180 Litre Complete Rescape

[Verminator]

I have a Juwel Rio 180 which has been running for just under 3 years now. Over the last year many plants were thrown out for various reasons and others died due to lack of suitable environment. This is my first ever tank and being young and naive i soon jumped in at the deep end, thinking i knew it all and i could have a great tank. It soon became apparent i had to take a few steps back. My tank after its first year looked like this.


The HC, hairgrass and Hygrophilia all died off because something with my water parameters wasnt quite right.

I decided to leave it and just rescaped my tank. I invested in some better filter media, and a few more crypts. Over the last 12 months my tank has been far simpler, almost too simple. Very sparsely planted tank, with height at the back and the crypts basically randomly dotted about. This for a short while was enough and my fish were happy enough. This is how it has looked for the last 12+ months.


This was taken right after thinning out all the crypts so looks barer than what it was, should have taken a pic before instead, sorry.

Recently i began to get itchy feet. Suddenly i found myself browsing the internet and looking at/for new plants to try out. I began planning and planning, researching and researching. Untill todays product, a completely rescaped tank with plants suitable for my aquarium. Below is todays finished product.


A total of 15 new plants, when separated revealed i had well in excess of 30 plantlets which i struggled to get to stay in the substrate. Roots were all trimmed and unhealthy looking leaves were pruned off.

Why to any aquatics shop i venture into never had plants labelled? Or any information of that matter listed anywhere. I only know what i'm buying and maximum sixe ect when i buy directly from Tropica or shops that deal through Tropica? So unfortunately i do not have plant names or information for you. If you know any of them don't hesitate to shout them out to me, would be appreciated .

So i start from the left side of my tank. Heres a shot


For those who may notice, my male gourami is currently in solatary confinement due to being a beligerent blighter toward the female. So i've isolated him for a week inwhich gives the female time to claim the tank as hers. Recommended from LFS and instantly, i mean instantly the female is out and free swimming!


Notice the DIY filter outlet cover. Just bought two otto's for my tank to combat algae growth on some plant leaves. Hoping they do a better job than my false SAE DIY cover consists of plant root material with a lead strap wrapped around. Hopefully to deter my tiny otto's from venturing into the none-returnable

Any feedback on my tank is much appreciated. Like how to stop fish uprooting new plants that currently have no rooting. Its driving me nuts.

[CK Yeo]

you have non-aquatics in the tank. e.g. Mondo grass, Dracaena and that plant behind the rock.

How about trying some Java ferns, anubius and mosses? Are you using CO2?

ck

[newtank]

Sorry off track a bit

Recently I went to Teo's farm to have a look around and found the uncle who attended to us was very knowledgeable , especially the plant names. I have been reading some Taiwan aquatic magazines recently and just told him a couple of Chinese names off my mind, like "red Butterfly, "Red Sun" (crudely translated), and to my surprised, he just went away and took some to show me. We had a good chat and he even gave me a piece of HC, FOC, to try out.

I have a feeling if you want to buy plants base on names you see off magazines and books....finding out the Chinese names might help quite a bit.

[Verminator]

CK Yeo: I bought them from my LFS, and i was surprised to see them. The shop i went is well established and have a very good reputation. The plants in question have been submersed for a while now too in the shop. The last few weekends i have been there they have been fine. Do you think they will be ok in an aquarium. Seeing as though you say there non-aquatic does that mean i should replace them? Or will they die off or what. Do you have any expereince of anything like this?

