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Hey you guys, I FINNALLY got the camera to work... here is a pic of my 29 and a REALLY bad pic of my 10....
29
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/blazeybird/dcp_2462.jpg
10
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/blazeybird/dcp_2468.jpg

Edit, Im growing some java moss in their to, you just cant see it to well I whant it to because a "carpet" so you cant see the gravel on top!

blazeybird,

Well, that doesn't look to bad . Maybe with the exception of your reflection in the 10G

Anyway, which one of the plants are real, which ones are fake? I guess at least all red ones are fake, right?

Also, you mentioned the Mondo grass, but I could not find it in your tanks. I thought you bought it already

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

yes, all the red ones are fake, and a few of the green ones, and the mondo grass is in the 29gall and its by the driftwood.... thanks for the complament

blazeybird,

Mondo Grass is actually pretty tall and does best when it is allowed to grow out of the tank top. It seems that you purchased a young one

Who is in the net breeder?

Your 10G looks like it is on its way of being dsigned nicely. The plants on the sides generate the feeling of height and the Bacopa in the middle stands out with its beautiful green color. Are this Bolivian Rams (or one) in there?

Your 29G needs a little more work. I assume you started with the 10 though .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

well, I had the 10gall before the 29 BUT I have had SOO MANY diff. aquascapes in their diff. designs its not even funny, I had all rock, and all sand, and all this, and all that UGGG, I finnally desided on planted,... and from their one.... well maybe I should put the mondo grass in the 10gall? and yes, those are bolivian rams in the 10gall 2 of them ( I REALLY whant German Blue's though.....) and ya the 29 is a fairly new design, been working on it for a month or so now.... do you have any sugestions???/ that would be great, I mean plant wise, or decor. wise (note, I plan to get rid of the coral as soon as I find something to go in its place) or anything? Thanks

blazeybird,

Before I make any detailed suggestions you would have to provide quite a few details about the tank(s). Also, you would have to read up on plant needs, in particular regarding lights, carbon, and fertilizers.

The details should include information as such as:

- tank lights wattage and K value
- your current filters (type and, if possible gallons per hour)
- your tab ph, GH, and KH
- your fish species and number
- your general vision (toyland vs. nature)
- which things you would be willing (and can afford, as this can be an issue) to chane, like substrate, light, hood
- anything else you think may be important

Hope this is enough to get you started,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Awsome Little_fish thanks, well

tank lights wattage and K value
- your current filters (type and, if possible gallons per hour)
** I belive its a 20 flouresent watt, and its a 40 power aqua tech and 15 power aquatech...
**
- your tab ph, GH, and KH
** my ph is 6.8 and I know this is dumb of me as I should know but what is GH and KH???? **
- your fish species and number
** I have 2 gold gourmies, 3 zebra danios, 5 black skirt (diddnt really whant them though, I rescued them ), 2 australian rainbows (have NO Ideah what they are... my mom got them UGG) and 4 lemon tetra (I know its prob. a little over stocked but im dealing with it, as I rescued several of the fish from a very bad 10 20gall tank that the person couldnt handle any more and he was just going to "freze" them) **
- your general vision (toyland vs. nature)
** I whant nature**
- which things you would be willing (and can afford, as this can be an issue) to chane, like substrate, light, hood
- anything else you think may be important
** I would be willing to change the subtrate (been whanting to get rid of it ANYWAYS) and also that is the least expensive.... **



THANKS so much

Oh also, I use liquid fertilizer (i need to get more by the way thanks for reminding me )

KH is carbonate hardness
GH is general hardness

You can buy test kits that include both.

I think the rainbows get pretty big (3-4inches). They will outgrow the tank. They are also a schooling fish and would enjoy more of their type (but you have no room).
The danios would enjoy 3 more because they are also schooling.
The lemon tetras would also probably enjoy a little more company.

If all of those are in the 29g, I think you should take a few to the LFS. A 29g should really only have 2, maybe 3 schools of fish. The rainbows will get too big, so I would take them back. I would keep the lemons and danios, and maybe the black widows. If you don't like them too much, take them to the LFS and up the danio and lemon schools. The fish would appreciate it.

I know people hate being told to get rid of some fish, but really you are close to overstocked and your schooling fish aren't in big enough schools to be truly happy.

You could take the fish back and get some small cories for the bottom.

Oh, and I wouldn't let mom buy anymore fish for your tanks..unless she knows what they are and that they are appropriate for the tank size.

*Kristin*

Nice that Kristin talked about the fish, so I don't have to

About your stuff:

"I belive its a 20 flouresent watt, and its a 40 power aqua tech and 15 power aquatech... " - I believe you are talking only about the 29G now, right? Does that mean you have two filters on it (maybe because of the fish load) ? 20W puts you in the low light range, with less than 1wpg and a rather high tank. Plants for that group include Anubias, Java Fern, Java Moss, Crypts, and a few others (maybe even your swords).

"my ph is 6.8 and I know this is dumb of me as I should know but what is GH and KH???? " - Kristin also answered your question to this topic, on the ph side I would say you are good.

