Journal Advanced Planted Tank .... Amateur version

[Sb1415]

Should have more updates soon and getting some more plants from Burr Aqua. As I take down my old tank, have a ton of H.Pinnatifida, which I love. Thoughts on how I could incorporate it into this tank where there is no hardscape ?

Thank you!

 

[Kwyet]

I have a bunch just planted in the substrate. It grows like a weed.

 

[techman81]

I have a bunch just planted in the substrate. It grows like a weed.

Yep, I have it planted as a stem plant as well. It almost grows too well.

 

[Sb1415]

Made a few layout changes based on feedback so far. I ended up removing the stones after trialing a few combinations, and was able to reshape the substrate to cover the foreground better. Added some Eliocharis aricularis Mini, to replace the Monte Carlo and most of the Lobelia cardinalis Mini in the front. This feels much closer to what I had originally envisioned.



Rotala blood red thriving! Trimmed and replanted the tops mainly to increase density. Next round, I will replant with more structure in mind to give the bush a better shape. Ludwigia arcuata – Not growing quite as I had hoped yet, but it might just need a few trimming cycles to settle in. Let’s see how it does over time.


New arrival Rotala Indica Bonsai (Tropica TC). Took the place of a few Blyxa japonica. Really looking forward to seeing how it develops, might reposition later depending on growth of other plants and color contrast.



Rotala Florida, growing well. Slow and steady.


P.Decannensis. Probably one of my favorite plants so far. Such a unique texture, though a bit of a slow grower. Just placed an order from Burr Aqua for more, planning to create a street extending toward the back.


Syngonathus - Post-trim update: these branch out frequently, which makes dividing and replanting super easy.



Starting to see a bit of green thread algae, but it’s been manageable with manual removal. Water changes are around 50–75% twice a week.

Added all fauna, More than what I had wanted but this is what makes my family happy
4 Espei Rasbora
9 Cardinal Tetra
3 Platy
1 Honey Gourami
4 Corys
1 Guppy
3 Otos

More plants coming in this week. Planning to remove the AR Rosaefolia from the right background and replace it with L.wilsonii and L.hippuroides for better balance as others have suggested. Will leave a single stem of the AR as a specimen plant more in the mid-ground

Have a great week, everyone!

 

[techman81]

You've had other tanks, so you may already know this; Platies breed like bladder snails. Before you know it, you'll have a gazillion of them. I thought I had removed all but 1 adult female and 1 juvenal female from my 49 gallon tank, and yet, the female is still some how, having babies.

 

[techman81]

P.Decannensis. Probably one of my favorite plants so far. Such a unique texture, though a bit of a slow grower. Just placed an order from Burr Aqua for more, planning to create a street extending toward the back.

It starts as a slow grower, but once established, grows a bit faster and quite tall. Mine has been a little more susceptible to algae than other plants with the exception of moss. Also, mine started out as single stalks but once trimmed a few times, started growing numerous side stalks.

 

[Sb1415]

You've had other tanks, so you may already know this; Platies breed like bladder snails. Before you know it, you'll have a gazillion of them. I thought I had removed all but 1 adult female and 1 juvenal female from my 49 gallon tank, and yet, the female is still some how, having babies.

I would like to see life find a way with 3 males. Hopefully DW is not adding any mutagens to the APT fertilizers

 

[Sb1415]

It starts as a slow grower, but once established, grows a bit faster and quite tall. Mine has been a little more susceptible to algae than other plants with the exception of moss. Also, mine started out as single stalks but once trimmed a few times, started growing numerous side stalks.

Got it! I think it would be really nice if I could get it into this shape

Layout 105 - Pedro Rosa - Tropica Aquarium Plants

Inspiration and ideas for your planted aquarium.

tropica.com

Lets see if it is going to work out.

 

[Koan]

I would like to see life find a way with 3 males

Protandry does happen in fish but looks like Xiphophorous maculatus is not on the list!

 

[Koan]

Looks like your pull out tray is on Prime Day sale too!

 

[Sb1415]

Looks like your pull out tray is on Prime Day sale too!

