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Does that mean you don't need my Glosso anymore?

Just asking, as I still try to find a store that carries heating packs. The best I found so far last only 12 hours.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

You would be my friend....can we be friend? Is that ok?

When we do this shipping stuff we need to try to work it out to be shipped on a day that I just sit at home. Keep me updated. I could probably go looking for some 24 hour heat packs and then mail them to you. If you want...




Last edited by Wingsdlc at 03-Jan-2006 11:34

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Eh, sure, we can be friends, if that is a requirement to send you some Glosso

Let me dig a little more to see if I can come up with a better provider of heating packs.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

One more thing about the packing and heat pack thing. When I went over to Bob's he said something about venting for the heat pack. It might be a good idea for one of us to give someone a call about it.

I don't have much going on today so maybe I will give some people a call.

Eh, sure, we can be friends, if that is a requirement to send you some Glosso

I mean you don't have to be a friend to send me stuff......I will take it anyway......

Last edited by Wingsdlc at 03-Jan-2006 12:41

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Some guy came and sold some plants to my store tonight so tomorrow I am going to be adding in some dwarf sag and a nice chunk of anubias. The sag will probably be placed in the mid ground and the anubias some where on the "thing".

I have a feeling sometime in the next week or so there is going to be some simi-major replanting going on.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Lets keep the personal posts out of this shall we ....that's what PM's are for.

It keeps those that are interested in the useful stuff from having to wade through all of it...

^_^



[hr width='40%'][/font]

Sorry Babelfish.....


Last night I did some replanting once again.....I seemed to fix up the section to the right of the "thing" but destroied the section to the left of the "thing". Right now I am in the market for some more plants. Two plants that I am thinking of are Didiplis diandra and Ludwigia. Also something tall and thin for behind the wisteria. I think I found some stuff I just need to get there.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Still no pictures, sorry everyone. The guy I normaly steal a cammera from is sick and I don't want to get it. I do have a few up dates on my tank though.

Other than new plants and changes from a week or more ago I started using some Leaf zone and just set up a 2nd DIY Co2 bottle using a corelife Limewood block. It has realy small bubbles and I think that it will help my tank out quite a bit. I have also been using the Green Light Stump remeover for a good week now and my Java Moss has really taken off.

As for fish I am starting to think of Brillian Rasbora's. We have some at work and I really like how tight they stick togeather. I am going to be doing some reseach before I buy them but they might be a good option for my tank.


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well here come some picture!!




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Whole Tank

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Attached Image:

Left Side

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Attached Image:

Center

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Attached Image:

Right Side

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Attached Image:

Sunset Hygro

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Attached Image:

Giant Hygro with K issues

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

This shot is the best one I could get of my new rainbows. I am sorry I suck. It was taken at night with a flash.......

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Rainbows

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

New toy!

Attached Image:


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I just picked up the Green Mondo Grass and I a thinking of putting its behind the Wisteria and pulling the baccopa out and putting it either some where else of in another tank. The right side of the tank I am pretty happy with but the left side needs some help. I am thinking either a gaint plant right next to the "thing" to help balance it or posibibly finding a new chunk or chunks of DW.

As always I want to hear what you guys have to say. I am pretty much open to think about things.

Edit:
I added 6 of the dwarf neon rainbows last night. So far all seems to be going well. the skunk loaches seemed to chase them around quite a bit last night but this morning they don't seem to care any more. I am really happy with these guys so far. for 15 bucks and 6 fish with that much color it really adds some flash and movement to my tank.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Very nice Wingdsc I think I've been missing your thread because it's in aquascaping. I guess there's a fine line when posting between scaping and planted aquaria.
Anyway my comments.

I like the area around the "thing" and the giant hydro looks good. IMHO everything else should support that area. So in that vein I feel anything tall in the corners especially the right one takes away from the "thing" I still think you could make that wisteria "crawl" around more and toward the thing so it blends better. I think the tall plant on the right (I forget name) if possible needs to be shorter and more heavily grouped.

What's the story with the sunset hydro. Is it hiding behind the thing. I only see one stem. Again same thing I would trim make thicker bush out of it.

