[rovor24]

Awesome looking tank. I really like how your rotala rotifundiola is turning out. Can you take clipping of those? If you have spare let me know. Also, can I achieve the same outcome without using CO2 diffuser? I already dropped $200 on my 10gal set up and don't want to waste anymore money. I'm using 38W CF light with Marineland 100 filter rated for 20 gal with occasional Flourish dousing. Is this too much water flow for planted tank?

 

[FrostyNYC]

Nice to see an update. Your tank is doing well. I bet you love that CO2. I'm getting my pressurized system soon, and I cant wait!

Whatever you do, make sure you get a drop checker. That alone, is a worthwhile investment, even for people using DIY CO2, in my opinion.

 

[FrostyNYC]

Awesome looking tank. I really like how your rotala rotifundiola is turning out. Can you take clipping of those? If you have spare let me know. Also, can I achieve the same outcome without using CO2 diffuser? I already dropped $200 on my 10gal set up and don't want to waste anymore money. I'm using 38W CF light with Marineland 100 filter rated for 20 gal with occasional Flourish dousing. Is this too much water flow for planted tank?

Thanks for the compliment. It's a work in progress. No CO2 diffuser? Are you running pressurized or DIY? What are you using to get the CO2 into your tank? I was using a nano glass diffuser while using DIY CO2, and now I'm using a reactor that came with the Red Sea kit.

I think water flow is a good thing, especially considering how much all the leaves and plants are going to cut down the current in the tank. Just keep delicate plants away from the outflow of the filter. To keep surface movement down, I always keep my tank topped off to the max, and I usually run my filter on its lowest setting. I'm using an Aquaclear HOB rated for tanks up to 20 gallons (or was it 30?). I do use a sponge over the filter intake which somewhat reduces flow, but more importantly, keeps endler fry, shrimp, and tiny snails out of the filter. Big filters are great when it comes to media choices. I love having lots of room to personalize.

The first four inches or so of my rotala is a mess of holes and looks terrible, because my plants suffered for several weeks when I didnt realize that my DIY CO2 bottles werent producing as much CO2 as I thought. I thought it was a nutrient deficiency, but it was actually carbon that they were lacking. So I really need to cut them down and replant the tops and throw out the ugly bottoms. When I do have some nice cuttings, I'll let you know. I only paid $3 for the bunch that I got at a LFS, though... of course, they were much smaller back then.

 

[rovor24]

Thanks for the compliment. It's a work in progress. No CO2 diffuser? Are you running pressurized or DIY? What are you using to get the CO2 into your tank? I was using a nano glass diffuser while using DIY CO2, and now I'm using a reactor that came with the Red Sea kit.

I think water flow is a good thing, especially considering how much all the leaves and plants are going to cut down the current in the tank. Just keep delicate plants away from the outflow of the filter. To keep surface movement down, I always keep my tank topped off to the max, and I usually run my filter on its lowest setting. I'm using an Aquaclear HOB rated for tanks up to 20 gallons (or was it 30?). I do use a sponge over the filter intake which somewhat reduces flow, but more importantly, keeps endler fry, shrimp, and tiny snails out of the filter. Big filters are great when it comes to media choices. I love having lots of room to personalize.

The first four inches or so of my rotala is a mess of holes and looks terrible, because my plants suffered for several weeks when I didnt realize that my DIY CO2 bottles werent producing as much CO2 as I thought. I thought it was a nutrient deficiency, but it was actually carbon that they were lacking. So I really need to cut them down and replant the tops and throw out the ugly bottoms. When I do have some nice cuttings, I'll let you know. I only paid $3 for the bunch that I got at a LFS, though... of course, they were much smaller back then.

I attempted a DIY CO2, but I don't think I'm getting much out of it. I run the line to the intake of my filter and let the impeller break the CO2 into tiny bubbles for me. I think I will remove the DIY CO2 soon and look for another way of getting CO2 into my tank. Seeing from your post, CO2 really make a big difference. Well, that and skills . I see if I can budget for CO2 system. For now I'm dousing with Flourish and Excel, should I be using anything else? Also, how do you get rid of black spots on plants (anubius for mine)? I think they might be green spot algae but not sure on how to get rid of them. Can't seem to rub them off.

 

[FrostyNYC]

I attempted a DIY CO2, but I don't think I'm getting much out of it. I run the line to the intake of my filter and let the impeller break the CO2 into tiny bubbles for me. I think I will remove the DIY CO2 soon and look for another way of getting CO2 into my tank. Seeing from your post, CO2 really make a big difference. Well, that and skills . I see if I can budget for CO2 system. For now I'm dousing with Flourish and Excel, should I be using anything else? Also, how do you get rid of black spots on plants (anubius for mine)? I think they might be green spot algae but not sure on how to get rid of them. Can't seem to rub them off.

You can absolutely have a beautiful tank with a DIY CO2 setup. Just make sure to change the yeast/sugar solution every couple weeks, even if its still bubbling. The solution really only lasts 2 to 3 weeks, unless you're using a jello recipe varient. I've made the mistake of leaving the same yeast solution for over a month, because it was still bubbling, but I didnt realize that the bubbles were far fewer than a full-strength solution since the change was so gradual. I'd definitely go with DIY CO2 rather than no CO2.

Depending on your lighting, Flourish and Excel may or may not be all you need to dose. Those two dose micro-nutrients and carbon, respectively, but don't dose macro-nutrients. If you have high lighting, you may need to dose NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium).

