[Overfloater]

Here is a shot of the background of the tank. So far, so good. Been setup about 3 weeks now and only minor algae issues. My biggest annoyance so far is trying to get the R. Rotundifolia 'green' to grow upward instead of horizontally and often down!

 

[Wookiellmonster]

You live in Orlando, sweet! The background is looking real good, I like that red plant you have. What is it called? And how much light do you have under your tank?

 

[bastalker]

How sweet is that!!roud:

Please...If ya want me to try an grow it vertically, I will try!! Just send me a dozen stems, an we can trade notes!! I will tell ya absolutely nuthin you dont already know, but I will have some pretty sweet plants!

Honestly though, I have a 75G that told me just the other day, "Man I wish I had some R Rotundifolia in here.":hihi: :hihi:

Floater...u can grow some plants bud!! Just keep me in mind when ya wanna get rid of sum!!

 

[Jason Baliban]

What is your GH and KH in that tank Bob? What are you using for substrate?

Beautiful growth!!

jB

 

[Nightshop]

Looks like aquasoil.

Ammonia spiking at all? Any fauna?

Your plants seem to be happy =]

 

[Overfloater]

Wookie: The red plant is Rotala Macrandra. Lighting is above the tank and is 4.5 WPG CF.

bastalker: If I ever get the green growing vertically, I will have plenty to send you.

JB: gH and kH, I honestly haven't checked. In Orlando we have fairly hard tap, gH ~12 and kH ~10 though I'm sure the Aquasoil has reduced both of those parameters. I'm sure the Macrandra will give me a clue to of the hardness levels.

Nightshop: No ammnia spikes due to a well established filter and plenty of carbon and plants. So far the only fauna are 13 Yamoto shrimp and 13 Ottos.

 

[Subotaj]

the plants looking good.
few more weeks and Rotundifolia will be at the top of your tank.
try to keep the beautiful color of your Macrandra.

 

[Jason Baliban]

Has the AS helped the macrandra? Did you have that much succes with that plant before you used the AS?

Are you noticing huge differences with the AS?

jB

 

[Overfloater]

So far the AS seems to be working quite well. I have not tried to grow many stems in it since I've been using it but it seems to be doing well so far. I had good luck with Macrandra when I lived in NY and had very soft water but since I moved to Florida, I have tried it a few times with no luck. Same with Wallichi and other softwater plants. This is where the AS comes into play. I expect promising results along with the ADA fertilizers.

 

[Wookiellmonster]

Lol that's what I meant. Is there any LFS in Orlando that has a better selection of plants?

 

[Overfloater]

Lol that's what I meant. Is there any LFS in Orlando that has a better selection of plants?

Negative. The selection over here is less than stellar.

 

[esarkipato]

Your macrandra makes my heart weep

:redface:

Looking HEALTHY!

 

[co2]

Your macrandra looks awesome.

 

[Overfloater]

Well I can't take the credit for that Macrandra, at least not yet. I recently aquired it from kotoeloncat and it was in excellent shape, very red. Hopefully it fares well in the next few weeks including retaining it's color.

 

[esarkipato]

Aaaaa HAA! the truth comes out. I know mine doesn't get nearly that red, even close to the lights. And I'm at VERY low nitrates!

 

[Overfloater]

Macrandra isn't a plant that requires low nitrates to color up, as a matter of fact it does much better with higher nitrates. I just needs a ton of light and CO2 IMO.

EDIT: Apparently I have no idea what I am talking about. Macrandra responds poorly to higher nitrates.

 

[saint27]

So when do we get to see the rest of the tank? I am looking forward to a full tank shot myself.

 

[Overfloater]

Maybe soon, it's nothing spectacular at this point. I am battling the Rotundifolia trying to get it to grow upward. Little algae at this point, and I am thinking of adding 10 Rummynose tetras soon.

 

[Overfloater]

Well the Rotala is finally starting to grow upward after filling into a very thick bush and some trimming of lateral shoots. I am having a problem with the Macrandra though. It is getting white veins and several leaves have become translucent and begun to dissolve.

Another odd observation is that the AS in my tank doesn't seem to be lowering the hardness of the water. My kH is 8 in the tank exactly as it comes from the tap. I am going to try upping my traces and iron and I am also looking into a RO system so I can play around

 

[fresh_lynny]

That is very strange. I never heard AS not lowering KH.