Have you thought about hiding the intake on the left behind the driftwood?
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My first 90g planted tank (update: 26/02/2017)
8
Hello guys. This is the first planted tank I ever have. The tank is originally a Geophagus Tapajos tank I set up 3 years ago (and they would just uproot everything i planted). I figured to try my hand on plants after my group of geos passed away last month. I want to keep everything simple in this tank, so I keep most equipments I have been using, and would try not to use any pressurized CO2 system.
So, here's my tank. Except for the Anubis and the Java fern, which has been in the tank since the start, all other plants were only introduced 2 days ago. Most of the plants seem like emersed grown to me, so I guess it will take a few weeks till they settle down.
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Tank Specs:
Tank: 48"X18"X24" 90g tank
Filter: Eheim 2217 *2
Light: Huey Hung Pterosaur 18*5W LED (7000K) (24" from substrate, 8 hours per day)
Substrate: 0.5mm sand
Fert: I have put ADA multi bottom root tabs under the plants, and dozed a capful of Seachem Comprehensive (so 2/3 of the recommended doze. I have heard that it's best to start with a smaller doze to prevent algae bloom)
Flora:
Anubis
Java Fern Windelov
Limnophila aquatica
Alternanthera reineckii dwarf
Amazon Sword
Echinodorus tenellus
Pogostemon helferi
Java Moss
Added on 3/2/2017
Cyperus helferi
Ludwigia repens
Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia
Cryptocoryne wendtii ''Red'
Aponogeton fenestralis
Added on 15/2/2017
Aponogeton ulvaceus
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Hydrotriche hottoniiflora
Fauna:
Lemon Tetra *14
Emperor Tetra *2
BN pleco *20+ (I will send away most of them)
Juli Cory *2
Future plans:
Add a bunch of Rotala rotundifolia at the left hand side of the tank
Add a school of cory and denison barb
Add 2-3 whiptail catfish. I like Rineloricaria lanceolata the best, but I have only seen Sturisoma panamense in my LFS
Questions:
Now, the biggest problem I have is that I am not exactly sure what kind of light I am having. There is no PAR chart for the light I have. The only info I have on this light is this data sheet for the 60cm version with half the no. of LED comparing to the one I am using, and this LUX test for the 60cm model. I would want to keep this tank at low-med lighting so that I would not need pressurized co2.
Another problem I have is that I am not sure what this plant is:
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It is labeled as a Cyperus, but I am not sure which species it is, and whether it is a full aquatic species.
As I said, I am still quite new to planted tank, so any comments are welcome.
More photo:
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So, here's my tank. Except for the Anubis and the Java fern, which has been in the tank since the start, all other plants were only introduced 2 days ago. Most of the plants seem like emersed grown to me, so I guess it will take a few weeks till they settle down.
Tank Specs:
Tank: 48"X18"X24" 90g tank
Filter: Eheim 2217 *2
Light: Huey Hung Pterosaur 18*5W LED (7000K) (24" from substrate, 8 hours per day)
Substrate: 0.5mm sand
Fert: I have put ADA multi bottom root tabs under the plants, and dozed a capful of Seachem Comprehensive (so 2/3 of the recommended doze. I have heard that it's best to start with a smaller doze to prevent algae bloom)
Flora:
Anubis
Java Fern Windelov
Limnophila aquatica
Alternanthera reineckii dwarf
Amazon Sword
Echinodorus tenellus
Pogostemon helferi
Java Moss
Added on 3/2/2017
Cyperus helferi
Ludwigia repens
Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia
Cryptocoryne wendtii ''Red'
Aponogeton fenestralis
Added on 15/2/2017
Aponogeton ulvaceus
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Hydrotriche hottoniiflora
Fauna:
Lemon Tetra *14
Emperor Tetra *2
BN pleco *20+ (I will send away most of them)
Juli Cory *2
Future plans:
Add a bunch of Rotala rotundifolia at the left hand side of the tank
Add a school of cory and denison barb
Add 2-3 whiptail catfish. I like Rineloricaria lanceolata the best, but I have only seen Sturisoma panamense in my LFS
Questions:
Now, the biggest problem I have is that I am not exactly sure what kind of light I am having. There is no PAR chart for the light I have. The only info I have on this light is this data sheet for the 60cm version with half the no. of LED comparing to the one I am using, and this LUX test for the 60cm model. I would want to keep this tank at low-med lighting so that I would not need pressurized co2.
Another problem I have is that I am not sure what this plant is:
It is labeled as a Cyperus, but I am not sure which species it is, and whether it is a full aquatic species.
As I said, I am still quite new to planted tank, so any comments are welcome.
