My 5 Foot Journal

[Bazil]

From 19 September the water started looking better. Just look at that Java moss.

On the 29th October 2012 I started treating the tank for hair algae.

On 4 November 2012 the tank looked a little better

 

[Bazil]

This was on 16 November 2012

On 17 November I did a re scape

Here you can see where the scape came from where it is today less the wood on the right

 

[AndrewH]

Nice Bazil - interesting write up.
What happened to all the Java Moss - in the first pic on this page there is loads, and then it seems to progressively die off until finally I can't see any?

 

[Bazil]

This picture was taken on 25 November 2012

Didn't look too bad. But this is where I decided it's now time to plant stems seeing that the water was looking clear

And so I planted the stems and removed the wood on the right. This picture was 3 December 2012

The last picture was taken 9 December 2012

 

[Bazil]

Nice Bazil - interesting write up.
What happened to all the Java Moss - in the first pic on this page there is loads, and then it seems to progressively die off until finally I can't see any?

Thanks. I trimmed it that way. The java had hair algae in it when I got it that I didn't notice. So ended up growing it like mad and I even tried to treat the stuff. Had a bucket full of Java moss riddled with hair algae. At the end I just threw it away. The moss you see in the current pictures are fissidens.

 

[Bazil]

11 December 2012

16 December 2012

23 December 2012

 

[Bazil]

2 January 2013

13 January 2013

 

[Bazil]

And that is basically how this tank looked like up until I hit some algae issues and started my Cube. So this tank Is in the transition stage to a low tech. Looks a bit barren at the moment but I will update again soon when the tank is re done. I won't lie though. I can't wait to get rid of that palm fiber peat mess. It really isn't the way to go.

That's it so far guys. Will try to keep you up to speed on the transition.

 

[Alastair]

looks really good in those last few shots bazil. very nice. I like the heavily planted look

 

[Bazil]

Thanks Alastair. I kind of went into it head first and didn't anticipate the size those swords will grow. So I used the wrong plants together as the swords started cutting the light levels supplied to the other plants.
Here is a list of plants I used.

Althernathera Reineckii
Ludwigia Repens
Ludwigia Arcuata
Rotala Macrandra
Rotala Rotundifolia
Rotala Colorata
Echinodorus Bleheri
Echinodorus Cordifolius
Echinodorus Osiris
Echinodorus Quadricostatus
Lymnophila Aromatica
Glossostigma
Blyxa Japonica
Cryptocoryne Undulata
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green
Bacopa Caroliniana
Hemianthus Micranthemoides
Microsorum Pteropus
Nesaea Crassicaulis
Hygrophila polysperma
Stargrass
Hygrophila Diformis
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Hygrophila Corymbosa
Fissidens Fontanus
Willow Leaf Hygro
Staurogyne Repens
Mayaca Fluviatilis
Bolbitis Heudelotii

As you can see I need to select only a few to stick to. But I love plants. Will do it right with the dutch theme next time. This tank won't see a high tec setup again. I had the tank built 500mm high. Turned out the builder made it 600mm high. So without high output T5 lights I kind of battled keeping light levels up. So this tank is perfect for a good old low tech project.

Iv'e learnt a lot about plants with this tank with regards to placement, care and difficulties of the different species. So that is a plus for me. Looking back I would do a lot of things different, but that is half the fun right? Learning the inns and outs of this amazing hobby. Today I can not imagine a tank without plants. Just doesn't seem right.

 

[Derek Tweedie]

That's a big sword on the right. Love the progress shots tank is looking lushly planted. Shows us what can be achieved with patience.

 

[O'Neil]

This tank is absolutely stunning, well done!

 

[RynoParsons]

Great diy great thread. Suck about tge algae

 

[Deano3]

tank looks great some great places to hide for the fish and some great looking plants love it

Dean

 

[nduli]

So e fantastic. Looking plants in there. What filtration are you using? is that a skimmer attachment to an inlet on the left?

 

[RynoParsons]

I know he has a surface skimmer on there ad a tetratec cannister fiter. The tank looks great in person

 

[Brian Murphy]

How are you injecting Co2 etc?

 

[Bazil]

Hey all. Thanks for the positive feedback. I am using a Tetratec Canister filter on the tank. Used to run the surface skimmer on the filter inlet. I changed that to a powerhead to run it. Co2 was injected using a DIY reactor. It worked perfect. Plants pearled like crazy in there. The surface skimmer really helps remove the surface film and also traps any dead leaves floating around. I had Tiger Barbs in this tank but replaced them recently as they keep breaking off leaves. All in all I liked this setup but I am positive about the change that's coming. I'll update this thread on progress as soon as I start the Low tech setup.

 

[Loobeyloo]

Hi what a lovely set up I have a five foot doesn't look this good just wonder tho where did you get your T5 fittings from

Thanks