Your lighting is over 3 wpg, how's the co2 number? Why no K? Are you dosing N & P?

BTW - For $1 to $2 dollars you could get a limewood airstone and place it under return until you decide on a diffusion method.

Otherwise very nice job

My Scapes

I think I am probably going to keep spreading the wisteria around more. I was also thinking of getting some waterspirit to to put on the left side of the "thing".

I know what you mean about the Sunset needing to be thicker. There are probably 5 stems of it in the tank. On the left side of the thing there is the one facing the front of the tank, behind it are 3 or 4 more stems that didn't grow as much. If you look at the crapy picture of the rainbows you can see a stem of it coming out of the giant hygro, its the one thats breaking the surface.

Lighting is 3.25 WPG. I am using 1/4 tsp 3 times a week (M,W, and F. Water changes are on M) of the KNO3 (Stump Remover). I am also using some Leafzone for the time being until I place an order for the good dry stuff. Once I started using the Leafzone the Giant Hygro seemed to stop having as many issues.

I haven't tested my Co2. I should probably buy a test kit some time. Right now I am running two 2L bottles of brew. One running to the buble ladder the other is the a limewood block under the filter. You can see it in the Giant Hygro picture.

Thanks for your comments thus far.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

The stump remover has alot of K in it So between that and the leafzone you should be O.K., Sounds like the only thing you might be missing is more P.



My Scapes

Wings,

I like it

I think your "thing" has come a long way since you introduced us to it

I would say the Bacopa groups have to be more bushy, tight now they look like soldiers that have been lined up. Grouping them with taller ones in the back would look very nice.

Of course there is nothing wrong with trying other plants either.

Good job my man ,

Keep it up,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The stump remover has alot of K in it So between that and the leafzone you should be O.K., Sounds like the only thing you might be missing is more P.

From Chuck's planted Calculator by adding 1/4 tsp I am adding in 3.46 ppm of K. I have no idea what leafzone is running. I do plan to be buy some dry ferts here some time this week but I need to drop Bob an email and see if he wants anything.

LF,
The bacopa is not going to stay behind the wisteria. Right now I think I am going to stick my Mondo back there to see how it looks then start the search of some (as tetratech would say) "completely submerged" plants.

You guys seemed to go way to easy on me. Make my head spin or something....



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Just for fun...

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First whole tank shot

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Round #2

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#2

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Round #3

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#3

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Round #4

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#4

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Any ideas for what I should do with the right side of the "thing"?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Couple of new pictures. Sorry they are not the greatest!

Attached Image:

Whole Tank

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Added in the Mondo Grass

Attached Image:

Right Side

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Moved some Wisteria to the Left

Attached Image:

Left Side

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Ok I have to jet to work!!


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

I think the Mondo Grass is way too dense in its current configuration. It actually looks more like you parked them there because you don't have time to plant them (sorry to say that).

Are these 2 bunches or are they groups that you can separate? Could you put them behing the thing so that the bottom half is invisible?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I think the Mondo Grass is way too dense in its current configuration

Remember the mondo grass has an anubias like rhizome so you would have to split that to make it less dense.

This is my take on your current scape. Hey I like that "Take on your current scape"

Could you put them behing the thing so that the bottom half is invisible

Right on Ingo
Take the mondo grass and put it right behind the "thing" Try to raise it up so it breaks the surface. This will probably give it a better chance of surviving long-term. Remember it doesn't have to be buried in the substrate. Sandwich the roots between two rocks hidden behind the thing.

Get rid of that left corner plant. It's just there, there's not much in front of it. Can be trimmed and keep in a fuller bunch moved maybe midtank. Add even more wisteria to wrap around left front of thing and maybe some e.tell in the front as well. Done




My Scapes

This is my take on your current scape. Hey I like that "Take on your current scape"

What??

e.tell?? Picture? Help me out here...

The mondo grass I basicly threw it behind the wisteria to get an idea of what something grassy would look beind it. I am pretty sure I want something like it back there but something much less huge like the mondo grass is now.

Mondo behind the thing. That might be nice. I don't really like how there is nothing behind it right now so I will have to give that a try.

The bacopa is coming out and going in the 20 gal. (aka plant storage tank) It really doesn't fit in.

