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Don't know if you missed something

When I had the uptake on the right I got rather quickly BGA on the left side of the tank based on a lack of current. When I bought the filter (AC 50) I had no idea how weak it is, I have the AC 70 on the 29G and it seems to be 10 times the strength of this one.

Placing it in the middle creates a better current flow.

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 22-Nov-2005 14:59

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Good Lord, how did I miss this thread??

LF, stop creating beautiful tanks, the rest of us are trying to catch up!!! ]:|

But seriously, is this your second or third? Well done, as always

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Back in the saddle!

Oh, I didn't realize that the tank is only 12" tall (remember what you told me before about not reading the entire thread? I also have very short-term memory. ). In that case, yes the giant hygro would be too tall.

If you're going with the reverse triangular thingy, then the wisteria would probably grow too tall and bushy for the middle section (unless you can get your wisteria to grow close to the substrate and horizontally like tetratech's ). I never like how wisteria looks in anything but taller (>15" ) tanks anyway - it just looks all chopped up and not as dramatic. I tried it once in my 12" high tank and ended up throwing it all out.

I'd probably replace the wisteria with a variety of crypts (smaller ones in the middle, taller ones on the sides) if I were you. Another possibility I thought of was using a group Java Fern instead of stargrass on the back right. Something like in my 24"x12"x12" dwarf tank.

Last edited by upikabu at 22-Nov-2005 15:38

Last edited by upikabu at 22-Nov-2005 15:38

-P

LF I have a technical question, when you took everything out of this tank, you left the fish in. Would you have done that if you were also replacing the gravel? I will be replacing the gravel in my 25g and am trying to figure out the best way. Your tanks have definitely inspired me as I have just set up a 10g tank, using proper gravel, plants and some hardscape. I am nowhere near your league, but I am enjoying the results so far. Please let me know how adding the glosso to a smaller tank goes, then I may do the same. It looks so nice in the larger tank. I don't think I can choose a favorite tank, as I like them all so far!

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

To all - sorry my reply came so late

NowherMan6 – Thanks . This is my second tank, the first was (is) my 29G which also can bee seen in this forum and the third is the 125G.

upikabu – lovely gravel in your dwarf tank. Yeah, I hear you. I might be the master of Espei breeding but tetratech is the master of Wisteria taming . I will think about it when time comes to trim this tank. Right now I am settled with plant purchases, I had a few too many in the last few weeks .

luvmykrib – No doubt I would take the fish out. Removing the gravel will create a tremendous mess. OUT!
Thank you so much for your compliments, that’s what keeps me trying to get even better (and maybe another 100 reasons). For the Glosso – tank size is not an issue, light is. I have 2wpg on this tank and I will have to see if it is enough. Also, except for Flourish Excel there is no CO2 addition.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

If the glosso needs 2 wpg then it should be able to grow in my 10g as that is it's wpg. It is long rather than tall. If I find some I will definitely try it! I have the 10g up and running, the danios are busy cycling the tank. The plants all look like they are going well. Yesterday I was tying anubias, java fern and moss onto rocks and the result looks good. I have no pictures. When I get the harlies I may have questions about them. But do you have any advice about the best kind to get? I love the espei's you have shown in the 125g. I'm waiting about 3 wks before adding any more fish, then the danios will go back to the 25g.

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

luvmykrib,

Do I have an advice on what kind of Harlies to get? Well sure, mine

The are commonly called Harlequin Rasbora Espei, the new (since 1999 I believe) Latin name is Trigonostigma espei. BTW, the picture that you see in this fish’s profile here at FP is incorrect as it shows a Harlequin Rasbora Hengeli, trust the ones you have seen in my log .

You can shoot me any question about them, maybe I don’t know the answer, maybe I do.

And I will keep you posted on the Glosso growth.


Tank Note:

I had to replant the Star Grass to the middle of the back as it did not receive enough light in the corners. I placed the Wisteria in its spot. Now I am thinking about getting a PC for this tank, but that would almost be overkill as I don’t intend to inject CO2. The standard wattage for this size of a tank (30 inches long) would be 65W or 55W, so at least 2.75wpg, almost too much I assume.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks for the comments Heidi and cardboardrobotman

Yeah, the tank really is a jungle at this time, but I smell already another log called “20G Overhaul”

I am torn between not putting any major effort into this tank (as it is supposed to be a QT) and making it really nice.

Heidi, the Flourish Excel is a liquid carbonate source for the plants; it is basically a CO2 alternative, although not a cheap one. In itself it wouldn’t do too much, but when used with macro and micro nutrients it will help the plants growing process better than if they are left to their own devices (always given there is enough light).

