Before and After Planted tank

[George Farmer]

Good to see you plants are growing well Konrad!! Algae won't stand a chance in there. I'm assuming you have CO2 addition? Out of interest what are your water parameters?

 

[konrad05]

Hey thanks all.
paul_v_biker - the tank seemed to grow extremely well as soon as I stopped caring about the algae . That and shortly after I changed the light bulbs. I don't add generic fertilizer, only iron and Potassium, maybe that's why I have no algae.. This tank has seen everything from brown to beard to hair algae.

joker - thanks and the trimmings usually go to the garbage . I feel bad because I cut so much sometimes that it would be enough to fully plant a small tank! Yes I use CO2, I use a pH meter to tell me when the CO2 yeast bottles have lost their functionality. 2 bottles of 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 cup yeast each do good for about a week and a half, keeping the pH just below 7 and CO2 ppm at around 20. I alternate bottles every 1.5 weeks so that I don't have to change both at the same time.

gf225 - parameters, last time I checked were
temp: 80 C
kH: 4.5
pH 7.03
CO2: 19 ppm
zero in nitrite, ammonia and who knows nitrate cause I don't have tester

thank again,
-Konrad

 

[suspectdebbie]

I really wish I could grow plants that well in my tanks. That looks absolutely awesome!!

 

[jive]

one of the prettiest tanks ive seen. where do u get the iron and potasim from??

 

[gadazobe]

That tank is amazing - both the before and after pics. You must have some really happy fishies in there.

 

[tear-scar]

I'd this this tank would be nicer if the grass could be pruned. I think a nice lay out change would be:

Move the grass to the right by the vallisneria, then move the mini-mushroom tops to the left of the grass and let it fill out the new area that will be made from the grasses' movement.

Right now, the grass is kind of overpowering. Moving the grass from the center, and establishing the shorter mini mushrooms in a wider area will make it appear less crowded and over powering in front.

 

[konrad05]

one of the prettiest tanks ive seen. where do u get the iron and potasim from??

thanks

the iron and potassium is from seachem. I get it from Big als Aquarium, here in canada.

thanks tear-scar, but I'm usually too lazy to cut the background plants, let alone the grass. Plus all those thin cuttings
LOL, move the grass, I should take a picture of the root system underneath, maybe then you'll give me alternative option.

I'm actually thinking of raising the canopy or putting metal halide and letting the plants grow out of the water and allow natural selection to aquascape my tank

 

[ashley1]

WOW!!! the plants look amazing!!!

 

[kent]

i dont know what he did to make it look so good, like awesome good..! All I can say is that his tank makes my fish tank looks like garbage, seriously.. enough said.

 

[lizard]

joker - thanks and the trimmings usually go to the garbage

<faints> Send 'em to me, send 'em to me! I'll pay for shipping!

Gorgeous tank! I hope mine looks half that nice someday!

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[kent]

Send 'em to me, send 'em to me! I'll pay for shipping

LOL..sorry they're all mine...

 

[jams.alaskan]

Nice job creating some open water for your fish... I can only imagine that you will have to do it again soon though as your plants look plenty happy!

ALASKA

 

[The-Wolf]

With all the nice replys and compliments I can't belive I'm the first to say this
TOTM fo the second pic

 

[bunjiweb]

Very nice tank although If it was me I'd cut it back even more. Its all very nice having a planted tank, but theres a point where you stop seeing the fishies so much and surely that wouldnt be nice..

And since when did tear-scar become the aquascaping expert? This tank is better than any of his..


Ben

 

[tear-scar]

It's cool that I'm being followed (meaning you've actually taken the time to look at my tanks).

You're right, none of them are as nice. Partly because I'm working on it, partly because I'm flat out broke.

In any case, I'm learning as I go along. At least I'm learning though. You can't get good without screwing up, right?

Point is, I've still taken the effort to research plants and the art of aquascaping. Even if I haven't had the chance to do a really good job yet, doesn't mean I can't try to help people who actually do have the resources and experience to do something great. When I give tips, it's out of real respect, and because I see potential.

Look, I started really getting into aquascaping about a month ago; but I've been a serious art student for years. I learn quickly, and I think I'm at a level where I can make viable suggestions, especially in reguards to aesthetics.

At least I have a basic understanding of popular fish and plants used in aquascapes, and how they have been used in the past. At this point in my career, as a full time student and captain of the wrestling team, I haven't got the time to be serious. But, I'm taking my time and collecting the plants and animals I want in my master piece as they appear in the LFs. I have riccia spreading rapidly in my 20 gal, and huge quantities of glosso and heteranthera zosterfolia just waiting for me to get the time to plant them properly. Not to mention that I'm collecting SAE, Ottos, and decorative fish all for the purpose of their future use. Right now, I'm spending only the effort in my tanks to let them thrive; I'll worry about the actually looks later . . .

Give me seven months, the time it'd take for me to really establish some plant growth, and I bet I can show something really worthy of my abilities.