Should I just build up wisteria like on the right side for the left side? Work it high by the "thing" then low to the corner?

Any ideas are more than welcome.

Sorry again about the crappy pictures. I was in a really really big rush this morning trying to get them in and run off to work. Thanks for all your help once again.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Sorry Wingdsc, I'm referring to the foreground plant that nowher and LF have echinodorus tenellus (pygmy chain sword)


My Scapes

Thanks Tetratech! I just couldn't put my finger on it.

Here is a link to a new picture of the tank. Sorry no more direct pictures. I was only playing with the premium membership. As soon as I get a digital cammera of my own I am for sure getting the PM.

I ripped out all the bacopa and moved some of the the Mondo Grass behind the "thing". Now there is a big open spot to the left of the "thing". I am thinking of growing the Wisteria high by the thing angling to the back corner of the tank. Then having dwarf sag in the forground. For the Right side I am probably going to angle the wisteria back to the mid side of the tank and play with the dwarf sag some more.

I hope that makes sence.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wingdsc,
Oh my God, that looks soooo much better

Look at this pic of your tank. Now nothing competes with the "thing" and it's the high point of the tank with the mondo grass behind it.

Where I put a "W" more wisteria "P" Pygmy Chain Sword".

You could also go with other species with similiar height.


Attached Image:


My Scapes

tetratech,

Thanks very much! I really like whats going on around the "thing" Now I have to get everything else to work with it.

Would it be a bad idea to mix Wisteria and Water Spirit? I am thinking that putting much taller growing water spirit next to the giant hygro would help balance things off a little. Then I would have the wisteria but up to the spirit and over to the edge. Feeling any on this?

How about another chunk of DW on the left side? Something like the one on the far right? Bigger or smaller? I am thinking bigger to have it add the thing but not so big it takes away from it. Maybe tall and thin...

Can anyone give me a comparison of dwarf sag and the P. Sword. In terms of hight, needs, likes or dislikes... ect...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

You definitely need some vertical lines to add definition to the tank. The mondo grass gives you some feel for those lines that can be attained with c. balansae in my tank or the c. retrospiralis that Ingo is attempting to control in his tank.

I do like the flow of plant height but the polysperma seems to overwhelm the driftwood. The chain sword will add some foreground interest but you are very green, very monochromatic. How about a lily to provide a hint of color to offset all that green?



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__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Wings,

tetratech and Bob gave you good advice. But so far you have already come a long way .

Soon we have to cut you off from our support as your tank will look better than ours .

Have fun,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Bob,

Maybe we will have to go plant shopping sometime or I will just make the boss order me some stuff. I do like the idea of something darker in the tank like your lilly. Maybe a brown crypt? Something vertical would be nice also.

LF,

Better than all ya all's. I don't know about that. Things are comming along though. Thanks so much for your help everyone.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well I don't have any new pictures but I should probably work on that one. Maybe over spring break when my face is hurting from having my teeth ripped out...

Any who... here are a few up dates...

Fish List:
1 Sliver Molly
4 Otos (as of the last water change I only found three..)
3 Guppies (1 male, 2 female)
?? Guppy Fry
1 Clown Pleco
2 Skunk Loaches
9 Dwarf Neon Rainbows
1 Flying Fox

PLANTS
Java Fern
Java Moss
Wisteria
Giant Hygrophila
Sunset Hygrophila
Anubias nana
Dwarf Sag
Crypts
Mondo grass
Anubias barteria

I made a Greg Watson's order and I am now dosing
1/2 tsp of Potassium Nitrate MWF
1/16 tsp of Potassium Phosphate M,W,F

Just ordered a Co2 kit and 2L of flourish from the Dr. F&S. I probably should have spent the extra buck or two but I went cheap. Hopefully it will work out.

Flourish will be dosed T,R,Sat

I am thinking of upping my school of rainbows to 12 and maybe adding in a second school of fish. Maybe 5 or 6 Brillant Rasboras. Then my fish load would be getting pretty big.... maybe just keep it simple with a big school of rainbows... and add a few more loaches....who knows...