More photo:
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Just a small update here. All plants except the Alternanthera reineckii and Pogostemon helferi are slowly shooting off new leaves now, and there is no sign of algae yet.
The Limnophila aquatica starts growing some leaves of different shape though. My guess is that this is the emerge form, but I don't understand why the emerge form appears when it's a dozen inches away from surface.
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The Limnophila aquatica starts growing some leaves of different shape though. My guess is that this is the emerge form, but I don't understand why the emerge form appears when it's a dozen inches away from surface.
Another update.
I have ditched the mondo grass (thanks cininohio), and introduced Cyperus helferi in its place. Also got some Ludwigia repens, Rotala rotundifolia, Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia, Aponogeton fenestralis, Cryptocoryne wendtii ''Red', and attached the java moss on driftwood with glue. Also rearranged the plant a bit and gave the anubis a good shave.
Thanks! The anubias is in my tank for 3 years now. This is what it looks like when I first got it. It's the one on the tree trunk like driftwood at the middle of the tank. I think my dim light in my original setup has prompted the anubias to grow upwards.
On other notes, now that I have taken care of the plant, it's time to consider my fish stock. I won't be adding any fish till late Feb, so that the plants have time to establish.
So, here's what I plan to do:
1. Remove most of the bristlenose pleco so that I have the space for new fish. Gonna leave maybe 3-4 of them
1. Add more Julii cory if I can find some, and another species of cory. Total number of cories would be at around 12
2. Add 1-2 Sturisoma panamense
Now, the thing I am not sure about is the showcase fish. It would be either a school of angelfish, roseline sharks, or both. I am not sure though if I can keep both in the tank, say 2-4 angelfish and 8 roseline shark, considering that both species grow big.
What do you guys think?
So it begins. Just discovered some thread algae on these Rotala rotundifolia. I will stop applying the liquid fert for now, and remove the affected plant to see if it would stop them from spreading.
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Wondering if I should reduce light as well. What do you think?
Wondering if I should reduce light as well. What do you think?
2
Removed the affected plant. Let's hope that would stop them from spreading.
The Rotala has some stunted growth on the tip though, which I guess could be co2 deficency.
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The Ludwig also has some slightly smaller leaf on top, but I am not sure if that is stunted as well.
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Contemplating now whether or not to dose Excel.
The Rotala has some stunted growth on the tip though, which I guess could be co2 deficency.
The Ludwig also has some slightly smaller leaf on top, but I am not sure if that is stunted as well.
Contemplating now whether or not to dose Excel.
6
In the end, I decided to start dosing Excel.
Most plants are responding ok. I have to dump the Rotala because it just won't stop melting, and replace it with Hydrotriche hottoniiflora. Also got a Aponogeton ulvaceus to put at the side of the tank.
The pigmy chain sword finally settled and one even start sending runners out.
Two of the plants does not seem to be doing too well though, the ambulia's old leaves turns to dark yellow color, while the new shoots are light yellow. This appears a few days after I started dosing excel. I am not sure if this is a deficiency, or is it just the effect of excel.
The Alternanthera reineckii dwarf is growing, but some does not grow enough roots to anchor themselves. I sometimes would find them floating on the surface when I wake up. As you may see in the picture, the one on the left is almost falling down.
The pleco are destroying my tank. Just got way too many in my tank, and not enough hiding place. Need to send them away quick.
3
Just added a new bunch of fish to the tank:
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The tank's inhabitant now includes:
Lemon tetra*14
Emperor tetra*12
Congo tetra*10
Gold Laser Cory (CW010)*10
Corydoras trilineatus*10
Bristlenose pleco*4
Going to add 10 more lemon tetra if I can find some. The new batch of emperor tetra is very small, so i would have to wait for them to grow up before I could add the centrepiece fish.
As for the plant, I could see a general improvement of the plant's growth after I added excel. I started seeing diatoms on the older leaves of Cyperus helferi and Limnophila aquatica since using excel though. I would remove the diatom by hand for now, and see if this will improve.
The tank's inhabitant now includes:
Lemon tetra*14
Emperor tetra*12
Congo tetra*10
Gold Laser Cory (CW010)*10
Corydoras trilineatus*10
Bristlenose pleco*4
Going to add 10 more lemon tetra if I can find some. The new batch of emperor tetra is very small, so i would have to wait for them to grow up before I could add the centrepiece fish.
As for the plant, I could see a general improvement of the plant's growth after I added excel. I started seeing diatoms on the older leaves of Cyperus helferi and Limnophila aquatica since using excel though. I would remove the diatom by hand for now, and see if this will improve.
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