Dave`s Juwel Lido Journal.

[Dave Spencer]

Thanks for all the kind words peeps. Unfortunately, this tank has been a bit neglected scape wise due to the fact that I needed it to grow out a bit to supply stems for my two up and coming tanks.

I have just got rid of the Echinodorus tenellus (I can`t believe how much of that stuff there was), and have started to add some wood. The Ludwigia arcuata is going and will be replaced with a green Rotala, and I am on the hunt for a mid ground plant.

The Rotala rotundifolia has since been cut back, but is racing to the top again. If I get a chance, I will post a pic this weekend, but don`t expect too much!

Dave.

 

[Dave Spencer]

Well, this tank has a major prune, but I didn`t find any old shopping carts in there. I thought I would post a picture to show how crappy it looks at the moment. All the fiery red Rotala has been cut right back, but it will be back in no time.

The foreground is now Marsilea crenata. The Ludwigia arcuata that was on the right has now all gone, but some of it will most likely reappear in my 24l. It has been replaced with Rotala sp "Nanjenshan", which is likely to take a while finding its feet.

I have cut the Micranthemum umbrosum right back, which I don`t think it is going to like, and it has been placed in and around some of the new wood. The wood will be moved a thousand times over the next couple of days, no doubt.

Hopefully, I will be able to show another picture next weekend which is a marked improvement.

 

[RadaR]

How long did that take you with the hedge trimmers?
I have also found the Rotala sp "Nanjenshan" takes a while to get going again.
That piece of wood is ace.
How are you finding the Marsilea crenata? How long has it been in there?

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Fabulous piece of wood you have in there, Dave. I know what you mean by changing it around a hundred times! Is that a shrimp I see on the front of it?

I love the picture you have of the fiery red rotala -- beautiful plant. So when you prune it, you just cut the tops off (as opposed to cutting off the tops and replanting the tops)?

-Sondra

 

[Dave Spencer]

Fred: The Marsilea has been in this tank since day one. I discovered a few bits that had been totally outcompeted and overgrown by my Echinodorus tenellus, so I thought I would give it a try on its own. It seems to be bouncing back and enjoying the light already.

Sondra: That shrimp was well spotted by you. You may have a dodgy shoulder, but there is nothing wrong with your eyes. There are six Amanos in there, one of which seems to have turned a strange reddish brown recently, almost as if it is mimicking the colour of the new wood.

Most of the recent Rotala cuttings have been ending up in my two new tanks to help fight the algae. I do usely replant them, but sometimes there just isn`t enough substrate left, so I have to chuck them. The tank looks so much better when they have reached the top and are glowing red.

Dave.

 

[Themuleous]

Its coming along really nicely Dave, its still early days but it has lots of potential. How about moving the wood further to the right, it dominates a bit to much where it is at the mo, to my eye anyway.

Sam

 

[john starkey]

HI DAVE, IMO i think the tank looks very nice you seem to have plants growth under control ie ferts dosage are you using EI AND TRACE? what kind of scape are you aiming to finish with or are you going to rescape every so often for a different look.

 

[Dave Spencer]

HI DAVE, IMO i think the tank looks very nice you seem to have plants growth under control ie ferts dosage are you using EI AND TRACE? what kind of scape are you aiming to finish with or are you going to rescape every so often for a different look.

Thanks for the words John. This tank has pretty much been a learning experience for me in terms of growing plants and how to cut them back. Fortunately, I think this tank is now stable and mature enough at four months to take a major prune and still avoid any algae issues. I read a Takashi Amano article where he was fairly brutal in trimming back a really nice scape, so it gave me the confidence to attack this one. At times it has just been a mass of healthy plants. Not a competition winner by any means, but I have been able to sit back and look at a really healthy, overgrown jungle. Dutch really isn`t my personal taste.

What I am trying for at the moment is to introduce wood that looks part of the scape, but balance it with not becoming too overgrown. Amongst all the wood will be Micranthemem umbrosum to break it up a little. I think this scape will end up concave, with Rotala rotundifolia on the left and Rotala sp "Nanjenshan" on the right. I have also now added a little Eleocharis parvula to give it some kind of a midground.

