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Hi Rick

I'm sorry about your rams too (if I didn't already say that). Your Anubias Barteri is looking very nice & healthy. I am starting to like the less crowded looking tanks these days, so I think your's is looking really very nice. Maybe just a little too uncrowded & a few taller stems will help. I read you will be taking care of that with some vals.

Did you say your tubes were 2yrs old. From what I have read, tubes should be replaced at least annually, even if they still work. Something about them losing too much of their intensity to be helping the plants like they should, once they exceed 12 months. It might be helpful for your plants if you do decide to change the bulbs.

Are those neons or cardinals? They look very nice & colourful in the tank. Do you still have those golden fish or are they in your other tank?

Cheers
TW

Happy New Year!

Well my tanks survived for two weeks while I was in Florida and Tennessee, plus all my neglect leading up to the trip. No major issues. I did a trim of the 25 Gallon and thought I'd start the new year off with a picture.

I hope to catch up and see everyone's doings soon!

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Full Tank Shot

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

nice looking tank Rick. PS, hope your 2 week break was fun.

Cheers
TW

1.7.2007

Here is this weeks picture. I tore the vals out since they weren't growing and just put some cuttings from the Hygro there. It seems to be the only stem that like to grow in this tanks so I am gonna run with it. I hope to fill in the left side and hide the heater.

I also am going to get some more crypts and build up the right corner so there is more hight back there.

I also picked up a python yesterday and I love not needing a bucket and gallon jugs of water. I highly recommend it

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Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

Try not to worry about hiding your equipment, instead focus on the aquascape. Hiding equipment usually comes at a cost to the overall plant layout. I'd just try to fill in with low plants on the left and try to keep the hygro a few inches from the surface, and only in the middle as you have it now and in your last photo. Once the crypts and java fern fill in it will look really good.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thanks Matty, That's good advice. Good to know there are a few of us still checking in these days. It's been so quite in here.

I'll try your suggestion and fill that left side in with some low crypts to help tie the tank together. I was going to get an assortment of low crypts anyways for the right side.

Everything else is just growing in nicely like you said. I was actually looking at early pictures of the tank. And since I haven't done any Ingo style makeovers the week to week pictures don't show drastic change. But when you look at the first picture compared to today you can see how much everything has matured.

Here is the First Pic


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Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

And the current pic.

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Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

1.14.2007 Update

Nothing all that new this week. I have continued to cut and replant the clippings of the hygro to really try and start filling this tank up. I want to cross over from the medium planted I have now to fully planted. Next time I get to the LFS I'll get those Crypts I have been mentioning and I am thinking about adding a cutting of the Anubias from the 10 Gallon. I just don't know where I would like it best yet.


Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

Update 1.23.2007

I got some crypts to replace the wisteria that was on the bottom right. As usual I bought to little so I will need to go back and pick up a few more plants. However it is looking much better. I picked up a C. Lutea for the rear and C. Tropica for closer to the front. I'll pick up some more. C Wenditi next to fill in the spaces.

I'll post some picks when it is complete.

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

Update 6.17.2003



Hello it has been a long while since I updated my log. I though I'd post a picture. Not much has changed with the layout. It has filled in a bunch. The biggest change is the filtration. The eclipse hood kept leaking so I bought an Ehim cannister filter to replace the over the top biowheel. It is much quieter and no more leaking. The next step is to replace the hood with new lights and a glass top.

The plan is to get a 24" Coralife Auqalight 1x65 W. However I have been also thinking about the Aqualight 24" with 2x65 since the tank is so deep.

Anyway here is the picture.

Attached Image:

Full Tank - Jun 13th

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

Rick,

Oh my goodness, where have you been all these months - Did the Gators eat you?

Tank looks noce, not much has changed since January except a few less species and a little more growth.

Hey, you don't have any plants in there that would need the double 65W fixture, are you planning to change the species? If not, what would you do with all the light?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

No, No, The Gators have been behaving themselves.

I'm 1.5 years into a two year project and right now the targets are very high so I have been working a ton. I don't have the time or energy to do much more than water changes. I do have some plans to bring some new life into this tank and totally redo the 10 Gallon.

For now though I am just checking in.

Anyway Ingo you are right about my plants. But the plants I have are a product of my current lighting as I only have 30W.

I want enough light where I can grow most species even at the bottom since this is a tall tank (20" tall). I also want to leave the door open for C02 enrichment later on.


Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

I also want to leave the door open for C02 enrichment later on.

Sounds good to me

But I would say that if you go for 2x65w there is no waiting for "later", you better hook up some form of carbon addition right away with that light (Excel daily, DIY, or the real deal).

Hope you pull the last half year of the project off without a hitch (hasn't happened to me yet though),

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hello,

I've got a couple new pictures tonight. First here is the full tank. If the picture looks brighter, its because it is. I added the new coralife 65w to this and it make a huge difference.

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Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

(See post on previous page)
And here is the shiny new lamp!

Attached Image:


Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

Rick Hi , love the tank and great shots . Did you just get the one 65 or the double ? Do you have any plans to add more plants etc ?

Look forward to more shots in the future.
Garry

Countryfish, I ended up getting the single 65 fixture. Without out CO2 I could justify over 5WPG on this tank even if for a short amount of time.

Right now with the new light I have 2.6 WPG and I'll see how that works out. It does look a whole lot nicer though. These PC lights are great. Now I should be able to start experimenting again with some new plants.

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums