Reply With Quote
Gan,
Thank you for sharing your new setup. Question, what base fertiliser did you use, looks like aquasoil to me, is it? And why did you choose it?
I am in the process of setting up a 3ft medium maintenance tank.
It has rounded corners (I like tanks with rounded corners) with WxDxH of 40"x18"x20". This is how the tank looks when I bought it from another fellow forumer :
I have changed the background to black, replaced the black cabinet with a brown one and removed the hood.
Unlike most aquarists who meticulous plan their tank and I like to take my time to setup the tank and do things on impulse (some call it inspiration :wink: ). So last weekend I put in the gravels, fill it with water and on Tuesday I connected to filtration system (Eheim 2026) and added in some Hygrophila polysperma, Hornwort, Echinodorus spp. and Platies to let it cycle.
This is how the tank looks now :
I have not decided how I want to scape the tank but I know I want some nice mosses covering 50% of the drift wood, some Java fern behind the driftwood and various species of Anubias at the left hand corner. I am also considering having a 1/2 height Xmas or Taiwan moss wall covering 70% of the back with the rest covered with tall Aponogaton spp.
Everything is still very fluid and I will probably plant in stages and decide as I go along.
I will be posting more photos when I add more plants and I welcome suggestions and ideas.
Gan,
Thank you for sharing your new setup. Question, what base fertiliser did you use, looks like aquasoil to me, is it? And why did you choose it?
Freddy,Originally Posted by fc
I was not adventurous enough to try Aquasoil on a 3ft tank ;-) I use a combination of leftover JBL (1/2 pack) and 1/2 tub of Sera Floredeport as base fertiliser. However instead of putting all at the fertiliser at the bottom, I decided to try something different. I layer the base fertiliser with gravels, like 'Kueh Lapis'
I can see the middle layer near the bottom and they look like Aquasoil, so I am wrong. I am always curious about what people use for their base fertiliser where I hope to find the difference in their effectiveness. So far, I find Aquasoil being a good one for foreground plants.
Gan,
I don't have a single artistic bone in my body but something tells me your driftwood arrangment isn't right. The middle piece should be positioned somewhere else. Also, driftwoods look more natural in an aquarium if they are half-buried.
I would also suggest you use an elbow as your filter outlet. The U-shaped tube you're using now sticks out like a sore thumb.
Loh K L
Freddy,
What you see in front are all Lapis gravels. The light and dark layers are due to light penetration. When I even out the gravels later, you will see a straight line separating the light and dark layes.
What do you mean by Aquasoil being good for foregound plants ? Are they not as good for background plants ?
Kwek Leong,
I am not artistic as well and have been trying out different arrangements.
Which piece of wood are you referring to ? There are 5 pieces in the tabk : 2 small pieces on the left, 2 big pieces at the center and 1 thin and long piece on the right.
Agree that driftwood looks more natural when they are buried. However I have itchy hands and like to move them around ;-) I plan to plant some foregrond plants to concel the base.
Yes, it is ugly. It is a temporary setup as I was unable to find a green colour elbow at the LFSs near my place. Do you know where I can buy one ?I would also suggest you use an elbow as your filter outlet. The U-shaped tube you're using now sticks out like a sore thumb.
I plan to conceal both the inlet and outlet pipes with plants.
Gan, if you're looking for those normal green elbows, C328 has alot of these. Was toying with the idea of changing my rainbar output to an elbow instead.
Fish.. Simply Irresistable
Back to Killies... slowly.
I have just started planting on my 3ft. The rock and Hygrophila on the right are temporary. I am still looking for plant for the foreground on the right and more Crypt for the gap on the left.
I still have not tied any moss on the wood yet. I am undecided as to which moss to plant. I am thinking of tieing some Weeping Moss on left stump, Mini Christmas on main area at the center and Erect on one of the vertical stump on the right. What do youu think ?
I think your tank looks very neat, Gan. I would advise against tying Erect Moss on the driftwoods. I found out recently that the Erect Moss won't grow very well unless it's given a lot of light. As for the foreground plant you're looking for, I can spare you a Downoi or 2. Just drop over when you're around the neighbourhood.
Loh K L
Gan, the tank is progressing so very nicely! I can't advise per the moss, but I think that plant on the top right doesn't appear to 'fit' as well. It looks like hornwort -- can't be the hygrophilia you meant is temporary is it? (doesn't look like the hygrophilias I know...)? Downoi in the front would be very nice.
Deborah
I doubt that light is the issue here unless you do not have enough. All moss uses CO2 only and that is what I feel is the problem. At high CO2 (30ppm optimal), plants are able to fully utilise the amount of light energy given to them due to the fact that less energy is require to assimilate CO2 as it is abundant and more energy can be spent on light assimilation. Take care of the CO2 and make sure that it is high and good during the photoperiod should improve overall growth of the moss.
Regards
Peter Gwee :wink:
My concern with Erect Moss is the browning that is happening to many people. 3 out of the 5 tanks I have is experiencing this. As for light, I have 120W now and I think it should be sufficient.
Thanks for the offer. I think Downoi will make a good foreground plantAs for the foreground plant you're looking for, I can spare you a Downoi or 2. Just drop over when you're around the neighbourhood.
Deborah,
Thanks for the compliments. I have some Hornwort floating in the tank and a fern with H. difformis like leaves (can't remember the name) and also H polysperma narrow leaf on the top right. They all all temporary.
This is how the 3ft tank looks like now :
I have added more Crypts on the left, E. latifolius at the center and, Hottonia and Downoi on the right. I have also tied some mosses on the wood. The tall plant on the right is Ceratoperis siliquosa, a fast growing fern It is planted in a pot and I will probably replace it with another plant, most likely Java Fern 'philippines' later.
Jan 2005 update.
The E. quad & E. latifolius are growing very bushy. The Anubias (barteri, coffeefolia and petit) on the driftwood are also getting into shape. The single Downoi KL gave me has grown quite tall and I have planted a few more. Hopefully they will fill up the right corner soon. The Crypts on the left are still not very bushy and have melted a few times :-(
One problem I am facing now is the Echinodorus and Vals leaves have tiny hair algae at the leaf edge :-( Any suggestion as to how to grt rid on these unsightly algae ?
Hi Gan,
I know the problem of the tiny hairlalge on the Echinodorus' leaves. Often the reason for this is too less Co2 or the level of the other nutrients. Some algae eating fishs like Otos or yamato shrimps can be helfpul. But it won't solve the problem. Check the paramters and correct them. I guess it's the Co2.
best regards
Robert
I like your tank alot Gan. Thumbs up!
It might be a circulation problem. The waters around the mentioned plants might not be getting their fair share of C02.
Thanks for the advice. It must be the nutrients as I have not been dosing them consistently.
It might be a circulation problem. The waters around the mentioned plants might not be getting their fair share of C02.
Not likely CO2 as these plants are at the outlet of the filter.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks