About three weeks in now and everything is coming along pretty good. I wondered if there'd be any 'new tank' issues like diatoms or gda, so far looks like Ive dodged that bullet. The front glass had a little gda for the first week or two. Lately its been crystal clear.

Gratiola cleared up nice, it shed the little fuzz algae. Variegated AR is showing some promising new leaves. Two out of three Pogo heidelberg stunted with new side growth, could be the transition coming from soil. Gonna give it a little more time.

Purple stauro is looking better. Behind is the other stunted heidleberg. You can see on the right side the main top that stunted, on the left side that's two new side shoots. Good example of what I was talking about before. It gave up on the main top and started itself over.

Hygro balsamica rebounding pretty good. You have to catch this plant early in the day when its fully opened for it to look good. Later in the photo period its more closed up and doesnt have the same visual impact. Didiplis is a little pale, might need a touch more Fe

Remember at first I said the balsamica leaves looked 'singed'. Here are those older leaves a couple of days ago. No big deal, just pinched all that off

 

I'm impressed it looks like it was just a blip on the radar screen.

If you didn't mention it, would not even know anything had happened.

Are you still on lower micros??

 

I'm impressed it looks like it was just a blip on the radar screen.

If you didn't mention it, would not even know anything had happened.

Are you still on lower micros??

Yep, dosing .075 3-4x per week in all tanks. One dose after water change with everything else, another dose next day, then 2-3 days later another one, or two if something looks like it needs it.

Ive raised macros a little bit, probably about 15-20%, not sure how much just dosing a few extra ML. Rough guess Im around 22/8/31 for two weeks now, up from 18/6/27. Something like that.

Why? Well recent talks w/you got me thinking. And also Ive been pondering over the response when I went on vaca - why did less micros seem to cause such a surge in growth and health that week?? It wasnt too much Fe or micros, Ive gone way higher than that with good results. What if macros were too low, specifically PO4? That would explain it. And since NO3 was pretty darn low at 18 I just raised everything. Nothing much has changed. Lowering micros may have already compensated to a degree. Everything looks real good so it certainly hasnt hurt...

 

Nothing much to report, just a new round of pics

Purple stauro is coming out of its funk. The four AR mini in front are fresh planted tops off the stumps in back

 

@burr740 beautiful as always. Any tips on growing penthorum? It's supposed to be an easy plant but it's not really growing well in my tank. Water column dosing is very lean and I'm thinking thats the problem but aquasoil is only 3 months old. Thanks.

Omid

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

It doesnt like low macros in mine either. If one or more is too low it stunts and sometimes the stem turns brown and melts at the bottom. Tends to do the same thing regardless which macro it is, seen it do it with all three. Ive only ever grew it in sand though. Its such a fast beast when its happy Ive never wanted to try it in soil.

Try just raising PO4, the fresh soil is probably keeping that near zero in the water. Could be any or all three though

 

Always good to see new pics. Tank has come strong.

And that orange/pink Rotala is a really good looking plant!

 

Awesome looking tanks you have. I’m just getting started in the planted tank world as I have always done saltwater since the early 2000. I love seeing that your a T5 guy, that’s all I have ever used in my saltwater, and now am using them with my planted tank.

So my question to you since you have been doing this for much longer then me, I’m using a ATI dimmable 6 bulb with 2 LEDs attached to them on a 40 gallon breeder tank. It is 12 inches above the tank, so about 26 inches from the lowest spot in the tank. With saltwater I never worried to much about blasting them with light, but now I’m worried maybe I have to much light? I have them dimmed slightly for now. I have plants in the tank now for about a week, no algae as of yet, things seem to be growing pretty good, color could be better, not sure if to much light will take color away or not. Before this I did a dark start and let my tank cycle for 3 weeks before even putting plants in.

So I guess what I’m asking here is should I just run 4 bulbs, or stick with the 6 I got going now. It’s all trial and error for me, but I don’t want to do to much damage so that’s why I’m asking. I’m pumping tons of co2 and adding ferts daily. Any help or suggestions would be awesome thanks

 

With saltwater I never worried to much about blasting them with light, but now I’m worried maybe I have to much light? I have them dimmed slightly for now. I have plants in the tank now for about a week, no algae as of yet, things seem to be growing pretty good, color could be better, not sure if to much light will take color away or not. Before this I did a dark start and let my tank cycle for 3 weeks before even putting plants in.

