Evening all, update but no images just yet.... sorry
First off i need to say a huge thankyou to Aqvainnova who has kindly donated the plants to this project, all invitro or linea zero. Not wishing to break forum rules i wont rattle on about the brand etc but believe it is ok to say that as you would expect from 2 established aquatic producers the plants were in great health, i would gladly use them again and they are a welcome addition to the hobby.
I have a video of the whole planting process (most of it anyway) which ill edit together at some point along with full tank shots, images of new plants etc.
The reason for no images right now is the tank has had a huge bacterial bloom making the water very milky, no idea why? The established filters and daily 50% water changes (such a pain with big tanks and RO) are clearing it up slowly.
Plants have settled very quickly, showing new growth and most excitingly i have horizontal glosso for the first time. As the tank is running mature filters and no ammonia spike expected part of the clean up crew is in, couple of ottos and a dozen amano shrimp. CO2 levels seem stable and effective, the only slight adjustment i need to make at the moment is the ph swing caused by almost pure RO... from 6.8 - 3.9. Moving on, tomorrow i will be adding some buffers to achieve more reasonable levels in the region of where the end inhabitants will like the gh, around 5-8.
The plant list i had originally planned was adjusted to fit with the aqvainnova product line which is relatively limited but steadily growing as they dont launch until september, still more than enough to make me scratch my head though, what i ended up going with...
Glossostigma elatinoides
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Cryptocoryne parva
Staurogyne repens
Alternanthera reineckii "Mini"
Ammania sp. "bonsai"
Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia cardinalis "dwarf"
Lagenandra meeboldii "pink"
Ammania gracilis
Ludwigia inclinata "Cuba"
Vesicularia ferriei "Weeping"
also reusing my bucephalandra, its very close to the light so it may come out again and will be adding a little hydropiper elantine once i can get hold of some to try out.
The banking has held up reasonably well, mainly the whole slope shrunk by about half an inch as it compacted, i stupidly didnt consider this!! Now i know why the pro scapers usually fill their tanks then drain then to plant, it gives you the opportunity to tweak after it settles. There is a little slippage but should be fine after the plants root.
I was going to add neon blue/ emerald gobys but i tested out the digging habits in the holding tank and its safe to say i wouldnt have much of a scape left had i added them, so wednesday im taking them back and picking up 15 different bottom dwellers to go in the holding tank for when the plants have established.
So again apologies for no images but thought id get this bit done while im being paid
They will follow in due course.