29 gallon w/ manzanita burl **update 10/5 - new pics!**

[turbowagon]

A few updated photos. I'm starting to experiment with tying moss and anubias on the driftwood. The scape is kind of messy right now, but I might clean that up once the moss and anubias attach themselves.

[turbowagon]

My favorite fish (Blue Gourami) died yesterday. She's been with me since I first started my planted tank:



R.I.P. Satine

Well, it's been a while since an update, so here are some photos I took last night after my water change:

[turbowagon]

And some fun overhead shots:








Thanks for looking!

- Joe

[MrJG]

Sorry about the Gourami

Is that Fontanus on the driftwood? Looks really nice and has grown well since the last update.

[turbowagon]

Yes... all of the moss you see is Fissidens fontanus. I transfered it from the rock in the foreground from the last update onto the driftwood. It is growing and spreading well.

[silver7621]

looking nice

[andbigdaddy2]

Craig what is that plant you are using for avatar?

And what is a BURL?

[turbowagon]

I think Craig's avatar is Eriocaulon sp. "Guang Zhou"

A burl is an outgrowth on a tree. I got the wood from http://www.manzanita.com/. It came in one large round piece that I cut into two pieces.

[esarkipato]

Looks really, really good. Great photo skills, too!

Out of curiosity, are you using an inline diffuser for the co2?

[turbowagon]

Thanks Ernie!

Currently I'm using a Rhinox 2000 glass diffuser in the rear right corner of the tank, directly under an Eheim aquaball powerhead, which disperses the microbubbles throughout the tank. You can see the powerhead in the photos.

Also, I'm only running 65W for 8 hours with great results. The only downside to my lower lighting is that the Riccia doesn't pearl except after a water change.

- Joe

[RESGuy]

I am so sorry for the loss of Satine R.I.P Satine.

But your tank looks absolutely beautiful!

[turbowagon]

Well, I've neglected the tank for a while, but here's an update. I got rid of the riccia a few weeks ago, and last night, decided to replant the Rotala sp. 'Goias' as the foreground across the whole tank.

I still am growing out a few species, and the aquascape isn't balanced, but I some good ideas for once the foreground has grown in. Also, I realized that if you're using a CO2 mist setup, it's better to take pictures with the CO2 off. I'll try and remember that for next time.

Before pics. It's really grown into a jungle!







A shot I took of a "purple bamboo" stem that breached the surface:



Some pics I took of the Pogostemon stellatus "narrow-leaf" as it was floating waiting to be replanted:






A shot during the replanting process:



And finally, everything is replanted and arranged:











Thanks for looking!

[MrJP]

The growth you are getting is fantastic! And no signs of algea anywhere...nice!

Now if you could start over and reconsider your equipement, lighting in particular - would you go for 1x65w instead of 2x65w? I mean the price difference is more than double!!! Hard to justify when I see the jungle you got going here...

However the idea of toying arround with a mid day blast or alternating the bulbs every other day to avoid the backgroud plant leaning towards the center, both could be an interesting way to use this 2x65w fixture.

Any expert opinion on this issue would be appreciated!

Thanks.

JP

[turbowagon]

JP,

I'm far from an expert (just in the hobby for a year and a half), but here is my experience with 130W versus 65W over a 29 gallon:

130W / 10 hours a day:
very fast growth
good late-day pearling
assorted algae outbreaks (staghorn, GSA, GDA, a little BBA)
constantly having to prune GSA-infected leaves of cryptocorynes and anubias
more frequent trimming necessary for fast growers

65W / 8 hours a day:
moderate, but consistent growth
no algae at all
very little pearling (none on riccia), except after water changes
lower electricity bill
no problems growing a wide assortment of plants

If I had to do it over again, I would probably have just went with the 1X65W, I guess the only advantage to the 2X65W, is that I have the option if I want to experiment with high light in the future, but right now, I see no need. My life is much better without algae.

[turbowagon]

Here are some updated pics. The Rotala sp. goias has been having a hard time filling in and I'm getting close to giving up on it. I may decide to go with an HM foreground like my 8 gallon.