Not Joe here but too much light is not really a problem. As long as ferts, CO2, and water changes/cleanliness are on point you can really blast a planted tank with light. It's the best way to get good color on your plants. It's rarer to find plants that originate from deep undergrowth, like Anubias. They might struggle in super high light. But many stem plants are native to the tropics and grow under direct sunlight, so they can handle about the same amount of light that corals can.

 

Thank you, yea I’m running more of a Dutch style or just a tank with colorful plants, so lots of stem plants. Think I’ll keep running my 6 bulb, just need to find a really nice bulb combo. It’s very hard to find 36 inch bulbs for my fixture, but I went with all Giesaman bulbs. I have 2 of the Flora, 2 of the super purple, and 2 of the Tropics. I’m thinking of dropping one of the tropics for another pink type bulb, but not sure which one yet.

 

If you haven't seen it yet, check out this thread about bulb combos. It's one of my favorite threads and I don't even have a T5 fixture (yet). Really shows how different bulb combos effect the look of a tank.

 

So when you say black diamond blasting sand do you mean the $10/50lb bag stuff from say tractor supply?

I have a 55g with eco complete in it that I am indifferent about. I have 3 new tanks I am waiting to fill with plants but I can’t settle on a substrate. It would cost me a pretty penny to fill these with aquasoil and I don’t think I want the headache of a potting soil tank. I have my hands in the tank frequently.

Could you talk a little about the black sand? I’m interested in doing it myself but worry about it compacting. How thick is yours etc. Dennis wong (2hr aquarist) describes it as “sharp”. Is that something that could be dangerous to livestock? For example a geophagus sifting it or something similar.

 

Black diamond blasting sand?

 

What about it?

 

Thanks, does It require prewash?

 

Yes, most of it has a bunch of fine particle dust which easily rinses off. Some people don't rinse it and let mechanical media take care of it, but most do rinse it.

 

Hey guys!! Figured it was about time for an update. Been doing a lot of other things for the past year or so but Im still rolling along with all my tanks.

Here's the 75 Dutch about a month ago when I started tidying things up. Its just like all the others at this point...a tank with a bunch of plants stuck in it. So its not scaped or anything, similar plants right beside each other etc. Im just cleaning and pruning everything good.

Pics start 4-5 weeks ago, then various states about a week apart until now

Spot that algae lol?

Not sure if this tank is gonna be my AGA entry this year, I have new toy too...

Post is getting pic heavy so I'll put the rest in another one shortly

 

Not sure if this tank is gonna be my AGA entry this year, I have new toy too.

I'm guessing the new toy is an RO unit....finally!

Tanks look great as always

 

Got a new UNS 75p, 30x17.5x17.5, about 40 gal. Its in the living room

Landen Aquasoil
CO2 via inline atomizer, SunSun canister
4x24" T5HO, running two of those iSun LED bulbs from a few pgs back, still liking those things, one powerveg and one ati purple. PAR at the sub is around 120, except 4-5 " from each end it fades down to about 75 on the edges, since the light is 24" and the tank is 30". Which is fine. I made some little brackets for the time being but I think I want it hung. We'll see how it goes, thats plenty of light though

Its been running a few days. Gonna plant it this weekend, thats just some scraps I stuck in there

Dosing routine hasnt really changed. 80-90% water change every 6-7 days, then front load 25/9/35ish + 5 Mg. Micros at .17 Fe 3x week. All tanks get pretty much the same routine.

Here's the 50, recurvifolia is about to take over lol. Good candidate for the new tank..

 

Any guesses as to why your tank needs so much P since normal EI levels are only about 3ppm?

 

Here's a few shots of the old Dutch 75 gal. Its basically a grow out tank now but it's still in the living room so I try to keep it looking presentable...mostly

Meet Buster the Plakat

 

Yeah I would say that's presentable,

Question, on the Rotala SG, I bought this plant a little while back and it's the only thing I have struggling somewhat. I'm using tap, inert and have a KH of 4.

 

Yeah I would say that's presentable,

Question, on the Rotala SG, I bought this plant a little while back and it's the only thing I have struggling somewhat. I'm using tap, inert and have a KH of 4.

