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Very attractive tank.

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http://justanothertank.com

I hope my tank will look as good as that, I will be ordering plants on monday probably...Nice tank

tetratech, czcz, and Lookin_around

Thanks for the comments and encouragement. The tank is in a stage of “waiting” until I find more time to mess with it. On one hand I can see tetratech’s explanation of imbalance; on the other hand I know my limited abilities of “beautifying” a tank.

But I have some ideas; let me surprise you (and myself) with the results some day soon.

Thanks again,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ok,

I changed the tank today in a major effort that involved [link= My 20G]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/63901_2.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

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

A picture after all the Rotala, Ludwigia, and Pygmy Chain Sword have been removed

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Next, the driftwood was moved and the Xmas Moss on it was trimmed

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Followed by adding Bacopa and an Anubias Nana to the left side

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Then, the right back corner got some Bacopa

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And last but not least the finished tank, with Sag Subulata and Pygmy Chain Sword on the right

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Please let that tenellus grow back into a HUGE bush in the front. That was awesome. And give the bacopa some more room(meaning a bigger group) on the right and a little trim...it sticks out a bit. Bacopa can look pretty nice when cut short.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 19-Nov-2005 21:35

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I really like what you've done with this one. It is so much more than what it was before, and yet it looks really natural. It is good to see what one can do with a tank this size. It gives me hope that someday my planted 25g will look as good. Especially if I keep learning things from you guys here at FP.
I really like the moss on the dw, it looks like an underwater tree. The tank looks to me like a nicely kept underwater park, the platies could have picnics under the tree. But maybe that's just me and the kids have finally driven me over the edge.:%)

Last edited by luvmykrib at 19-Nov-2005 21:43

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

Matty – Yeah, I loved the big Tenellus bush as well, but it had one major disadvantage. It is the optimum hiding place for small Platy babies. I simply have too many of them as it is and I am a sucker when it comes to giving them a chance to grow up. The “jungle” had at least 50 plants in this small space, and that after I took out about 20 a few weeks back when I planted the 125G.

luvmykrib – Platies having a picnic under the tree, sounds nice to me . Thanks for the compliments and I assure you that everyone can do this. It is just a question of time and learning until one has it down. And my kids have driven me over the edge a long time ago , that’s why I needed a hobby like this where I can spend 12 hours per day with my arms submersed .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Please read my comments on your 20g, before reading this. Well, this one to be honest I don't really like. I think your still having trouble working the stems plants into the arrangement. Also I don't know if it's the picture but you really can't see any hardscape. The DW is too centered in the middle and it looks like a scary tomb. Also I don't know how sustainable the moss in the foreground right nex to the chain swords is.

My Scapes

Lookin good Little_fish...I hope my 29 will look that good...but only time will tell

All three tanks must be a lot of work

Wow,

I took me 5 days to realize that someone wrote an entry to my own thread, shame on me .

Anyways, lookin_around – Thanks for the compliment. No, the tanks are not a lot of work, just a lot of time spent on my hobby .

tetratech – So hard to please

The idea was to take the golden split and have everything high on the left of it and then a valley to the right. The DW does not really look like a scary tomb (), I will try to get some close-up shots that proof the difference. The Bacopa will eventually be cut more like a terrace.

Also, I wanted to try something different from the other 2 tanks, maybe a little bolder. Pictures of details will follow today or tomorrow.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Just wondering but have you made any new changes to this tank?

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

Wingsdlc,

No, I haven't done anything, except some small pruning on the Bacopa.

I don't even dare to post a new updated picture as tetratech will rip me apart for the design .

Once I have more time I might try something different with it, but it will have to wait a little

But thanks for asking and checking in,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

don't even dare to post a new updated picture as tetratech will rip me apart for the design
I promise to behave myself[img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

Just look at my avatar would that face lie?

