Planted - latest pic

Just added the Red Vallis, Rotala indica and Ech. tenellus.

Cool tank!

Never seen Red Vallis before! got a closer pic of them?

Also

TOTM!

Nice!

tank &

Very nice tank! Can only see on fish in there though, where are the others?



P.T.

Stunning! Second that TOTM. What's the substrate? Are you using CO2?

That tank is going to kill the TOTM! Submit it quick! I'll third it

Unfortunately most fish are in hiding due to big water changes to keep the temp. down, it's been rising to 29C in this weather.

Thanks for the noms, I won't enter it yet until my E. Tenellus has formed a carpet and my Tiger Lillies have grown, maybe the competetion will be tougher by then i.e. Konrads tank!!!

Here's a close-up of the Red Vallis, I think it's a variety of Vallisneria spiralis, I bought it from Greenline aquatics mail-order, Andy Green recommended it because it likes softer water.

Here's the spec for my setup, I'll post a decent pic when I can borrow a decent camera and my other plants mature.

Tank : Juwel Rio 125

Fish : Pair of Silver Angels, 8 Cardinal Tetras, 8 Rummynose Tetras, 5 Otos, 2 Cory Julii, 2 Zebra Loach.

Plants : Various Echinodorus, Crypt, Giant Red Vallis, Rotala Indica, Alternanthera Rosaefolia, Limnophila Sessiflora, Eleocharis Acicularis, Nymphaea japonica.

Water : Nitrates <10mg/l, pH 6.7, GH 6, KH 3, Phosphate undetectable, CO2 25 mg/l, Water change 20% per week 50:50 ro/tap with Dennerle fertilisers and additives.

Filtration : Juwel internal, Fluval 204 external filled with bio-media and RowaPhos. Outputs directed to avoid co2 loss. Carbon removed for fertiliser use.

Lighting : 1 x 18" 15w T8 Interpet Triton
1 x 24" 18w T8 Interpet Daylight Plus
1 x 24" 18w T8 Arcadia Freshwater
1 x 30" 25w T8 Dennerle Trocal Special-Plant (fantastic lamp!!)
All with reflectors. 10 hour (5 on 4 off 5 on) photo-period

Substrate : Fine (1 - 3mm) inert gravel with laterite mix.
25W Rena-Cor heater cable, comes on with lights.

CO2 : 2 x Nutrafin Natural Plant System units using supermarket yeast and bi-carb.

Does filtration matter on planted tanks? i use undergravel filters...does this make a difference??

I would say undergravel filtration isn't good for most plants as the action of the water flow disturbs the roots and their ability to absorb nutrients. Some plants will be ok though i.e. java fern, java moss, some anubias and other easy plants.

Really well planted tanks usually have little water turnover as a lot of flow = more oxygen = less carbon dioxide and all plants love co2.

that's one awesome tank! congratulations!