My first high tech 55!

[Schwartzy61]

Sup! Tanks been running for about 3 and a half weeks and added my plants today.

Stocked with
-Sagittaria platyphylla
-Rotala nanjenshan
-Rotala indica
-Myriophyllum heterophyllum
-Eleocharis acicularis

I'm Questioning my scape and the placement of my sagittaria...I feel that it just doesn't look like it belongs where it is. Also, the driftwood placement looked awesome prior to me adding plants, now, it does not look so hot.

I'm open to any ideas you guys throw at me!!!









ALSO
I use liquid ferts (plan on moving to dry soon) but I might as well use all that I have stock piled. My lights come on from 12pm to 8pm, might cut the light down a bit...ANYWAYS. I have to leave for work at 6am. If I dose my tank at 6am, will the nutrients still be readily available for my plants during their photo period? Lighting: 1 6,500K 54 Watt T5HO
1 10,000K 54 Watt T5HO

Filter contains fluval sponge, ceramic bio rocks, bio foam, purigen, and polish pads.

Will purigen remove what my plants need?

[Schwartzy61]

nobody??

[tatersalad]

I think consistently dosing your ferts at the same time everyday is more important than what time you do it. Looks like you don't have any alage yet so you must be doing something right

[Schwartzy61]

I don't have any algae because i just introduced the plants yesterday and started with ferts that day haha.

I have my fingers crossed...i just don't want my plants to die! I'm constantly checking my ph because my drop checker seems to be delayed.

[tatersalad]

What substrate is that? If you don't have any fish or other living things in the tank at this time you can crank that co2 up.

[Mr.Desert_scape]

I have puregen in my filter and haven't had any problems with it removing my nutrients. Also I think 6 hours is way more than enough time for the ferts to disperse through the tank especially in liquid form.

I think as far as the drift wood goes you just need to bring the two side pieces back into view at least. They're so small that eventually with enough planting they will be non existent in there.

Nice start so far though, looking forward to seeing it progress.

[GMYukonon24s]

You have a good start to this tank. I think as far as the driftwood. I would put the driftwood more in front of the plants because with having them plants in front of the driftwood the plants will just cover the wood.

[Schwartzy61]

Originally Posted by tatersalad

What substrate is that? If you don't have any fish or other living things in the tank at this time you can crank that co2 up.

Onyx Sand by Seachem.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll be moving some stuff around today, and I'll upload another picture in a few weeks after the plants really start to kick it in.

[mapleleaf]

In the past I have placed my driftwood close together and to one side of the tank (in this setup I would move it to the right side, the large one in the middle of the right side and the other ones beside it of in front)
Make it look as if they are roots coming up from the sand. I will have a look and see if I can find a pic to explain.

You may just have to play around with it for a bit to find the right lay out but that’s the fun part any way.

As for the plant layout I think it looks good if you move the wood to the right place the hair grass around it makes for a great look.

[Schwartzy61]

I'll upload a picture tomorrow of how it looks now. I moved the driftwood a bit, and I am noticing that my sagittaria in the back has started to get a bit glassy. I'm dosing my tank to the adequate amount....but I feel that the plants still need some time to adjust.

They didn't arrive in tip-top shape either....

[kwheeler91]

Just give them some time they will come around. Maybe try spreading out the hairgrass more evenly in smaller stand thrpughout the tank. Giving them a good trim once the roots grab hold will help them spread faster as well. Chances are the hairgrass was grown emersed so it gonna take time to grow immersed leaves which is why it looks bad. I think I see seeds on them so they were emmersed and all those leaves will eventually melt away anyway.

I agree about moving the wood forward just a bit, that will give you room to plant some stems behind it for a background. I know its narrow and hard to work with, I have a 55 myself, but you will be happier if it isnt pressed against the glass.

Looks like a good start though. Just give it some time. Good luck!

[Schwartzy61]

Yea I was thinking it would take some time. I believe I'm dosing accordingly. I'm just using the Seachem liquid ferts. Macros are the standard flourish potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus and I dose iron almost every day. Micros are trace, and flourish.

Some updates on the plants

[GMYukonon24s]

Nice tank and beautiful plants

[Old Salt]

I'd put some more plants in the background, and trim the hair grass to about half its current height. The drift wood looks much better now, couldn't really make it out well before.

[Schwartzy61]

Originally Posted by Old Salt

I'd put some more plants in the background, and trim the hair grass to about half its current height. The drift wood looks much better now, couldn't really make it out well before.

Should I wait for the hairgrass to root properly first? and the reason why there isn't any background plants to the right of the tank is because I was going to go for a sloped look. High plants to the left of the tank, and then it slopes out into a plain open areas.