Journal 32 Gallon Dutch Corner

[LRJ]

Tank shot after today's water change. Don't have much to update at the moment. I took the driftwood out to make more room for plants and to make maintenance a bit easier. The pogostemon helferi is white. Not sure why but hope it will green up eventually.

 

[plantnoobdude]

Tank shot after today's water change. Don't have much to update at the moment. I took the driftwood out to make more room for plants and to make maintenance a bit easier. The pogostemon helferi is white. Not sure why but hope it will green up eventually.


View attachment 1865

Looks like chlorosis. What's your Fe, Mn, dosing? And also Ca, Co3 content in water.

 

[LRJ]

Looks like chlorosis. What's your Fe, Mn, dosing? And also Ca, Co3 content in water.

Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately, I don't know those values. With this iteration of the tank, I haven't been tracking specific water parameters.

One of my main criteria for ramping this tank back up was that I was going to shave off maintenance time where possible to keep it sustainable. One way I'm doing that is buying premade ferts and remineralizers, dosing as prescribed, and not giving a second thought to parameters. Just focusing time and effort on husbandry.

I've considered chlorosis, but all of the other plants are pretty happy. I thought about putting an osmocote ball under the group, but I'm trying to keep everything accustomed to getting all nutrients from the water column. The pogostemon helferi is the newest plant in the tank; only been in for about a month, and started out as tiny plantlets. I'll probably give them another month and see if they come around.

 

[LRJ]

Trim day

 

[GreggZ]

I love the trimming technique!! Great way to create those perfect groupings.

 

[LRJ]

Tank shots from this evening. I removed the pogostemon helferi...it was still white. I'll try something else in the front left.

 

[Burr740]

Always loved that stand. And damn I wonder what happened to the downoi. Stauro porto velho would be pretty good right there

 

[LRJ]

Always loved that stand. And damn I wonder what happened to the downoi. Stauro porto velho would be pretty good right there

Hey Joe! Good to hear from you! I have no idea what happened to the downoi, but I just got tired of messing with it. I might give that stauro porto vehlo a try like you suggest

 

[LRJ]

Hurricane Idalia hit us hard in South GA. Tank went 3 days w/o light, CO2 and filtration.

Thankfully all of the livestock survived.

The plants all went reaching for the surface and lost color, as you can see from the photos below. I will not be surprised if a bunch of the old growth dies off over the next week and the plants start throwing off new growth.

Day before hurricane


After 3 days no power

 

[Count Krunk]

That sucks, but it still looks good. Hopefully the plants don’t die back.

 

[LRJ]

That sucks, but it still looks good. Hopefully the plants don’t die back.

Thanks! Honestly, I am just thankful the livestock survived. The plants will bounce back one way or another. It helps that I have a lightly stocked tank and small fish. If I had a tank full of big fish or delicate species I don't think it'd have gone as well.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

That crypt bush is gorgeous, what great contrast.

 

[GreggZ]

After 3 days no power
View attachment 2965

Wow that's pretty good for 3 days with no power. In fact if you didn't mention it I wouldn't have noticed. Many would love to get to that level WITH power.

Plants must have had plenty of reserves. Well done and I am loving the tank.

 

[LRJ]

That crypt bush is gorgeous, what great contrast.

Thank you! I love that crypt. Wendtii tropica. So simple, yet so nice.

 

[LRJ]

Wow that's pretty good for 3 days with no power. In fact if you didn't mention it I wouldn't have noticed. Many would love to get to that level WITH power.

Plants must have had plenty of reserves. Well done and I am loving the tank.

Thank you, Gregg! I was crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

I imagine with all those nice bows you have that you've got systems in place for power outages.

This time around I couldn't do anything except ride it out. Next time I hope to have a better plan.

 

[LRJ]

Last photos before I do a major trim this week.

 

[Unexpected]

Last photos before I do a major trim this week.

View attachment 3100
View attachment 3101

Looking great!

May I ask which gravel you're using?

 

[LRJ]

Looking great!

May I ask which gravel you're using?

Thanks! It's Aqua Natural "Midnight Pearl." Basically was looking for any smooth river gravel around 2-3 mm, and this is what I'm able to find locally. I like it, but I'll note that when I first set up the aquarium I suspected that this gravel was buffering ph, which surprised me as it's supposed to be inert. I never did the testing to determine this conclusively, and in any event the issue is gone now.

 

[LRJ]

Thinned out the crypts and ferns today. Was overdue.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I friggen love this tank. The bushes are so awesome