This tank is EI using PMDD from AE and has 3.4WPG. It has some fantastic growth, but at 3.4WPG I have to make sure I am getting things right. As stable as it now appears to be, this kind of light level means I can`t become lazy or complacent.

Dave.

 

[Themuleous]

The pros tend to have a tank for 6 months before the final shots, two months should be plenty of time to sort out the scape, if this tank is now 2 months old, especially in high light. As you say if its stable now, you can do more to the scape and plants to get the desired effect, without risking algae.

Sam

 

[lljdma06]

Dave, I like your concave idea. I think a layout like that is lovely. Go for it!

Hack away.

 

[Castellop123]

Updates...

 

[Dave Spencer]

If I get the opportunity to make it look a little nicer I may take some photos soon. My two other tanks are my priority at the moment.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this tank recently, mostly to do with the lighting, which has got to be reduced. Whilst 3.4WPG has left me in good stead for defeating algae in my two more sensibly lit tanks, it means I can`t relax on anything for one minute with this tank. It has been a major, grow anything success for me, but everything grows so fast that it doesn`t seem to be able to hold a particular look for more than a week or so.

Both T5s are on the same convertagear, so I am thinking of buying separate units so that I can run it at 1.7WPG for ten hours with a possible mid photoperiod burst of four hours of 3.4WPG. I may even break it down and go for a completely different scape of Riccia and Eleocharis vivipara. As soon as I get my other two tanks settled it will be decision time for this tank.

Dave.

 

[lljdma06]

If I get the opportunity to make it look a little nicer I may take some photos soon. My two other tanks are my priority at the moment.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this tank recently, mostly to do with the lighting, which has got to be reduced. Whilst 3.4WPG has left me in good stead for defeating algae in my two more sensibly lit tanks, it means I can`t relax on anything for one minute with this tank. It has been a major, grow anything success for me, but everything grows so fast that it doesn`t seem to be able to hold a particular look for more than a week or so.

Both T5s are on the same convertagear, so I am thinking of buying separate units so that I can run it at 1.7WPG for ten hours with a possible mid photoperiod burst of four hours of 3.4WPG. I may even break it down and go for a completely different scape of Riccia and Eleocharis vivipara. As soon as I get my other two tanks settled it will be decision time for this tank.

Dave.

I understand what your dilemma. What's the point of enjoying a planted tank if you are constantly pruning or tweaking it. That's why I changed the layout in my 8g. I was trimming HM every few days. And the layout never stayed the same for more than a few days.

llj

 

[JamieH]

If I get the opportunity to make it look a little nicer I may take some photos soon. My two other tanks are my priority at the moment.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this tank recently, mostly to do with the lighting, which has got to be reduced. Whilst 3.4WPG has left me in good stead for defeating algae in my two more sensibly lit tanks, it means I can`t relax on anything for one minute with this tank. It has been a major, grow anything success for me, but everything grows so fast that it doesn`t seem to be able to hold a particular look for more than a week or so.

Both T5s are on the same convertagear, so I am thinking of buying separate units so that I can run it at 1.7WPG for ten hours with a possible mid photoperiod burst of four hours of 3.4WPG. I may even break it down and go for a completely different scape of Riccia and Eleocharis vivipara. As soon as I get my other two tanks settled it will be decision time for this tank.

Dave.

I understand what your dilemma. What's the point of enjoying a planted tank if you are constantly pruning or tweaking it. That's why I changed the layout in my 8g. I was trimming HM every few days. And the layout never stayed the same for more than a few days.

llj

100% agree.... My planted tank was a joy... but also a curse because it becomes so much constant work.

I've reduced my light be half and cut back to the easy-care plants.... Now it's just a water change every other week, and a filter clean when the flow slows.. and thats it.

 

[Dave Spencer]

I have now got separate starters for my two 55W T5s, so when I get the chance I am going to run the Daylight Plus for the full photoperiod (1.7WPG), with a 3.4WPG three/four hour burst using the Triplus.

Once I can source some Riccia fluitans this tank is going to be stripped down and totally redone. Well, stripping tanks down after a few months is the high tech way, after all.

Dave.