JennaH's noobalicious 10g-update 11-6

[Hilde]

Here is how 1 began by dg2606 at Aquascape forum


To avoid a complete cycle you could push the front to the back and part the area you want a path. Then add more where you want a hill. I found after I got it set up the the hill is actually half the height I thought I had built it up too.

You could use the flash guards to keep the dirt up as I did here. Behind the rock is the metal. Just more dirt over it to make it look sloping.

[Karackle]

It looks pretty good! I've never made a path, but it sounds like Hilde's given some good ideas, I know a lot of people use plastic (or another material) dividers to help keep the 2 substrates separate.

As for the moss, you could always check out the swap and shop on this forum to save you the 40 min drive (might save you $ too because of the gas $ especially if you find a RAOK (random act of kindness) )

[JennaH]

ooh. good idea karackle, haven't checked out the swap and shop here yet. ok, ill have to look into some sort of flash guards..

[JennaH]

Time for an update! running DIY co2.. seems to be going OKAY. ( not fabulous) fish seem very happy, plants seem, well, tolerant. but there does seem to be noticeable growth because i've had to trim the tall val twice now, and the 'mermaid' plant is budding new leaves at the top

[leaf]

When I saw that bunch of glosso in the first couple posts I immediately knew where you got it from. I picked up some from that same place even though only the new tips were still green. Looks like yours is doing alot better!

As for driftwood, uh, we kinda like live in the manzanita state. Next time you're driving through Pine, stop for a moment to gather some wood. You'll find that branchy piece in no time. Sell a box of wood on these forums to fund said trip.

Tank looks good. Keep feeding those yeasties!

[Karackle]

tank is looking great, very lush and green!

[JennaH]

thx karackle

woke up this morning to 3 little guppy fry swimming in the tank! haha. (still have 6 guppies from cycling) my fish must be happier than i thought..

that's a great idea leaf! and u think that is glosso? i totally forgot after i bought it and have been wondering if it is, but it's so tall! i want ground cover! haha any ideas? should i replant it stem by stem? is this impossible now that the tank is filled..

[leaf]

It's glosso. I would replant each stem at least a half inch into the substrate for that nice carpet look. For a small experiment keep a little as a bunch and plant the rest stem-by-stem. Observe growth differences (if any). Replanting shouldn't be impossible with the tank filled, if you're good with chopsticks it can make guiding stems into the substrate alot easier! Glosso seems to be a slow starter, and it doesn't help that the plants we have were grown emersed.

If you're close to MCC I have alot of manzanita I could pile up in the parking lot for you and anyone in the area. That way you wouldn't have to make a trip to Pine.

[sewingalot]

Your tank already looks better. How is the diy co2 treating you? The plants look much healthier than your beginning posts. You do not need to slope the substrate, that is a matter of aesthetics, more than anything. It will create more depth to the tank, but with that being said, my tanks are usually not sloped at all due to laziness. If I wasn't so sleepy, I'd post more.

[nismo tetra]

That new piece of drift wood set it off to me. Rescape looks awesome. Tank is looking really good. Keep up the nice work. I think I to will be doing a rescape once my plants come in. One question, what is that plant in the left back corner behind your driftwood? Looks pretty cool.

[Tex Gal]

You're doing a great job. It's looking good.

[JennaH]

nismo tetra: the plant in the left corner i purchased as "mermaid plant" not sure of the technical name, but as of now it's not very happy which makes me sad cause i really like it too! all the stems seem to be having a terrible case of root rot, but all other plants are fine! i had to remove it from the right side.

the glosso is doing pretty good, but i didn't like how it looked, so today i took it all out and replanted the healthiest portions stem by stem (took over an hour to separate and plant with tweezers! )

leaf: i am just a few miles from mcc - if u mean the southern/dobson campus. i will take any manzanita you got! haha im planning on setting up a 55 gallon in january..

[JennaH]

ok, time for an update. i had to remove all the "mermaid plant" it had pretty bad root rot, and all the leaves were turning brown/falling off. so it's a little bare right now. i got a couple stems of ludwiga brevipes and a riccia stone from leaf so i've added the l. brevipes in the back right. it's hard to see right now and i moved all the rotala to the left. i replanted the glosso stem by stem *crosses fingers* if the glosso doesn't turn out im considering attempting some sort of mesh-riccia carpet because this stuff it great looking!

i discovered about 3 of my ghost shrimp carrying around eggs! adorable. i have a feeling they will just be sucked up into the filter, i need to go get a sponge..

current stats:
DIY CO2 @ about 11 ppm
nitrite 0
nitrate 10
PH 7.2
kh 100 ppm

dosing KH2PO4 1/16 tsp 3x/wk
KNO3 1/8 tsp 3x/wk
K2SO4 1/16 tsp 3x/wk
flourish comp 1/4 tsp 1x/wk
20% weekly WC

[hydrophyte]

Hey that looks great.

I did not know that ghost shrimp could breed in freshwater. Somehow I had the ide idea that they breed in brackish conditions. I wonder if it would be possible to raise up the baby shrimp(?).

[JennaH]

Hey that looks great.

I did not know that ghost shrimp could breed in freshwater. Somehow I had the ide idea that they breed in brackish conditions. I wonder if it would be possible to raise up the baby shrimp(?).

thx
hmm.. i'd never heard they were brackish. they all seem to be doing ok and have been in the tank about a week. i need to get down to petsmart and get something to cover the filter intake..