am i doing this right?

astroidlloyd · 08-02-2012, 09:16 PM

Hello everyone.

Ive been stalking this forums for awhile getting info on setting up my planted tank. great source of info here.

Im still alittle confused about if im doing everything correctly though so maybe I can get some input.

I have a 14 gallon tank, foot print of a 10 gallon but taller

I have 2 26w 1600 lumens cfl bulbs about 2 inches above the water line.

My substrate is flourite (premium subtrate for planted aquarium) mixed with alittle black aquarium sand.

I use api co2 boost once a day and api leaf zone once a week after a 20% water change. Plus i just added some root tabs, I think from api but it could be flourish.

I have a hob aquaclear filter rated for a 30 gallon.

Plant list :
wisteria
aracharis
java moss
a small bushy sword plant ( cant remember name)
and a grassy ground cover (also cant remember name)

fish list:
1 powder blue groumi
5 x-ray tetras
2 kuhli loaches ( was 3 but one got sucked into the filter

)
and 1 very prego platy that will go back into my 50 gallon once she gives birth.

The tank is cycled and water parameters look pretty good ( but my ammonia can jump alittle from 0 to less than .25ppm)

My wistera and aracharis are growing like crazy and im seeing some nice grass spread. The java moss isnt really getting bigger but it is turning a brighter green color.

Ok now my problem.
I had to trim and replant some of the wisteria because it was getting to big in the middle of the tank. I trimmed and replanted them on the sides. Did this 2 days ago. When i was looking at the new growth today i can now see that the leaves are turning clear and patchy!
Did i mess up by trimming it?
Or maybe im doing something else wrong?

Sorry for the lengthy post I just wanted to get all the info in.

here is a pic of the leaves

pic of the tank

chew · 08-03-2012, 12:18 AM

Good looking tank, but soon the wisteria is gonna grow over your rocks and cover up what you did with them if you put them there. I have that problem on mine when I trimmed off the new growth and replanted, the initial emersed growth that I had cut off of had all the leaves die. I just threw it away and started with just what I grew in my tank and its way more healthy and green

astroidlloyd · 08-03-2012, 05:48 AM

thanks for the reply

i think i might just take out the westeria in the center and let the bushy sword plant get more light and bushier.
I am staring to see some algae on the rocks so i might not have enough co2 in my tank even though i dose cos booster every day. probably going to do a diy yest thing.

Kathyy · 08-03-2012, 06:41 AM

Don't take out the wisteria, just cut off the dying emersed leaves and keep pruned to the size you like instead of getting mad at it for taking over. Take out the striped plants instead, they are a nice house plant and aren't aquatic. Algae on rocks is normal and attractive, just don't want algae growing on the plants! Snails would love to graze on it so if you see any tiny snails consider leaving them be.

flight50 · 08-05-2012, 04:16 PM

I agree on not taking out the wisteria. It grows like a weed once established so it must be controlled if you don't want it taking over your tank. It is also one of the heavy toxin consumers. Just rid of the dead growth for the plant will bounce back in a matter of weeks.

But no, you did nothing wrong. Most plants have to get reestablished once moved. Light and nutrients can also be reasons for leaves to die off so prune as needed to keep the upper leaves from shadowing the lower leaves. This goes for all plants.

Another thing, if your ammonia jumps to .25ppm it doesn't sound like its fully cycled. A fully cycled tank would alwaysread 0ppm with nothing new introduced into the aquarium. How long has the tank been setup?

astroidlloyd · 08-10-2012, 07:50 AM

sorry i coulnt reply sooner had a crazy work week.
My tank has been running for about 2 months i also have a 50 gallon community tank that i used some of its filter medium to seed this one. also used safe start. its cycled pretty fast.
the thing is i use api liquid test an it always seems that my ammonia isnt quit as yellow as the 0ppm on the sheet but not green enough for .25 so i always think its not at 0 but it could be the lighing in my room.

As for the wisteria i did end up removing the one in the middle of my tank and putting it in the 50gallon. The bushy sword is doing great now that it gets more light. I still have alot of wisteria on the sides of the tank. I actually saw oxygen bubbles comming out of them the other day which was exciting for me haha.