Thanks again,

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 07-Nov-2005 11:46

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Gang,

Last week I set up a new 20G Long. The idea was to “park” some plants from my [link=29G]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/61406.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] (overgrown) until I have my 125G ready to go and then to transfer them into it.

But now, I begin to like how the 20 looks. So, what can I say, I added 2 new fish to the tank. They are Gold Twin Bar Platies and will provide a little life in it (besides the snails that moved on the plants ).

What do you think?

Ingo

The pic in this post if from the initial setup 9 days ago

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It's very nice, but it's going to be nicer when:
1. the plants grows more.
2. you put some sort of background. Nobody likes to see electric cords dangling behind the aquarium.

Well done Little_Fish!

That's sweet man.

Hope everything continues to go well.

oh heck i love the wires hanging down in the back

So uh it's going to become a permanent tank huh? yes, another member that has the ever so prevaliant MTS

Now what the heck are you doing to your plants Ingo? I swear 9 days and that much growth? I know I'm doomed with plants if I can't keep the stupid things alive, and others have that much life:%)

Looks like you also are suffering from Platy fever Hopefully that isn't too contagious

Looks good though and I'm just assumingthat is one of the new light bulbs?

heidi

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

Thanks all,

Yeah no background, I am a failure
But as I said, it wasn’t even supposed to be more than a plant repository.

Now what the heck are you doing to your plants Ingo?

Well, I sit down in front of my tank and read my plants a nice story every night. No wait, that was the children. On the 3rd day after setup I added some Flourish stuff to the water. In details, I added the full dosage of Excel, Potassium, Nitrate, Iron, and Flourish itself (trace elements). I don’t have the Phosphorus at home, otherwise I would have done this as well. A few days later I added another dose of Excel. And that’s it.

Glad you like it, and Untitled – I will work on the background, I promise.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I knew I was forgetting something...should have known I need to read the the plants more often...is there any particular stories they like? Any particular genres?

As far as a cheap background for the time being, you could always grab some material, or posterboard...it works pretty well...actually what i had on the 125 till I knocked it all down

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

Keep it going

The growth and plant health are a testament to the power of proper plant nutrition.

Proof that "Nitrate causes algae" myths are a pile of baloney.

See, it really is easy. Feed them and they will grow

It's a nice size tank. Go for a triangle sloping look. Quite easy to do with the Stargrass.

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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.

Looks great Ingo, I've been thinking of getting one of my 20 longs out for a very well planted apisto tanks. It would be great, but I can't spend any more time and money on it, I've been bad recently switching to pressurized CO2 and getting the new canister filter for the 38G. I'll keep to the status quo right now and enjoy eveyone else's MTS .

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

LITTLE_FISH

Looks like you are well on the way for a very well set up aquscape.

I would paint the back with a flat black. Use a small paint roller it seems to give a better finish.

Also remove that white rock completly and replace it with a piece of DW or a darker natural colour (same as substrate). If possible place it in the LH back corner for a better efect.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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That is a very nice tank. When those plants grow out it will look even more amazing. I like how that life glo looks in that tank. In the first picture of the tank what were you running? An aqua clear and a??? I think I am convinced to go with an life glo now and maybe a sun glo.

That's a very nice tank & it will be nicer when the Plants grow more.
Well Done.


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ohhh....that looks nice..and that new bulb made a big differance for the better
keep up the good work, im sure that tank will keep getting better and better

its me sk8freak20...i need to get premie so i can change my name back

any chance of a new pic?

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''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

I like your tank, It's a bit green though O.o nice healthy stargrass. you fish are accentuated wonderfully by the aquascape, and vice versa.

Ok,

I changed the tank today in a major effort that involved [link= My 29G]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/61406_3.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] and [link=My 125G]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/64425_21.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] as well.

I am very tired as the operation took 12 hours, so forgive me if I don’t write too much.

Please let me know what you think,

Thanks for any input,

Ingo

Here is a picture before I started, the tank is, hm, a little overgrown

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

very nice platys, and i love the planting, like heidi said, it looks like a jungle,and it looks organized yet not to organized.
it looks very natural imo

its me sk8freak20...i need to get premie so i can change my name back

nice platties ingoand tht tank is truly a jungle, it's worse than the 125 before you pruned it yesterday i have a feeling once i get the 24 going semi decently i might have a problem, but not for a long while yet So does the flourish help with the growth? What exactly does it do? i'm willing to try it on the new tankmaybe heidi

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

Thanks Megil,

Yeah, I also really love the markings on this platy breed. I looked all over for this type but could only find it a Pet… and for the longest resisted the urge to buy them. The store in our area has always Ich at least in one of their tanks and the others frequently have dead or seriously injured fish.

