Frank's Planted Tank How-To Mini Novel - The Mini S Returns! New Layout

[Francis Xavier]

Thanks mluk,

I have a funny story about netting out all the trimmings of the Riccia.

The Maculatus are so comfortable in the Mini M, that they've gotten to full color point, and when I'm around they spend a lot of time following me around (hoping for food).

When I hide from them, they spend most of their time milling about (still zero casaulties or jumpers) in the open areas of the tank and in the tennellus area. They actually sleep in the thicket of tennellus (which I think has more to do with flow than plant).

So, upon using a net to get riccia trimmings out, I had a great deal of trouble getting the Riccia out, because the Maculatus would swim into the net and chill out in the net, and make no attempt to jump out or anything.

Which meant I would have to try to carefully guide them out or dump the trimmings out in the tank for them again. Even a few Amano's did this.

If I just lay a net there, these guys will gun for it.

[Francis Xavier]

You can also see in the video how a few are just dancing around my hand.

[mluk27]

Do you enjoy using those scissors best for trimming Nano size tanks??

Thats pretty amusing, but frustrating guess those Maculatus are just trollin you lol

If you had CPD's you wouldnt have this problem because the second you come up to the tank you wouldnt see them for a while lol.

[Francis Xavier]

The spring scissors are my favorite for Nano Tanks.

The reason is they don't require you to hold them at the handle and the whole tool is leverage for cutting, which lets you get into smaller spaces easier.

Outside of Nano tanks, they aren't as practical (takes too much time) except for precision trimming. Also, outside of Nano tanks my favorite scissors are the wave scissors, which are all around the best scissors ever, I would say.

[2wheelsx2]

I've never had any problems trimming the Riccia neatly, but always had problems getting all the trimmings out, much to my annoyance. They always end up growing all over the tank in places I didn't want. But then it was probably because I didn't prune often enough so the tank was a bit overgrown at times.

[@marko@]

when i had a riccia carpet, i put a surface skimmer attachment for my ehiem. never had to pull out any leaves from any plant.
its too big for a nano though.

[freph]

The tank looks absolutely beautiful Frank. Can't wait to get the Mini M ordered, setup and started! How about a video exploring the whole tank? That tenellus section looked wonderful from what I could see in the riccia video.

[Francis Xavier]

Originally Posted by 2wheelsx2

I've never had any problems trimming the Riccia neatly, but always had problems getting all the trimmings out, much to my annoyance. They always end up growing all over the tank in places I didn't want. But then it was probably because I didn't prune often enough so the tank was a bit overgrown at times.

The right fish net with filters off makes removing trimmings easier. Also, use airline tubing to remove any left overs. The next day, the filter will intake any left-over remnants which you can remove.

Originally Posted by freph

The tank looks absolutely beautiful Frank. Can't wait to get the Mini M ordered, setup and started! How about a video exploring the whole tank? That tenellus section looked wonderful from what I could see in the riccia video.

Thanks Freph! Can't wait to see your Mini M go. The Tenellus section is definitely one of the most interesting there. I already have ideas for more nano's using the plant.

[Francis Xavier]

Nano Tank Guys!

There's a new competition open only to the US & Canada, hosted by Aqua Botanic for Nano Aquariums.

The three categories cover:

• Planted Nano
• Freshwater Biotope Nano
• Marine/SW Nano

I was invited to participate as a judge in this competition, and happily accepted to aid in promoting this segment of the hobby (so don't worry, you won't have to compete against me).


I would encourage, as with the IAPLC to make an entry even if you don't think you can win! Do it for the experience.

[@marko@]

Originally Posted by Francis Xavier

Nano Tank Guys!

There's a new competition open only to the US & Canada, hosted by Aqua Botanic for Nano Aquariums.

The three categories cover:

• Planted Nano
• Freshwater Biotope Nano
• Marine/SW Nano

I was invited to participate as a judge in this competition, and happily accepted to aid in promoting this segment of the hobby (so don't worry, you won't have to compete against me).


I would encourage, as with the IAPLC to make an entry even if you don't think you can win! Do it for the experience.

congrats on being a judge.
where does one enter?

[Francis Xavier]

The entry form is here:

http://www.aquabotanic.com/

[Francis Xavier]

Over the course of the next few weeks I'll post some contest refinement tips and how to's so you can learn how to avoid losing misdeamenor points. Great techniques to general practice as well.

Upcoming contests to prepare for:

The big boy (everyone should enter for practice) : IAPLC

The AGA (international, hosted in USA. Enter to rep the USA! Has categories) : AGA

The Aqua Botanic Nano Challenge

[FlyingHellFish]

Are you going to enter your nano tank? See how well your ADA start method does with others?

[Francis Xavier]

I'll probably enter into IAPLC and AGA, yes.

With IAPLC I don't anticipate a high ranking, purely due to the nano size vs. larger tanks, as you can get infinitely more detail work in for larger tanks for a competition like that. Nanos are more of a macro scene, large tanks more of a micro panorama.

[FlyingHellFish]

Yo Frank, what algae is this brown/black stuff? Is it BBA? Since I up the fertilizers, things been slowly creeping on my HC.




Too much iron?