Thank you! Sold

Will post updates.!

 

[techman81]

I just bought a couple as well, the 10X10s.

 

[Sb1415]

I just bought a couple as well, the 10X10s.

Yes should be perfect size for the Oase 350! Thank you @Koan

 

[Sb1415]

Day 30
Plant re-arrangement, and new plant additions from @Burr740

Removed a bunch of AR. Roseafolia from the right back and made one of it into a show piece in the midground
Re-arranged R.Tulunadensis, Syngonathus and R.Florida around the AR
Added L.Wilsonii to the right back
Added L.hippuridoides to the center
Added more P.decannensis to form a street

Parameters

• Ammonia 0, Nitrate 2-2.5 ppm, Phosphate 0.25
• ~ 65% water change twice/week with RO - Remineralizing to GH of 4 - 5
• APT 1 about 1/2 the recommended dose every day and full dose after water change.
• Lighting - increased to 50%

Growth

• R.Blood red stable
• Blyxa - Growing well - too well to say i am concerned that 3 might be too big
• R.Florida - Rooting well
• P.Decannensis - The ones that i had planted initially are growing slow and steady
• Syngonathus - Lets see how they grow from replanting

- AR - Had to move it around a bit, looks stressed lets see.

• R.Tulunadensis - Struggles but new growth looking good.
• L.Arcuata - Slow growth, struggling, has some filamentous algae as well. Not sure why it is struggling when the other plants are doing ok.

Issues

• I have had some filamentous algae - long threads from the Blyxa and the L.Arcuata which i have removed manually.
• Some of the threads do look bluish green but i think cyanobacteria does not form strands.
• The S.Repens had some leaves turning brown. I read a post by 2hr aquarist about this and have removed all the leaves that showed this sort of melting. Hopefully it does not become a major issue.

Questions

• As usual all helpful comments/recommendations welcome
• I have been in favor of lean dosing, and trying to keep nitrates low to get more red in my Rotala. That said I was expecting my water column nitrates to be quite high with the APT feast, but guess not. Trying to decide if I should go to APT 3 now or wait for few more weeks. A dose of 2 ml every day of APT 3 would add 0.8 ppm of nitrate (0.2 : 0.1 : 1.8 - NPK)

P.s - don't mind the algae on the right side pane, left them without scrubbing so that I am sure that the Otos have something to eat.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

That rotala is absolutely gorgeous, blood red indeed.

 

[techman81]

That rotala is absolutely gorgeous, blood red indeed.

Agreed!

 

[Sb1415]

I am planning to get some Amano Shrimps as part of clean up crew.

No prior experience with shrimp.

How many do you think would be good for this 25 gallon tank? There is good amount of filamentous algae.

If there are tips to prevent them from coming out of the tank, let me know as well since I don’t plan on getting a lid.

Thanks

 

[hamfist]

I am planning to get some Amano Shrimps as part of clean up crew.

No prior experience with shrimp.

How many do you think would be good for this 25 gallon tank? There is good amount of filamentous algae.

If there are tips to prevent them from coming out of the tank, let me know as well since I don’t plan on getting a lid.

Thanks

Anywahere from 3-8 would seem like a good number to start with. The tank could take even more but it all depends on how much visible Amano shrimp presence you are looking for. IME if your water parameters are to their liking (they are pretty versatile in this respect ( 3-14 dGH is easily fine, as is 0-10 dKH )) and clean with NH3, NO2 and NO3 well controlled then they tend to stay in the tank. THey are the first to wander when water chemistry goes awry though. Being shrimp, remember to acclimate them real slow. Drip acclimate for a couple of hours for real safety. Shrimp cannot handle quick GH/KH/TDS changes like fish can.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I’ve also heard if algae isn’t in mass to their liking that they will munch on plants. Maybe search around to see plants they may snack on. I’ve heard AR is one of the big ones they like.

 

[hamfist]

I’ve also heard if algae isn’t in mass to their liking that they will munch on plants. Maybe search around to see plants they may snack on. I’ve heard AR is one of the big ones they like.

It would only be a possibility if they became starving. THey are generally much more use than harm.