But once I got this 20G tank, which is supposed to be a QT eventually, I decided what the heck. I got 2 of them, both females, and of course they were pregnant (and still are ). I let thing progress “naturally” and have now 3 youngsters as well.

One of my ideas was to cross breed them with my Sunset Platies, but I am not sure if I really will do than.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

That is one jungle of a tank Ingo. Also that is a very
pretty platy, in truth one of the few platies I have seen that
I actually like.

And one of its inhabitants, one of 5 Gold Twin Bar Platies. I think I will post this picture also in a Photo Booth thread together with other fish pictures.

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

From the right

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

From the left

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Gang,

Some time has past yet again since I last added to this thread.

Not too much though has changed in the tank, except that it is becoming a storage space for plants I don’t want to throw out, like a Pennywort, some Ludwigia, and one Egeria Najas.

I currently only change 50% of the water once every two weeks, too busy with my 125G. I also only add Fertilizers and Flourish Excel once during that entire 2 week period. Nevertheless, plant growth is very nice, in my opinion.

I know it is not yet a nicely scaped tank, I promise that I will do more extensive work once the 125 lets me go .

Ingo

Here is the tank as of today after a Pennywort pruning and water change:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Guys,

Thanks for your comments, I really did not perform any Aquascaping per se, it all happened rather accidentally based on the BGA plant removal and natural growth of the remaining plants.

tetratech – This is what I was referring to when we talked about dense star grass. As you might be able to see in the picture, the star grass grows much denser in the water current area near the HOB return. The one on the way left if way stringier. The low growing plants right underneath the HOB return is Pygmy Chain Sword (except for the star grass way in the back).

The rest of the plants that are in this tank are listed in my profile.

Will I re-scape this tank? You bet ya . Once the big guy is all settled this one will become a very different tank (more like yours, tetratech). In the meantime, it will function as QT for the 125.

Thanks again,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

That Stargrass really does look healthy and that's from 2wpg, no co2 right.

Anyway, what are you plans for the tank. Are you going to rescape and leave the platys/fry in?

My Scapes

Alex,

You must have read my mind...

I thought I use this chance to give you an update on my 20G. Not much has happened in terms of aquascaping, BGA (Blue Green Algae) has befallen the tank, I assume because the filter was in one side of the tank and not enough circulation concluded in a lack of oxygen in the remote end of the tank causing this outbreak.

I had to remove almost all of the Cabomba and Ludwigia. Finally I treated the tank with 3 tablets of Maracyn (on per day) and killed the BGA (haha).

Fish-wise, the tank had 12 Harlequin Rasbora Espei and 4 Otos as guest for 2 weeks, now they are in their permanent home, the 125G. Full time residents of this tank are the 2 Gold Twin Bar Platies, which both had fry and 4 are still alive (without any protective measures on my side) and swim now with the adults.

Ingo

So here is a pic from tonight:

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:


Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 06-Oct-2005 19:13[/font]

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

As promised, here is an update on the Glosso.

The 3 plants (leaves) have been in the tank now for 10 days and they begin to send out runners. It is for sure not yet a carpet but I will soon start to remove the plants around it so it can cover the entire section in front of the Moss Bridge.

Also, the tank has now 3 pearl gouramies as QT guests - purchased today - let's hope they don't think the Glosso is food .

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Love the glosso! I may try it in my 10g as the tank bottom is a lot closer to the light than the 25g. When it is time to replace the bulb in the 10g I will be getting a flora-glo or similar.
Do gouramis eat plants? They looked pretty nice as well. So your nicest tank is your QT. Could be worse, all your tanks look great! /:'

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

luvmykrib,

I don't know if Gouramies eat healthy plants, guess we will find out .

In case you care, go to my 125G log and look at page 25 (I think), there are pictures of the Pearl Gouramies.

Thanks for your compliments,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I had to replant the Star Grass to the middle of the back as it did not receive enough light in the corners. I placed the Wisteria in its spot. Now I am thinking about getting a PC for this tank, but that would almost be overkill as I don’t intend to inject CO2. The standard wattage for this size of a tank (30 inches long) would be 65W or 55W, so at least 2.75wpg, almost too much I assume.
LF how is the stargrass doing. In my 72 it has completely stopped and I have 2.7 plus co2.

My Scapes

tetratech,

The Star Grass is hanging in. It doesn’t look as pretty as it did before I started to replant the tank about 3 weeks ago but it doesn’t die back either. I took a small group out about a week ago and placed it in the 125G. This piece doesn’t grow too much either.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

How long have you actually had a same (stargrass) plant. So you get a clipping from a supplier. It grows like mad and then nothing and I know your no3 didn't bottom out.

My Scapes