Last edited by tetratech at 03-Jan-2006 13:04

My Scapes

would that face lie

There is an old saying that goes like this:

Don’t trust the upside-down aquascaper, especially if he wears goggles and has a snorkel.



Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 03-Jan-2006 13:20

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well,

I learned another lesson, or I have been reminded of one that I should have learned a while ago.

It was time to do the bi-weekly 50% water change on the tank and I noticed a small patch of BGA in the Xmas Moss. I decided to take out the wood and use that chance also to trim the moss a little, as it hasn't got a trimming in quite a while (and that is the lesson - don't let it grow like that). Once the bathtub was filled I proceeded to trim the wood, just to discover huge patches of BGA hinding in previously spots on the wood. I continued to cut them out unitl I reached the bare wood, and not surprisingly the moss in that section had died (no light) and it wasn't attached to the wood anymore. Long story short, I removed almost all the moss, tied a little but back on, and placed it back in the tank.

On the upside, this gave me the chance to rotate the wood into another position. What do you think?

Ingo

Attached Image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The wood looks nice, what's with the two corners? It's very geometric looking to me. What I mean is two rectangles in the corners and a square in the center. Needs to be loosened up.

My Scapes

tetratech,

I was waiting for your comment .

I know I know, this is the weakest of my tanks where nothing really seems to flow together (ever).

I only did an emergency change (BGA) because I had to. You have no idea how eager I was to keep on going but I knew the other two tanks needed their maintenance as well.

Someday, when I have more time, I will try harder, I promise

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Actually I know your not really "scaping" the tank. You have three tanks I find I don't always pay attention to my second one and you have alot more gallons than me. In fact you probably have twice the gallons I have.

My Scapes

Actually, I am scaping the tank,

I am just doing a lousy job with it

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Actually, I am scaping the tank

My Scapes

It's ok LF... We all have our days...

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

Your lousy is better than my best!

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

luvmykrib,

Come on now... I haven't seen your tank in a while but if I remember right they weren't bad at all!

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

Thanks luvmykrib,

But I think wings is right

Sometime I will have time for this tank again and then I am gonna blow you away

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Little fish is crazy! He is going to blow up luvmykrib! We all read it! People need not be down on themselves all the time. Be happy with your work in progress!

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

Bring it on!
After my 'Spring Cleaning', the new lights and CO2 I may be able to compete with the QT.
Then again I'm actually trying to 'scape my tanks, your QT was 'scaped as an after thought wasn't it? Leftovers etc.

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

Oh Wings!
I am not down on myself! I'm frustrated with the tank right now. The gravel makes me see red, the plants have some sort of deficiency, and I hate waiting until I can fix things! At least the fish are cute and have personality! And actually I still really like the way my 10g looks. I have no urge to change anything in it right now. But later when the 25 is done...

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

Wings,

Now you figured me out, sure I am crazy. Why else would I be in this hobby (just ask my wife).

But I am not gonna blow, I just like to express myself in bright colors.

luvmykrib,

You are talking about my other small() tank, the 20G, right? I had some vision for it, it is not purely by accident that it looks like this.

And once you are ready to work on your tank seriously, I strongly suggest you join our gang in the planted forum (if you can stand the heat ). You always write so nicely in our posts anyway, it is only right for us to return the favor.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Start a log?! That's one more thing to maintain! And I've noticed once a log starts it never ends! Could be I'll revive my thread This is not a log and make it into a log, the before pics are already there. I was kidding about the by accident thing, I know you don't scape a tank by accident, well YOU don't, but I did!

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

LF,

Quite off topic here, but what did you use to treat BGA in one of your tanks - was it Maracyn or Maracyn II? I thought it was this tank you used it in, which is why I'm posting this here...

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Back in the saddle!

Actually,

This was the one tank that has not been treated (it was the 20 and the 125).

And I used Maracyn (not II), half to 3/4 dosage over 4 to 5 days, once per tank.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And it really worked well?