You may be stuck with the green spot aglae. Try a rubbing with some paper towels or a very soft toothbrush or algae pad. You don't want to hurt your anubias of course. I've heard that nerite snails can eat green spot algae, but that algae is really stubborn and I doubt you'll be able to get it off the leaves. I've never grown anubias (I like fast growth), so Im not the best person to be handing out advice on them.

 

[CL]

this thread has really turned into a help thread So anything new happening in the tank?

 

[FrostyNYC]

Haha. It has. I'm going to rename the thread "Newbie Q&A".

Tank Updates: As I previously mentioned, I pulled out the meager HC, replaced it with E. tenellus. It looks much cleaner now. In the week and a half or so since I planted it, I have 2 new runners with baby plantlets popping up. The leaf shape has changed from sort of oblong to very narrow and about 3 inches tall. I assume it's transitioning from emergent to submergent growth. This grass lawn will compliment all the vallisneria in my background, so I'm pleased. The HC used to come up all the time and was a pain. I won't miss it.

I have an empty spot in my back left area where I had my stargrass that I pulled out a week ago. I'm looking for some local sunset hygro to fill that spot, as I figured the pink veining will compliment my ludwigia and rotala.

I'll post a pic soon.

 

[FrostyNYC]

Growth on the R. rotifundiola really took off this week, I suspect due to the pressurized CO2. Also, as I previously mentioned, I ripped up my HC and tossed it in the trash and bought a pot of E. tenellus. I divided the plant in two, as there were two rosettes in the pot with a ton of leaves. I cut off about half the leaves, as they were all emersed growth anyway. All these little baby plants below have grown within the last two weeks. I'm shocked and THRILLED at this growth. This sure beats watching my HC slowly die and grow upward toward the light over the last 3 months. I only wonder if I should have went with the micro/red version of tenellus instead. Maybe I'll switch over in a few months, since I'm confident that I could grow it in my tank. I'm also aching to try that new(ish) Echinodorus vesuvius plant.

Also, to state the obvious, the Rotala needs a trim. I'm sort of afraid to touch it, after I massacred the wisteria on the right and replanted it, and it hasnt grown an inch since then. Gulp.

As always, suggestions and constructive criticism is welcome.

 

[CL]

very nice growth you got there

 

[FrostyNYC]

Needed a trim. What do you think?

Before:

After:

Closeup of the After:

 

[fish_fasinated]

that is some insane growth, got my R.R to gor 20+" in my 20 tall, but running low light that forced the lower leaves to drop off.

 

[FrostyNYC]

that is some insane growth, got my R.R to gor 20+" in my 20 tall, but running low light that forced the lower leaves to drop off.

I got holes in the lower leaves of my R.r. because of a lack of CO2 a month or so ago. I was overdosing ferts thinking that was the issue, but it was CO2 all along. Since I was pressurized, I'm getting 2 inches of growth a week, plus lots of branching.

I'm curious why you let it grow to 20" though. Now that I trimmed, I'm so much happier with the tank, and there's so much more light.

 

[Bk828]

great job frosty. Looks soo much better

 

[fish_fasinated]

I'm curious why you let it grow to 20" though. Now that I trimmed, I'm so much happier with the tank, and there's so much more light.

lol it grew 20" because my tank is 20longx10deepx22high i just didnt trim it till a couple days ago. that and i wanted to see just how high it would grow.

the only problem im really having is because i only have 1.5wpg it grows up not out. i will eventually be going to a higher light output as im eventually going to a 25 long as this tank is a pain to plant. just ahve to go one thing at a time.

 

[FrostyNYC]

Wow. That really is very very tall for a planted tank. Especially when it comes to stems. I'd probably end up with nothing but vals, swords, and lotuses. Nothing that grows up and needs frequent trimming.

I let my rotala grow as long as I did because it really starts branching heavily once it reaches the water surface. 1.5 wpg on your tank is an issue too because its so deep. 1.5 gallon on a 12" high tank beats 1.5 gallon on a 22" high tank for sure.

 

[FrostyNYC]

great job frosty. Looks soo much better

Thank you

 

[fish_fasinated]

ya, the stand i have is wide enough, old stereo stand with shelves removed and side pieces left, for a 24 inch fixture. I'm leaning to wards the hagen t5 HO double bulb fixture right now. looks pretty good and once i switch to a 25 long ill have my lighting. like i said one piece at a time.

i also replant the clippings to give the illusion of bushy lol

 

[FrostyNYC]

E. tenellus carpet is filling in nicely. It's probably too tall/broad-leaved for this 10 gallon tank, but I like it anyway. I'm a fan of grass-like carpets, and I think I'll give hairgrass a shot one day, as I've never tried it. I think I'm going to add some wood to this. Probably something branching--maybe manzanita.

A question -- Anyone know what kind of swordplant I have? I bought it from Petsmart as a rubin, and it looked like a rubin up until the last four leaves or so, which are extremely long and thin, very lance-shaped. See photo below.

 

[FrostyNYC]

Well, I did a major rescape and I'm ROAKing out all the extra vals plus some rotala (see my post in swap and shop).

What do you guys think? What should I change? I definitely want to hear some opinions. Note that this is only 3 hours old, so of course the plants need to readjust to their new locations. The only thing I didnt move was most of the E. tenellus in the front. I didnt feel like dealing with floating carpet plants all over the place. I feel that I need more rockwork on the right, and more branches to the lower middle. No?

 

[CobraGuppy]

Wow, LOVE that branch. Your sword is also really beautiful.

I would suggest you put a different plant on the right side, it seems like you have a lot of vals lol.

Maybe a small leaf plant that would add contrast next to the sword?