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Maybe over spring break when my face is hurting from having my teeth ripped out...

oh, that must hurt

yeah, a picture might help to see the recent beauty of your tank.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Pain is all in the mind... (have to have my wisdom teeth pulled before I get married and loose my good insurance from my parents.)

I will have to see what I can do to come up with a cammera. Things have changed a bit. My plants are looking pretty good although I am starting to get some holes in the leaves of the giant hygro. I guess it needs more Potassium. It seems to be really K hungry. I can fix that problem though.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Another quick little update... sorry no pictures still... too much work to be done first...ei.. homework...

I have my CO2 system up and running. I am not really happy with the glass diffuser that I have though. The hose keeps sliding off the connecting end! Really burns me!

How many BPS should I been running? I will post a new thread for this question too.

I am starting to get some algae growth. Nothing too bad yet. The stuff that I am worried about is the black looking stuff on the Giant Hygrow leaves by the filter out put. I am also getting some beard algae(?) in the area too.

I am guessing that being I have been gone for a week, just started using real co2, and dosing Flourish is why I am getting this stuff.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Alright... I just broke down and bought some test kits. This is what I know now.

PH 7.8
KH 17 degrees

CO2 then = 8 ppm

My Nitrates are at 10ppm after not adding any since friday morning.

Tonight is my water change night so I will do my 50% as normal, bump up my CO2 a bit, and add in my normal dosing.

1/2 tps Potassium Nitrate
1/16 tps Ptassium Phosphate

Micros will come in the morning.

Having a test kit ising half bad.

Edit: Just one more thing. I counted 4 Otos after this water change so I have only lost one since I got them months ago. So I think anyways.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Another little update:

Still having a few issues with my Co2. Every time I turn up my neddle vale the bubbles start going out like crazy but after a little bit they seem to have not changed from the original change.

At best my Ph seems to be somewhere around 7.3ish. My test kits run from 8 something to 7.4 and from 6 to 7.6. It makes fining out which test I need to use really fun. My fish haven't been having any problems with it thus far so I guess I will just keep an eye on them.

Added a small school of Brillaint Rasboras today (5) all seem to be doing well thus far.

ALGAE!

I am starting to get some soft green stuff on the glass and some stuff that looks like this:

http://www.aquaticscape.com/articles/algae/bba3.jpg
with some short but thick hairs on it. I am finding this stuff only on the giant hygro near the filter and where the leaves were stuck at the surface.

Any thoughs are welcom.

Dosing has been as normal
1/2 tsp Potassium Nitrate
1/8 tsp Potassium Phosphate
MWF

2, 2L Flourish cap fulls of flourish.
T,Th,Sat



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

That is quite a high KH. I am no expert at this, but maybe there is a way to lower the KH and this would give you a better CO2 saturation more easily.

Proportionally, I am not sure if 1/2 tsp Potassium Nitrate
1/8 tsp Potassium Phosphate is the right proportion of N to P. P should be about a 10th of N.

Try to reach 20ppm of N in then go to maybe 2ppm of P.

hope this helps a little,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

KH I guess peat moss will help cut that number down but it has side effects of brown water.

N and P

So you are thinking I should work my way up to 20ppm of N and cut back to about 2 ppm of P?

Do you think this is where my issues are starting to come into play?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Yup,

That and not enough CO2.

Just read about my recent issues with algae in my log

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It doesn't seem to matter how much I crank my CO2, my PH stays at about 7.4... I am starting to think of trying something different.... maybe peat...I don't know... Maybe I should do some research...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

It doesn't seem to matter how much I crank my CO2, my PH stays at about 7.4

I would assume it is because of your buffer capability. Lowering the KH should help. This is a problem I don't hae to deal with, I actually have to raise the KH as my tab has about 1dH. Maybe it would be worth creating a separate thread for this topic, in case there are reasonable options to peat (if you don't like the tint).

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

I did a bit of reading last night about the KH deal and the only thing I could find that seemed safe was adding distilled water. This could get a little pricy and I would rather not be buying 20 gallons of water on a weekly basis. Therefor I don't know what I want to do...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well I got hasty and cranked my CO2 up the other day. Just checked my PH and I cam up with either 7.0 or 7.2. I turned it down just a little. I wll do another test in a couple of hours.

