[eyebeatbadgers]

This should turn out to be a very nice easy to care for tank. I'd say the bulbs you have now will be just fine to grow those swords out. Maybe you could bring out the reds by keeping the nitrates low?

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

oooOOO my bad- that make so much more sense! :icon_redf

....I was... I guess I should have been more descriptive.

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

Wow. Looks like fun

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

As a note of my personal experience, willow moss does not attach to wood as well as other mosses, such as java and taiwan. The moss is growing and healthy, but just doesn't "stick" as well or as quickly as other mosses. It might just be me though.

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

I like the new plant species! How's that back feeling after planting all those little guys?

I'm not such a big fan of the driftwood, looks contrived to me. Kind of like how I build a campfire. I liked the first way better, but it's not my tank

Hope you're having fun with that monster tank!

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

I'd really doubt you'd find H2S in a tank as new as yours. The roots growing in the substrate should oxidize and and keep the H2S at bay.

The green water conditions you are getting are triggered by ammonia presence. I've fought with it in the past, and overcame it with a blackout, and proper filtration. I'm using an XP2 on my 29 gallon tank now, and have not had green water since.

Sorry to hear about your barb and loaches. I know you were attached to those fish after having them so long.

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

Black outs have worked very well for me in the past, when I had GW problems. The root of my blooms were from ammonia though, from too small a filter. Hope yours clears soon!

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

What does a 'deep purple' look like?

Like this:

Tank's looking good

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

Tank looks great. I love dwarf sag. That is going to look awesome shortly (when it fills in - won't take long).



And off topic, that is not a truck :flick:

This is a truck :icon_cool

:thumbsup:
No this is

And the tank's looking good Laura, to keep on subject

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

you might try mixing the garlic in with scrambled eggs. My cardinals love some eggs

p.s. when are you going to break down and set up a Co2 tank ???

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

The tank is looking good. Have you thought about painting the intake tube of your XP filter black with some Krylon Fusion paint? I did mine a while back, and it makes a huge difference. You really can't see the thing at all now. I wish I had painted the spraybar as well, as it isn't quite as dark as the intake tube. Just gotta make sure you let it cure, which takes several days (I think it recommends 7, but I did four, and had no adverse side effects.)

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

What do ya'll think?

It looks bare again. For such a mature tank it looks like it's lacking plants to me.

Have you ever thought about moving the intake pipe from the center of the tank to the far right side? It would really look better in the corner.

Plant choices are a very personal thing, but with a tank as tall and huge as yours, I would be looking for a very tall thick group of plants for the back, which your new vals may provide.

Good luck with the progress!

 

[eyebeatbadgers]

I wasn't aware this was a biotope...

I think the hardscape is a little sparse too, you've got a lot of room that has been empty now for a while. Hardscape is cool, and you can't kill it!