rainbuilder's 'Smooth Hillside' - NO CAP dirted 45 gal hex *FILLED* *UPDATE 12/16/12*

[wheatiesl337]

Looks like a great start. Careful with the standing water during the dry-start. It can encourage some really nasty bacterial colonies to grow.

[rainbuilder]

Thanks, I'll watch out for it. It's just really clear right now so I dont think there is anything going on.

The hairgrass is starting to grow, I can see some small new stems coming out of the places I put them in the substrate.

[rainbuilder]

Hairgrass is definitely growing! Just look at how clear this water is:

[rainbuilder]

Thinking about moving the rock to the far right up a little bit by putting some dirt underneath it. Any opinions?

[Zefrik]

I have been wanting to try this (no capped dirt) forever but I never had the guts (or the time) to do it. Looking forward to seeing this progress!

[rainbuilder]

Had some pretty good growth with the HM. The hairgrass is doing okay but it's not taking off like I want it to and the old parts are dying. I guess that's to be expected?




Advice welcome. I'm having a hard time keeping the top part moist without flooding the bottom too much.

[@marko@]

had the same issue. you need to use an airline to drain the flooded part and then mist that on the dry part. then again the next day. thats what i did anyway.

[rainbuilder]

Originally Posted by @marko@

had the same issue. you need to use an airline to drain the flooded part and then mist that on the dry part. then again the next day. thats what i did anyway.

Ok, thanks! Just did that. I didn't think about using an airline.

I still am thinking about moving one of the rocks... Any suggestions? I think that I may move the one on the right up by putting some more dirt underneath it. I don't know though...

[rainbuilder]

The tank is still going well. I've decided I'm going to leave the stones as they are. So far I have 6 unidentified crypts of the same species to put in there. They are dark brown-black and will compliment the scape nicely. I am also thinking about putting some regular java fern and adding fissidens as well, but I'm not sure they would go well with the scape. Suggestions?

[rainbuilder]

No comments?? My hairgrass isn't doing as well as I want it to, so maybe some tips on that would be good.

[rainbuilder]

Long story short, it's filled and has a few otocinclus in it. I'm impatient. There were absolutely no problems with cloudiness.

[rainbuilder]

Excuse the reflection in these pictures please



Everything is looking good, but the only thing is that the soil has an awfully large amount of clay. It's pretty compact, but the plants have no problem growing in it. I don't currently have CO2 but the only problems I am having are utricularia gibba and some hair algae.
My paired angelfish are currently living in here and are pooping out eggs like you wouldn't believe. They've been laying like once a week.

Any tips for me? Hairgrass growing tips maybe?

Still wanting to add some anubias coffeefolia to the rocks, and probably some christmas moss too. If anyone has these at a decent price let me know.

Oh, and I might tie some narrow leaf java fern to the filter intake tube just to cover it up. Why not eh?

[Geniusdudekiran]

Love the HM. You should plant trimmings from it all around and create a full carpet. Looks great!

[wkndracer]

Impressed with the water clarity!
Will be even more impressed if you find any shrimp that will survive living with adult angelfish LOL! The amount of clay is likely why the soil isn't staying suspended when disturbed.

very cool to see it flooded.

[rainbuilder]

Originally Posted by Geniusdudekiran

Love the HM. You should plant trimmings from it all around and create a full carpet. Looks great!

I might if the hairgrass decides to die on me! I like the variation though because it looks a little more natural to me. Thank for the compliments!

Originally Posted by wkndracer

Impressed with the water clarity!
Will be even more impressed if you find any shrimp that will survive living with adult angelfish LOL! The amount of clay is likely why the soil isn't staying suspended when disturbed.

very cool to see it flooded.

Thanks! I think I'll take on that challenge when I get more growth for them to hide in Maybe green babaultis or some plain wild type cherry shrimp so that they could hide well.