7.0 = 52ppm
7.2 = 32
I am guessing I want 7.2 or 7.3 for my PH?

Fish are doing just fine, no signs of stress...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

There is a pH adjusting product that says it lowers KH by breaking the bicarbonate down as it lowers the pH, it also says the plants can use this carbon as CO2. I believe it is from Marc Weiss and should be available at Big Al's online. I am looking into it as a possible solution to my own high KH woes, RO water is another solution but then you have the trace elements to add back in and everything else. The peat does work a bit to lower the KH, there are also water softening pillows that I have seen mentioned on this site, they go in the filter, I think they are for the Eheim canister filters, I'll see if I can find the info on them.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Well still no new pictures... Sorry!

I do have a little up date though. I bought my first canister filter. Its an Odyssea 4. Man does this thing move some water!

Here is the story... go into work to get my pay check. Get my check... the boss you talk to for the deals was working today and I have been kind of wanting to get a canister for the tank and ditch the screaming Whisper. Well there was one that the trays had been cracked. Everything else was fine with it. The deal I couldn't refuse.

Ok I guess thats it.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Ok Plant Geeks! Help me out!

I have this Black Stringy algea stuff. It is starting to get longer and branch off of each other. Its location is pretty much only on my Giant Hygro on the upper leaves. I have had it in the tank for a few weeks now but it seems to be getting worse. What am I doing wrong??

Doesing Macro's MWF
3/4 tsp Potassium Nitrate
1/6 tsp Potassium Phosphate

Tues, Thurs, Sat
2 2L capfuls of Flourish

CO2 is somewhere around 26 to 30 ppm. I think. This is my biggest unknown. I find it very hard to read the colors for my test. Should I crank it up until the fish start freaking out and then turn it down a bit?

I don't want to let thing get out of hand. Any ideas would be great!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

It is probably the amount of light and the plants may not be using as much ferts as they were, try cranking up the CO2 and physically removing as much of the algae by hand as you can. Don't reduce ferts, if I said to reduce ferts I'm sure I'd get kicked off the site. If you still have excel give it a week of that, I think LF found a dose that worked for his tank. Increase the dosage by a bit until the algae turns red, then it is dying. You may wind up having to bleach the affected plants, although with hygo I'm not sure that would be a good idea. I had to pull some of mine out when they got overtaken, you could prune off the affected leaves and leave the rest in. Hope any of this helps. Please get some new pics soon!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Wings,

Using Chucks Calculator, I get the following results for your dosing:

3/4 tsp Potassium Nitrate = 17.05 ppm Nitrate

You add this 3 times a week? That seems excessive to me. Your total should be maxing out at around 20ppm.

1/6 tsp Potassium Phosphate = 3.7 ppm Phosphate

There is our algae source, IMHO. I for long suspect really high values of P as a source for thread and staghorn algae. This is, of course, debatable as I there are other opinions as well, but so far nobody could proof me otherwise.

How did you come up with these values (just in case I use the calculator wrong).

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

This is what bensaf hooked me up with I think.

I only want 20ppm nitrate for all week to add in? I guess I am a little lost at where I am trying to go.

Help me out. Thanks!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

I believe you know Tom's Estimative Index, right?

If you scroll down in it then you will find an example of dosing for a 20G. If you double that dose then you would get the results for a 40G. So maybe 1/2tsp of KNO3 and 1/16tsp of Phosphates. But this is only a base value, for a fully planted healthy tank, with low fish load.

I am not familiar with the required dosings for your micros, I use TMG.

Hope this helps a little,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So I am not too far off then.

Will start dosing as you sugested. I am tempted do pull the hygro out and give it a bleach bath. If worse comes to worse I have a good handful of cliping I have been saving I could just start over with the hygro.

Pictures to come this afternoon or tonight!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

This is what bensaf hooked me up with I think.

I don't think so. I've searched thru this thread and can't find any such reccomendation from me. At the top of this page you mention normal dosing is 1/2 tspn of KNO3 and 1/8 tspn of KH2PO4. That's closer to the number I'd recomend.

