Im back in the hobby again-->50gal planted tank

Raimeiken · 02-15-2008, 04:09 PM

I used to have this tank planted but gave up on it and got into vivariums. So now that I have more time in my hands I decided to start it again.

50gal
2wpg of light (turns on at 9am->12pm...then turns on again at 2pm-> 8pm)

Substrate - Paver sand
Filter - XP1
Co2 - none (I dose Excel everyday)
Fertilizer - Dry ferts (I dose EI)

Water Parameters
Im guessing a little in here since my test kits were old and giving me false results. But from what I remember back then our tap water here is around:

PH - 7.8 -8.0
GH - 15
KH - ? I forgot this one but I think it's pretty high also

Plants

Java Fern
Narrow leaf Java Fern
Taiwan Moss
Anubias Nana "Eyes"
Anubias Nana Petite
Dwarf Hairgrass
HM

annnnnd for the pics..

I did a quick sketch on Photoshop on how I want the tank to look like... Basically I want the HM to fill in the background with the javafern. Then the Anubias right in front of them. Then patches of hairgrass on the foreground.

Full tank shot

Right side

Left side

Middle

Left side again..

Right side again

Side view of the tank

top view..sort of

The tank has been running for a week and a half now and everything is going well. I have some brown algae here in there but I got 8 Otos 2 days ago to take care of it.

The HM is doing good except that the bottom leaves are turning brown and falling off, but the new growth is really green. The hairgrass on the other hand is turning dark green and a little brownish...Im not sure what Im doing wrong...maybe a lack of Co2? Im still undecided whether I should get pressurized Co2 or go for a low tech tank. can anyone help me decide on this?

Oh and can anyone recommend me good test kits? The test kits that I got back then (by Red Sea) never gave me accurate results. Like for the phosphate kit, It always reads zero even if I directly put phosphate in the water that Im testing

stagius · 02-15-2008, 05:11 PM

you might want to get another filter since a xp1 is pretty low rated for 50G.
Get a XP3 instead.

Anthony · 02-15-2008, 05:16 PM

That's gonna look killer when it all fills in!

prototyp3 · 02-15-2008, 05:20 PM

I really like what you've got going with the hardscape. I think the rock formations will look even better when surrounded/covered by growth. And I really love the wood bridge you have spanning the center, makes a nice center piece.

Raimeiken · 02-15-2008, 05:25 PM

yeah I cant wait for the anubias to fill in over the rocks! But it'll take a while.

The filter is giving me a pretty good flow. It's way better than the aquaclear that I use to have running there which is much smaller than this filter

02-15-2008, 04:09 PM	#1
Raimeiken Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: May 2004 Location: glendale, arizona Posts: 290	Im back in the hobby again-->50gal planted tank I used to have this tank planted but gave up on it and got into vivariums. So now that I have more time in my hands I decided to start it again. 50gal 2wpg of light (turns on at 9am->12pm...then turns on again at 2pm-> 8pm) Substrate - Paver sand Filter - XP1 Co2 - none (I dose Excel everyday) Fertilizer - Dry ferts (I dose EI) Water Parameters Im guessing a little in here since my test kits were old and giving me false results. But from what I remember back then our tap water here is around: PH - 7.8 -8.0 GH - 15 KH - ? I forgot this one but I think it's pretty high also Plants Java Fern Narrow leaf Java Fern Taiwan Moss Anubias Nana "Eyes" Anubias Nana Petite Dwarf Hairgrass HM annnnnd for the pics.. I did a quick sketch on Photoshop on how I want the tank to look like... Basically I want the HM to fill in the background with the javafern. Then the Anubias right in front of them. Then patches of hairgrass on the foreground. Full tank shot Right side Left side Middle Left side again.. Right side again Side view of the tank top view..sort of The tank has been running for a week and a half now and everything is going well. I have some brown algae here in there but I got 8 Otos 2 days ago to take care of it. The HM is doing good except that the bottom leaves are turning brown and falling off, but the new growth is really green. The hairgrass on the other hand is turning dark green and a little brownish...Im not sure what Im doing wrong...maybe a lack of Co2? Im still undecided whether I should get pressurized Co2 or go for a low tech tank. can anyone help me decide on this? Oh and can anyone recommend me good test kits? The test kits that I got back then (by Red Sea) never gave me accurate results. Like for the phosphate kit, It always reads zero even if I directly put phosphate in the water that Im testing

02-15-2008, 05:11 PM	#2
stagius Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17/95%) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: santa clara, CA Posts: 369	you might want to get another filter since a xp1 is pretty low rated for 50G. Get a XP3 instead. __________________ 29G goldfish planted tank

02-15-2008, 05:16 PM	#3
Anthony Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Covington, LA. Posts: 1,071	That's gonna look killer when it all fills in! __________________ 40 gallon SeaClear Acrylic, 192 watt Orbit Lunar PC, Filstar XP2, Filstar XP1, JBJ Regulator, Rhinox 5000 glass co2 diffusor, 9 watt UV sterilizer, Hydor Inline Heater, Pool Filter Sand substrate Filstar pimp #53 How comes shoppings so stupid, looks at all this stuff I haves, what do I do's with it.

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02-15-2008, 05:20 PM	#4
prototyp3 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (85/100%) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,166	I really like what you've got going with the hardscape. I think the rock formations will look even better when surrounded/covered by growth. And I really love the wood bridge you have spanning the center, makes a nice center piece.

02-15-2008, 05:25 PM	#5
Raimeiken Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: May 2004 Location: glendale, arizona Posts: 290	yeah I cant wait for the anubias to fill in over the rocks! But it'll take a while. The filter is giving me a pretty good flow. It's way better than the aquaclear that I use to have running there which is much smaller than this filter