Backtotropical's Vision 260 Planted Community

[rabbut]

Looks very good so far, only the blue back-ground sticks out like a saw thumb, IMO. If its one with black on the other side, and you still have access to the back and sides, it may be worth trying turning it arround. Just my opinion though. Other than that, the scape is exellent, all ocupants are evidently happy and healthy, and that is a brilliant bit of wood

Rabbut

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks again everyone. The blue background is painted on unfortunately, Rabbut. (It used to be a marine tank)

My fry tank has a black background and black sand and it looks ace!

If you think that bit of wood is good, just wait until i update my fry tank thread. I got an absolute cracker!!

Keep them comments coming folks. Any suggestions for improvements etc welcome.

 

[backtotropical]

Quick update. I bought a Dennerle pressurised CO2 system yesterday. Can't wait to set it up.

I should see some great results with it i hope.

 

[SuperColey1]

I have to say BTT Im not a fan of the background either (says the man who was using white fablon. lol) but as you say it is painted on then I guess you're stuck with it until you totally rescape when you may be able to get it off while the tank is empty. (BTW I have gone no background again - Fablon is hard to put on but dead easy to peel off.)

That CO2 system looks good. Not too sure about the CO2 reactor though. Are you using it or are you going to link it to a ceramic?

Plants are looking quite cool and I have to agree with the others. Never seen Rummys look that good (always quite liked them but yours look superb. Very good buy.

Good Luck

Andy

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks Andy.

I'm going to use the ladder diffusor for now. It's my first pressurised system so i don't have any spare parts floating around.

I'm thinking of tearing the tank apart and starting agin already, but i'm trying to control myself. I might change the background when i do take it apart.

The rummy-noses show great colour. I think they love all the plants, and they shoal with my barbs. It's quite funny.

I have a question I don't have a solenoid, so i was thinking of running CO2 24/7 and running an extra powerhead during the night to drive off excess CO2. Is that a good idea?

Many thanks and all the best for the New Year when it comes.

BTT

 

[SuperColey1]

I think it defeats the object really.

If you want to run 24/7 like, I George and Sam do then just setup the unit Saturday morning so you have the whole day to monitor the drop checker and the fish.

Then set your alarm for the morning to check how it is then.

Really you want the DC to be at limeade at the start of the photoperiod so that the max carbon is available when the lights come on. It doesn't matter if it depletes some during the photoperiod as there should be enough for the plants to avoid them stopping.

As a guide when I used a solenoid I was running 3-4bps during the photoperiod. Now I am running 24/7 I am running 1bps. Big difference really. 1bps sould be enough for most tanks but remember that yours is a little smaller so try 1 bubble every 2 or 3 seconds to start and then if four hours later your DC is still blue then turn it up.

The first day is the key really get this right and the second day is just checking. Also remember that the DC is 1-2 hours behind.

You could check your Ph before you start and then monitor that at intervals as 30ppm should equate (very roughly) to a drop of 1 Ph. This is highly inaccurate but itis an instant reading.

Be careful and good luck.

Andy

 

[fry_lover]

I think Pimp had the flu and was just trying to communicate on any thread and happened to pick this one. Hope you better mate.

I actually like the pictures, I have Rummy Nose and Keyhole's in my tank. I am forever advising peeps to go for some Rummy Nose Tetra's in a planted tank, lovely fish

 

[backtotropical]

Ok, i've totally torn that tank apart to start again.

I've kept the Rummy-Noses, the Barbs, The Cories and the Whiptail. I've also added 6 Koi Angels.

Bogwood is gone and replaced with 4 pieces of Sumatra Driftwood, and i have tied a few Java Ferns and Anubias on, and started my Echinodorus Tennelus Lawn.

CO2 is a pressurised Dennerle system with a glass diffuser from Aquatic Magic. Ferts are TPN+. Light is 4 x 54W Plant Pro tubes run in an Arcadia Luminaire.

By no means finished. A 'Work in progress' shall we say.

Comments welcomed as always.

BTT

P.S. Anyone have any ideas how to stop the fish unplanting my E. Tennelus? They are driving me nuts!!!