08-02-2012, 09:16 PM	#1
astroidlloyd Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: santa cruz ca Posts: 4	am i doing this right? Hello everyone. Ive been stalking this forums for awhile getting info on setting up my planted tank. great source of info here. Im still alittle confused about if im doing everything correctly though so maybe I can get some input. I have a 14 gallon tank, foot print of a 10 gallon but taller I have 2 26w 1600 lumens cfl bulbs about 2 inches above the water line. My substrate is flourite (premium subtrate for planted aquarium) mixed with alittle black aquarium sand. I use api co2 boost once a day and api leaf zone once a week after a 20% water change. Plus i just added some root tabs, I think from api but it could be flourish. I have a hob aquaclear filter rated for a 30 gallon. Plant list : wisteria aracharis java moss a small bushy sword plant ( cant remember name) and a grassy ground cover (also cant remember name) fish list: 1 powder blue groumi 5 x-ray tetras 2 kuhli loaches ( was 3 but one got sucked into the filter ) and 1 very prego platy that will go back into my 50 gallon once she gives birth. The tank is cycled and water parameters look pretty good ( but my ammonia can jump alittle from 0 to less than .25ppm) My wistera and aracharis are growing like crazy and im seeing some nice grass spread. The java moss isnt really getting bigger but it is turning a brighter green color. Ok now my problem. I had to trim and replant some of the wisteria because it was getting to big in the middle of the tank. I trimmed and replanted them on the sides. Did this 2 days ago. When i was looking at the new growth today i can now see that the leaves are turning clear and patchy! Did i mess up by trimming it? Or maybe im doing something else wrong? Sorry for the lengthy post I just wanted to get all the info in. here is a pic of the leaves pic of the tank

08-03-2012, 12:18 AM	#2
chew Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: sacramento Posts: 292	Good looking tank, but soon the wisteria is gonna grow over your rocks and cover up what you did with them if you put them there. I have that problem on mine when I trimmed off the new growth and replanted, the initial emersed growth that I had cut off of had all the leaves die. I just threw it away and started with just what I grew in my tank and its way more healthy and green __________________ 20L Journal

08-03-2012, 06:41 AM	#4
Kathyy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 2,993	Don't take out the wisteria, just cut off the dying emersed leaves and keep pruned to the size you like instead of getting mad at it for taking over. Take out the striped plants instead, they are a nice house plant and aren't aquatic. Algae on rocks is normal and attractive, just don't want algae growing on the plants! Snails would love to graze on it so if you see any tiny snails consider leaving them be. __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=195914 "180 gallons of Ferny Wood"

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08-03-2012, 05:48 AM	#3
astroidlloyd Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: santa cruz ca Posts: 4	thanks for the reply i think i might just take out the westeria in the center and let the bushy sword plant get more light and bushier. I am staring to see some algae on the rocks so i might not have enough co2 in my tank even though i dose cos booster every day. probably going to do a diy yest thing.

08-05-2012, 04:16 PM	#5
flight50 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: dfw Posts: 451	I agree on not taking out the wisteria. It grows like a weed once established so it must be controlled if you don't want it taking over your tank. It is also one of the heavy toxin consumers. Just rid of the dead growth for the plant will bounce back in a matter of weeks. But no, you did nothing wrong. Most plants have to get reestablished once moved. Light and nutrients can also be reasons for leaves to die off so prune as needed to keep the upper leaves from shadowing the lower leaves. This goes for all plants. Another thing, if your ammonia jumps to .25ppm it doesn't sound like its fully cycled. A fully cycled tank would alwaysread 0ppm with nothing new introduced into the aquarium. How long has the tank been setup?

08-10-2012, 07:50 AM	#6
astroidlloyd Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: santa cruz ca Posts: 4	sorry i coulnt reply sooner had a crazy work week. My tank has been running for about 2 months i also have a 50 gallon community tank that i used some of its filter medium to seed this one. also used safe start. its cycled pretty fast. the thing is i use api liquid test an it always seems that my ammonia isnt quit as yellow as the 0ppm on the sheet but not green enough for .25 so i always think its not at 0 but it could be the lighing in my room. As for the wisteria i did end up removing the one in the middle of my tank and putting it in the 50gallon. The bushy sword is doing great now that it gets more light. I still have alot of wisteria on the sides of the tank. I actually saw oxygen bubbles comming out of them the other day which was exciting for me haha.