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Green Pekoe Pond - 40 litres

That's an amazing picture! These plants have really caught my imagination. So many interesting plants... so little space.
 
CO2: Disposable 500g bottles, Up inline diffuser on filter intake

I have the same setup as you regarding CO2 and a TMC 1500 tile at 65% but still no getting good results or any growth...

I was thinking of either increasing light intensity or switching my up inline diffuser from filter intake to filter output....what do you think?
 
Hi Jaap, You could try changing your CO2 diffuser to the outflow but I’m starting to think natural systems need stability over all else. My plants are really fussy about changing things too often and too quickly.

The light question is a really tricky one. My tank has quite a few deeply shaded areas as well as very bright spots - up near the surface the light must be stupidly high but the plants are as healthy as I could hope for. The moss, HC and UG are constantly going from submerged to immersed as the water level drops through evaporation with no problems. Staurogyne and Hygrophila araguaia grow in the shaded low flow areas and the high light, high flow areas. I’m starting to question if there’s a ‘magic formula’ at all! I’m starting to think that as long as you keep the tank as healthy as possible (lots of good clean water changes, high plant mass, clean filters, constantly picking out dead leaf material and a clean, film free surface to maximise gas exchange) the plants will adapt and thrive in a very wide spectrum of CO2 and light levels. The only real difference I can see between our tanks is the amount of plant mass - you could always try a ton of cheap plants already adapted to a submerged life?
 
I am thinking that at 65% light intensity, the TMC 1500 tile is a bit more bright than the GroBeam 600...so still I might have less light than "optimum"?

Hi Jaap, You could try changing your CO2 diffuser to the outflow but I’m starting to think natural systems need stability over all else. My plants are really fussy about changing things too often and too quickly.

The light question is a really tricky one. My tank has quite a few deeply shaded areas as well as very bright spots - up near the surface the light must be stupidly high but the plants are as healthy as I could hope for. The moss, HC and UG are constantly going from submerged to immersed as the water level drops through evaporation with no problems. Staurogyne and Hygrophila araguaia grow in the shaded low flow areas and the high light, high flow areas. I’m starting to question if there’s a ‘magic formula’ at all! I’m starting to think that as long as you keep the tank as healthy as possible (lots of good clean water changes, high plant mass, clean filters, constantly picking out dead leaf material and a clean, film free surface to maximise gas exchange) the plants will adapt and thrive in a very wide spectrum of CO2 and light levels. The only real difference I can see between our tanks is the amount of plant mass - you could always try a ton of cheap plants already adapted to a submerged life?
 
I am thinking that at 65% light intensity, the TMC 1500 tile is a bit more bright than the GroBeam 600...so still I might have less light than "optimum"?
I think the tiles use twice the number of the same emitters as the 600 so I would have thought 65% would have been a bit above your original 600. Really tricky to advise you to push the big red light button... what if your tank goes into meltdown? I thought the last picture you posted of your tank, it was looking like you were making great progress.

I've rashly bought a Radion XR15... still in the box. I'm having my own sleepless nuclear light dilemma. Do I, don't I?


Hint: it's been ages since we've gotten new photos!
I see what I have to post after lunch
 
You are at 100% and 40cm above the substrate yes?

I think the tiles use twice the number of the same emitters as the 600 so I would have thought 65% would have been a bit above your original 600. Really tricky to advise you to push the big red light button... what if your tank goes into meltdown? I thought the last picture you posted of your tank, it was looking like you were making great progress.

I've rashly bought a Radion XR15... still in the box. I'm having my own sleepless nuclear light dilemma. Do I, don't I?



I see what I have to post after lunch
 
I have to say, I thought my light was a lot higher! I've just measured it - I moved it down quite a bit before Christmas when I was fixing my lampshade.
Light: Grobeam 1500, !00% for 7hrs, 30min ramp up and down, 22.5cm from the bottom of the light to the surface of the water.
Water changes: 25%(10 litres) twice a week with RO water.
Fertilisers: Tropica specialised, 3 pumps with each waterchange.
 
22.5cm from the surface of the water...how much from the surface of the substrate approximately?

I have to say, I thought my light was a lot higher! I've just measured it - I moved it down quite a bit before Christmas when I was fixing my lampshade.
Light: Grobeam 1500, !00% for 7hrs, 30min ramp up and down, 22.5cm from the bottom of the light to the surface of the water.
Water changes: 25%(10 litres) twice a week with RO water.
Fertilisers: Tropica specialised, 3 pumps with each waterchange.
 
The tank is 30cm deep - 51cm from the bottom of the light to the bottom of the tank. Measurement between light bottom and the top of the carpeting plants is between 39cm to 46cm.

CO2 level? haven't a clue anymore. Bubble counter water evaporated last year sometime and have never used a drop checker. lots of micro bubbles in the water and the fish don't looked fussed.
 
I am confused...is the inline CO2 atomiser on your inlet or your outlet...if its in your inlet then you should have microbubbles right?

The tank is 30cm deep - 51cm from the bottom of the light to the bottom of the tank. Measurement between light bottom and the top of the carpeting plants is between 39cm to 46cm.

CO2 level? haven't a clue anymore. Bubble counter water evaporated last year sometime and have never used a drop checker. lots of micro bubbles in the water and the fish don't looked fussed.
 
The never cleaned original UP inline atomiser is on the filter outlet.

I'm going to put a current equipment list on pg1 for anyone who finds it useful
 
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Did you originally have it on the inlet of the filter as you state in page one?

The never cleaned original UP inline atomiser is on the filter outlet.

I'm going to put a current equipment list on pg1 for anyone who finds it useful
 
Did you originally have it on the inlet of the filter as you state in page one?
Yes, on the inlet when I first started.

Hint: it's been ages since we've gotten new photos!
16456818265_2ea709e7f9_c_d.jpg


The surface skimmer is getting a bit lost in all the plants. You just about see it at the back under the sundew. Still keeps the surface clean nicely.
16455065331_9df15f3a15_c_d.jpg


The central heating has given the fern a hard time but seems to be recovering now.
15834325554_4716b58c20_c_d.jpg
 
Heehee, Yes it is getting a bit wild! At some point I’m going to have to give the Staurogyne a bit of a chop as its getting a bit too high along the glass edge. I’m starting to wonder if the plants growing above the surface will eventually completely cover the central part of the tank - that would be a really great planting opportunity with a whole new range of plants to experiment with.
 
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