Left side

Right side

Rotala Sunset. Currently in a rebuilding phase. This is 3 main stems, tallest one is about 16". Probably next WC will cut them apart and make a nice group

Staurogyne 'purple' on the right, Pogosteman erectus in back

Ammania sp bonsai. Will expand this group pretty soon, have a lot more growing out in the 50

AR mini 'variegated', Downoi, Lagenandra meeeboldi 'red round', Erio vietnam, Proserpinaca palustris (mermaid weed)

Left to right: Isoetes lacustris, Rotala macaranda 'variegated', Oldenlandia salzmannii, Acmella repens

Trying to figure out a way to snake the Ludwigia red more front to back, and keep it low. Right now is just a sideways cluster.

Willow moss sp gigantea on the smaller log, Pogosteman kimberly in back middle, Floscopa scandens to the left

Changed the original Buces on the log. The other ones were smaller leaved greens and they werent doing so well. May need more traces, idk. Reason I liked them is because they bloomed profusely in the 75. Digging the red stems on these though, and the leaves I think are a better contrast. Gonna give them a month or two and see how it goes

FTS

Other thoughts: Reduce the Staurogyne repens and shape it up differently. Currently just a big oval with no personality. Same goes for the Monte carlo in front of the log.

Bring the Stauro purple on down to the left in a bigger group

 

Yes!!!!!! Been waiting for this and it does not dissapoint. Tanks looks awesome, even if you say this is just the plants tentative placement. I'm hyped if you can't tell.


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The colors of your plants never ceases to amaze me

How high did you hang your lights and how high is the substrate in your tank btw? Are you still getting over 100 par at the substrate?

 

Thanks guys



Yeah I forgot to add this in the OP. It's 9" above the tank. PAR at the sub is about 120. It would be a lot higher if not for all the red bulbs.

I made a bracket out of 1x8s, painted them black. It just sits on the tank. The width worked out just right, easy to slide back and forth.

Not the sexiest thing in the world, but it works!

Hey burr did you place osmocote root tabs under the substrate? I'm assuming you did.

Not this time, but Ive added a few to certain things.

The Lagenandra has about 6 individual balls. It did better in the 75 when I gave it some. The AR mini has a couple balls under each plant. Again this is individual balls, not "tabs" full

Probably stick a few under the stauro purple when it's location is finalized.

 

You have a beautiful tank as always. Thanks for the details of the setup, what plant is what, and what your plans are.

 

Hey burr did you place osmocote root tabs under the substrate? I'm assuming you did.

 

It is beautiful. Totally not my thing at all though. The colors are crazy impressive. How do you like the 120? I've always debated getting one because I had a 4' section of wall to work with. But I've also been told, extensively, that a 6' tank is where it is at.

 

Thanks.

4' is all the space I have too, or I would definitely have gone with a 5-6 footer.

Im loving these dimensions honestly, coming from a standard 75. The 24" depth front to back is really nice. The height is more than necessary but Im using it to advantage. The empty space up top makes it easy to blast flow without disrupting things too much.

Like if you stir a pot of soup from the top, the bottom starts swirling as well.

 

Gorgeous tank as always! When I look at your tank journals I'm often tempted to transition a low tech tank to hi tech and run CO2, but then I remember I'm lazy and I don't want to trim stems. So I'll just enjoy your pictures instead of my own Dutch tank.

 

Very nice tank. The colors are amazing.

 

Well Burr740, looks like you have proven that you CAN'T get too much of a good thing.

Beautiful transition to the 120G. Looking forward to many more updates. I know you've got plans, but I find it hard to see how it gets much better than this. Bravo!!

 

Burr this tank is absolutely stunning!!! I'm at a loss for words

Dan

 

Beautiful tank and fantastic work! Thanks for posting those and killing off any self-esteem I had remaining . What are those clear, suction-cup looking things on the Buces?

 

Thanks.

Those are plastic/metal push pins like you use on a bulletin board or whatever. In a month or two the Buces will be stuck and I'll take them out

What substrate are you using?

Something else I forgot to include in the OP Black Diamond blasting sand.

 

What substrate are you using?

 

subbing

 

How are you keeping the AR variegated so good looking? Mine Is tiny and stunted, leaves are 2 cm long and the entire plant is maybe 3 or 4 cm tall. It has been months, and it is directly under the light.

 

These look like crap honestly. Ideally the leaves are perfectly flat, no wavy margins. I tend to sell my good stuff and keep scraps to start over with. What you see above is the scraps.

Here's some better specimens, not perfect, but better -

As for why yours are doing bad, idk. ARs in general dont like high micros, wavy leaf edges is a classic symptom. Could be 100 other things too though. CO2 being a usual suspect

Very nice! You always get such amazing colors in your plants. It gives me something to aspire to.

Thanks!

Color has a lot to do with T5s and bulb selection. It's hard to get a pop like this with LEDs, at least without dropping a small fortune.

 

Very nice! You always get such amazing colors in your plants. It gives me something to aspire to.

 

Gorgeous tank, just like the last one! I don't envy you having to trim and scape on a tank that tall and wide though. My back hurts just thinking about it! Although 24 inches front to back must be super fun to play with. You make it seem effortless, kudos for that feat.

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'bout time...:icon_wink

Looking spectacular though! Killer plant health and colors as usual. Big improvement in the contrasts and distinction of groupings between initial planting and the current iteration.

Harlequin Rasboras were an excellent choice imo for the style of keeping the plants trimmed low with no back wall plantings. The Rasboras will inhabit the upper third and pop nicely against the bare black background, bringing visual interest to the unplanted area of the tank. Well thought out.

 

Hey Burr740, I just showed your new pics to my wife.

She was in awe. I told her how you spent 3 hours trimming it last week.

The good thing is she thinks I am a little less nuts now.

Thanks!:grin2:

And by the way, just as stunning the second time through.

 

This so true and still funny. AC for After Crazy?

Burr, as a total newb I can only say, holy moly!!! Yours is an incredible planted tank

Thank you from all the remarkable descriptions. I came here wondering if this planted tank was possible. I didn't think so. Boy Howdy was I wrong. Stunning use of texture and color is outstanding. Vibrancy that makes want to be there in in my dreams as well as awake. Thanks for sharing.

 

Absolutely amazing the color that you can get in your tanks. One of these days you will have to make a 1-2 minute video. Then the rest of us can watch your version of fish TV.

 

Glad to watch your new tank here Burr. May I ask you to post your GH and KH values? I am always amazed to see so much rich color with that low traces... Amazing indeed. Keep it up, I will be following you here!

 

Thanks guys


I use all tap water. KH is ~5.5, GH is 50 ppm Ca and 4 ppm Mg, then I add another 10 ppm Mg via Epsom salt at water change

 

True combination of science and art!! Stunning colors and healthy plants...now only if I had your magic touch!. Looking forward to your journey

 

Do you use any sort of root tabs? The black blaster sand is inert right?

Do your plants get all the ferts they need from the dry ferts?

Thanks
Matt

 

Blasting sand is inert, yes.

Ive put a few individual Osmocote+ balls around a couple of things, but 95% of the tank has nothing.

Most plants can do just fine with only water column dosing.

Burr very beautiful tank. I never understood how can one make the red plant pop, ive keep red species plant and all i could turn them rust red but not bright red. Any secret hiding there?

No secret. Healthy plants is the first thing. Then you need a light with a good amount of red.

 

0/10. sucks

 

Burr making everyone look bad again, lol.

 

Just gorgeous!