Peter16 Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 (edited) Came home today and found 3 packages on my door step:) I will let the pics tell the story. but first tank specs Tank - 60 long 30 wide about 36 high (cm) 20gallons (75L) Lighting - 2x 24watt HO t5 globes 6700k and one 20watt t8 unknown Kelvin (thinking 11-18thousand ?) Filtration - 2 HOB filters co2 - Pressurized substrate - DIY, Layer of gravel, layer of pot n peat, capped with gravel and laterite everywhere:mad: ferts - PPS-PRO method with excel every 2nd day and tabs under the larger plants. flora chain sword narrow chain sword broad dworf blyxa corkscrew val hansons nardoo fauna none, However will be looking for 10-20 cherrie shrimp in a couple of weeks, so if you know you will have some available, give me a yell:o ----- Was happy with all the shops i bought off, 3 in total, auschems for my KNO3, Dave for my other chemicals and aquatic dreams for the rest of the plants, Would highly reccomend all 3, especially aquatic dreams. Packages chemicals and nardoo from Dave Planted every plantlet individually, with some left over for my communal tank. Filled it up with air hose, took a few hours. All other plants from Aquatic dreams. (FTS) Im not 100% happy with all the plants placement so over the next few days i will move a couple around, particuarly the broad chain swords. It will be better once the vals grow taller to add some height to the tank. Eheim cannister filter is High up on my priority list. comments, ideas? PS, i have better close up shots of the plants, but the pic limit has stopped me from posting them so will try again after some people reply. :) Edited March 12, 2009 by Peter16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Nothing better than when those packages arrive. OK, you can post more pics now. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Yippee, I havent not told half the story of this tank. It has been months of planning, due to set backs, like unexpected fry, and a crack which i repaired, but you's dont want to know about all of that. so here are a few more pics. Left side (blyxa) Banana lilly(2) , was really attracted to this plant, cant wait for the stems to start heading towards the surface Narrow chain sword (3) hoping it will spread everywhere, the broad ones are up the back, you cant really see them. gotta love the co2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmer Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 i like the sound of that substrate, how thicks the pot and peat layer? and what brand? i think once all the plants are planted in place, take the time and smooth out the substrate, with that kind of substrate it might go a bit cloudy for a day till things settle down. im sure withe the co2, ferts and substrate, that little tank will be thick in no time. well done peter, cant wait to see some shots in a months time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghengis Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Least important question: Did you have the tank delivered as well?? Most important question: How much was your drop checker and from which store did you get it???????????? I want me one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 (edited) I know what you mean about the substrate, its every where atm. Umm if i recal correctly, i mixed about 2 inches of pot n peat in with the gravel, added a little more gravel, then a plain layer of the pot n peat, only about 2cm, should have gone thicker, then capped with gravel. The tabs crumbled apart in my hands and polluted the water, probably why they were half price. I originally had the laterite placed as per instructions, but once the tank broke, i hed to remove all the gravel so know orange clay pieces are everywhere. Ill find out the brand tomorrow for you. Ghengis, I found the Tank on ebay, it came with HEAPS of stuff including the hood and stand for only $100, The stand was in pretty ordinary condition, but i sanded it back and painted it, thats when i broke the tank. I was hoping for 4 packages but it didnt happen, Im still waiting on duckweed for the other tanks, guess it will be next week. The drop checker came with the co2 unit, there are cheap imitation ones on ebay, probably best off buying 2 or 3 for when they break. when i got the tank filled, I only got it up to 55psi which is almost on empty, so i need to sort out the filling problem. Edited March 4, 2009 by Peter16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 I love the colour of those plants against the dark substrate. I think it's going to look fantastic. And I agree with Razzi, there isn't much in life better than coming home to fish-related parcels! (except when you open them and find out you bought the wrong length fluoro tubes ... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Thanks Lilli, I too like the substrate, i wish it was slightly smaller though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 yeah, but then it would be perfect and where's the fun in that? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 i like the sound of that substrate, how thicks the pot and peat layer? and what brand? the brand is Amgrow and its called "Pot n Peat" potting mix. going to move around the broad chain swords today, and hopefully tomorrow will get a new t8 globe. Water cleared up nicely. Unfortunately most of the plants arrived covered in hair algae, mainly the hansons nardoo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 yeah. That's a problem I'm having with the plants I got, too. Other than manually removing it and giving them only 8 hours light a day, and plenty of CO2, I'm not sure what else to do to eradicate it. What are you doing about yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 Nothing yet, I guess im just hoping it will go away, The conditions were right where it came from, so maybe they are not in my tank. Co2 is at about 1 bps and lights are on 9 hours a day. should i reduce it to 8 in an attempt to remove the algae ? On a separate note, had a big afternoon, had to dig out a pretty big pond through hard clay and i did the rescape. will post photos in the morning when lights are back on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 Some people only have the lights on for 5 hours on a new scape and then increase when the plants are showing signs of settling in and producing new leaves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 You must be buggered, Peter! My lights come on at 6am and go off at 10am, then on again at 6pm and off at 10pm. So 8 hours out of 24, they are on, but not 8 hours straight. I had it on a 6/6 cycle but I think that was too much light. Fortunately no algae has grown onto the plants I got from other sources. It seems to want to stay on the plants it arrived on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holycow Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 (edited) keep an eye on the blyx to catch it when it sends out lateral shoots. when the lateral shoots look like they can support themselves, cut above the lateral shoot to keep growth compact and you can then replant the cutting. otherwise blyxa is apical dominant, sending growth to the top then it falls apart!!! also, i'd build up the substrate on the left hand side of the tank to create a step-effect, and increase the amount of substrate at the back to give the illusion of depth. is that a banana lily sitting infront of the driftwood? i'd remove it as it abrupt brings the slope of the driftwood to a halt. perhaps, add more stones to the set up to continue the 'line' created by the driftwood...? Edited March 6, 2009 by holycow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 (edited) Thanks for the comments. The tank is not really scaped as i am just experimenting with what will grow and what wont. I think i will reduce my lighting and as i am running 2 lights i will put on the extra one for 3 hours in the middle of the day to try and imitate nature. I might even remove all the rocks and dw soon, and just try to grow the plants. When i first setup the hardscape i did have a nice "step up" and the rocks acted as a sort of retaining wall, but once the tank broke i lost it and had to start again. PS, finished the pond Thanks again Peter Edited March 7, 2009 by Peter16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 Im performing a test with excel and the hair algae. Hopefully it will remove it. will post pictures if its a sucess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holycow Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 did you triple dose, did you? may also end up killing other plants if not too careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 excel is the carbon, right? I am running DIY CO2 so haven't got Excel. Let us know if it works! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 no didnt tripple dose, I applied the usual dose, except i put a couple drops directly on the plantlets covered in the most aglae using a plastic dropper science class kindly "donated" Lilly, Yes excel is the carbon, i am running pressurized co2 but had this bottle so thought i would use it up. It Has algaecide properties which im hoping to take advantage of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holycow Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 triple dosage is usually required to act as an algaecide. an alternative to excel, as an alternate source of co2, is soda water! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 triple dosage is usually required to act as an algaecide. I dont believe that is the case when applying directly to the algae. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) So what do you think ? Tear down the hardscape, let everything grow and settle in, let it go a little wild and then start scaping it again ? Peter Edited March 10, 2009 by Peter16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 why are you contemplating tearing it down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter16 Posted March 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Not the tank, just taking out the wood and rocks, leaving plants only. This way i can easily monitor their growth and add new ones etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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