 

[tlef316]

i like the new look. very cool looking drift wood. I'm also very impressed with the rummy noses. Great photography skills. I have a shoal of 8 that i like to think looks just as healthy. however, i can never get a good picture. They are always moving and it comes out blurry. I really like the look of the anubias higher up in the tank. I have a bunch, but its all on the ground. I may try that when i re-scape. Cant wait to see everything grow in.

 

[goin_all_out]

looks fantastic. koi angels fit in quite nicely! should look even better once this fills in a bit.

 

[tangokitty]

I like the drift dood a lot! Are you going to put any mosses on them or just the Java fern and Anubias??

I really hate it when my fish uproot my plants! Drives me nuts, but haven't found a way to stop them...

 

[aaronnorth]

That wood will look fab surrounded with plants, i think if you moved the piece on the left and swap it with the one next to it, it will make a great focal point. Did you contemplate changing the background?

 

[goin_all_out]

what sort of lighting are you using? im looking for new lighting for my tank and looking into all sorts. so far liking the new hagen t5 ho

 

[lljdma06]

I'm going to steal that fish. It is way too cool to be in your tank.

Looking forward to seeing this tank progress. It looks a bit underplanted right now. Watch out for possible ammonia spikes since you did rescape and tear things down. Keep your CO2 and ferts very stable right now to prevent algae. If it were me, I'd throw in some fast-growing stems to help with ammonia absorption.

llj

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks a lot for the replies everyone!

i like the new look. very cool looking drift wood. I'm also very impressed with the rummy noses. Great photography skills. I have a shoal of 8 that i like to think looks just as healthy. however, i can never get a good picture. They are always moving and it comes out blurry. I really like the look of the anubias higher up in the tank. I have a bunch, but its all on the ground. I may try that when i re-scape. Cant wait to see everything grow in.

Hi Tlef316,

I had to take about 100 photos of the Rummy-Noses to get 2 decent ones. They seem to be camera shy!

looks fantastic. koi angels fit in quite nicely! should look even better once this fills in a bit.

Hi Goin_all_out,

I've always wanted to keep a shoal of Angels, and the opportunity hit me so i grabbed it. They've grown massively since i introduced them as babies around 3 months ago. The biggest one must be 4 inches + top to bottom (fin tip to fin tip). Watch this space.

I like the drift dood a lot! Are you going to put any mosses on them or just the Java fern and Anubias??

I really hate it when my fish uproot my plants! Drives me nuts, but haven't found a way to stop them...

Thanks Tangokitty. I wasn't planning on mosses, but i might experiment once the plants are in.

That wood will look fab surrounded with plants, i think if you moved the piece on the left and swap it with the one next to it, it will make a great focal point. Did you contemplate changing the background?

Hi Aaron, i have now moved the wood around as you'll see below. I did contemplate changing the background, but its painted on, and is too much hassle. I didn't totally strip down the tank you see. I kept some of the fish. Otherwise, i could have been at it with turpentine.

what sort of lighting are you using? im looking for new lighting for my tank and looking into all sorts. so far liking the new hagen t5 ho

The lighting is provided by an Arcadia Luminaire housing 4 x 54w Plant Pro Tubes. I'm only running 2 tubes at the moment because of the lack of plant mass.

I'm going to steal that fish. It is way too cool to be in your tank.

Looking forward to seeing this tank progress. It looks a bit underplanted right now. Watch out for possible ammonia spikes since you did rescape and tear things down. Keep your CO2 and ferts very stable right now to prevent algae. If it were me, I'd throw in some fast-growing stems to help with ammonia absorption.

llj

Thanks Llj, the catfish is a Royal Whiptail (Sturisoma Festivum). He's a great little guy. He pushes the angels out the way to get to his algae wafers. Its really quite funny!

The tank is a bit under-planted at the moment, a work in progress, shall we say. I've added the Vallis wall at the back and the big Crypt at the front right since those pics and the new pics are below.

I've been discussing with Dave Spencer on a different thread and the plan is to add lots of Hygrophila Corymbosa and Blyxa Japonica between the E. Tennelus and the Vallis wall at the back. I will then try to gradually introduce the other 108w of light which is currently unused.

Cheers, and keep the comments coming.

BTT

P.S. can anyone ID the crypt for me? Tropica were calling it Cryptocoryne Div. but i can't find reference to it on the website or in the catalogue?