I was dismayed two days ago to find that BGA was swarming all over my ludwigia (which will now be tossed completely) and made the jump to a few of my rotala leaves. Treatment must be prompt, and i don't want to blackout again.

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Back in the saddle!

Yes NowherMan6,

In both of my tanks it worked well.

I can also vouche (for my tanks) that one of the reasons for its appearance was a lack of current (stale water) in the area. The BGA outbreak in this tank probably had different reasons, but I don't understand them yet.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Quite off topic here, but what did you use to treat BGA in one of your tanks

I know you could treat BGA with Maracyn and E-Mycin, but I beat it in my 12g by cleaning up affected areas doing a few big water changes and increasing biofilter and plant mass capacity.



My Scapes

A little update on the tank, although not design related.

Yesterday in the evening I found my last remaining original Sunset Platy dead on the gravel. He (aka The King) has been with me for about 10 months and was already an adult when I got him. So, without seeing any sign of injury, I assume he died of old age.

The only other option I can see is that he died from food that he ate and that might have not been to well on him. The day before, I fed the tank some freeze dried blood worms and it could be that one piece got stuck awkwardly in his throat. But that would be less likely than old age.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I fed the tank some freeze dried blood worms and it could be that one piece got stuck awkwardly in his throat. But that would be less likely than old age.

You'll never know for sure. BTW what do you do with all your platy fry. When I kept a few platys I always had trouble with the females after they gave birth a few times.


My Scapes

My females so far are fine, except for the mother of my existing platy load (in this tank). She had dropsy soon after giving birth and had to be put to sleep.

And about all the fry, well that might become a problem very soon. Right now I have maybe 10 adults, 6 juveniles of various ages (and sizes), and 3 new fry that has gotten big enough not to be eaten by the tank mates. Soon I will have an overload and I haven't made my mind up on what to do next.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Wow

It is 2 months since my last picture update, time flies by when you are having fun (or when you are busy with your other tanks ).

Not much has changed, no new plants or fish have been added, except the additional Platies that manage to survive their fry-days in the tank.

The Xmas Moss is growing back in nicely, it managed to almost completely cover the horizontal branch of the driftwood all by itself, simply by creeping along from left to right. The Tennellus Garden is growing back in and getting very dense again. If need be I can use some of it as a source for the 125G where I removed almost all of the Tennellus and the Dwarf Sag (in case I want some back ).

Here is the Tank:

Attached Image:

3/19/2006

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Oh, I almost forgot:

The tank is now 1 year old. It was the first one I ever had

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The tank is now 1 year old. It was the first one I ever had

Still looks great.

Your tenellus is so nice and clean, the tank so algae free. I don't know how you do it. I'm embarassed to even update my log with pics, the algae has gotten so bad. I really have no idea where I went wrong.

Love the look of the moss too

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Back in the saddle!

NowherMan6,

Thanks for the compliments

Yeah, the tank is really clean, I don't know why. I did a water change yesterday and the water that came out was almost as clear as the tab water itself that went back in. Last change was 16 days ago.

And I run only 2 sponges in the filter. I have a little of the thread alage on the most right part of the driftwood, but that is there since a long time and doesn't grow much.

I don't know what I am doing right with this tank either as I would not consider it low light (2.25wpg or so) and it gets its once a week shot of ferts and excel.

Maybe the fish gods have mercy with me, knowing that the big tank is keeping me busy enough.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF, it looks great. I just hope that when I aquascape (or attempt to) my 29g next week, it will look half as good. I also have 2.25wpg. I am trying to decide if I want to mess with DIY CO2. Haven't decided yet.

I also don't consider that low light. My plants are growing extremely well in that light. My rotala rotundifolia is pink on the ends...I don't think it would be under "low" light.

I have a question: What ferts do you dose and how often? I need a regular dosing routine on the 29g, but I don't know what ferts are good. I have the flourish line: nitrogen, flourish, trace, potassium, excel, and iron. Are the KNO3 and such better than the liquid kinds? (Probably a dumb question...but I was curious).

*Kristin*

I don't know what I am doing right with this tank either as I would not consider it low light (2.25wpg or so) and it gets its once a week shot of ferts and excel.

LIGHT
You really can't compare the intensity of light and demands that puts on you to keep the plants in tip top condition with that of your 125g.

This tank has 65watts over 18" of water and your 125 has 365watts of 22" of water. That is a huge difference for 4" of water.

My Scapes

Probably a dumb question...but I was curious

Not a dumb question at all . It is always good to ask, and only the answer can be dumb.

This is probably the least organized tank in my small assortment. I dose Excel, KNO3, Potassium Phosphate, and Tropica Master Grow, once a week right after the water change, or maybe once every other week, or I forget it completely. Before I used these ferts I used Flourish, Flourish Nitrate, Flourish Potassium, and Flourish Iron. As you can see, I am/was all over the board.

Tetratech - yeah, I didn't mean to compare these two tanks, but I must be doing something right here. I pointed out that this tank is medium light because this, in my eyes, means that it is more e to have issues than a true low light tank (more light = higher chance of algae, right? ).

At some time in the future, maybe - just maybe - I might add CO2, but for sure not DIY, there is no way I ever want to get into that mess with soda bottles and inconsisten flow and what not. For now, I sure don't need another tank that is taking off and would occupy my time too much.

Thanks for input to both of you,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

time in the future, maybe - just maybe - I might add CO2, but for sure not DIY,

Good move! Let the "kiddies" do the DIY, I hear it's in style. I will not go that route again. My 12g I am now dosing everything and using excel. I am on the same schedule as my 72g. I also took out alot of plant mass with the redesign so it should be interesting to see what happens.

My Scapes

Quite a while since I posted my last update,

But there is not much to report. The tank is doing fine, not much growth, plants are ok, fish are happy and multiplying.

While taking a photo of the light fixture for someone in anothere thread last night I noticed that my Anubias in this tanks in now finally flowering. While this process is rather common in my big high tech tank it took months (maybe 1 or 2) from the time I could see a flower stem growing to the time it finally opened.

Here is a picture of it. Also, note the Star Grass stem next to it. It is in really bad shape (had been added to tank as a leftover from pruning the 125) as the Platies love to eat the tips. Lesson Platies + Star Grass =

Attached Image:

Anubias Nana Flower

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And, just like in your tanks, every night when it is time for feeding the platies collect in one corner of the tank and seem very excited. What I don't know is - why is it the lower left corner as I add the food to the middle of the tank and, of course, on top. Maybe they have a better view from down there and can observe what kind of goodie I am readying

Attached Image:

Platies Getting Ready To Eat

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

What kind of plants do you have in your setup?

niko,

Basically I have only 5 plant species in the tank. There is Bacopa on the left and right backhand corners (and some stems that were trimmings in the middle). Then there are Crypt Wendtii in the left front area, one Anubias Nana in front of the Driftwood, which in turn has Xmas Moss on it. The right side of the tank is covered with Pygmy Chain Swords, with a few taller Sagitarria Subulatas in the back.

Occasionally I add a few stems of Star Grass from clippings of my 125G to the tank, mostly because the Platies love to nibble on it.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

About a month has gone by since the last update, but nothing much has happened in this period. I replaced a few stems of the Bacopa on the left with some Hygro angustifolia clippings from the big tank, just for the fun of it.

The future of this tank is uncertain as I will move it from my office to my basement. I just may change it completely while doing the move, including the substrate. Now, about 14 months after setup, it appears as if the laterie in the substrate is done. The Tenellus is not growing as strong as it used to and I assume I would need to add more liquid fertilizer to make up for it.

Here comes a load of 9 pictures of tank and habitants, this way I will have a memory of the tank should it sease to exist.

