50G Low Tech Planted

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks, I got the sand from my LFS Pleased as it mixed in well with my existing stuff.

I do want to get some more plants. Some larger plants for the back, which are quick growing. I was thinking Vallis? Anyone got any ideas or suggestions? Could maybe get 10 Vallis and put them around the back? Don't tend to have much luck with Amazon Swords, they tend to go transparent. Though that was before feeding regularly.
I think I had some Vallis before that did well. It spread like grass and looked like it too as my old barbs kept eating it, but my loaches loved it.

 

[ChilliPepper]

OK, think I will get some Vallis. Nice and cheap so no harm in giving it a go.

Would Riccia fluitans and/or Hemianthus callitrichoides cuba be too ambitious?

Also I was wondering if it would be beneficial to buy some more shrimp? I have two old timers at the moment, Amanos. Would they get on with any other shrimpies?

 

[PDSimon]

Riccia is probably a better target than CC.

I would be careful of vallis and easycarbo, i've heard of it dying off quite a lot of times but not always...so up to you. If your swords were going brown, you should probably dose macro nutrients, which can come from fish waste but big plants like swords sometimes need more... so profito provides the micro nutrients, potassium (K), Copper, iron etc whereas fosfo and nitro of the easylife range provide phosphate and nitrate. Or alternatively you could use TPN+ which has everything in one bottle... I use that

I thought all shrimp got on but not entirely sure. They are good cleaners in some tanks, in mine they seem to just eat my bogwood... and they do create a hell of a mess but I think they're more likely to clean if you have a big group of them 10+ in a tank like yours. Won't your keyholes munch on them? Love the keyholes btw

 

[ChilliPepper]

Oh sugar, does Profito contain copper? I can't use it in my tank then as I have shrimp!!! Good job I didn't put any in last night! Does TPN contain copper? Is copper essential in a planted aquarium?

What about the plant MICRANTHEMUM UMBROSUM? Would that do OK?

I might try the Riccia and the Vallis.

I think shrimp poo is supposed to be a good fertiliser?

 

[StandbySetting]

They all contain copper, and are shrimp safe as the concentration is so small.

 

[ChilliPepper]

They all contain copper, and are shrimp safe as the concentration is so small.

Thanks, just trying to find definitive proof that it is OK to use. I know Flourish Excel has trace elements and that is OK.
Can't find an ingredients list for Profito, it doesn't say on the back.

 

[StandbySetting]

Well most of us in the planted section dose fertilisers, and most of us dose copper, plants require it, and many of us keep shrimp, it's fine.

 

[PDSimon]

Yeah, I wouldn't worry at all! The levels of copper we're using aren't even worth thinking about. Plus the waterchange everyweek!

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks both of you. I had a read around and it seems that they'd just be trace elements anyway, so will give it a go tonight.

We didn't get any shrimps today after all as didn't feel up to it. Will get some more at some point once I've decided which ones to get. My LFS usually has a good selection, although they are tiddlers.

Going to get some Vallis for the back. Any other suggestions on biggish plants for the back? My Rainbows miss the disgusting algae ridden silk plant

 

[ChilliPepper]

Here's some more pics of the tank tonight, after the substrate has settled.

From left to right:

FTS:

I was thinking of adding some Riccia Fluitans to the front - what do you think?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Could do but if the back hasn't filled out it may look odd till it does with the dense foliage more to the front, will look great tho with a lawn once all grown in.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Could do but if the back hasn't filled out it may look odd till it does with the dense foliage more to the front, will look great tho with a lawn once all grown in.

Yeah, will get some Vallis as well for the back

 

[ChilliPepper]

So, I've bought 20 Vallis for the back, 5 Java Fern to wedge in between rocks, a large pad of Riccia Flutains for the front and some TetraPlant Crypto fertiliser tablets. Want to give the plants the best start, and I know Crypts are heavy root feeders

Is the title of my thread correct, what makes a high tech, dosing CO2? Also how do I work out how many watts per litres or that formula that you use? I have 2 x 39w T5 bulbs with a 190L tank.

 

[PDSimon]

I'd say high light personally...

it would be, watt / gallon, 190L = 50G

so 78W over 50G equals 1.56 WPG I think

 

[coldcazzie]

That makes it medium light doesn't it? I though low was <1 wpg, 1-2wpg was mediuma nd >2 was high?