I remembered we have similar water from when I bought those nice shrimp from you a few months ago. They're in the actual Dutch btw. I threw 10 more fire reds from a different source in there to tighten up the bloodline...done had a few babies

I use straight tap with KH ~5, these are in sand but it grows about the same in soil. It can be a finicky plant, quick to stunt if it doesnt like something. On any given day I probably have 1 out of 9-10 that is stunted. Thats about as good as I can grow it and I just pinch those off and let new side branches come in. Dont show them in pics and dont sell them, lol. Thats how I solve it!

Now if yours are doing worse, say 50% or more stunted...idk. Probably needs a little more something. In my set ups it tends to balk at too little, not too much

Either way its not your KH or inert sub. Clean tank and good co2, Im sure you have that too. Light I run about 120-130 uMol at the sub, no idea what it would do under more or less

 

Joe, sorry if there is a discussion somewhere else about your AGA tank, I can't find it. Anyway, I think your submission is awesome. It reminds me of the old pictures of Dutch tanks with the varying leaf shapes and subtle colors. It's really well done. Have to say I'm surprised you didn't win this one.

 

Hey Ben, thanks man! It needed a couple more weeks, they always do lol. Both back corners up high are bare, and the Rotala SG/Limno hipp shouldve been one big red group. But the plan came together alright. The guy that won 1st had a better Dutch, no question about it

Here's some pics

Link to the entry page - #636: 144L Dutch Aquascape “Sunset Dreamin'”

 

Looks amazing!

 

Gorgeous tank, Joe, and I can't imagine the time and effort that went into this beauty....congrats!

I just read the plant lineup here and had not heard of Rotala serpyllifolia before....looks like another one to add to the wish list...

 

Thanks Greg! Serpyllifolia is extremely difficult, one of the hardest plants in the hobby. Melts on most people. Idk what it even likes but it tends to do well in my set ups. Like Vin said in the judges comments, it really doesnt add anything to the scape. It actually takes away from overall scoring because its one more species when Im over the limit already, and just another unnecessary red plant. Truth is I just wanted to register a scape with it. Flexing as Vin called it lol

My vanity knows no bounds..

 

Awesome tank Joe. The lobelia cardinalis I bought from you is quickly become my favorite plant. It seems bulletproof, grows fairly slowly, and works great for mid/foreground like in your setup.

Like Asteroid I am also seeing the rotala SG stunt on me in some instances. Some stems are doing excellent while others are totally failing. It is definitely my "indicator plant" and will stunt easily when things are a bit off. I am still figuring it out but so far so good with the progress

 

Getting about time for a trim!

 

Getting about time for a trim!

what ype of filter are you running for a monster tank like this? I feel like my sunsun 525gph is weak with my co2 reactor on my 75gal

 

Whats up @burr740 ?

Any updates on tanks/ferts/plants/contests?

 

I finished reading all 97 pages! Now I’m going back to read the linked pages. This really is such an inspiring and informative journal, and the tanks are just stunning!

 

Thanks! Im glad you've found my ramblings useful

Whats up @burr740 ?

Any updates on tanks/ferts/plants/contests?

Hey denza! Not much has changed. Ive gone down from about 90% water changes to 60%, primarily just to save on ferts lol. With 9 tanks it adds up..

Im doing an AGA Dutch entry, gonna use the 75p from last year. I'll post a teaser or two pretty soon

Here's the old Dutch, a 75 gal with just random plants stuck in it. Its still in the living room so I try to keep it looking half way decent.

*shoulda cut that wild branchy Myrio stem off before taking the pic lol

Rotala sp green is making a big dome all by itself. At the base its a group of stems about the diameter of a tennis ball, pretty crazy how it grows

 

Glad to see plants are still thriving 🥰

Cant wait to see your entry!! I am sure you read this many times but damn... This is the best journal on web! 😎😎😎

 

I just finished reading the previous tank journal. It was awesome too, and so full of good information!

 

Hi
Can you or anyone tell me the name of that stem plant in the middle? I have never seen it honestly.

Thanks for your journals anyway, I like to read them from time to time, there's always something interesting to learn.

Edit: it's Eriocaulon dalzelii, ex Eriocaulon kannurense

 

Shockingly beautiful, excellent work!