Well you won't get me to agree nutrients are causing the algae. I've pushed nitrates and phosphates to the point they caused stunting. I'm talking real high 50ppm plus of No3. Didn't have any algae, stunted plants but no algae.

Co2 is were I'd start. What kit are you having difficulty reading.

You can push it to the point were fish are stressed and back off a bit. But you need to be around for a few hours to do this.

Hygro is a fast grower if it's just the top affected trim it off.

Do a 50% + water change to reset and reduce the ferts to normal dosage.No sense putting in quantities that aren't needed.

Co2 is almost always at the root of algae problems , you need to know how to measure it. It's vital.
Bring the fert dosing

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I have been trimming off the really bad stuff but it seems to just keep coming back. I might have to keep that plan much lower way from the light. I will take some pictures later today and ask for some sugestions. I found some weird stuff growing around the base of my crazy crypt today too! not sure if its an algae or a root type thing... who knows. The crypt as been just growing like crazy though. For now pictures will tell the tail.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wingdsc,

I'm gonna agree with bensaf that the co2 should be raised.
Assuming everything else is in there. Micros,macros,light, etc. I forget what are the lights on this tank again?

Since I refilled my cansister I've upped my co2 even more, it's basically a moving stream. Not slow moving it's moving pretty quick and I see no distress from the fish. I want to see if this stops the bba I have on some rocks and dw.


BTW - If you guys are concerned about nutrients causing algae etc. Why not try doing semi-weekly water changes. Assuming you guys have pythons a water change takes 10 minutes and this way you'll clean up crap and dilute any build-up of ferts.


My Scapes

Here is a little CO2 up date. First the issues I am having with the test is matching the color. I just tested the PH and I am now at 7.0 or maybe a litte under I think. The CO2 is pretty cranked up right now. If the PH is as low as I think it is that puts me at freaking high CO2. 50-60ppm? Being my KH is 17. Fish are all doing fine right now though so I am not overly worried. They even seem to like to play in the screaming stream of bubbles being blasted around from my new filter.

I have to get a little more homework done before I got steal a camera and give you guys some much needed pictures.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Sorry no pictures once again....
CO2 up date. Did another test and Ph was for sure 7.0 or 6.8. that means my CO2 is just sky high. My fish were starting to breath kind of hard and I am getting some bubbles at the top of the water. I turned it down a bit.

And on with the picture!
Something to worry about?
This stuff is at the base of my crypt thats just exploding.

Flying Fox
can you see the fuzzies? Sorry my best try at it!
Nana on the "thing"

The whole tank

Ok what do you guys think? I know its been a really long time since I have posted pictures.

Last picture I posted
Very first picture

I think things have came a long ways.....

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Nothing to worry about on the crypts they are just roots.

Tank is looking good.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Ok that makes me feel much better with the crypt. The thing has just been growing out of control. I really like it though. It is much better than the mellon sword I had there.

(Thanks for the Crypts Bob!)

Say what do you think the odds are of a crypt that has been flowering at work coming home with me and keep flowering once it has been reastablished? The thing has flowered probaby 3 or 4 times now and not much really goes into that tank set up.

Thanks for the complement on the tank!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Yup Wings, the tank is looking nice and you have truely come a long way. Even the Thing fits in now.

And yes, these are roots, and the stuff on the leaf edges is BBA in the beginning stadium. If you cannot get rid of it by optinizing nutrients and CO2 then Excel can be used.

I know nothing about flowering crypts though, if you want to know how to melt them then I can help you out .

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Right now my game plan it is to:
1. Keep up on my CO2 and Nutriants.
2. Trim the Hygro down so its not so close to the top water line.
3. Start dosing the crap out of it with Excel. (man I hope I have enough!)

LF (aka crypt melter!)
Thanks for the complement!

Edit: Shouldn't my flying fox eat this stuff?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

Don't go too wild on the Excel, check if normal dosing does it first (use full tank volume initially, then 6 days with half that).

And this is from Chuck Gadds site: "SAEs are one of the only fish known to eat the dreaded Black Brush Algae"

So, I guess that means that the Flying Fox does not do it.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Looking good wingsdsc.

