29 gal Journal (first planted tank)

[supaoopa]

Update: page 2

Well i feel a little out of place showing my little 29 gal in a forum with such beautiful tanks! After seeing all these tanks I'm already starting to plan the lighting upgrades as well as co2 injection for this tank in hopes of getting (adding) nicer, bushier plants in the near future.


What it looked like last week.



and what it looks like now.



Tank is about 2 months old.

Current inhabitants:

2 Bolivian Rams
7 glo lite tetras
1 Cory
1 Betta
5 Amano shrimp

stuff:
Penquin 330
Penquin powerhead with prefilter powering UGJ's
Visi-thermal 100 watt heater

[Edouard]

Your tank are clean, without visible algae growth.
That's the first good thing

We always try, in small tank like yours, to grow plants with small leeves.
That gives the impression of a larger aquarium. Echinodorus like the one you chose are better suited for a big tank.

[Shay]

I like your 29 a lot. It has a nice relaxing feeling to it.

[supaoopa]

Originally Posted by Edouard

Echinodorus like the one you chose are better suited for a big tank.

I was going to take it out and put it in the 29 but my girlfriend says she likes them in the back of the small tank. The swords had grown about twice their size before I redid the tank. WHen they get out of control i'll just take them out.

[Kimbo]

wow they look nice and no signs of algae either excellent!!

[Momotaro]

They both look great! The Swords may become an issue, but I am sure you will be able to handle that!

What happened to that round head thing? I want one of those for my grow out!

Mike

[supaoopa]

added more plants today. Hope to upgrade the lighting soon.

[ksand]

Hey, supaoopa, I have a 29 Gallon and have also been trying to learn planted tanks for about two months. I've decided that I really like the 29G size for a small tank. A 10 or 20 is just too small, but I like a tank I can lift myself and put in the back seat of my car, so the 29G is the perfect size for me. I also have a 30-Long, because I was told that length is better, so the fish have more distance to swim, therefore a 30 Long is better than a 29... but for planted tanks, height is definitely what I want. As far as the odd size of 30", glass covers are easy to find in that size (it's exactly the same as a 20 Long), but lighting hoods are tricky. Anyway, the tanks look great, and hopefully we can both progress in the hobby (BTW, I'm envious of your algae-free tanks...)

[bigpow]

err, maybe I'm wrong, but are those Java Ferns as foreground plants?
I thought Java Ferns would grow best tied to wood or rock...

[supaoopa]

Originally Posted by bigpow

err, maybe I'm wrong, but are those Java Ferns as foreground plants?
I thought Java Ferns would grow best tied to wood or rock...

Yeah, thats an old pic. I transfered 3 of the java ferns into the 29gal and just left two java ferns on the sides toward the back. The front now has small mini sword type plants (looks almost like grass). I leave the lights on both tanks onfor about 12 hours, and have only had a few specks of algae in the 6 gal. Algae in the 29 is no where to be seen.


I'm still looking for some type of xmas or erect moss to attach to the rocks in the corner of the 29g, but have had no luck. I have seen some java moss but the tank was infested with snails and i really don't like the look of it. Any online suggestions on were i could find xmas or erect moss shipped to my door?

[Buck]

Good lookin start on your tanks supaoopa...

Check your Java Ferns and be sure that the rhyzome is not buried at all in the substrate, the hair roots in the substrate are fine but not the rhyzomes, they wont die but the growth slows down immensely.
A great way to anchor the ferns for a low planting like that is to get some small pieces of lava rock (or large pieces and a hammer ) and just tie it with on with thread and drop them in the tank. Its also nice to be able to remove the plant for trimming time or to give it a root trim without makin a mess.

[supaoopa]

just an update on the 29 gal.







Plants have been holding up very well considering there is less the 1wpg. I will be upgrading the lights soon with a 65watt CF strip so i can get some carpet plants to hopefully grow in the front of the tank. Let me know what you think... would i possibly have an algae problem by going to a higher watt bulb? I'm very happy with my almost completely algae-free tank and would hate to upset the balance.