1st Planting Pics (update 5) New April 1, 2006

[phlawed]

Tank bare

week 1

made some changes

not much but have to start from somewhere

Newest pic of tank with background

removed holey rock and went with this instead, actually kinda like it btter, will fill out rest of substraight with riccia once it starts spreading.

I will get some bigger plants for the back the front left i want the thin sword grass stuff to spread on that side of the bogwood, the right front will be java moss, the back the other spreader thats not too tall, lilly bulb in the middle just in front of the middle peice of wood, bogwood tunnel/cave on left, lace rock on right with cave inside, 3way holy cave in middle some type of wood lol cant remember

lighting is 2x65w plant growth bulbs 6500k
red sea Turbo co2
37g 30"w

 

[riverman444]

Nice tank.

You really should take out the sword grass and split in in to smaller clumps. It looks like you have 2 clumps of it. If you break it in to say.......5-6 clumps it will get more light and grow better. It will also spread more quickly as that type of plant sends out little runners that dig in to the rocks.....More clumps=more runners

That wood in the middle is actually a dried out cactus. To be honest, that piece of dark driftwood is really nice. Maybe move it to the right a bit and leave the rest for plants. Just a thought.

 

[alex1]

A good beginning, perhaps some type of background would help, I found that using black made such a difference(following advice from the forums!)
The plants will fill out pretty quickly in my experience

 

[steve711]

Looks like you've got the beginnings of a nice setup there.

One word of warning though, that doesn't look like a freshwater puffer, there are only a few 'true' freshwater puffers, he will also take a liking to the fins, if not more, of your other fish.

 

[phlawed]

update 2

Looks like you've got the beginnings of a nice setup there.

One word of warning though, that doesn't look like a freshwater puffer, there are only a few 'true' freshwater puffers, he will also take a liking to the fins, if not more, of your other fish.

lol puffer in his own tank not in community tank is being slowly acclimated to strong brackish at the moment

 

[phlawed]

update 3

 

[lljdma06]

update 3

Uh, where? I don't see it.

 

[phlawed]

update 3

Uh, where? I don't see it.

top post has pics all in order but here just in case

 

[phlawed]

any advise on anymore back ground plants? Thinking about moving bogwood to middle and lace rock to the left, then propping up the catcus peice somehow on right then build another back ground around the bogwood in the center, plants on left and right i think will stay. Sound like a better ideo or build around current layout.

 

[WendyinWichita]

I like your tank, it's progress is really nice! A black background would really make your plants (and fish) pop! You may find your tank looks fuller when you screen out the white wall and cords. My favorite is window film from Wal-mart (limo black). You can test drive by just sticking a big black leaf bag at the back of the tank.

Do you think your substrate is deep enough? Comparing the depth of yours (looking at the plastic band at the bottom of the tank) Most have substrate thicker. This makes it easier to keep the plants in the substrate and not floating to the surface. (even with thicker, some of my stems float up at times)

Recommending a background plant is tough, it depends on what look you like, what color and what texture. One of my favorites is Crypt. Balansae it does really well in hard water and never needs pruned.

 

[phlawed]

I like your tank, it's progress is really nice! A black background would really make your plants (and fish) pop! You may find your tank looks fuller when you screen out the white wall and cords. My favorite is window film from Wal-mart (limo black). You can test drive by just sticking a big black leaf bag at the back of the tank.

Do you think your substrate is deep enough? Comparing the depth of yours (looking at the plastic band at the bottom of the tank) Most have substrate thicker. This makes it easier to keep the plants in the substrate and not floating to the surface. (even with thicker, some of my stems float up at times)

Recommending a background plant is tough, it depends on what look you like, what color and what texture. One of my favorites is Crypt. Balansae it does really well in hard water and never needs pruned.

Will think about a back ground but not sure yet. As for changes for now, im moving the middle piece of wood to the right and the cave to the center so that its in the middle of the low ground cover. going to spread out the cover in the back and then will see how it looks.

 

[phlawed]

made some changes pics below need help with some id of some plants as well if ya could


not sure what above is called

micro sword spread out and running well. Thanks for tips on this stuff

pic of bogwood and cave everyone seems to like it

very good filler need name as well, but not doing so dandy, took it out from under the larger sword plant on left to get it some more light so maybe that will help

onion bulb on right and new plant on left, dont remember name of this either lol LFS owner said it was good and hardy though and would grow and fill out back ground great, plus i love the leaves on it.

love this plant and it is doing very well for last few weeks.

last pic full tank shot as of now.

what does everyone think of maybe a rock formation for middle rear? might add some spark to the tank and help cover the lower part of the tall plants until the ground cover takes off.

any and all suggestions appreciated.

 

[lljdma06]

How deep is your tank in inches? The filler plant looks like a rotala to me, but I'm not quite sure. It doesn't look too well. Your WPG seems to be alright at 3.5 or so so. I grow two rotala species successfully, and with less WPG than you, so I'm wondering if the depth of the tank has something to do with it?

The green plant with the feathery leaves looks like a myriophylum to me and I'm not sure about the tiny ones in the foreground. Glosso, maybe, but I can't tell for sure.

 

[phlawed]

How deep is your tank in inches? The filler plant looks like a rotala to me, but I'm not quite sure. It doesn't look too well. Your WPG seems to be alright at 3.5 or so so. I grow two rotala species successfully, and with less WPG than you, so I'm wondering if the depth of the tank has something to do with it?

The green plant with the feathery leaves looks like a myriophylum to me and I'm not sure about the tiny ones in the foreground. Glosso, maybe, but I can't tell for sure.

i think it is rotala that sounds familiar, but anyways it is coming along nicely after being moved, all the brown now has some fresh green tips growing from it and bottom is looking very green on new stems so its lookingup now.

 

[Phillip.M]

its a glosso.