New Tank: Questions and Advice.

[alphabeta]

Hi all forumers,

I am new to this forum and I have recently set up a 1 feet tank on my office table. It is a relatively budget set up and I would like you guys to take and look and comment if possible! Running a GEX M hang on filter with a 11W Aquazonic Lamp attached, as well as a 16W Ikea Clamp On Lamp because I found that it was not bright enough.
IMG_1127.JPGIMG_1183.jpg

Tank is about a week plus old. the first photo was when it was first set up and the second photo is of it currently. seems like there is negative or no growth at all. anyone can shed light onto how to make it start flourishing? I'm currently dosing excel and Tropica Premium Fertiliser. I know the fert is missing some nutrients do i need to buy other fertilizers?

hope i can get some good advice here!!

[alphabeta]

I would also like to ask. What name is the current foreground plant im using?

[milk_vanilla]

hi,

what's the actual tank size , regular 1 ft tank size ? what's the soil you use ?
foreground looks HM plant, i might be wrong. maybe zoom photo captured might help to identify by the others

[wongce]

Why you want fast growth? How fast you want the plants to grow?? Lol, if you want to turbo charge them, dose fertilizer using EI dosage, spam co2 & lights and lastly keep temperature around 25 degrees..

Hope you know you might get some algae now and then due to unbalance water parameters vs light

[alphabeta]

I will post the foreground picture when I get home. Anyway I have made some changes because I realize that the moss rock I used previously is star moss, which does not grow well in tanks. As such I have replaced it with a Christmas moss rock, but it's shape is not as nice. Will try and get a picture tomorrow.

Anyway I'm not anxious for it to grow. I just want to make sure it's right and I'm not doing anything wrong.

[alphabeta]

My tank is roughly 1 feet square base and slightly longer height wise. Total tank capacity about 19.5L which is 4.9 Gallons. Here is a photo of the foreground plant. Does not look like Marsilea right? Dang I wanted marsilea but I didnt know which is which.

[Urban Aquaria]

Yeah, those do look alot more like Hemianthus Micranthemoides (HM), i got some which hitchhiked on my HC too.

Here is a photo from my tank...



They grow noticeably taller with longer slender leaves (instead of round leaves like HC).

Actually HM are quite nice too, looks good as mid-ground plants.

[milk_vanilla]

Urban,

Ready to keep sharpen your scissors? Haha.

Sent from Tapatalk 2

[alphabeta]

Yeah, those do look alot more like Hemianthus Micranthemoides (HM), i got some which hitchhiked on my HC too.

Here is a photo from my tank...



They grow noticeably taller with longer slender leaves (instead of round leaves like HC).

Actually HM are quite nice too, looks good as mid-ground plants.

Yes that is why it seems like its reaching upwards. turns out its not a low growing foreground plant. I'm not sure how it would turn out though. Should I change? Im thinking of getting Marsilea. Is it relatively easier to grow than HM? Thanks for the time i really appreciate it

[Urban Aquaria]

Yes that is why it seems like its reaching upwards. turns out its not a low growing foreground plant. I'm not sure how it would turn out though. Should I change? Im thinking of getting Marsilea. Is it relatively easier to grow than HM? Thanks for the time i really appreciate it

Not sure about Marsilea... but the HM in my tank has been growing quite quickly (definitely faster than HC), i've been cutting them every week and replanting at other parts of the tank, so i guess they could be considered relatively easy to grow.

[diazman]

if you are talking about marsilea hirsuta, this is the one.

*credits to the google image


you can get them from C328, placed on top of the big tank where all the clip on lights are, in small white containers. Marsilea takes a while before it takes off so do take note.

OR for another alternative, you can go with E.tenellus. those do well in low light setups. I have them in my 45cm

[alphabeta]

if you are talking about marsilea hirsuta, this is the one.

*credits to the google image


you can get them from C328, placed on top of the big tank where all the clip on lights are, in small white containers. Marsilea takes a while before it takes off so do take note.

OR for another alternative, you can go with E.tenellus. those do well in low light setups. I have them in my 45cm

My concern is that HM will grow tall and it wont look nice with my current setup.. However I am hesitant about replacing because it will mess up the tank again no? Update as of today is that the HM is looking healthy and the Java Moss is turning into its dark green colour. I know about E.Tenellus but its also abit tall I'm hoping for a lower foreground plant.

So the question is, change to Marsilea or not? or do you think my high light set up without CO2 but relatively cool temperature can carpet HC? Or just leave it?

[diazman]

If you are worried about co2, why not DIY it? you can stop the co2 once the marsilea establishes. I'm not so sure about growing HC as i lack experience growing it. I only got for easy to grow plants haha.

If you wish to replace, you will expect abit of cloudiness and stuff, considering you will be moving things around the tank. HM is nice IMO. Usually i just let my plants take over the tank and let it grow wild. Trimming once awhile. Main reason being, my fishes like the dense plant mass

[alphabeta]

DIY CO2 will cost me a few more dollars and I have to find time to set it up. maybe i will just stick to excel for now.

Yes you are right it will mess up the tank and it's quite troublesome. I will perhaps just leave it as it is for now. Will take trimming to keep it low. i can see little signs of the plants starting to set root and establish. sure is exciting indeed! the back ground plant is elocharis? doesn't look very nice right maybe i should consider a change.

[alphabeta]

Quick update on the tank. Moss looking good and green and healthy, background plant too. yet my HM is slightly melting though some are growing. Yet they are growing upwards and the leaves look thin and skinny, as though it is unhealthy. Should i be worried? can anyone shed some light?

[alphabeta]

Hi I'd like to just update everyone with the current situation of my tank. I added some new plants and it wiped off my amano shrimp. But its okay as I have conditioned the water and now am ready to add some fish into it. Anyone has any suggestions? I am interested in adding some CPDs and tetras as well as some shrimps at the bottom.

[Urban Aquaria]

CPDs and shrimps should be suitable for your setup... btw, is your tank one of those taller "tower" type tanks? Not sure if its the angle of the camera shots, it seems your tank looks taller in proportion to its width.

[alphabeta]

CPDs and shrimps should be suitable for your setup... btw, is your tank one of those taller "tower" type tanks? Not sure if its the angle of the camera shots, it seems your tank looks taller in proportion to its width.

Yes you are right. the height is taller than the width. its the budget Dophin tank from C328.

Anyway I have gotten 7 cardinals but they are not looking too good. as well as 10 sakura shrimp who apparently are terrified of the cardinals because they keep on hiding.