**Total planted tank newbie alert**
This is my main community tank. I want to run it as a "mid tech" planted tank so I can get everything growing really nicely and in a controlled manner and be able to support more varied plant life. Once I have all the techy stuff sorted (or at least understood) I'll feel better about adding new and interesting plants.
At the moment most of my plants are growing like wildfire. I have to trim every couple of weeks. However, I also have to take out a good handful of dead/dying leaves . . . =/
I also have algae problems. I think I have black brush algae (probably caused by my ineptitude with CO2), brown diatomic algae and green spot algae. The brown and green isn't bothering me too much - I just wipe it off the glass once a week or so. Obviously I'd prefer if it wasn't there though. The black stuff COATS the leaves of the plants and is really slimy. The plants don't seem to mind - they keep on growing - but it looks pretty awful.
I've just bought this http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4245 for ferts and carbon but not used it yet.
I love scapes with rock work and lots of grassy plants/mosses. However, I need lots of high mid and background plants for the female bettas. I'm planning on a very green set-up -I'm not too keen on reds and such. I particularly like emerald greens, tall grassy plants, well defined leaves (I hate wisteria and stuff with frilly leaves) such as amazon swords and crypts, rock work, bog wood and mosses.
These are some tanks I quite like: http://i44.tinypic.com/20z6y5h.jpg, http://www.aquamoss.net/Aquarama_2007/images/008-Planted_Tank-2nd.jpg, http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/5/aquarium_album/sideview.jpg.
Here are all the tank details I can think of. I'm not trying to pretend I've set this up right or that I know what I'm doing, plants wise. Feel free to point out where I'm screwing up.
Tank Size
65 litres
Water Changes
50% a week (as of two days ago, was 25% ever 1.5-2 weeks before)
Will move up to 50% twice a week if necessary but I'm really busy (job, university, volunteering, etc) and have 6 other tanks to maintain so I'd rather not.
Lighting
2 x PL-11w
About 1.5 WPG
Filtration
Fluval U2 - 400 lph
Interpet PF3 - can't find lph info, but it's designed for 80-130 litres
Water Movement
High, with both filters causing surface disturbance. Considering a powerhead as well.
Plants
Various crypts
Anubias
Vallis
Duck weed
Moss ball
Amazon sword
+ some others I've not IDed
Peacock moss, fissidens fontanus and frogbit coming in the post (although I always kill frogbit - giving it another go!)
CO2
Fermentation kit avaliable but not currently in use. Have used it on this tank in the past.
Substrate
Play sand with about an inch of fine gravel on top
2.5-3 inches at back sloping to 1 inch at front
Will consider plant substrate if I can get something good and cheap.
Ferts
I *think* I put some tabs in the gravel but other than that, nothing. New ferts coming in the post. Planning on EI dosing once everything gets here.
Livestock
3 corys, 7 neon tetra and a female betta
This is being increased to 6 corys, 10 neon tetra and 5 female betta over the next few weeks.
Temperature
28 celsius (planning on lowering it to about 26 over the course of a week or so)
Please help me achieve my dream tank without breaking the bank! Thanks in advance for any help.
This is my main community tank. I want to run it as a "mid tech" planted tank so I can get everything growing really nicely and in a controlled manner and be able to support more varied plant life. Once I have all the techy stuff sorted (or at least understood) I'll feel better about adding new and interesting plants.
At the moment most of my plants are growing like wildfire. I have to trim every couple of weeks. However, I also have to take out a good handful of dead/dying leaves . . . =/
I also have algae problems. I think I have black brush algae (probably caused by my ineptitude with CO2), brown diatomic algae and green spot algae. The brown and green isn't bothering me too much - I just wipe it off the glass once a week or so. Obviously I'd prefer if it wasn't there though. The black stuff COATS the leaves of the plants and is really slimy. The plants don't seem to mind - they keep on growing - but it looks pretty awful.
I've just bought this http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4245 for ferts and carbon but not used it yet.
I love scapes with rock work and lots of grassy plants/mosses. However, I need lots of high mid and background plants for the female bettas. I'm planning on a very green set-up -I'm not too keen on reds and such. I particularly like emerald greens, tall grassy plants, well defined leaves (I hate wisteria and stuff with frilly leaves) such as amazon swords and crypts, rock work, bog wood and mosses.
These are some tanks I quite like: http://i44.tinypic.com/20z6y5h.jpg, http://www.aquamoss.net/Aquarama_2007/images/008-Planted_Tank-2nd.jpg, http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/5/aquarium_album/sideview.jpg.
Here are all the tank details I can think of. I'm not trying to pretend I've set this up right or that I know what I'm doing, plants wise. Feel free to point out where I'm screwing up.
Tank Size
65 litres
Water Changes
50% a week (as of two days ago, was 25% ever 1.5-2 weeks before)
Will move up to 50% twice a week if necessary but I'm really busy (job, university, volunteering, etc) and have 6 other tanks to maintain so I'd rather not.
Lighting
2 x PL-11w
About 1.5 WPG
Filtration
Fluval U2 - 400 lph
Interpet PF3 - can't find lph info, but it's designed for 80-130 litres
Water Movement
High, with both filters causing surface disturbance. Considering a powerhead as well.
Plants
Various crypts
Anubias
Vallis
Duck weed
Moss ball
Amazon sword
+ some others I've not IDed
Peacock moss, fissidens fontanus and frogbit coming in the post (although I always kill frogbit - giving it another go!)
CO2
Fermentation kit avaliable but not currently in use. Have used it on this tank in the past.
Substrate
Play sand with about an inch of fine gravel on top
2.5-3 inches at back sloping to 1 inch at front
Will consider plant substrate if I can get something good and cheap.
Ferts
I *think* I put some tabs in the gravel but other than that, nothing. New ferts coming in the post. Planning on EI dosing once everything gets here.
Livestock
3 corys, 7 neon tetra and a female betta
This is being increased to 6 corys, 10 neon tetra and 5 female betta over the next few weeks.
Temperature
28 celsius (planning on lowering it to about 26 over the course of a week or so)
Please help me achieve my dream tank without breaking the bank! Thanks in advance for any help.