I've tried Java fern in the past, and i do have a type of fern attatched to my Bogwood now, trouble is its not growing to half the size it should do naturally. As for mosses, i've long since given in with them. I can never get them to grow, they always just melt or die away over a period of time. Anubias i'm currently looking for in shops. Seems i have to order them in, if not i shall be using Mizu Worlds European based site to get some . I appreciate the input guys thanks, and the I.D's of some of the plants.

newtank: I went to a few LFS in my area with latin/chinese ect names of all the plants i wanted and only a few shops had maybe one or two of the 11 in total i was looking for. So i gave in after 1 month of "trying my luck" and just got what looked nice in each shop

[CK Yeo]

It is your choice whether you want to replace them now, but you will eventually need to anyway. They are really slowly drowning in there.
Choosing the wrong terrestrial plants for the aquarium is one of my first mistakes when starting a planted tank. They are still popular in LFS since they seem to last longer in unsuitable conditions than real aquatics.
They might be suitable for a vivarium though.

ck

[Verminator]

That's really dissapointing news to me. I quite like the contrasting leaves in there. Damn my LFS, little blighters selling me them, gah!

I shall see how they do for now, and as soon as i see them dieing off, replacements shall arrive. Thats dissapointed me quite a bit now

[CK Yeo]

Your LFS probably didn't know any better.

Do share with us your tank parameters. Others might be able to suggest something suitable for your tank.

ck

[Verminator]

There a trusted LFS with a very good reputation. They've grown quite big over the last god knows how many years and the first recomendation by smaller lesser known LFS when they cannot assist. I honestly can't believe they would sell me what false aquatic plants.

The only parameters i can share are a few basics...

pH: 7.0 (0.2 fluctuations either way)
Temp: 24-28 oC
substrate: AquaGrit (thats all its called, no brand name)
Lighting: 9-11 hours a day.

I'm unable to take readings of other parameters due to not actually having any other test-kits.

I'm thinking that if these plants do fail i shall stick to hardier Anubias and some larger crypts.

Hydrocotyle Leucocephala
Hydrocotyle Verticallata
Pogostemon Stellatus in place of those in the far left corner perhaps.
Rotala sp. 'Nanjenshan'

To name a few that i may try. Anyone have an experience of these?

[Verminator]

One more thing to add, those plants in the back left corner had orange roots before i cut them off to plant. Now is that a sign they arent aquatic plants or is there the possibility that they do just have orange roots?

[Fei Miao]

The trick to growing java fern is medium to low lights, cool water (ideally 26ºC and below) and good water current flowing through them. CO2, though not necessary, would boost growth if present.

[Verminator]

Would my java fern benefit from being either nearer the outlet for my filter or having it aimed directly into the tank to aid flow. At the moment the outlet is facing the glass on the back to direct the flow being my tall grass at the back due to having just replanted them and trimmed the roots off. As soon as they've reestablished themselves i shall direct the flow back into the tank to get the current up. Also i tried to slow it down so that my gourami's prefere it. I read they like slower movement with little or not disturbance to the water surface. I probably took that into extreme in getting there conditions right first, without thinking of the consequences on my plants.

Thanks.

[Fei Miao]

You can try placing the ferns near the outlet, the flow doesn't need to be direct, having gentle water flow would do, have a go and see if that helps, of course you have to get the other factors, such as temperature, lights, nutrients, CO2 right to get good growth ..and yes, replace all the terrestrial plants before they starts rotting away. Hope this helps.

[jasonc]

As I will suggest to go in deep to tweak your setup equipments, such as light, filter medium, and others. And, low pH will help the plants to absord more fertilizer. Wish you good luck!

[Verminator]

My lights are fine, they need replacing, but the light levels they emit are more than enough, consisting of the right spectrum of light too.

Filter media is abundant and various pads all deal with the appropriate stuff. Just recently fixed the water flow. My powerhead was giving off what can only be described as a dribble of water, so i took it apart and cleaned it, still nothing. I then noticed a filter pad that was unusually thick and designed to the point where it did not let ANY water pass through, so i removed it. Since then powerhead has been working like its brand new.

pH is consistent, i struggle to make it go up and down, not that i want to but it certainly never wants to alter.

Fertilizers are dosed twice weekly. I use Seachem Flourish Nitrogen dosed as said before. No idea if i should get other ferts, i've always been told this is all i need, and it seems to be true. In conjunction with Co2 added and a decent substrate growth seems to be good.

