Looks very nice, Aaron.
I wouldn't go with a blue background. I've yet to see one I've actually liked.
I wouldn't go with a blue background. I've yet to see one I've actually liked.
Rotala Rainbow - 90cm Journal
2
Tank:
90 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm
Lighting:
DIY IceCap SLR reflectors w/ 4 39 watt Giessemann Midday T5HO bulbs
10 hours total lighting, only 6 hours with all 4 bulbs.
Substrate:
Mineralized topsoil covered by 3M Colorquartz Aggregate T-Grade Black Sand
See this thread for full details regarding the topsoil.
I did 4 good wet/dry cycles with the soil this time and haven't had the algae issues I did before.
Filter:
Rena XP3
Plants:
Rotala sp. 'green'
Rotala sp. 'colorata'
Rotala sp. 'Vietnam'
Rotala sp. 'Nanjenshan'
Rotala sp. 'Araguaia'
Rotala sp. 'Goias'
Rotala sp. 'Mini'
Rotala macrandra 'green'
Rotala pusilla
Rotala hippuris
Rotala sp. 'Ceylon'
Hemianthus callitrichoides (HC)
Fissidens fontanus
Pogostemon helferi (Downoi)
Bacopa sp. 'Araguaia'
Hygrophila sp. 'Bold'
Hygrophila sp. 'Araguaia'
Ludwigia sp. 'Guinea'
Anubias minima
Anubias barteri var. nana 'Gold'
Fauna:
Pseudomogil furcatus
Hysonotis leucofrinatus
Caridina japonica
Olive Nerites
Here's the original setup date picture on 5/25/07
![]()
Here's an update today on 6/3
![]()
I haven't chosen a backround color yet, hence no backround. I'm trying to decide between white, black, or light blue.
Comments and criticisms are welcome.
90 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm
Lighting:
DIY IceCap SLR reflectors w/ 4 39 watt Giessemann Midday T5HO bulbs
10 hours total lighting, only 6 hours with all 4 bulbs.
Substrate:
Mineralized topsoil covered by 3M Colorquartz Aggregate T-Grade Black Sand
See this thread for full details regarding the topsoil.
I did 4 good wet/dry cycles with the soil this time and haven't had the algae issues I did before.
Filter:
Rena XP3
Plants:
Rotala sp. 'green'
Rotala sp. 'colorata'
Rotala sp. 'Vietnam'
Rotala sp. 'Nanjenshan'
Rotala sp. 'Araguaia'
Rotala sp. 'Goias'
Rotala sp. 'Mini'
Rotala macrandra 'green'
Rotala pusilla
Rotala hippuris
Rotala sp. 'Ceylon'
Hemianthus callitrichoides (HC)
Fissidens fontanus
Pogostemon helferi (Downoi)
Bacopa sp. 'Araguaia'
Hygrophila sp. 'Bold'
Hygrophila sp. 'Araguaia'
Ludwigia sp. 'Guinea'
Anubias minima
Anubias barteri var. nana 'Gold'
Fauna:
Pseudomogil furcatus
Hysonotis leucofrinatus
Caridina japonica
Olive Nerites
Here's the original setup date picture on 5/25/07
Here's an update today on 6/3
I haven't chosen a backround color yet, hence no backround. I'm trying to decide between white, black, or light blue.
Comments and criticisms are welcome.
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
Great start Aaron! Just needs to mature. Has a lot of potential to be a winner; I love the rock-scape!
It's about time for an update so here it is so far.
It's still not quite filled in all of the way yet. I also still need a backround. The quickfilter and heater
are to deal with some ick I'm battling and aren't permanent additions.
![]()
It's still not quite filled in all of the way yet. I also still need a backround. The quickfilter and heater
are to deal with some ick I'm battling and aren't permanent additions.
where is rotala wallichii?
looks very nice.
Actually, that's the Rotala 'Vietnam'.
I left out the more common Rotalas for this scape. Nope, not one bit for 2 months running now. I have other tanks that have been running for 7 months with no dosing too.
There are a few finicky plants that won't grow in the soil without dosing. I'd say about 85% of all stems will grow in it without problems. I've mostly had issues with Ludwigias. Hygros, Limnophilas, Rotalas and many others have all done fine.
For me it's worth the hassle of not growing a few different species to be able to enjoy the tank without having to monitor dosing everyday or even every other day. As you can see from the picture the low nitrate levels maintained in the water column also make for some serious reds.
I do water changes every 1-2 weeks. If I let it go too long (several weeks) the hardness in the water gets depleted and I will notice potassium defficiencies. Otherwise, there are no issues.
For me it's worth the hassle of not growing a few different species to be able to enjoy the tank without having to monitor dosing everyday or even every other day. As you can see from the picture the low nitrate levels maintained in the water column also make for some serious reds.
I do water changes every 1-2 weeks. If I let it go too long (several weeks) the hardness in the water gets depleted and I will notice potassium defficiencies. Otherwise, there are no issues.
Okay, I know it seems like I forgot about this tank. I entered it in the AGA and was waiting for the results to come out before posting the final shot. Here she is:
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
