Little 20l AIO

[Little]

Another engine room post.

Added a UPS for power backup in the event of a power cut.

The room gets very cold in winter at night (1930’s detached house exposed to wind across fields). This should keep the heater and pump working for about 2 hours.

See post in thread 'Non DIY Backup Power for Heater and Pump - Any recommendations l?'
Non DIY Backup Power for Heater and Pump - Any recommendations l?

 

[Little]

Quick full tank shot.
Been four months and the tank is really progressing nicely. I decided to add some more stuff.
I put a mini Java fern in the back left attached to a little shrimp cave.
Also added an Anubis Pinto to the back of the tree.
Lastly I moved the ledge up higher and have the Ricca a savage haircut as was blocking too much light.
Betta fish still a little shy. He comes to eat but tends to stay hidden behind things most often.
Tank must have 30+ Bloody Mary shrimp pottering around so it seems they are doing very well.

 

[bazz]

How is the Hobbit faring?

 

[Little]

How is the Hobbit faring?

The longer hair grass swamped and killed most of it. A few leaves poke out here and there but it’s struggling.
I planted a new bit on the far front right where it’s less likely to get overgrown. Fingers crossed.
It’s definitely a harder plant than I hoped.

 

[bazz]

I've tried again, I split the pot into three, put one in high tech which has practically disappeared and two in a small low tech which seem to be just about holding on at the moment, I can only assume (probably wrongly) that they need high light and lots of CO2. I would imagine it would fare a lot better in a shallow high tech aquarium. I think I'm going to dig one up and leave it floating, see if that makes any difference.

 

[Little]

I think overcrowding may be an issue.

The here is the “best” surviving hobbit. I think it just can’t outcompete the chaos I have around it. I have not seen any new leaves in months. I don’t think it will survive.

Here is my new one, I put in more recently. The leaves are transitioning currently. I hope to keep it a bit less overgrown in its corner. This is also the side that gets hit with the most co2 and light.

Definitely a very fussy plant, but I love the leaf colour and size.

Please let me know if you figure out how to make them thrive.

 

[chickennublet]

I think overcrowding may be an issue.

The here is the “best” surviving hobbit. I think it just can’t outcompete the chaos I have around it. I have not seen any new leaves in months. I don’t think it will survive.
View attachment 218691
Here is my new one, I put in more recently. The leaves are transitioning currently. I hope to keep it a bit less overgrown in its corner. This is also the side that gets hit with the most co2 and light.
View attachment 218692

Definitely a very fussy plant, but I love the leaf colour and size.

Please let me know if you figure out how to make them thrive.

Those are nice! I tried some a while back but killed all of them hahaha

 

[bazz]

The here is the “best” surviving hobbit. I think it just can’t outcompete the chaos I have around it. I have not seen any new leaves in months. I don’t think it will survive.

Could you not clear a small space for it at the front, from your photos it's a lovely little plant that would be worth it?

 

[Little]

I did try to keep the helanthium tenellum red a bit away from the Hobbit (and Parva) by removing bits each week at water change… but the stuff is super vigorous.
It’s starting to go red since I reduced my ferts, maybe that will slow it down.
I also thought perhaps I should cut the helanthium but thought that would look weird?
I’m new to all this so just fumbling through.

 

[Little]

Just implemented my fish food organisation and odour management.

It’s smell proof bag (carbon lined case) with smell proof glass jars with humidity control bags inside.

I used the jars to mix different types of foods and a chalk pen to label them.

The jars came with some little airtight bags, I used them to store some other bits and bobs.

Lastly I have an odour neutraliser in there too.

I’m sure at least some of you would recognise the bags / jars as “herb guard” to keep recreational dried herbs in 🚭.

 

[Little]

Could you not clear a small space for it at the front, from your photos it's a lovely little plant that would be worth it?

Taken your advice and gave the hairgrass at the front a good trim (and floating plant roots as some was in the substrate).
Will see if the extra light and space helps the hobbit (and pava).