As for my 'non aquatic plants' removing them soon as a good idea? People i've spoken too in person seem to think there fine and are aquatic plants. I'm so confused and don't know what to do. If they are going to rot how long would it take do you reckon? Obviously i know it can depend entirely of water parameters and temperature ect.

[Verminator]

Ok, so its currently 1:19am and i've finally finished my plant list. Seeing as my last batch included none aquatics, which im still annoyed about...but its behind me, and i shall move on.

So i'm keeping the crypts, tall grass in back right., java fern 'narrow' and egerio densa. Center plant will also stay, forgotten the name of it though.

New plants will be;

Anubias barteri var 'nana' [1 pot] will split rhizome into three plantlets
Anubias barteri var barteri 'Broad Leaf' [1 pot] comes as 3 rhizomes ready
Eleocharis Parvula (dwarf hairgrass) [10 pots] 50 stalks per pot, est 5 plantlets in each? thats 50 plantlets to plant to form a lawn? yes/no
Ludwigia Repens [1 pot] planted back left
Ludwigia Glandulosa [1 pot] mixed in with Repens back left
Pogostemon Stellatus 'Narrow' [1 pot] may plant infront of filter box
Pogostemon Gayi [1 pot] right in back left corner

Eleocharis Parvula - I'm unsure how many to purchase. I've read that planting 3-5 plantlets 2-3cm apart for a lawn. Does that mean repeated patches across the substrate, or one bunch and let it spread from there (surely that would take years). I think i'll got for more than i need, i can always add some to my smaller tank housed next to it should i have too much at the end.

Will order these from the European site that MizuWorld offers (AquaSpot World). Looking forward to this, may have to invest in some decent planting tweezers. Don't think i can plant them close enough using my fingers. Always knock ones out i've already planted when using fingers.

[Verminator]

I ordered those plants that day, the 23rd. I'm still waiting for them. I have a feeling they may arrive at my house either dead or extremely dilapidated. Dissapointed to say they least.

Fingers crossed they arrive later today, or tommorow atleast.

[oblivion]

Eleocharis Parvula - I'm unsure how many to purchase. I've read that planting 3-5 plantlets 2-3cm apart for a lawn. Does that mean repeated patches across the substrate, or one bunch and let it spread from there (surely that would take years). I think i'll got for more than i need, i can always add some to my smaller tank housed next to it should i have too much at the end.

yep repeated patches across the entire area you want them to be in
buy more to ensure you have sufficient quantities to plant heavily

[Verminator]

I've purchased 10, so that'll give me enough to put them where i want them initially and over the coming months (assuming they actually turn up alive) they will spread elsewhere. Thats the plan atleast, they've first got to arrive. Then actually survive the adaptation period from the blatently deshevelled state they are undoubtedly going to arrive in now.

Edit added: IF NOT ALREADY DEAD IN PACKAGING

[Verminator]

Righty then!

Order from an anonymous online retailer arrived and is now planted within my aquarium. Some hiccups along the way, but customer satisfaction certainly still in tact.

Anubias Bateri var. Barteri 'Broad Leaf' x1 (5 individual rhyzomes)
Anubias barteri var 'Nana' x1 (2 individual rhyzomes)
Eleocharis Parvula x10 (separated into 50 plantlets easily)
Ludwigia repens x1 (7 stems roughly)
Hydrocotyle Leucocephala x1 (7 stems - 4 survived 13 day delivery ordeal)
Unknown suspected Gymnocoronis Spilanthoides x1 (enough to make 2 bushy plants)

Shall post an image of the tank tommorow morning when lights turn on and minor replanting of loose plantlets is done - damn those pesky clown loach and bristlenose plecs for digging them up.

[bubberls™]

After reading your plant orders and deliverys i really appreciate the plant farms and LFS available here.

Is it a real hassle to order plants?