New 29 gallon bowfront planted tank

Waters · 10-16-2012, 01:32 AM

This is my first attempt at a planted freshwater tank (actually any freshwater tank). I have only had reef tanks in the past....this appears to be just as challenging. Some plants have noticable growth everyday while others haven't seem to change in the 4 months the tank has been running. Algae has been nonexistant expect for what looks like green spot algae? on the wood.

tinkerpuppet · 10-16-2012, 01:59 AM

Ooooh, I like it! That's a great piece of driftwood you have!

Waters · 10-16-2012, 12:05 PM

The driftwood is what everybody seems to like....unfortunately (or fortunately) it is fake. It took me a while to find one that fit the tank perfectly.

MSG · 10-16-2012, 12:38 PM

As for your plant issues, you have some fast growing plants and some very slow growing ones.

Wisteria = fast
Java Fern = slow
Anubias = very slow

I think you have 1 anubias that is buried in the sand. The green rhizome needs to be exposed to light or the whole plant will start to decay.

I'm no longer a fan of those resin decorations because they always have sharp sections that require a bit of sanding & sometimes they have little areas where fish can get wedged in.

If that ever happens, it's hard to fix those sections without ruining the finish. You could jam filter floss or something in there to plug up those sections.

Also you mentioned algae growing on the decoration. Those little green spots will spread and will be a really big challenge to clean off without messing up the finish.

So you have gourami, endlers, neon tetras? What do you have in the tank that eats algae?

Waters · 10-16-2012, 06:11 PM

I wasn't sure what species that was (that is buried in the sand).....I unfortunately bought it on a whim when I was first setting up the tank. I will pull it out of the sand.

Unfortunately I do not have anything that eats algae at the moment...I was hoping to control the algae by monitoring the water characteristics and lighting....if that is even possible. I know green spot algae can take over due to lack of phosphates. Would dosing phosphates control its' growth (assuming my levels are low....I will test) or will that just cause other issues?

Waters · 10-17-2012, 12:30 PM

Can anybody tell me what type of plant the smallest one is (second from the left at the very front)?

10-16-2012, 01:32 AM	#1
Waters Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 54	New 29 gallon bowfront planted tank This is my first attempt at a planted freshwater tank (actually any freshwater tank). I have only had reef tanks in the past....this appears to be just as challenging. Some plants have noticable growth everyday while others haven't seem to change in the 4 months the tank has been running. Algae has been nonexistant expect for what looks like green spot algae? on the wood. Attached Thumbnails

10-16-2012, 01:59 AM	#2
tinkerpuppet Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Calgary. AB, Canada Posts: 325	Ooooh, I like it! That's a great piece of driftwood you have! __________________ Tinkerpuppets 10gal Do-over Tinkerpuppets low tech 29g

10-16-2012, 12:38 PM	#4
MSG Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Coast Posts: 275	Nice start As for your plant issues, you have some fast growing plants and some very slow growing ones. Wisteria = fast Java Fern = slow Anubias = very slow I think you have 1 anubias that is buried in the sand. The green rhizome needs to be exposed to light or the whole plant will start to decay. I'm no longer a fan of those resin decorations because they always have sharp sections that require a bit of sanding & sometimes they have little areas where fish can get wedged in. If that ever happens, it's hard to fix those sections without ruining the finish. You could jam filter floss or something in there to plug up those sections. Also you mentioned algae growing on the decoration. Those little green spots will spread and will be a really big challenge to clean off without messing up the finish. So you have gourami, endlers, neon tetras? What do you have in the tank that eats algae?

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10-16-2012, 12:05 PM	#3
Waters Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 54	The driftwood is what everybody seems to like....unfortunately (or fortunately) it is fake. It took me a while to find one that fit the tank perfectly.

10-16-2012, 06:11 PM	#5
Waters Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 54	I wasn't sure what species that was (that is buried in the sand).....I unfortunately bought it on a whim when I was first setting up the tank. I will pull it out of the sand. Unfortunately I do not have anything that eats algae at the moment...I was hoping to control the algae by monitoring the water characteristics and lighting....if that is even possible. I know green spot algae can take over due to lack of phosphates. Would dosing phosphates control its' growth (assuming my levels are low....I will test) or will that just cause other issues?

10-17-2012, 12:30 PM	#6
Waters Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 54	Can anybody tell me what type of plant the smallest one is (second from the left at the very front)?