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Hello All

This is my first attempt at a large tank and live plants.
My tank is only a week old so it kinda looks fake at the moment.
http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/evltoy69/detail?.dir=/d4f4&.dnm=3bdd.jpg

Ok.. With this tank 48"x14"x18" (160lt water volume) l have decided to try out the Red Sea Live plant program. No one here has tried it before, so l like to be a little different.

So far the gravel has the Red Sea Flora Dose. 12 Tablets in total.
I have also put in the initial 8ml dose of Red sea Flora Gro into the tank. After that l only have to put 2ml to my fresh water change.
And l put daily 3 drops of the Flora 24.

Also l'm running the Red Sea DIY C02 Unit, which is running very well.

My light setup is as follows.
4x 36w 4 foot 6500k Fluro daylight lights
Each light is on a timer -
Light 1; on at 8am off at 3pm
Light 2; on at 9am off at 4pm
Light 3; on at 11am off at 5pm
Light 4; on at 12pm off at 6pm

Now my PH is at 7.0
KH is at 140ppm or so
GH is at 10deg
Ammonia is at 3ppm cycling tank
nitrite is at 1ppm

I will be testing the iron and c02 params tonight to see what they are and post them up.

Here are some close up pics on my plants.. Now l cant understand what could be wrong with them as l'm very new to this.

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/evltoy69/detail?.dir=/d4f4&.dnm=4c8f.jpg

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/evltoy69/detail?.dir=/d4f4&.dnm=9b17.jpg&.src=ph

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/evltoy69/detail?.dir=/d4f4&.dnm=5678.jpg

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/evltoy69/detail?.dir=/d4f4&.dnm=1b57.jpg&.src=ph

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/evltoy69/detail?.dir=/d4f4&.dnm=fdfc.jpg&.src=ph

Thanks for your help guys.

Hi,
I would change the light timers...
1. Light one and four should come on at 0800, and go
off ten hours later at 1800 (PM). Make these the
center bulbs (in the middle of the tank canopy.)
2. Lights 3 & 4 should come on around 1000 and go off
around 1400 simulating the time from 10 and 2 when the
sun is at its brightest. I'd make these lights the
one toward the front and the bulb closest to the back.

This would give you good wpg for the normal 10 hour
day, and the brightest light during the middle of the
cycle as in nature.

Four timers are a real pain, especially after a power
outage. If you have a timer that can handle two bulbs
at once, I'd splice the two cords together and plug that
one cord in and run two lights off one timer

Just a thought...
Frank



Last edited by FRANK at 21-Dec-2005 00:33

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

Frank,

Thanks so much for the idea. I will start this new setup tonight.

Looks like l may have found my problem with my plants. After doing a few tests, these are my results.

pH 6.4
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite &gt;1ppm tank is almost cycled
GH 10 deg.
KH 6 deg.
C02 &gt;30ppm
Iron (Fe) 0ppm

I have up the daily dose of the Flora 24 to increase the Iron and have cut down the usage of the C02 to 2 hours less per day.
Will also apply Franks idea tonight and have this running for a week.. hope to see some improvement in my plants.

Wayne


Last edited by sharkbait_whohaha at 21-Dec-2005 16:56

Nice looking start to your planting and landscaping. However, the arrangement looks a little too - balanced. Your viewing focal point should be 2/5ths of the way from one end of the tank and 2/5ths of the width from the back of the tank. Define that spot with your wood and the large sword in an arrangement. Use the rocks to give the wood placement some depth.

The sword will probably lose its leaves. Most aquarium plants are grown emersed then sold as immersed plants. The plants adjust by shifting their foliage from what is best in the air to what is best under water. Do trim the plant roots for both the swords and the val when you plant them.

The vallisneria is picking up a little diatomaceous algae (brown algae) and looks a little ragged from transporting and planting it. It will be fine. Remember, this plant will grow to the water surface so use it as a background plant.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I certainly agree with Bob. You have put a lot of thought into what you intend to do but the Aquscaping has let you down. Get that correct now, relocate some of those plants (before they get too established) rearrange the rocks, think about driftwood and certainly plan for a lot more plants.

PM me you E/m address and I will forward you some info that will help you.

Where in Aust are you?

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop &amp; Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Hey Guys. First of all thanks for your thoughts on my tank. This is my fist tank so l need as much help as possible.

Last night l had changed my light setup to what Frank had said. I put 2 lights on each timer to make life a little easier. I also re-setup my C02 to start at 9am and finish at 5pm instead of 8am to 6pm. Due to me having way too much C02 in my tank l went and bought an air pump and 4 air little air stones. I was thinking of kicking them off at 6pm (1 hour after C02 stops and lights are off) and turning off at 8am (lights turn on). I hope this will drop the C02 intake in the tank. I&#8217;m aiming anywhere between 5-15ppm of C02.

In regards to Aquascaping&#8230;. I need help. This is one area l have not done any research.
Bob &#8211; l have taken in what you have said, but l still need more info on where l should be placing the other plants, driftwood and cave (rocks).

Keith &#8211; thank you so much for offering your time to helping me out. Send as much info as you like to my email address. If you have any photos or diagrams that would be cool.
I have PM you my work email.
Oh l live in Victoria, Glen Waverley.

Today is my last day at work.. xmas holidays, but l will be checking this post and my emails once in a while when l come into work. So don&#8217;t think l have left this post.

Cheers
Wayne

I have E/m the info today

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW