Journal 65 gallon (formerly 20 gallon) Rotala florida tank

[Dennis Wong]

A great example of something that is underdiscussed. Horticulture plays a major role in a planted tank. You've been doing a great job of delving deeper into how plants respond differently to different horticulture techniques. Keep it up they are some of my favorite posts from you.

thanks man, you've given me an idea, maybe I can do a tank where two sides are mirrored, one side gets replanted more often, and the other side left to go overcrowded without pruning.

 

[SmartAlec13]

thanks man, you've given me an idea, maybe I can do a tank where two sides are mirrored, one side gets replanted more often, and the other side left to go overcrowded without pruning.

This would be great to see.

 

[GreggZ]

thanks man, you've given me an idea, maybe I can do a tank where two sides are mirrored, one side gets replanted more often, and the other side left to go overcrowded without pruning.

I think that's a great idea. Over the years I have seen the same plant do better/worse in what seems to be the same exact parameters. What's different? Can be many things. Horticuluture/trimming/pruning, crowded/shaded, substrate health, flow, etc. Everything plays a role.

And then you have some where from time to time you just need to get rid of all the old growth and start new. An example is Pogostemon Kimberly. Stems get really thick over time. At some point you just want to toss those and start over with new plantlets.

And the list goes on and on. We spoke about this years ago that this was something folks just don't pay attention to.

If you can document some differences in the same tank I think it would be very helpful to many, myself included!

 

[Dennis Wong]

Testing vert video to see if it shows
View attachment Fish vert show large tank.mp4

 

[Dennis Wong]

Update on the Rotala florida tank
White plants growing in slowly,
Rotala florida still not at full color due to fish damage. Otherwise, things have just been growing steadily.
5ml APTe per day, 22ml APTe after 50% water change - seems to maintain NO3 between 15-20ppm there abouts.

 

[forhots7853]

Beautiful photos!!! The plants look amazing!!! What settings do you use on your Fujifilm – iso, aperture, etc.? Do you also use extra light? Really impressive work. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Dennis Wong]

Beautiful photos!!! The plants look amazing!!! What settings do you use on your Fujifilm – iso, aperture, etc.? Do you also use extra light? Really impressive work. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you~, the default settings I use is 1600 ISO, F8, an extra light is used to light up the back wall.

 

[Dennis Wong]

Bucephalandra Sordidula 'Blue' from Tropica is one of the Bucephalandra on the commercial market with nice color hues and does not cost as much as rarer species.

In this photo set, it shows how Bucephalandra can look to have very different color tones from just varying the angle of viewing/photography due to way their leaves reflect light. The exact same plant photographed from side view and top down with the same neutral lighting looks entirely different - the top down view looks more reddish, while the side view looks bluish green. Bucephalandra coloration depends on a large number of factors, from how they are grown, to how what light is used to light up the plant visually - and even the angle of view. This makes them really fascinating plants to use in the aquarium, but buying plants in search of a specific color tone can be difficult for less experienced aquarists.




and light settings make a huge difference :

 

[JayP]

Getting good photos of my Buce has been a challenge. Like you poiht out, I see it flash these amazing colors from certain angles and certain lighting, but capturing it with the camera doesn't work out that well. I keep trying though.

 

[Dennis Wong]

Update on the Pogostemon stellatus 'Fireworks'
Pretty plant, reminds me of a redder, thicker Pogostemon erectus.



Closeup of Elatine triandra "inflorescence', orangey tint compared to the usual default varietal.

 

[Dennis Wong]

H. polysperma white really stands out at some angles


Been trying to capture a good photo of it, adjusting exposure is tricky with very white plants


Vid to top it off~
View attachment Sideview short 5.mp4

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Something I had to do a double take on -- TWENTY gallons?? Amazing what a skilled aquascaper can do with 20 gal of aquarium.

EDIT: My double-take was well-founded, turns out this journal now follows a much larger tank haha

 

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

Something I had to do a double take on -- TWENTY gallons?? Amazing what a skilled aquascaper can do with 20 gal of aquarium.

20 gallons is rather large in most places. We are not all blessed with a warehouse for living rooms.

 

[TRyan]

I really like this style of layout. Very natural looking.

The way Dennis uses the same plants in different locations in the foreground and mid ground while keeping the background stem groups separated (for the most part) is very appealing to me.

I like the how he also incorporates a substantial amount of hardscape into the layout that blends in so well.

Very pleasing to look at. I could stare at this tank all day.

 

[Dennis Wong]

Something I had to do a double take on -- TWENTY gallons?? Amazing what a skilled aquascaper can do with 20 gal of aquarium.

haa if you haven't realize, this journal morphed from writing about the 20gallon tank to writing about the 65 gallon. I complained that I couldn't change the title ! lol. After the first couple of pages on the 20gallon tank, its been posting on the 120x60x50cm tank.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

haa if you haven't realize, this journal morphed from writing about the 20gallon tank to writing about the 65 gallon. I complained that I couldn't change the title ! lol. After the first couple of pages on the 20gallon tank, its been posting on the 120x60x50cm tank.

Thank god, I was wondering if my sense of scale had been totally skewed.

20 gallons is rather large in most places. We are not all blessed with a warehouse for living rooms.

This reads as weirdly passive aggressive but I'll assume it's not it turns out this is a 65 gallon tank anyway
I've got my upcoming 120x60x50cm ~90gal tank in my new very small living room, you don't always need a warehouse for a big tank!

 

[Koan]

complained that I couldn't change the title

Done!

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Thank god, I was wondering if my sense of scale had been totally skewed.

This reads as weirdly passive aggressive but I'll assume it's not lol it turns out this is a 65 gallon tank anyway
I've got my upcoming 120x60x50cm ~90gal tank in my new very small living room, you don't always need a warehouse for a big tank!

I’ve got a 62 gallon in my living room, it’s got a similar footprint to a 55 gallon, which is a dime a dozen starter “big tank” in the US.

 

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

Thank god, I was wondering if my sense of scale had been totally skewed.

This reads as weirdly passive aggressive but I'll assume it's not it turns out this is a 65 gallon tank anyway
I've got my upcoming 120x60x50cm ~90gal tank in my new very small living room, you don't always need a warehouse for a big tank!

Rest assure Rocco it isn't. Just a bit of friendly banter. I would love something bigger than 20gal but there is barely any room to fit anything else as it is.

Apologies for any misunderstanding

 

[Dennis Wong]

View attachment handphone vid of 4ft Rotala florida.mp4

Hmm handphone vid update.
I think overall layout is doing alright. However, the Rotala florida bushes are really badly nibbled by the fish, and changing their diet, feeding them 3 times a day etc does not seem to stop it.
It seems like I am to choose between the plant and the fish. Maybe its time to move on and grow something else.
The plants in the other 2 tanks are perfectly fine but there are too many larger fish in this tank to switch the fish around. sigh.