Journal SkaleyAquatics Re-attempted Dutch

[SkaleyAquatics]

Its been almost 2 months since I posted the main tank. I think its time to change that.

The 180:


This tank has been extremely steady and smooth sailing(Hopefully I did not jinx that). I have not changed the dosing regiment in this tank. Once the holidays are over I think its time to start prepping for next years contest and get the tank layout redone. Listed below are my likes and expected changes to this scape.

Likes:

• The Bylxa japonica street disappearing behind the Ludwigia 'super red'
• Gratiola viscuda has grown in extremely nicely and is a great looking bush. I think i want to expand the size of this. Its also a great green color that compliments the 'monte carlo' and limnophila aromatica 'mini' nicely.

Improvements:

• the layout is desperately missing a brown crypt. I think separating the lobelia cardinalis and the hygrophila 53b would be a good spot for this.
• Missing a background plant in the middle of the tank. The pogostemon deccanensis never really gained any height. It is hidden behind everything else.
  • This kinda goes with that and the limited space for background plant shaping, its basically a line thats all the same size. Will have to fix this in the future.
• Background would benefit from a moss wall.
• The rotala macrandra 'kochi' and hygrophila difformis being basically one group. Its a great color transition but they grew into each other.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

I must be going crazy. I mixed up a new batch of Micros and when I went to dose I did not think the mix was dark enough. I started looking at my numbers to confirm I did not calculate anything incorrectly, sure enough I did not. Apparently I do not remember the shade of micro mix very well.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Whew 2 months since an update on this tank! This is long overdue then. The 180gal Dutch has been extremely smooth sailing the past few months. Almost so much that as long as dose and do my weekly water changes nothing pops up besides the GDA on the glass which as you may remember I am notorious about not removing . I completely want to get this tanks layout started for this years AGA as I really am disappointed not to have competed this past year, pesky co² running out at the worst time!!! I have a few ideas in mind for this years and want plants to put where.
Here is the tank February 1st:

Here is the tank today:

I did a swap meet at one of the local clubs on the 7th and completely ripped apart most of the plants in this tank to sell. I ended up with 114 bags of plants for sale at the meet and am extremely pleased with how I did.
I did end up removing the Micranthemum tweedei (Monte Carlo) as it never completely filled in like I would have liked and I kept getting tuffs of algae in it. I think this is due to the lax approach I take at gravel vacuuming the aquasoil. I am trying Marsilea minuta but we will see as I have not had much success with TC in mature tanks, as of late. This tank has 1 more year with this aqua soil before I'm ripping it out and going back to inert. I am glad I tried it but I just prefer inert substrates in my tanks. I see the benefits of aqua soil but for me its not worth the additional price to grow that extra few plants I do not care to grow anyways.

 

[Unexpected]

Looking good already.