[fablau]

I used Pagoda rock I found both in the bins as well as the display tanks at my LFS (Premier Aquatics, GA) for the temple. The rest I sourced from the north GA mountains plus I added two petrified wood chunks I've had since I was a kid.

-Scott

Those rocks are awesome Scott! Great job!

 

[PEdwards]

If the plants grow any more you're going to need to rename this to Jungle Fever!

 

[d33pVI]

If the plants grow any more you're going to need to rename this to Jungle Fever!

lol, I've been waiting for Burr's tanks to fill in since I first saw it over a year ago. Still waiting! The trim-fu is strong with this one.

 

[Ljupco Radevski]

Wow, thats good tank! all compliments matey!

 

[burr740]

Thanks guys. Trim-fu!

 

[sdwindansea]

Wow, what a disaster, I think I saw a brown spot on one of the leaves.

Edit: sorry that was just a smudge on my monitor.

The plants are looking incredible (as always). Do you still have the rasboras in that tank?

 

[Greggz]

Burr740 I like your style. No commentary required.

Just let the pictures do the talking.

And they are telling quite a story. Beautiful shots as always.

 

[Ben Belton]

I really want to get something like this started, but as the summer approaches, I'm not sure this is something I should be diving into right now. It's hard to resist.

 

[Esteban Colberto]

Really lovely tank and tons of good information. Well done sir.

 

[Sean W.]

How old are your Downoi? I love how compact yours say. Mine are like a freaking stem plant

 

[ua hua]

I'm assuming you like the Truelumen flora's? I have been thinking about getting a couple of those to try out to replace some old Geismanns and for the price I haven't found anything cheaper.

 

[burr740]

Looking fantastic Burr. Still dosing 0.01 Fe from CSM and 0.01 Fe from DTPA?

For the past year or so, the sweet spot seems to be around .01 - .015 csmb, and .01 - .02 dtpa, 3x a week

My dosing bottles last 5 weeks. I usually tweak the dosage one way or the other and try it for the duration....still searching for the elusive sweet spot.

The previous batch was .015/.015, and I didnt really like it. For whatever reason, using proportionately more dtpa than csmb seems to do better.

Maybe it's a ratio thing? Saw where Tom said recently that ratios DO matter when dosing very low levels.

The latest batch of micros is .01 csmb and .015 dtpa. Its been two weeks and seems to be very favorable.

For the next batch, when these 5 weeks are up, I plan to increase dtpa to .02

Obviously I may just be imagining things and these small tweaks in tiny levels of micros doesnt have squat to do with anything, but it really does seem to make a big difference

So I just keeps on searching..

How old are your Downoi? I love how compact yours say. Mine are like a freaking stem plant

The Downoi has been a revolving door of new babies because I keep selling all the good ones. Thats why it always looks small here.

Thinking about doing a Penthorum carpet in that whole area, up to and including where the compact hygro is. Either there or replace the S repens with it.

But yeah, it gets pretty tall for me too

I'm assuming you like the Truelumen flora's? I have been thinking about getting a couple of those to try out to replace some old Geismanns and for the price I haven't found anything cheaper.

Yes I like them a lot. Never used Geishmans but Id imagine the TL Flora is a decent replacement for their flora bulb.

Zoo-med's Flora Sun is OK too, similar price, but I like the color of TL better. It's a warmer red than the ZM

 

[Greggz]

For the past year or so, the sweet spot for me seems to be around .01 - .015 csmb, and .01 - .02 dtpa.

My dosing bottles last 5 weeks. I usually tweak the dosage one way or the other and try it for the duration....still searching for the elusive sweet spot.

Burr740 I was hoping you can tell more about how you mix up your micro solution? We have the same size tank, and I've never made a solution. Right now I am dosing about .1 csmb, but may try a lower dosing. Occurs to me when you get that size of dose, measuring spoons aren't good for much.

Do you put anything else besides the ferts and water in it (metricide)??

 

[burr740]

Burr740 I was hoping you can tell more about how you mix up your micro solution? We have the same size tank, and I've never made a solution. Right now I am dosing about .1 csmb, but may try a lower dosing. Occurs to me when you get that size of dose, measuring spoons aren't good for much.

Do you put anything else besides the ferts and water in it (metricide)??

Hot tap water + 5-10 ml of distilled vinegar. Add the vinegar, swirl it around a bit and let it sit while measuring the dry ferts.

The vinegar does two things; Acts as a mold retardant, and most importantly, it drops the PH way down to help preserve the chelators and various micro nutrients that become less effective at higher ph ranges.

Hence the reason to mix the water and vinegar first and let it sit for a minute or two.

