Restarting after a 5~6yr break

[inque]

Restarting a 3ft tank

Specs below
Dimension: 3 X 1.5 X 1.5 ft
Lighting : 4 X 36W PL ( 6hrs gradully up to 10hrs )
Temp: 27 Degrees ( using fan )
Filtration : Eheim Pro 2 2026
Media: Bio Home plus and Ceramic Rings
PH: 7.0
CO2 : 2~3 Bps using Ista (M) Reactor type
Base Fert: Old JBL Base Fert
Substrate: Plain old sand
Liquid fert: Wonder Gro Macro and Micro 2 ~3 Squirts per Water Change
( in addition also using Wonder Gro Root + )

Canister is still cycling, PH is around 7 most of the time.
Plants only three types HC , Crypt Balansae and "Spiky"





As you all noticed there is some blank spots on the Driftwood.
I'm still wondering wat to do wif them
Maybe will add Ferns in them later ...........

[dwgi32]

Simple and neat, good work

[sandeepraghuvanshi]

You can add anubias nana to lower branches of drfitwood.
Will look nice when plants kick in.

[Jervis]

Simple and nice... what fauna do you plan to add?

[ecar0h]

E. Tenulus for the midground or ard the log perhaps? I like the Crypts at the rear, what height will they grow up to?

[Verminator]

A little factfile from Tropica about Crypt Balansae for you mate.

Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae.

Family: Arcaceae
Continent: Asia
Land: Thailand
Height: 20-60+ cm
Width: 15-20cm+
Light: low-very high
Temperature: 20-28C
Hardness: soft-very hard
pH: 5-9
Speed of growth: medium
Demands: easy

Hope this covers your questions on this plant. Sorry for adding the little factfile, i simply love this plant and couldnt resist What can i say, i'm quite sad i know :P

[Verminator]

Certainly i would use E. Tenellus around the base of the log. Perhaps tieing pieces of Anubias big and small around the lower parts of the wood.

[ecar0h]

A little factfile from Tropica about Crypt Balansae for you mate.

Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae.

Family: Arcaceae
Continent: Asia
Land: Thailand
Height: 20-60+ cm
Width: 15-20cm+
Light: low-very high
Temperature: 20-28C
Hardness: soft-very hard
pH: 5-9
Speed of growth: medium
Demands: easy

Hope this covers your questions on this plant. Sorry for adding the little factfile, i simply love this plant and couldnt resist What can i say, i'm quite sad i know :P

Think thats very knowledgeable of you! Thanks for sharing.

[inque]

Annubis is a low requirement plant but in mine tank of 144Watts i'm afraid
it will develop algae problems.

Got some advice from mine "shifu" will add Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Tropica' to the left side of the tank and some Java Ferns to the center area of the driftwood.

[Verminator]

Provided the plant mass in your tank is high enough you shouldnt have algae issues if you plan on planting Anubias. Provided nutrient intake is quick enough in general in your tank algae shouldnt really be a problem. Perhaps get some floating plants, such as Egeria Densa, to help use up nutrients.

[inque]

It'll block out the light to the other plants mine water surface is
blown by fan



Tank at 5days into planting no difference from the first picture

will add the new plants tommorrow.
Update on wed with new pics with the added plants ; )

Currently the Moss i adapting to mine tank so its abit brown
The Balansae in the back ground is melting also ( sorry for the blurry pic
using mine sis camera secretly )





its normal for these plants to behave so i'm told....

So far the HC is doing ok , but its not pearling yet



only mine Spiky is pearling .....

[inque]

Some updates as promise







added Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Tropica' and Java Ferns on the left blank area

Noticed some hair algae starting to take form in mine tank

[Verminator]

The algae will be due to the severe lack of plant mass in your tank. So any nutrients in the water column arent being consumed quick enough by your existing plants, thus algae has a chance to bloom. Perhaps add a plant such as Egeria Densa just to float on the water surface, this plant not only consumes nutrients very quickly but it also produces a chemical that actually combats algae - bonus! right?

[inque]

Oh thats a plant that can absorb the accessive nutrients in the water.
mine "shifu" recommended frogbits and was kind enough to give mi some to try.

Right now doin manual removal ....

[inque]

quit some time never update

algae problem under control for now , but the HC not growing well
any kind brudders got any tips ?

[inque]

UPDATEZ with pics

Overall is ok ... jus tat the HC is not doin well as mention in mine previous post.



HC


Moss

[Mizu World]

How are you currently dosing fertilizers for this setup?

Your moss seems to be picking up already! Congrats!


Cheers,
Ben

[inque]

yes the moss are doin ok but the HC still CMI .....

the moss need to redo this weekend some portion as they grow out of "shape"

will make them look more natural looking

[inque]

updatez , welcome any comments on the scaping for further improvements

[barmby]

IMHO, the concept is GOOD and the tank is ready for boom after the HC is ready. Try reducing lumination period if algae persist or get worse.