From the photo, you may want to further split your grass portions
Jurijs mit JS shows excellent Eleocharis mini planting technique in this video
- this type of planting seems to trigger the grass to “fill in” the space (more quickly) between adjacent clumps, also growth appears more natural
It’s usual to stop CO2 a couple hours before lights off, so that nighttime CO2 levels are lower - of course one can just increase surface agitation to the same end
Your plant mass is quite low in the tank, so monitor fish for CO2 distress
It’s less tricky when staring a scape with no livestock and loads of plants, as over indulging in CO2 has little consequence; for your tank, I’d ensure gentle surface agitation (slight rolling movement rather than calm) so water oxygen levels remain maximized
Between the ich (higher temperature water has significantly less dissolved oxygen) and injected CO2, fish have likely been somewhat oxygen stressed - which may have triggered the jumping
It’s common in scaping videos to see “Powder soil” used at the front of the tank and wherever smaller plants are used (especially if using in vitro or tissue culture plants)
Once you’ve seen the last visible ich (spots), continue increased water changes and close syphoning of substrate areas (but don’t lift/uproot plants) for a couple weeks - frequent water changes is good planted tank technique as well, and especially helpful in minimizing algae during the first weeks
Jurijs mit JS shows excellent Eleocharis mini planting technique in this video
- this type of planting seems to trigger the grass to “fill in” the space (more quickly) between adjacent clumps, also growth appears more natural
When is lights off?CO2 comes on at 2pm. Lights on at 4.15. CO2 goes off at 9.30pm
It’s usual to stop CO2 a couple hours before lights off, so that nighttime CO2 levels are lower - of course one can just increase surface agitation to the same end
Your plant mass is quite low in the tank, so monitor fish for CO2 distress
It’s less tricky when staring a scape with no livestock and loads of plants, as over indulging in CO2 has little consequence; for your tank, I’d ensure gentle surface agitation (slight rolling movement rather than calm) so water oxygen levels remain maximized
Between the ich (higher temperature water has significantly less dissolved oxygen) and injected CO2, fish have likely been somewhat oxygen stressed - which may have triggered the jumping
Most plants seem to prefer lower temperatures, especially when still transitioning form emerse to submerse growth, established plants are more tolerant in generalTurned temp down to 24 as getting a lot of leaves floating on the surface.
A top layer of small particle soil does tend to increase density of carpeting plants, it also grabs/holds plants more firmly than the larger particle soil (Tropica Soil also tends to become more water saturated and less “floaty” over several weeks (rather than just a few days))have Tropica soil in there but considering some Tropica Soil Powder to help the roots for some of my plants. Thoughts?
It’s common in scaping videos to see “Powder soil” used at the front of the tank and wherever smaller plants are used (especially if using in vitro or tissue culture plants)
Once you’ve seen the last visible ich (spots), continue increased water changes and close syphoning of substrate areas (but don’t lift/uproot plants) for a couple weeks - frequent water changes is good planted tank technique as well, and especially helpful in minimizing algae during the first weeks