Excel will keep the mold away but it doesnt help with PH. If your mixing water is over 6.5 or so, Id go with vinegar. My tap PH is ~7.7

 

[Greggz]

Hot tap water + 5-10 ml of distilled vinegar. Add the vinegar, swirl it around a bit and let it sit while measuring the dry ferts.

The vinegar does two things; Acts as a mold retardant, and most importantly, it drops the PH way down to help preserve the chelators and various micro nutrients that become less effective at higher ph ranges.

Hence the reason to mix the water and vinegar first and let it sit for a minute or two.

Excel will keep the mold away but it doesnt help with PH. If your mixing water is over 6.5 or so, Id go with vinegar. My tap PH is ~7.7

Thanks Burr740, just what I was looking for.

By the way, did you take classes to become a "Plant Whisperer"? Or did it come naturally?:wink2:

But in all seriousness, I wanted to thank you for all your help and inspiration. I appreciate the way you share your experiences, and I'm sure it's been a great deal of help to many others here.

 

[Immortal1]

Hot tap water + 5-10 ml of distilled vinegar. Add the vinegar, swirl it around a bit and let it sit while measuring the dry ferts.
The vinegar does two things; Acts as a mold retardant, and most importantly, it drops the PH way down to help preserve the chelators and various micro nutrients that become less effective at higher ph ranges.
Hence the reason to mix the water and vinegar first and let it sit for a minute or two.
Excel will keep the mold away but it doesnt help with PH. If your mixing water is over 6.5 or so, Id go with vinegar. My tap PH is ~7.7

I have been talking to Burr off and on about micros but this in one of those "expert tips" that must not have sank in. Thank you for posting this!!! My PH is very similar to yours and my micro bottle is almost empty so you can probably guess what I will be doing today

 

[fablau]

For the past year or so, the sweet spot for me seems to be around .01 - .015 csmb, and .01 - .02 dtpa.

My dosing bottles last 5 weeks. I usually tweak the dosage one way or the other and try it for the duration....still searching for the elusive sweet spot.

The previous batch was .015/.015, and I didnt really like it. For whatever reason, using proportionately more dtpa than csmb seems to do better.

Maybe it's a ratio thing? Saw where Tom said recently that ratios DO matter when dosing very low levels.

The latest batch of micros is .01 csmb and .015 dtpa. Its been two weeks and seems to be very favorable.

For the next batch, when these 5 weeks are up, I plan to increase dtpa to .02

Obviously I may just be imagining things and these small tweaks in tiny levels of micros doesnt have squat to do with anything, but it really does seem to make a big difference

So I just keeps on searching..

Fantastic info, Thank you very much. That dose 3 times a week?

 

[burr740]

Thanks Burr740, just what I was looking for.

By the way, did you take classes to become a "Plant Whisperer"? Or did it come naturally?:wink2:

But in all seriousness, I wanted to thank you for all your help and inspiration. I appreciate the way you share your experiences, and I'm sure it's been a great deal of help to many others here.

Thanks man. Reading about other peoples experiences has certainly helped me, that's for sure.

I have been talking to Burr off and on about micros but this in one of those "expert tips" that must not have sank in. Thank you for posting this!!! My PH is very similar to yours and my micro bottle is almost empty so you can probably guess what I will be doing today

Well, the "expert" in this case is Barr because that's where it came from.

Fantastic info, Thank you very much. That dose 3 times a week?

Yup, 3x week

Wow, what a disaster, I think I saw a brown spot on one of the leaves.

Edit: sorry that was just a smudge on my monitor.

The plants are looking incredible (as always). Do you still have the rasboras in that tank?

Hah, thanks.

Yes on the Rasboras, there's about 25 in there, and 3 German Blue Rams, 2 SAE, 6-8 otos, and 3-4 Amano shrimp.

Planning to add a small school of Cories in the near future, half dozen more Amanos, and possibly another small schooling fish or maybe just a few more Rasboras.

 

[shamrock62081]

Do you feel like you have enough algae to keep you otos happy or do you supplement with other foods?

Yes on the Rasboras, there's about 25 in there, and 3 German Blue Rams, 2 SAE, 6-8 otos, and 3-4 Amano shrimp.

 

[burr740]

Do you feel like you have enough algae to keep you otos happy or do you supplement with other foods?

I've fed them before but they never got too excited about it, blanched veggies, algae wafers, etc.

There's probably plenty of green dust algae to keep them happy, even though you cant really see any.

If I go 2 weeks without wiping the front glass you can look from the side and see a nice film developing. So I know it's there.

Funny thing, the back wall and right side havent been wiped one time since the tank was set up. They stay clean as can be.

Must be something to do with the black paint blocking light from the outside.