Coltrain's 50g Journal **56K**

[Coltrain]

Here's some pictures of my progress so far. Just recently got back into the hobby. Used to have "fish only" tanks as a kid, now I realize the benefits of a planted tank. Several friends have also started planted tanks and can't get enough of em Enjoy.

[Brennor]

The stand is looking great. Are you putting doors on or leaving it open fronted ?

[pufferfreak]

very nice! I like the stand how its left open for right now, but when its dark and the tank is full of plants, doors would help the look.

[Coltrain]

Thanks, yes I will be adding doors on both sides. Just needed to get the thing built so I can get started with planting and such Probably use the same maple plywood to cut the doors, plus its easier to build it then measure for the doors, make sure everything fits nice.

[Coltrain]

A few more pics, got everything stained and a couple coats of polyeurethane. SHould have some pics of everything set up next week.

[Nate333]

Wow, what great wood work, you are like that new yankee workshop guy

nate

[Coltrain]

Here's the tank as of today. Only been running bout a week or so, and its been planted bout a day, got some nice free cuttings from a bud and bought a few more. Can't wait for it to start fillin in so I can get some more


Sorry its a lil cloudy, that's why that lil carbon pack is in there, leave it in for 24 hrs and try to clean up the water a touch.

[ColinAnderson]

Beginning to come together very nicely. Looks great.

[Coltrain]

Here's the tank at going on week 5. Notice a lot of mismatched plants.. just got a lot of fast growing stems in there for now.. start aquascaping after its cycled and I figure out fert dosages and what have ya.

Maintaining regular water changes and things seem to be goin fine.. so far

[pufferfreak]

wow it looks really nice! Congrats

[Coltrain]

Here's my tank of of Week 7. Gonna start dosing ferts soon and adding more fish. Rishgt now its just a bunch of fast growers... goin to start giving it more of an aquascape soon. Thought I'd see which plants grew best but they all doin well so gonna be tough to figure out which to get rid of.

Little yellowing of the sword and minimal tread algae.. so I hope things keep going well.

BTW trhis pic is a couple days after a trim... all plants are to the top again now like 1 week later.

[Buck]

Lookin good Coltrain... thats a sign of great water All the stem plants look healthy and the yellowing of the sword is normal on a new substrate. Some fert tabs in the substrate will take care of the sword and even benefit the stem plants as well. I like a rich substrate, after all they are plants...LOL
Other then that , I wouldnt be adding any ferts to that tank yet either, the micro's you have in the tap are doing great. Not all water is the same.

Gonna start dosing ferts soon and adding more fish.

Think of it this way, adding more fish is adding more ferts... ya gotta love free nitrates !!

Anyways...Dont make the common mistake of fertilizing the water column because you think you should, start dosing the plants when they show you that they should, otherwise that nasty stuff that begins with the letter "Algae" pays us a visit.

Lookin good Coltrain, keep us posted !

[Coltrain]

great.. thanks buck. I put root tabs under the sword bout 2 weeks ago and helped it flourish nicely... still a lil yellowing but I'll wait and see for some more sign from other slow growers. Definetely adding more fish although mu platies have had a few that survived already do gettinbg some free fish thata way

Keep ya posted.

[Coltrain]

Been a long time since I have updated.. finally got the new comp and its up and running.

There are a couple pics.. one shows you how outta control I let it get the one time. The other is the most recent taken post water change and trim from a lil less than 2 weeks ago.

Will update again this week with a new pic and specs for all the techies. Since the most recent pic I have taken outthe sword and cut off all the brown leaves... also got a new algae brush and too care of the algae on the glass.

[Coltrain]

Here is a pic taken one week after the last. Sorry its a lil blurry.. picture was taken hastily