OK.. Finally going good.. now need a scape

[bobinhtown]

Hello everyone,

new to the site, but not really because I have been lurking here for quite a while.. started a plant tank about 3 months ago.. too much light, not enough flow, no ferts. ect. ect. ect... my algae farm was doing great !!!!!... started reading, making changes and now everything is GREAT..
soooo to make a long story short, I have changed everything alot.. started with a 55gal and stand.. would not now do that now, but it was free... probably would have gone 75 or 90..
so:

55 gal.
New Eheim 2215, and a horrible JEBO filter from Ebay.. both at once, so great flow ...now.
2x 54watt t5 6500k light.. I know only 2wpg... but its working great
Eco complete substrate about 2 1/2 to 3 " deep

dosing per:::: Wö£fëñxXx
40~60gal
50% H20 change-weekly
1/2 Tsp-KN03 3x a week
1/8 Tsp-KH2P04 3x a week
3/4 Tsp-GH booster once a week
10ml or 1/8Tsp-Trace 3x a week
also 1 cap excel per day

pressurized co2 w/ dual stage regulator, at what works for me... 2.3 - 2.5 bps
glass diffuser or lately a wood block type.. nice fine mist... building a reactor this or next weekend
Tank stays around 78 to 80 all the time
8 hours light with co2 coming on 1 hour early and off 1 hour later or 10 hours co2..
lots of stemmed plants from www.aquariumgarden.com. delivered in great shape
too many fish... but I like fish...
no algae anymore...all went away.. had bga growing up by the front glass next to the substrate, but that stopped after 3 weeks, the 2 gobys keep that in check.

fish include
25 Cardinals (love the schooling fish)
7 o cats
2 albino plecos.. no problems with the plants
2 apistos you tell me what type ( pics coming)
3 Electric blue rams (these really make the tank and come to people)
3 albino corys
2 red neon gobies (i think red neon)
2 Boesemani Rainbows

Just wanted to say thanks to every ones ideas and comments that I have read here... there is alot of great info here wish i could list everyone who's info I used

oh yeah.. Complexity... I think i live about 10 minutes from you on Highway 6..

Here are some pics.. the first is June 19th the next is June 27.. still in the process of of hiding everything in the tank... the diffuser and heater will be gone soon..
will be changing some of the plants soon.. I am far from a "plant expert" so I cant really give you names of the plants.. on the other hand they are growing like weeds. the Christmas tree looking ones (Hornwort ??) grow about 8 to 12 inches or more a week, as well as some type of rotala... the Ludwigia is booming.. The Tiger Lotus was a seed and now has 3" leaves and new ones everyday...

so now that i proved to myself that this will work.. want to try some scaping.. Give Me some Ideas... I'm not scared... knowing the 55 is tough, but i will try anything... and will post all changes and results.. love the look of the eiros, grosso's and riccia .. will be taking out the big hairgrass.
Not a big water testing guy. but as long as the co2 is good, the ferts are good, and the light seems to be enough.... the fish are happy and growing bigger.... the plants all grow like weeds... with the 50% water change every Sunday... does testing really matter?????

this is on 06.19.09



this is on 06.26.09 last night. one week and needs big trim..
filters are "off" in this pic..



started with a seed... this looks like it will be beautiful.



Sorry my camera and camera skills su**..

Bob in htown

[bobinhtown]

any ideas???

[kali]

Originally Posted by bobinhtown

any ideas???

for what? looking nice the way it is .

[bobinhtown]

Kali... thanks.. dont really know, just want to change it up a little.. some of the current plants grow an 1-1.5 inches a day...
love your driftwood layout in the 180... looks great!!!

[Axelrodi202]

Do you have enough light for foreground plants? I think they would make the tank look even better.

[Bubba_Shrimp]

Originally Posted by Axelrodi202

Do you have enough light for foreground plants? I think they would make the tank look even better.

Agree with Axel. Foreground plants or even nice carpet would benefit the layout.

[bobinhtown]

any suggestions on foreground or carpet (love the look of those) type plants? no problem adding light if need be. up to say 150 or 200w? from the current 108w

Thanks... Bob

[SPECIAL||PLANS]

anubias carpet ftw!

[Consigliere]

+1 for carpeting foreground plants. Great start with the tank, plants are super healthy and growing by the looks of it.

For scaping suggestions.... I think a bit more scaping of the substrate depth towards the back and/or sides will allow you differentiate some of the plants a bit more effectively and will add more depth to your tank.

[bobinhtown]

Thanks for the good comments.. the plants grow almost too fast.. even with the 2wpg.
I like the idea of the carpeting foreground plants.. I also like the height difference idea, by changing the substrate depth front to back,or left to right.
how do you keep the depth?? it seems to level out everywhere fairly quickly? right?

Bob