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hey.. well i finally got the diy co2 up and running nicely.. just wondering if anyone can help me out on some choice of plants.. below i have attached a picture of what i would like it to be somthing like.. the size is a bit stuffed up but i hope u know what i mean by the drawing.. just trying to get this all planned before buying anything

for the red plant i was thinking maybe Red hygrophila??
what is a good plant to have in the empty front space and also the empty spot near the amazon sword..

just recomend anything to add in or replace, reposition etc.. i'm up for any advice

light is on for 8hrs and i use plant food and fert once a week. Gravel is natral.

if anymore question feel free to ask

thx r0b3y

r0b3y attached this image:


Last edited by r0b3y at 30-May-2005 06:31[/font]

whats the light wattage?? how big is the tank?? what fish will be there???

for the foreground...im thinking of glossostigma...though this one require bright light.. and for the empty space...could be another anubias...giant var. or H. carymbosa or difformis...just a thought

Consider spreading your current setup. It appears a bit crammed at the moment, which might pose a problem once the tank is established, and the plants begin spreading. the riccia could be moved closer to the foreground. The Baby Tears can also be moved forwards, with adequate lighting and some trimming it will remain as a midground plant.

also i see alot of Stem plants in your setup. This may cause quite a headache in mantaining growth.


Last edited by Megil Tel'Zeke at 30-May-2005 19:33

r0b3y
I think I could get a lot of flack in my answer.

Regardless of your design lay-out you could end up with what is known as a Garden Salad in otherwords too many different plants. Cut the number down by half or even more if you can.

Ask at your local LFS a complete list of all the plants they can get for you. From that work to a full size plan.

You must also consider the established growth, it might look rather sparce at first but with very carefull planning it will work out. Some plants "Crypts" are better planted in bunches of three, reason being they will give you a far better display. There are slow growers, those that require different lighting, water movement & airation. Finally select plants that are compatible with each other.

Research is the key word here.

Keith

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A nice Red Tiger Lotus would look nice. But, I guess that would depend on your lighting and size of the tank.

yea i'm gonna do some more research.. i just orderd a book that i hope will help me out (Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscock)

The wattage on the tube is very low 30watt.. but i have a spare 2ft reflecter which i will buy a Aqua-Glo (20watt) tube this saturday. So by this satuday it will bring up the total to 50watt.

The tank is a 3ft standard 40gal 150lt.. currently it is stocked with 2 angels and one pepermint bristlenose.. (had more but sold them to lfs)
going to add more after the planting is done.. this will include:
x2 Bolivian Rams
x6 or more Bronze corys
x6 or more rummy nose
and maybe some cherry barbs.

after reading the thread i will be adding only the vals, cabomba, riccia.. but altering their positions more spaced out and the riccia more into the forground.. the rest i will add slowly later..

currently in there i have the anubias attached to the driftwood, and the amazon sword.

feel free to suggest more

thanks!!!

the rest i will add slowly later..

Better to add them all at the same time. Especially the fast growers. the slower growers can be added later.

If you're set up (lighting etc) isgeared towards a heavily planted tank, then oplant heavily otherwise the algae is getting a free ride.

Plant as heavily as possible.

Layout looks fine to me. The gap between the wood and the sword I would fill with the same species you put on the left hand side of the wood. Make the wood look more natural as if it belongs there. Move the riccia forward, plant around it with Tenellus or Hairgrass or Dwarf Sag, it should be taller then the riccia rock

---

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well... u have only 1.25wpg and thats considered low light....i dont think...majority of ur plants will like that...u need to increase to at least 2-3 wpg if u wana keep ur plants healthy.

I agree with tankie on this, especially submerged riccia since it seems to be quite demanding in light and CO2. The red plant is also one I would question in the lighting. I also second Keigth in that you might want to consider cutting down selection, fewer species can give you a much better look, than a bunch of different plants.

Lighting seems to be the biggest issue in your plant selection at the moment.

With that wattage, don't even attempt riccia or cabomba. You are just asking for problems. They will not make it.

You could have some java moss continue off the driftwood and rolling onto the substrate. The great think about java moss is it's very undemanding lightwise and it can be picked up once a month cleaned off and put back down very easily. I have been doing this for about a year and a half in my tank and have been very happy with it.
The fish also seem to enjoy it, I always see my rams poking their heads through it.

Last edited by tetratech at 31-May-2005 15:35

My Scapes

here it is so far after 2 days of growth..
plants added:
Giant Hygro
Vals
Lilaeopsis
few stems of elodea floating..

running two reflecters 36" aquaglo 30w and 24" aquaglo 20w
diy co2: 2 cups of sugar and 1 t/s yeast will change fornightly.
I use florapryde ferts on sunday and half dose with leaf zone for more iron on wensdays.

r0b3y



r0b3y attached this image:

Looks good mate! Love the hygro The plants looks good with the angels

Mango

thanks.. i need something to put in between the cabomba and vals.. not sure what though.. and maybe some crypts in front of the rocks. what you think.. i would like to get a dwarf lotus in there somwhere but dont know if there hard to look after of where to put it.

r0b3y

try a broad elongated leaf like H. carymbosa.