"I whant nature" - Excellent, I like that much better myself. I would suggest you start to look into driftwood and/or rocks as a desing option. These pieces could look very nice when they have the Anubias, Moss, and Fern attached to them. That should provide some height in the tank.

"I would be willing to change the subtrate (been whanting to get rid of it ANYWAYS) and also that is the least expensive.... " - Well, it still costs money to add a new substrate. I think regular small sized gravel would do, it would do even better if Laterite is added to the bottom third layer (is an iron-rich substrate feritilzers and would help in particular the crypts and Swords - in your case). I recently fell in love with Eco Complete, but it may be too expensive and also overkill for a low light tank as it has loads of nutrients that only a few of your plants would use (as most will sit above the substrate).

"I use liquid fertilizer" - which one, how often, how much?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

well, I have 2 more danios in another tank, I have been trying to catch them for AGES but they are to fast... LOL and ive been planing on giving my rainbows to my freind that has 2 of the same and he would get a few more....
the lemons have been in the group of 4 for about...2 years, but I might get 2 more..
I do have driftwood in the tank, it was rather tall so I laid it down... LOL and I whant some rock but I cant find any way to make it "look nice" in my tank... LOL
and I have been "trying" (note trying, LOL) to get my hands on some panda corys but they are hard to get here.. cause they sell out as soon as they get them in....
so what about peat gravel, or small grain peat gravel?

oh also, ya, I have 2 filters, the 40 and 15, the 15 is just an extra that I stuck on their, and if I ever get a small tank like a 5 gall or so I would use it then, but I really dont have any were to put an extra filter and I desided the 29 COULD use it... LOL

oh I use this "plant gro" stuff. its iron enriched... its by hagen.... and I use it not as often as I should,... I use it about once a month, but when I "give this a go" I will do it more often

If you are short on funds, I would go with regular natural colored gravel, 2-3mm in size. I like the gravel Walmart sells. Its the smallest I've seen (that isn't sand) and it is pretty cheap.
Using the Laterite underneath is a good idea...but it can be expensive.

If you want to upgrade the light, go with Eco Complete. I just bought some for my new 55g. Aquariumplants.com sells it for $22 a bag...I think they still have free shipping. Its a good deal IMO because heavy shipping is usually about $9 a bag more.

Flourite is another option, but still a little expensive. It is more common in the LFS and LPS in my area though than Eco.

I have regular Walmart gravel in my 29g and it grows plants great. Actually they grow better in that tank than in my 55g with more light and Flourite mixed with gravel. Go figure.

If you have the money to upgrade, here is the fixture I have over my 29g:
CLICK

*Kristin*

I do have driftwood in the tank, it was rather tall so I laid it down... LOL and I whant some rock but I cant find

Wood that is too tall/large can always be cut, better than if it would be too small

Peat gravel, or small grain peat gravel, should be fine, if the color is right. A dark gray looks good (sometimes called "deep river" ), so does a brownish tone.

"Plant Gro Iron Enriched" is a micro nutrient, and using it once a month is as good as never using it at all .

Ingo

EDIT: didn't see Kristin's entry until now, but I have the same light .

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

well What kind of fertilizer should I use then? Thanks, I will look into the light.... and I found some of the Laterite for like 55 oz. for like $13.oo or so....

and I found some of the Laterite for like 55 oz. for like $13.oo or so

Good, if you are ready to change the substrate over, get that and some small natural gravel.

I don't think you need all the micros and macros for low light and low plant mass tanks. That is an invitation for algae. But, if you upgrade the light and add more plants, you should dose the micros (what you have), Potassium, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Iron. I dose mine once a week (may not be enough). I could be wrong about low light tanks though.

well What kind of fertilizer should I use then

I think LF meant you should use it more...not get another kind. I would use it atleast once every 2 weeks, maybe once a week.

*Kristin*

oh oh oh, Ok, thanks, well I have a question about changing the subtrate.... Should I change it a little at a time so I dont loose all the bio or should I just do it all at once and be done with it?
thanks you guys have been a GINOURMUS help

Actually, I would never suggest a no-dosing routine for macros, the question is only what amounts should be dosed.

And on an average low light/low tech tank, the addition of iron is not really required as it should be part of the micro fert mix and these tank do not contain plants that would require extra iron (with exceptions, maybe).

blazeybird - Here are a few things for you to read. The purpose I present them to you does not mean that I want you to follow anything in particular, but to give you an overall understanding of the things that interact with plants in a tank. It may be overwhelming, but really reading it (not skimming over it) will be worthwhile:

- The Barr Report contains a wealth of information on planted tanks. On the linked page, find the section "Articles" and read through:
1) The Estimative Index of Dosing, or No Need...
2) EI "light" for the less techical...
3) Non CO2 methods

- Next, go to the Seachem Website and check out what the products listed under the top 3 bullets on the left do, and what they are composed of.

This means that you have your work cut out for a while. As usual, we are always here in case you should need some help in between.

About the changes to your tank themselves: Don't rush anything until you understand how a planted tank works and what it needs (hint: water changes).
About all or some substrate at one time: All

Have fun,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

thanks little_fish, I found the Non CO2 methods one very interesting....It is odd that not more ppl do the "non" co2 instead of the other... allwell
you do know that took about an hour right? LOL /:'