Steveyg81
Member
Hi,
Iv been a member for some time, and have mainly read other peoples work and it has taught me a lot. So I think it is time I put my tank on here because im getting really into the planted aquarium, but im a little bit lacking at the moment when it comes to scaping, plant choice etc.
To start with, my tank:-
Jewel Vision 180
Eheim 2217
The light at the mo is pretty pathetic, its a single T8 30" bulb, so as you will see, i am kind of limited on plants. Iv managed to get hold of a pair of Aquawave Fusion LED bulbs and they will be fitted as soon the power pack arrives (any day now
).
Until recently I just had a sand substrate, with some bogwood, slate and synthetic plants. It was ok for the kribs but i never really fell in love with the view when i looked at the tank.
My planted journey began when i ordered the 36" collection from plantsalive. I meticulously planted the collection, but realised after a couple of weeks that plants need feeding too :?
This is how it looked then...
It took me a bit of reading on here to realise that 1) I needed to find a way of feeding them! and 2) my lighting was pap .
Now we roll forward about 2 months....the plants are dying off, well, the high light dependant ones anyway, and it looked a general sorry sight.
I was going to try an El Natural style, with soil and sand etc but i decided against it.
Eventually i bit the bullet and decided that, using the tank, filter, lights that i have i wanted to try harder, and attempt a proper planted tank.
It all began one afternoon before i started a night shift, I was doing a water change and just decided (as sometimes my impulses will do) to get some decent substrate. The following 2 hours were a bit of a blur, a mad dash to paddock farm, purchased substrate, dashed home.....i had to leave for work at 6!!
I bought some Oliver Knott nature soil because id read it didnt leach ammonia and i had nowhere to store my stock!
I moved the fish temporarily into an 80l toy bucket with filter and heater and emptied the tank.
Soil went in, sloping back to front (i learnt that here )
Put in some of the plants i had left and positioned the bogwood.
This is what it looked like, it has the addition of a few crypts, some lileaopsis brasiliensis and echinodorus tennelus.
My first proper attempt at a planted tank...
Since this pic, iv faffed about with the layout, bought some more swords, and im slowing buying some more foreground plants (thank you antipofish )
These are a few shots of today, because i want my journal to start from now
Forgive the quality.....these are all from my mobile.
The stocking is getting an overhaul too, the angels, polka dot loach and gourami are going to lfs for credit.
At the moment i want some more variety of plants, but i dont want CO2 system. I currently use root tabs, TNC Complete and easycarbo.
With that in mind, does anyone have any ideas for more plants??
To be honest, any criticism in general is very welcome, good or bad. I would gladly bow to experience than waste my cash! 8)
Anyway, iv rabbled on far too long....thank you for getting this far if you did!!!
I look forward to responses
Cheers, Steve.
Iv been a member for some time, and have mainly read other peoples work and it has taught me a lot. So I think it is time I put my tank on here because im getting really into the planted aquarium, but im a little bit lacking at the moment when it comes to scaping, plant choice etc.
To start with, my tank:-
Jewel Vision 180
Eheim 2217
The light at the mo is pretty pathetic, its a single T8 30" bulb, so as you will see, i am kind of limited on plants. Iv managed to get hold of a pair of Aquawave Fusion LED bulbs and they will be fitted as soon the power pack arrives (any day now
).Until recently I just had a sand substrate, with some bogwood, slate and synthetic plants. It was ok for the kribs but i never really fell in love with the view when i looked at the tank.
My planted journey began when i ordered the 36" collection from plantsalive. I meticulously planted the collection, but realised after a couple of weeks that plants need feeding too :?
This is how it looked then...
It took me a bit of reading on here to realise that 1) I needed to find a way of feeding them! and 2) my lighting was pap
.Now we roll forward about 2 months....the plants are dying off, well, the high light dependant ones anyway, and it looked a general sorry sight.
I was going to try an El Natural style, with soil and sand etc but i decided against it.
Eventually i bit the bullet and decided that, using the tank, filter, lights that i have i wanted to try harder, and attempt a proper planted tank.
It all began one afternoon before i started a night shift, I was doing a water change and just decided (as sometimes my impulses will do) to get some decent substrate. The following 2 hours were a bit of a blur, a mad dash to paddock farm, purchased substrate, dashed home.....i had to leave for work at 6!!
I bought some Oliver Knott nature soil because id read it didnt leach ammonia and i had nowhere to store my stock!
I moved the fish temporarily into an 80l toy bucket with filter and heater and emptied the tank.
Soil went in, sloping back to front (i learnt that here
)Put in some of the plants i had left and positioned the bogwood.
This is what it looked like, it has the addition of a few crypts, some lileaopsis brasiliensis and echinodorus tennelus.
My first proper attempt at a planted tank...
Since this pic, iv faffed about with the layout, bought some more swords, and im slowing buying some more foreground plants (thank you antipofish
)These are a few shots of today, because i want my journal to start from now
Forgive the quality.....these are all from my mobile.
The stocking is getting an overhaul too, the angels, polka dot loach and gourami are going to lfs for credit.
At the moment i want some more variety of plants, but i dont want CO2 system. I currently use root tabs, TNC Complete and easycarbo.
With that in mind, does anyone have any ideas for more plants??
To be honest, any criticism in general is very welcome, good or bad. I would gladly bow to experience than waste my cash! 8)
Anyway, iv rabbled on far too long....thank you for getting this far if you did!!!
I look forward to responses
Cheers, Steve.