I like the way nothing really competes with the gian hydro around "the thing" keep it that way. Make it fuller with different textures and colors but keep everything at least a few inches lower than "The Thing"

Heard to tell from the pic, but the foreground plants look a bit weak. Maybe I missed something.





My Scapes

Dang it! I guess I got them mixed up on what did what! Should have known!


WC tonight. Also adding in 5 more Brillian Rasboras. MIght do some trimming of things. I have tons of home work so I guess we will see.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Forground plants? They are starting to come around. I got my first runner with the sag. I might buy some more but I was hoping that they would just spread around.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Say what do you think the odds are of a crypt that has been flowering at work coming home with me and keep flowering once it has been reastablished? The thing has flowered probaby 3 or 4 times now and not much really goes into that tank set up.

Crypts are notoriuosly difficult to flower submersed, very rare. Emmersed crypts flower easily. Chances are it won't flower again for another few years.

If you are lucky and leave a submersed crypt undisturbed and healthy it may flower after a year or so. May.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Well this one at work has flowered at least three times now. The first was before it was in the tank it is now. It has been in place for maybe a couple of months now and flowered twice. I will have to take some pictures.

When a Crypt flowers does it normally throw out more than one flower at a given flowering. This one has two right now. I think last time it had two too. I might have to risk it. Knowing that this plant is known to flower.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Glass diffuser + New filter = Really high CO2.

I have tested my PH every so often and I have been getting it down to about 6.8 which is really really high CO2 (81 pmm). I have been backing it off slowly trying to figgure out where I really need it set at. Fish were starting to act a little weird so I guess that's about where the line of too much is. I think what I am going to aim for is a PH of around 7.0-7.3

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Little update....
I went a way for the weekend. Friday morning to Sunday night. When I got home tonight about half of my plants are pushing the roof of the water. I have never seen them grow so fast! I will try to get a couple of pictures in the morning.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Some new pictures.

Sorry I didn't link to each one.

Can anyone ID the plant on the counter. I thought it was a crypt but I am not so sure with the bulb like thing at the base. I will have to do some looking but if anyone can help that would be great.

I will post a picture of after the trim job in a while.

Ok just posted the post trim picture. It is the first picture.

Thanks everyone!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

The good news is your scaping skills have surpassed your photographic ones. .

Tank is looking good (from what I could see) Good trim job removing the tall stuff from the right side. Get things alittle tighter and your tank will improve even more.



My Scapes

The good news is your scaping skills have surpassed your photographic ones.

Yeah I need to figure out a better way to take some pictures. A tripod for sure would help a ton. Right now I am sitting in my chair backwards and resting my elbos on the back rest. Seems to work much better than free floating. #2 would be to get my own cammer, a nice one, and play around with the setting to get the tank pictures right.

As for the tank...
1. I want to fill the hole in behand the "thing".
2. Make the bunch of Sunset Hygro a more rounded bunch. (I think the reason this stuff grew like crazy is because my heater is back behind it.)
3. Maybe ditch the dwarf sag and go with Cryptocoryne parva. It does not get as tall and I think it would fit in better than the dwarf sag(too bright of a green)

Any other ideas from the plant geeks?


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Looking good, a plash of color wouldn't hurt any.

The plant on the counter is an Aponogeton, crispus by the looks of it.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Bensaf,

Thanks for the plant ID. I really thought it was a crypt until I pulled it out. It has flowered at work quite a few times so I guess it will probably happen in my tank too with it settles in.

Ideas for color and where to put it?


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Anywhere off center to the left or right, in front of the Hygro.

With the type of plants you have there something with fine leaves. Ludwigia Arcuata would be perfect or Rotalas.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I will have to see what I can get my hands on. Things are becoming very very green and a splash of color would be kind of nice.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well the tank is going really well. Algae has seemed to move to the back burner and the plants are just going nuts! I am having to trim the Sun Set Hygro about twice a week. I am pretty sure it is because the heater is right behind them. I might have to move it.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well you know when you go to the barber and come back saying what the heck was he thinking? I feel that way about my trim job from tonight! Some how I cut out a big chunk of the giant hygro leaving a big whole behind the "thing". Hate when that happens!

