20 gallon journal

[kurtr12]

Here is a project I started the first of February. My goal was to have HC as my ground cover for most of the tank, so I started growing it emersed, and then put my piece of wood in there so I could attach moss to it. During that time I was also able to score some free anubius and small sword plants for from my lfs, so I added those. Although, I will eventually take the swords out since they will outgrow my tank.

Here are some of the specs:
-15lb co2 tank
-Rex Grigg regulator with Fabco needle valve and solenoid
-Nutrifin CO2 ladder (may change this out later)
-Aquaclear HOB filter
-AH Supply 55 watt CF, 6700k
-2 Bags of Eco-Complete
-Plan on using EI for dosing



This picture was taken about 2 weeks after I initially planted a few pots of HC into this pan. My tank had a discus pair at the time, so I had to make due with the baking pan.


This picture was when I started putting everything into the tank. A few days after the picture, I spread the HC out thinner to make it grow in faster.



Here it is a few weeks after that. At this time I added the anubias and sword plants and was growing them emersed as well. The swords didn't really like being emersed, but the anubias grew some new leaves. The lighter colored leaves on the anubias is the new growth.



Here it is today after I filled up the tank and added some moss to the wood. I found it hard to tie the moss well with string, so forgive my sloppiness. I'm currently running at about 1 bps for CO2. I'll adjust that later when my drop checker comes.


I'd love any suggestions or tips from anyone, so please don't hesitate to say something.

Thanks

Kurt

[gumby]

wow, That will look great when the HC fills in even more!

[blazeyreef]

looks great!
what is "EI dosing"? I know it is ferts but I mean, what brand or is it a type of schedule or???

[kurtr12]

Originally Posted by blazeyreef

looks great!
what is "EI dosing"? I know it is ferts but I mean, what brand or is it a type of schedule or???

Estimative Index

[@marko@]

i like the tank. plants are healthy, layout is ok. but if i were you i would put something behind the driftwood, something tall. maybe some didiplis diandra, eleocharis viprava (did i get that right? i mean the kind of giant hairgrass), or some vals even (but these are probably too invasive for your all-foreground tank).

[lauraleellbp]

Wow your HC looks great!

IMHO the hardscape is a little too symmetrical, though; either angled or off a little to one side would look a little more natural?

Will there be any stems going in? You might have some algae issues without any fast-growers...

I look forward to watching everything fill in

[colinthebassist]

I'm impressed by the fact you got your anubias to grow emersed. Mine always died and got dried out, even though I kept the tank sealed. Good job, the tank looks great.

[fishscale]

Do you have a picture of when you first planted? It took a while for my emersed HC to adjust and grow like that...more like 2 months

[kurtr12]

Originally Posted by colinthebassist

I'm impressed by the fact you got your anubias to grow emersed. Mine always died and got dried out, even though I kept the tank sealed. Good job, the tank looks great.

I just made sure the rhizome was exposed and I also kept everything wet by spraying it down every couple of days with water and a tiny bit of flourish mixed in with it.

Originally Posted by fishscale

Do you have a picture of when you first planted? It took a while for my emersed HC to adjust and grow like that...more like 2 months

I started growing it emersed on February 1 and I filled the tank yesterday, so it was almost 3 months of growing it emersed for me.

[kurtr12]

Originally Posted by @marko@

i like the tank. plants are healthy, layout is ok. but if i were you i would put something behind the driftwood, something tall. maybe some didiplis diandra, eleocharis viprava (did i get that right? i mean the kind of giant hairgrass), or some vals even (but these are probably too invasive for your all-foreground tank).

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

Wow your HC looks great!

IMHO the hardscape is a little too symmetrical, though; either angled or off a little to one side would look a little more natural?

Will there be any stems going in? You might have some algae issues without any fast-growers...

I look forward to watching everything fill in

I took both of your advice and bought some plants online today. I ended up getting the following:

green cabomba
purple cabomba
jungle val
cryptocoryne wendtii red
giant hairgrass

I wanted to add some color, so that's why I got some red and purple plants. I'm also going to put some of these in another tank i have running.


On a side note, I have another question for you guys. When should I start dosing ferts in this tank? I've heard varying opinions, but would like to hear from this forum.

[lauraleellbp]

My 2 cents is wait till you start seeing a little growth on the plants- and my guess is that should happen within a week for the stems?

[jimsuy]

very nice HC...

[kurtr12]

I had some wierd stuff continually growing on my piece of wood, so I bought some manzanita instead. I decided I would screw together a few pieces and make a tree. The end of the branches have anubias tied to the ends and the trunk and some of the branches have christmas moss tied to it. I received the plants I ordered and haven't put any real thought on where I want to put them, so they will all most likely change position around the tree.

[Torpedobarb]

the driftwood is nice.. kinda like a bonsai tree. I think that it looks great. and the HC looks awesome.. healthy

[aquaphish]

I agree with torbedobob, the wood does look like a bonsai. But having anubias growing on the wood so high really doe not do justice to the scape. You will soon have long anubia roots hanging down. Anubias should, IMO, be placed lower in the scape. Placing them at the base of the wood attached to some rocks would look much better.

The overall scape really does look nice though.