My Planted Aquarium!

[Big Al's Online]

Many of us here at BA's have our own personal aquariums both at home and in the office. I thought it would be neat to post one of my own aquariums for the forum members to see.

Taken March 30th 2011


This is a 20gal System using:
- C02 Injection using Red Sea Paintball system
- T5HO Aquatic Life 4 lamp system
- Dosing Tropica Plant Nutrition Liquid & Phosphates/Nitates

I recently battled a really bad algae bloom that was overcome by double dosing Seachem Flourish Excel and upping the dosage of macro nutrients.




This is where I stand now after wiping out 90% of my algae and trading out a few plants:

[tuffgong]

Great to see you get your hands dirty! It looks great, but that seems like a ton of light you have on a 20g. What's the wattage of your fixture?

[Big Al's Online]

Originally Posted by tuffgong

Great to see you get your hands dirty! It looks great, but that seems like a ton of light you have on a 20g. What's the wattage of your fixture?

The fixture is 4x24w

I actually run 4 bulbs for a relatively short period in the middle of the light cycle to simulate noon hour intensity. My light cycle is roughly 10 hours, with 3 hours in the middle of the day being 4 bulbs, and the rest of the time only having 2 bulbs running.

It's worked great for me in the past on larger reef systems.

[orchidman]

looks great! its also great to see real tanks and people behind big companies!

[Bree]

That tank looks amazing, very well done! I love seeing people working for these big companies actually knowing about there products and using them well!

And as a side note, i order all my stuff from big als, i am so thankful they ship way up here and for free!!

[Big Al's Online]

Thanks for the kind words folks

I am actually quite new to hi-tech plant systems (and planted tanks in general). I am a former reef geek who wanted to try something new. despite my battle with that insane algae I think I am doing a pretty good job for my first time around.

[Big Al's Online]

Here are a few shots from today (sorry for the low quality, I am using an iPhone4)

Algae has been completely eradicated. It was so out of control I didn't know if I would be able to correct it. Fortunately, with a little perseverance, I fought through it and have a fantastically clean planted tank! The moss has shot off like a rocket since the algae died down.







Tried to take a photo of the flame moss and the ram got in my way... He wouldn't move so I just used one of the ones with him in it. :P

[deviltiger]

Super nice planted tank

[Raiden]

Very nice tank man! I'm working on my own 20g right now. Hopefully I can make it turn out as nice. So far I've got some wood and malaysian trumpet snails in it lol.

What kind of fish is that in your very first picture? The black and white one on the bottom that's a little off center to the left. Looks like a panda cory.

[rickztahone]

Very good looking tank. I also had an algae battle going for a while that I also beat. Not 100% like yours but enough so that it doesn't piss me off on a daily basis.

[Coltonorr]

Do you a have a plant list?
Looks very nice!!

[Big Al's Online]

Originally Posted by Raiden

Very nice tank man! I'm working on my own 20g right now. Hopefully I can make it turn out as nice. So far I've got some wood and malaysian trumpet snails in it lol.

What kind of fish is that in your very first picture? The black and white one on the bottom that's a little off center to the left. Looks like a panda cory.

Link me to your tank when you have some pictures up! The fish is actually a small oddly banded clown loach. I am going to take him out and replace him with a Syno petricola cats.

Originally Posted by rickztahone

Very good looking tank. I also had an algae battle going for a while that I also beat. Not 100% like yours but enough so that it doesn't piss me off on a daily basis.

I know what you mean, I came close to tearing the thing down and calling it quits with the whole planted tank thing. I find reef tanks easier personally!

Originally Posted by deviltiger

Super nice planted tank

Thank you very much!

Originally Posted by Coltonorr

Do you a have a plant list?
Looks very nice!!

Nothing too fancy :P

Java Fern Standard & Narrow Leaf
Java Moss & Flame Moss
Anubias Nana
Alternanthera reineckii lilacina
Amazon Sword

[BBradbury]

Originally Posted by Big Al's Online

Thanks for the kind words folks

I am actually quite new to hi-tech plant systems (and planted tanks in general). I am a former reef geek who wanted to try something new. despite my battle with that insane algae I think I am doing a pretty good job for my first time around.

Hello Big Al Sponsor Guy. Very nice tank. I'm a little different in that I prefer low tech (no CO2) and low light. I use the lighting that comes with the tank. Would be interested in your plant source. Just a little curious is all.

BBradbury

[Big Al's Online]

Originally Posted by BBradbury

Hello Big Al Sponsor Guy. Very nice tank. I'm a little different in that I prefer low tech (no CO2) and low light. I use the lighting that comes with the tank. Would be interested in your plant source. Just a little curious is all.

BBradbury

I get my plants from the local Big Al's storefront. We have 16 physical store locations across Canada.

[Big Al's Online]

I made a short video of my planted aquarium for our facebook page and thought I might link to it here as well for all to see

It was recorded this weekend so this is exactly what the tank looks like right now.

My Planted Aquarium [HD]
Length: 3:48