Other than that I found a dead dwarf rainbow stuck on the in take tonight. I think it was the one that jumped ship twice sometime last week. All the other fish are looking good.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Well, sometimes you need to give it a decent trim job to get it to grow into a certain shape. Took a hacksaw to mine last night actually. It'll grow back before long, no worries

And sorry about the rainbow...

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Back in the saddle!

Yeah I am not sure what happened with the rainbow. I thought it was doing fine but I guess not. It wasn't looking very nasty so I am guessing it died sometime within the past day or so but when it did its jumping trick was probably over a weekago now that I think about it.

After the post I couldn't stand how everything looked so I moved some plants and DW around. I feel a little better about it now.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Nothing too new. I moved some a few things around just a little bit last week. No other losses of fish. Plants are growing well. No signs of an algae attack.

some of my dwarf sag is starting to get a littel too tall for my likings. I like the plant but something shorter might have to come into the works. My thoughts right now are either cryptocoryne parva or just running my wisteria all the way around. Any other ideas?

Here are some picture of pre-trim and post-trim.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Found another dead fish this week durning the water change. I think it was another rainbow being I can only count 6 of them. This means I have lost 3 from my batch of 9 unless there is one hiding in the plant mass. I am really not sure of my oto count either but my brillant rasboras are in full count. All the other fish are looking fine. I don't really know whats going on with the random fish loss I am having. Maybe I should start testing my water just to make sure things are getting out of wack.

Wait! I just counted 7 rainbows so I have only lost two.

Before doing the water change I did the biggest trim and move of plants I have done in probably a couple of months.

Sunset Hygro is still growing like crazy. I think they might be picking up light from the window because they always seem to be growing that way.

I trimed the bottems of the Giant Hygro for the first time. Only the right half of them. There were almost no leaves half way down but they were really rooted in!

The exploding crypt in the middle I pulled up and found that it was probably about 4 or 5 big plants and a couple of little ones too. I took out the biggest ones and replanted some of the mid-sized ones a little father back.

I pulled about half of my "dwarf" sag. It was getting way too long. The longest leaves were about 8 to 10 inches. Not quite what I would like to call dwarf.

To fill in the area left by the sag. I used some wisteria clipings. I might for the time being just us that as a forground plant.

I added in a new plant tonight too! Red Ludgwigia. I placed this inbetween the Sunset and Giant Hygros. I like the splash of red in there.

I think that is all that I did tonight. Sorry no picture, I had to give my brothers camera back yesterday.... going to have to spend some cash and get one sometime soon...

All the sag, crypts, and hygro clipping I have been saving are going into my store on Wed. Finaly I am making some cash with this hobby! Probably not going to be much tough.


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

It is quite a while since I last checked on your log, I often forget to check into this forum, even while having 2 of my own tanks here.

What can I say, you have come a loooooong way

Plant mass is awesome and all seems to be growing very well. Yeah, dwarf sags can get pretty tall, I wouldn't have thought so myself when I only had them in my 29G low tech. There, they are growing much shorter than in my 125 high tech. I guess the term "dwarf" has to be seen in relationship to other sags, my narrow leaf sag, which initially looks like dwarf when purchased, reached a height of over 20 inches.

Keep it up and post more pictures, maybe of some detail sections,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

Thanks so much! I will probably post some more pictures sometime this week. I have to take some pictures of my apartment to try to get rid of it for the summer which means I have to steal a camera.

Something I am thinking about Changing is the Giant and Sunset Hygro's. To get the color out of the Sunset I has to be quite close to the light(aka the top of the tank). Where I have it now I like to keep it lower than that. So I might swicht out the Sunset for the giant. This probably isn't going to happen any time too soon but its more of just a thought.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Nothing too much new with the tank other than what I talked about last week. I do have a hand full of pictures. I would post them all individualy but I still have a lot of homework to do and I should have done what I did with taking all these pictures!

I have a ful tank shot, top shot(for tetra!), a few shots of what I reworked last week, and a couple of the left hand side that I haven't messed with in a while.

I need to trim the Giant hygro down because its shading out things pretty bad now. The thing also needs a hair cut. Kind of looking like the 70's.

Oh can you find my new plant?

Look forward to seeing your coments!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

The pictures! DUH!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric