A new old planted journal.

[RickB]

I did already have a journal going https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/rescaping-64l-customised-rekord-600.40674/

The tank is rekord 600 without the lid and internal filter, the filter I am using is an aps ef1000

As you can see I have had ups and downs, but I am determined to get this spot on this time, before I rescaped the rotala and ludwigia were pearling alot but only the top half of the plant, the bottom had a bad case of BBA, I am hoping the daily water changes and less hardscape will help keep the BBA at bay this time.

But if you go to the last page you will see how much I changed it in the last update so decided I would make a journal for the new setup.

Plants at the moment are:

Ludwigia Arcuata
Rotala Rotundifolia
Crypto Petchii
Crypto Wendtii Brown

I am now running only 1 24w t5 ho instead of 2, it also positioned to give the back of the tank the most light.
I have it running for 6 and a half hours at the moment.
still 2 bps of co2 on 2 hrs before lights on and off 2 hours before lights off.

I am planning to do a 20% water change daily (and for the first week I have and I am very happy with health of the tank as a result).

I am dosing 2 pumps of tropica specialised once a day after each water change, I was dosing 1 pump but the growth on the rotala was a bit light so I upped it starting today.

I have 3 red cherry shrimp, 4 amano shrimp, 5 oto, 3 neon tetra's and a plethora of snails

Here are some pictures:


After looking at the layout for a week I have decided to add a few more plants.
These are the ones I am thinking of at the moment:
Crypto Parva in front of some of the rocks.
Pogestemon Helferi in front of some rocks too.
Buce mini needle on a small rock in front of the crypts on the left.
Ludwigia Palustris in the middle of the ludwigia and rotala to add a bit of contrast higher up the tank.

I have left the base of the rotal wide open so that I can see and get to it for maintenance, I am hoping to get it as bushy as I can too.

So wish me luck and any advice is always welcome, such as any plant suggestions or any opinions on the plants I am planning to add.

 

[RickB]

I just ordered new plants

Cryptocoryne Parva
Bacopa 'Compact'
Bucephalandra spec. Brownie
Pogostemon Helferi
Hydrocotyle tripartita

I have been keeping up with daily water changes and so far tank health is fantastic, crystal clear water, no signs of any algae, and the fish and shrimp I have look very healthy.

I removed all the equipment from the tank at the weekend and cleaned every bit of the glass I could as well.

The plan is to maybe move some of the crypts on the left to make way for the tripartita, maybe put the bacopa in and around the rotala, the buce on the rocks in front of the crypts on the right, and I am going to decide where to put the helferi and parva when I plant.

The plants should arrive tommorow and I will try and get pictures after planting them.

Also ordered more noodles for the filter, and some new pads for the filter.

 

[RickB]

As promised, pics with new plants in place:



Still a bit cloudy after planting, that should clear over night and after the wc tomorrow.

I actually got a small bit of moss in one of the parva pots so stuck it on a piece of stone behind the helferi.

 

[Deansie]

Looking good so far

 

[RickB]

Looking good so far

Thank you, good luck with your new setup too

 

[RickB]

Well that is the extra ceramic rings and the new floss in the filter.

The tripartita is not wanting to stay planted lol

 

[RickB]

Just a small update today.

The new plants are doing fine no sign of any reall issues with any of them yet (a bit of melt on the parva but not alot).
I finally managed to get the Hydro planted properly and it is growing very quickly.
The Helferi is staying stable though one of the side shoots is getting longer and there is a root on it now.

I am still keeping up with the bucket a day water change too which is certainly making a big differance.

Also incase anyone didnt see my thread about eggs, I now have a baby oto.


May be more but I have only seen the one for now.

I am going to leave photo updates for a bit to let the plants grow and settle.

 

[RickB]

Time for an update, some pics first.

New plants are doing well, no signs of melt now and all looking ok
I have still been doing daily water changes and dosing tropica specialised daily after each water change.

I moved the atomizer to just under the inlet because the mist was getting a bit irritating.

I got 14 neon tetra's too (actually only asked for 10 lol), had them a few week and all look very happy.

 

[RickB]

Another photo update.

 

[Lindy]

Looks very natural.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[RickB]

Looks very natural.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Thank you, that is what I was trying to aim for so your comment makes me happy

1 problem I am having is BBA again making an appearance despite me sticking to daily water changes.