The Full Tank:

Attached Image:

Tank on 5-29-2006

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The only spot where this tank has an algae issue, if one can call it an issue, is at the end of the driftwood. This patch is pretty static and once in a while I simply pull off any longer strands. Actually, I find it rather pleasing, this is how I like algae, decorative and non-invasive.

Attached Image:

The Algae

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a closer look at the Tenellus garden from an angle. As you may see, it doesn't grow very dense there. In earlier tank stages this area would have been covered by Tenellus so dense that you would not have been able to see the substrate anywhere. Nevertheless, it is still dense enough to serve as a perfect hideout for baby platies and as such I have an ever increasing tank population.

Attached Image:

Tenellus

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

On to the fish.

First of all the main actors in the tank, the platies. Here is a shot of a male that was born in my tank. As you may notice he has a crocked (spelling) spine and this has been the case ever since he was a baby. I thought for sure that he would not make it to adulthood but to my surprise he is one of the dominant males by now.

Glad I didn't cull him.

Attached Image:

Special Male

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

On the other hand, here is a male with a normal spine. He seems to be the undisputed boss of the tank. This does not mean that all other males would have to be empty-handed thought, the number of females in the tank is large enough for multiple males to mate. Also, it doesn't appear that the females are in distress caused by the males, I guess I should count the exact number of females to males. Heck, I don't even know how many fish are in the tank

Attached Image:

Boss Male

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a Golden Twin Bar male chasing after a Sunset female. I have 3 male twin bars in the tank and I seem to have identified the first fry that survided as a mix between these species. I cannot show you a shot of this fry as it comes out only for a second during feeding and goes back down into the Tenellus right after grabbing a flake.

The twin bar in this picture is working his way up to dominant male, but he is not there yet.

Attached Image:

I love you

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The last two pictures are showing a Zebra Danio. This fish is sooo hard to capture in a close-up. Their constant zig-zagging through the tank makes it almost impossible to get a good picture. This guy, and his two buddies, have been in the tank since the setup.

I specially like the yellow frame on their dorsal fin, usually I don't notice it when looking at the fish in the tank though.

Attached Image:

Zebra Danio

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And this would be the last picture, another Danio (or the same in a different position, I don't remember ).

So, you have seen most species in the tank, but not the only surviving Neon Tetra. He is doing fine but doesn't like to be on camera. Don't suggest that I get him some buddies, no neons for me anymore until I have a tank to place a large school of them.

Have Fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Zebra Danio

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

That full tank pic is nice. You totally don't need the tall plant on the right, just a low grassy field below the edge of that driftwood.

Those are nice pics of the zebras. One of the hardiest fish I've ever seen.

My Scapes

wow little fish, your tank looks great!!

Thanks for the input tetratech and Badgers034.

Yeah, I know I could work on this tank some more, but as I mentioned earlier it probably will not exist in this form for much longer as the whole tank will have to be moved into my basement (where all other tanks are).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi LF,
I think that does it. "We" got all these critters
corralled in one spot now.

Frank


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

Thanks Frank,

Yeah, that should do it. Now I have amassed 4 logs in this forum, with this one actually being the oldest log on the list. That is also the reason why the name of the thread is not log, maybe I will go and change the name of it.

Thanks again,

Ingo

EDIT: If I only knew how to change a name. It tried to do it in the first post, but it seems not to effect the name in the forum's listing, hm.
EDIT II: Hm, now it changed

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I really like this tank. I do agree with tetra, the bacopa in the right corner is not needed.

It's got a very natural look to it. Even the platies fit in nicely. The whole tank has a very self sufficient look to it.

I'd just leave it be and let it do it's own thing. With as many tanks as you have now it's nice to have one you can just let take care of itself and see where it goes.

It's a real nice tank. Nice shape and mixture of leave shapes that each compliment the other.

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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.

Yay, the huge bush of tenellus is back - and right up front!

