n00dl3's 180G Rare Crypts Collectoritis Journal - New Update 4-7-2013

[n00dl3]

The crypts and plants are doing extremely well. Always putting out new leaves. I'm very pleased with the recovering so far. I will try to take some pictures this coming weekend.

I have to say I finally won the algae battle!!! The tank is super clean and healthy!!!

[n00dl3]

Just received some jumbo trident java fern. They are definitely bigger than the normal size trident.



Also inserted pfertz root tabs for all the plants. I haven't tried them in this tank yet. Can't wait to see how they will respond compare to oscomote tabs.

[n00dl3]

I've decided to do the update today because I just inserted pfertz root tabs last night. I wanted to document the tank growth with using the root tabs.

The tank is still under recovering and grow out status. It will probably be like this for one or two more months. I still have a few crypts that are not ready to move such as c. uenoi, minima 'gasser', aponogetifolia, and others.

I have to say c. aponogetifolia is the most finicky crypt ever. If you look at it the wrong way, it will melt. Since I got them in October, it has melted on me 3-4 times already.

FTS:


C. Rosanervig: Still exhibiting good growth and color.


Field of c. Hudoroi: Another robust crypt. It has filled in extremely well.


Bunch of Bullosa 'Bario': Awesome growth and coloration. Extremely robust crypt.


Field of c. KR01: They just kept going...


Auriculata: The tiger stripped is doing really well. It already has two new leaves. 'Betong' was doing well until some ate the new growth. Now it is stunted.


Alternanthera sp. 'variegated' : Still showing good growth


Bullosa 'Sarakei': They are recovering very nicely.


Unknown damage: I think the culprit is the bristlenoses that I've introduced last month. I have been trapping them for the past few days, I got about 3 left in the tank. They are difficult to catch without ripping the whole tank apart.

[n00dl3]

I finally was able to catch all the bristlenoses in the tank. After removing a majority of the bristlenoses, I've seen less leaves damages.

Also I read an thread over APC that high nitrate can cause new leaves to deformed which I have discussed in the following thread:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...6473&highlight=

[wabisabi]

Crypts are looking good Hung!

Originally Posted by n00dl3

I have to say c. aponogetifolia is the most finicky crypt ever. If you look at it the wrong way, it will melt. Since I got them in October, it has melted on me 3-4 times already.

I find this to be true with C. aponogetifolia as well.

[sketch804]

Everything seems to be recovering nicely as expected! I always wanted a tank dominated by crypts, keep it up!

[n00dl3]

Originally Posted by wabisabi

Crypts are looking good Hung!

Steve - Thanks... The recovery process was long but finally the crypts are turning around.

Originally Posted by sketch804

Everything seems to be recovering nicely as expected! I always wanted a tank dominated by crypts, keep it up!

Thanks... I hope I can rescape the tank soon. I can't wait!!!

[n00dl3]

My first emersed setup!!! I'm going to try to grow some UG and mosses. The photo period is 12 hours. Lets see how this will work!!!

[pianofish]

Sigh... Noodl3.
Your tank makes me so happy to look at. I hope that one day I can have a tank with my crypts growing like yours! Do you think any of the rarer varieties you have would grow in a harder more basic water environment say around 6.5-7.0ish ph?

[n00dl3]

Originally Posted by pianofish

Sigh... Noodl3.
Your tank makes me so happy to look at. I hope that one day I can have a tank with my crypts growing like yours! Do you think any of the rarer varieties you have would grow in a harder more basic water environment say around 6.5-7.0ish ph?

Thanks... It all starts with just one crypt... then next thing you know, you'll a tank full of them ... Yes, I think the tricks to grow submerged rare crypts are stable condition and co2. If you provide them these, they will thrive for you.

[n00dl3]

Last month I changed out one of my 6500k bulb to Giesemann aquaflora to see if I can bring out more red and give the plants a full spectrum. Giesemann aquaflora reduced my PAR rating by half. I went from mid 50 PAR to low 30 PAR. The plants didn't like that as much!

The plants seem to be not responding well with lower PAR. I wanted to add more light and I wanted to try LED lighting for my bigger future tank. I purchased and installed Finnex Ray 2 DS 7000k yesterday. The fixture is super bright. With this fixture and two T5s, my PAR rating is doubled. My lowest PAR rating in the tank is mid 50 and high is over 100!

This could potentially cause some algae grow so I have increased my co2 and redo my fert to accommodate the increased in PAR. Let’s see how this will do!

Overall, the tank recovery is going really well. All the crypts are growing really well and always throwing out new leaves, and the body is very robust. Even some of the crypts are sending out runners!

Onward to some pictures.

FTS:


C. ‘Rosanervig’: I love the coloration and veins!



Crypt patch! I have quite a few crypts in there: Bullosa ‘Bario’, KR01, Hudoroi, Purpurea, Keei, Pygmaea, Kota Tingii.


Auriculata: Tiger stripped is doing really well. I think it has fully acclimated to submerse growth. My ‘Betong’ is in poor condition. The bristlenoses really damaged the plant and I think it is stunted. I hope it will recover because I really really like this crypt! It took me almost two years to acquire it!


Patch of Bullosa ‘Sarakei’ and Affinis ‘Red Metallic’: If you look very closely at the bottom right bullosa, you’ll see a little plantlet!


C. Zukalli: I haven’t seen this crypt, throw out a new leaf like this awhile. It must like the new improved condition!


Alternanthera sp. 'variegated': It got stunted from the reduced PAR. This plant definitely like the higher light!


Downoi:

[h4n]

Nice crypt and ect.!!!

Nice downoi to

-Sent from my Samsung Note, a "Phablet"

[n00dl3]

The UG is doing really well. While the other mosses in poor condition except for the mini fissiden.

UG: I have UG in two ways! I wanted to try two different subsrates to see which one will do well. One in aquasoil and other in sphagnum. Actually both are about the same. Except the sphagnum has broken out with some cyanobacteria. I haven't have time to read up on how to treat it yet. I have just been airing it out everyday to keep the condition dry. It seem to stop the spreading.



Mini Fissiden: Still alive but not growing that much. Actually it is super slow. At least it is alive.


Mini rose: I see some green... hopefully it will convert to emersed grow!


mini xmas: same condition as the mini rose...


Moss setup:

[n00dl3]

Originally Posted by h4n

Nice crypt and ect.!!!

Nice downoi to

-Sent from my Samsung Note, a "Phablet"

Thanks!

[@marko@]

that c. c. rosanverig is glorious. if you ever have a plantlet you need to get rid of, let me know,