you seem feasible for you, mine didn’t come to me out of the blue either . Yes, this is Glosso and I doubt that it would grow nicely in a 25G with only one T8 fluorescent light. If you happen to find it cheap in a store, go ahead and buy a little bit and give it a try, but don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work out. I remember trying it in my 29G when I had about 1.3wpg in that tank. It grew a little and I took it out again. One problem there was that I didn’t show enough patience, maybe I should have waited longer.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Gang,

It’s funny how things happen. I just mentioned in tetratech’s log how well my Espei school (trying to compete with tetratech’s Cardinals ).

Well, it turns out today is an important day in my Espei fry development. At least 10 have joined the big guys and school together. Oh how wonderful the world can be (until the next disaster strikes ).

I will try to get a shot later, for the time being I am doomed to laundry folding and child care, payback for 12 hours of planting yesterday .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I am doomed to laundry folding and child care, payback for 12 hours of planting yesterday



Pause to catch breath.



My Scapes

tertatech - you know nothing is for free

Week 8 Update,

Another, although smaller, replant has happened this weekend, it was supposed to be a big one but the plants I expected from the online provider will not arrive until Tuesday. Their excuse did sound a little shady; something about the Amano Pearl Grass needs still to grow. What? I didn’t know 2 days make such a big difference in this plant’s life.

Anyways, because of this I did not perform a water change, I will do one on Tuesday evening (and then again next Saturday to get back on the regular track).

The small changes performed include the removal of the Bacopa (now in the 29G), the addition of 2 rocks on the left half, and general trimming activities.

The Espei are just great, although the number of fry begins to frighten me. At least 80 are swimming around there, like they have never heard of the fact that they are hard to breed, maybe I should tell them .

Here is a summary of tank development on a biweekly base.

First off week 0, means the day I planted the tank:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Next week 2, the fast growers (Wisteria and in particular Water Sprite), have taken over:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Week 4, most of these fast growers have been removed and first attempts of design are starting:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Week 6, more moves towards the generation of a design are under way, although not too successful (yet):

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Week 8 (today), plants have been moved around a lot since week 6, hopefully for the better:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Definitely starting to see some nice things.

I would keep all below white line. Everything above out.
That's what I see anyway, you might have something else in your head.




tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes

I 2nd tetratech. I really like the used of flowing lines.

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

Thanks tetratech and Wingsdlc for the input, I appreciate it. I think it is a little too early to think about a final layout as new plants are still to come and they are gonna change the scape again anyways. Hang in there with me until we got these and then shoot away.

…, you might have something else in your head.

Yeah, hot air

I thought I might share some close-ups with you before I go to sleep.

A double blossom on one of my Anubias Nana

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club