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Well,

Now here is an impossible scenario, "just let it grow". Bensaf, for once you tell me a tank is good without any changes and then it happens to be the tank that has to change. Reasons:

- It has to move, otherwise the wife will divorce me
- It seems like the substrate fertilizer (laterite) is burning out as the Tenellus Lawn that Matty likes so much is only solid in areas where there were no or much less plants beforehand. In the main regions, the Tenellus is actually barely hanging in.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It seems like the substrate fertilizer (laterite) is burning out as the Tenellus Lawn that Matty likes so much is only solid in areas where there were no or much less plants

So are you saying this plant must feed thru the roots to survive? Is it necessary to use enriched substrate to have a really good lawn.

My Scapes

So are you saying this plant must feed thru the roots to survive? Is it necessary to use enriched substrate to have a really good lawn.

I had a nice full lawn going in regular pea gravel. I'm sure the enriched substrate helps but is not necessary

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Back in the saddle!

Yeah Nowher. The reason I ask is that some people say Eco complete fades out after a while, but so what. If your dosing the WC what's the difference. Do carpet plants operate differently than others?

On the other hand, people pay lots of money for all this ADA stuff. Bensaf is growing all his plants in 100% pool filter sand.

My Scapes

It's well known that sword plants(including tenellus) are heavy root feeders. If there are extra nutrients to be had in the substrate, they will use it. If they are struggling in some areas of the tank though, I'd look for a different reason, like shading or maybe you need to add more ferts. I think LF just wants to switch over to eco-complete. I say go right ahead....but make sure to keep the huge tenellus bush.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Good guessing by all 3 of you

I am sure the plants would do better if I would feed ferts more often. But I do so maybe once every other week only. So far, this was ok, as the laterite enriched substrate supported the needs. But not it must be running thin. It is for sure not shading though.

And yes, I WANT to switch to Eco Complete

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It's well known that sword plants(including tenellus) are heavy root feeders

.
Yes I agree, but I don't think they will show deficienies if feed only thru the water column and are keep in inert substrate.



My Scapes

On the other hand, people pay lots of money for all this ADA stuff

I think there's something to be said for the substrate system, and I don't think Amano and guys like the Senske brothers and Luis Navarro use it just for the hell of it, it was developed for a reason. Maybe it's because their styles employ lots of crypts and grasses so the substrate ferts help - but then again, we've all seen bensaf's giant sword so who knows. It is pretty competitively priced compared to Eco etc. though - against pool sand of course there's no contest money wise. So of course you don't NEED it but who knows how results will vary until ya try it - so I agree with all others, switch to Eco because hey, maybe you'll have even BETTER results.


p.s. not trying to start trouble here, just I've seen some nice things from the ADA substrate that, in my limited experience, I haven't been able to get with pea gravel. I couldn't get crypts to grow very full in the 46, but a few weeks in my experiemental 4 gallon and the thing was huge, had to take it out. I'd like to see how it works for hairgrass and tenellus to be honest.

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Back in the saddle!

I don't think they will show deficienies if feed only thru the water column and are keep in inert substrate.

I agree.

And yes, I WANT to switch to Eco Complete

I KNEW it!

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Agree with all once again

Man, we have never been in such agreement, are we sick ?

The ADA might be worth a shot, but I will wait a while before I go that route with any of my tanks. For me, the biggest concern would be the ph altering that this substrate performs. I already have only a tab of 7, so ADA soil would make it around 6, and then I would add CO2, while having a low GH and as such a limited buffer - sounds scary.

Or, could it be that: If I use baking soda to buffer the KH to, let's say 3, I would not have to add CO2 (or does the whole scale of CO2 content based on ph and KH no longer work there? ).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Just for the record my current KH is 2 and my PH is (according to test kits)at 6 or possibily lower. I am not seeing any distress among fish or plants and I'm not adding anything back in. Like most things in life extremes can be tolerated if they are arrived at sloooowly.


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