My tank after BBA onslaught...

**yampeck** · 3rd May 2006, 22:06

Hi to all,

First time that i'm posting pic of my tank. Had a torrid time fighting BBA for quite some time and finally decided to remove all bba infected plants and removed some affected gravel too... just bought some java ferns to *green* up the tank.

Full view of tank:
DSC03781.JPG

The following are close ups from left to right of tank. (some bba can still be seen on the gravel and on 1 of the java ferns.)

DSC03782.JPG

DSC03783.JPG

DSC03784.JPG

DSC03785.JPG

Some things i'm gonna do soon:
1. Getting 1 more canister filter and connect it to the CO2 with outlet viz rainbar across the back of the tank for better distribution of CO2.
2. Get more faster growing plants to fight BBA?
3. Get some algae eating critters... (otos?SAE??yamatoes???... any suggestions?)

Anyway, need to know what plants to use to take up the foreground or simply leave it bare? Any advice?? but I've got some contraints.. mainly the tank is not deep thus most stem plants will not look nice in this tank...

Any comments are welcomed!!!
Cheers!

**Jungle-mania** · 3rd May 2006, 22:40

Dude, you are growing java ferns, the last thing you need is mor CO2. having CO2 and slow growing plants means more BBA is coming. But you are spot on in getting more plants as it will help in reducing nitrate build up. Have you considered getting a nice DW branch and retying your java ferns onto it? then you can have some moss and nana petite and tiger lilies and other foreground plants to cover the floor.

How about getting a whiptail and some malayan shrimps to clear your algae. One whiptail is enough to handle your tank's algae.

**PeterGwee** · 3rd May 2006, 22:43

Too little or unable to sustain a stable good range of CO2 is why you are getting BBA. Not too much...

Regards
Peter Gwee

**richietay** · 3rd May 2006, 23:24

wow, unique tank! indeed more plants to fill up empty spaces. Since your tank able to view from both angle, suggest you form so-called island with your ferns in center. as for the surrounding fore-ground, stargrass/HC will be nice. wendtii brown/ japonica for mid-foreground?!?!
just my 10cents worth of suggestion, awaits to see your planted finale setup.

**yampeck** · 3rd May 2006, 23:25

Thanks for the advices...

by the way, what's a whiptail??
i've tried malayan shrimps but they didnt make it. My tank's alittle warm for them perhaps.. temp's around 28-29 even with 2 fans, maybe due to the fact that its enclosed. either that or i didnt crimatise them well enough.

What's the requirements of tiger lilies?? and what sort of foreground plants is suitable?
i've planted E. tenellus and they did quite well but had a hard time maintaining them and ended up uprooting them instead. Glosso didnt do well as they tend to grow upwards as i've only 2 X 36w FL.

**yampeck** · 3rd May 2006, 23:34

Was considering using bogwood as a centrepiece but i dont think i can get it into my tank as the opening is pretty narrow...

For this current scape, i was thinking of creating layers of java ferns that over laps so that the cardinals can school inbetween them, creating a sense of depth. This is taking into consideration of my constraint with the low height of the tank such that my plants cant get tall enough to create the effect of depth.

by the way, will hairgrass be a good option for the foreground?

**richietay** · 3rd May 2006, 23:39

how big is your tank?!?! enclosed tank, well, maybe your need to work out on ventilation, maybe construct few fans blowing in and out position. as for your lighting, seems insufficient less you going for low maintanience.
by the way, do you inject CO2?!? hmm......maybe you care to disclose the specification of your tank!

**yampeck** · 4th May 2006, 00:30

here's some specs of my tank:
LxBxH=180x39x36cm
Lighting=2x36W FL
Filter=1 Atman canister (cant recall model)
CO2= cylinder w regulator&solenoid
(temporary using ceramic diffuser, used to be using internal reactor but the powerhead kept falling off)
bioload: 1 discus, 2 congo tetra, 6 pencil fish, more than 50 cardinal tetras
plants: java ferns

This tank is build-in between my living room and study room. The tank's narrow opening was an oversight. Had this tank for close to 3 yrs. Used to be heavily planted, but maintenance (pruning) was a challenge.

**3es** · 4th May 2006, 03:15

Looks really good. Maybe add in some taller plants to add some height to your scape - overall, looks nice!

**cherabin** · 4th May 2006, 03:53

Originally Posted by yampeck

Was considering using bogwood as a centrepiece but i dont think i can get it into my tank as the opening is pretty narrow...

For this current scape, i was thinking of creating layers of java ferns that over laps so that the cardinals can school inbetween them, creating a sense of depth. This is taking into consideration of my constraint with the low height of the tank such that my plants cant get tall enough to create the effect of depth.

by the way, will hairgrass be a good option for the foreground?

'Modify' the bogwood then. A saw will come in handy in this instance

**Jungle-mania** · 4th May 2006, 07:49

Originally Posted by PeterGwee

Too little or unable to sustain a stable good range of CO2 is why you are getting BBA. Not too much...

Regards
Peter Gwee

Ah OK, my mistake.

Will keep note of it.

**Jungle-mania** · 4th May 2006, 07:51

http://basic1.easily.co.uk/01501B/05...il_catfish.jpg

Here is a picture of a whiptail catfish, get a small one, as they can grow pretty fast. Saw some mini ones at Y618 recently.

**kemp** · 4th May 2006, 16:35

can i know what's your tank temperature is like? are you running any fan?

**yampeck** · 4th May 2006, 23:46

My tank's temperature fluctuates between 27 to 30degree celsius. Mainly depending on weather.
I've fixed 2 DIY fans, both connected to a timer which turns on together with the lights.

**yampeck** · 5th May 2006, 00:06

Hi jungle-mania... so that's a whiptail. i think i've seen them at Y618 too. you sure they'll eat bba?? anyway, dun think i'm getting them if they can get big as i wont have much spare tank to hold them if they get big. well, netting and removing a big fish is quite a daunting task too...

Btw, cherabin's suggestion abt the bogwood is pretty tempting... sawing them shouldnt be a problem but to set them in the way they look before sawing them off will be a problem. Might have to modify the look.
And i heard some bogwood's really difficult to sink.

**Jungle-mania** · 5th May 2006, 11:07

They don't eat BBA, but they clear the other algae faster than the other algae eaters.

Bogwood is hard to sink, but you can pur hot water on them or tie them down with rocks. You can also go down to Beautiful Aquarium at Balestier Shooping centre next to NA, he has some nice branches with moss on them there. You can also get branches sawed off to your specification, but its best you check with the boss.

**planted86** · 5th May 2006, 16:17

can try SAE for BBA....

**wks** · 7th May 2006, 09:30

Hi yampeck, you have a very nice tank. But with only Java fern, it can be quite boring. My suggestion is that you can use Echinodorus tenellus as foreground plant. Cluster of Blyxia japonica as midground plant. You combine your Java fern together to form an island with the driftwood concealed by some Anubias species like barteri var. nana.

**yampeck** · 11th May 2006, 00:57

hi all,

Any info on hairgrass? (CO2/fert/light/substrate requirements, fast/slow grower etc) and roughly how's the price like?

And also i'm thinking of getting some fast growing plants like H. difformis. can i leave it in it's plastic holding pot (from LFS) and just dump it into the tank to help fight algae? will this kill the plant??

Any idea where around east or northeast area can i find cheap DW or bogwood? and also petite nana??

Thanks!

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