First Attempt Planted Tank

[blackers92]

Hi Guys

Finally started a new hi-tech tank.

Specs.
40cm Cube Opticlear Tank
Eheim 2213
2*24 Watts
Pressurized Co2
Up Aqua Inline Atomizer
Hydor Inline Heater

Plants:
Anubias Nana Petite
Anubias Nana
Needleleaf Java Fern






As you can see the NL Java Fern is too long for my tank, considering cutting it back to the rhizome (opinions?) Previously I had a thick lawn of H.C that got contaminated with all kinds of Algae. I had a bad case of Blue Green Algae which seems to be going now. The tank is currently cycling with 5 Zebra Danio (should be getting some established media tomorrow).

I need some ideas for more plants, I have experimented with Chainsword (Takes over the tank way to fast), H.C (little slow and boring) and Blyxa which seemed to just turn yellow/green. I want a kind of jungle theme, I was considering some small crypts on the left hand side or pogo? and maybe some sort of ground cover? I am worried that my lighting may be to intense for slow growing things such as Anubias and Crypts.

Due to the unavailability of microrasbora in Australia I will probably have about 10 Ember Tetra, 6 Pygmy Corydora (Pygmaeus or Habrosus) and 2 ottos when full stocked.

Right now I am not using pressurized CO2 due to constant water changes while cycling, once cycled I will continue injecting CO2. Should I continue dosing E.I or could I get away with something more basic?

Sorry about all the questions!!

 

[Noahs ark6]

It looks good. When you get a carpet growing it will look realy good. How about some vallis torta at the back. That grows realy tall and if you plant alot of it it will creat a kind of jungle look

 

[Malawi MaD]

Like it, got a lot of potential

 

[NathanPrince]

Looking great, nice piece of wood too! Maybe add a few small dark coloured rocks around the base of the wood? Something like Landscaping stone you see on The Green Machine, will keep your carpet from going too far into your wood. Could even cover them with some nice moss or Riccia?

I'd have some small Crypts on the left, something with a slightly different leaf pattern though maybe? Balansae? Although that may be a bit similar to the Java fern? Beckettii is also really nice with an interesting leaf pattern.

 

[blackers92]

I was looking at C.Parva but read that it grows incredibly slow. Crypt Wendtii looks good but will probably grow to high. Beckettii looks pretty good, ill check its availability. Im not sure if I want a lawn of H.C I think it looks a little out of place? I definitely need something to stop it from spreading it went crazy last time, I only left 3 small chunks.

 

[NathanPrince]

I have some Parva in my main tank and it is indeed slow growing, for me atleast. Wendtii is a nice plant, I've got 4 different types of Wendtii and I found that my Tropica strain grows "lower" and bushier than the Wendtii Green/Brown. Again thats just in my experience.

Would you consider a different carpet plant? Pogostemon, Staurogyne, Glosso, or maybe something a little different like Hydrocotyle Sp. Japan? I tried it in a low tech tank and it grew alright, be much better in a high tech tank though and looks really nice once grown in?

 

[blackers92]

Decided I will plant some Wendtii Tropica to the left and Glosso at the front with a plastic divider. Perhaps something small in-front of the crypts any suggestions?

 

[NathanPrince]

What about getting a pot of Staurogyne and keeping it trimmed nice and low to go infront of the Tropica?

 

[Noahs ark6]

what substrate is that?

 

[deftuch]

Leopard vallus spirals

 

[blackers92]

Bit of a update.

Did a blackout to finally get rid of some really stubborn BGA.

Trimmed back a lot of the Needleleaf Javafern that was too large and algae covered. Cut off all my algae infected anubias (Should I have spot treated? How?)

Plants arrived today, ordered some Staurogyne sp Tropica however I think i got something different as it was more stem like and tall compared to the one piece of what I think is Staurogyne Sp Tropica which I have planted in front of the Crypt Wendtii Tropica. I was also unable to source any glosso, so instead I decided on Eleocharis Belem. Splitting up the plantlets was a pain but hopefully worth it.

The current photo looks a bit rough but hopefully in time it will clear up and grow. The crypts were a lot taller than I anticipated as was the Eleocharis Belem.



That randomly placed piece of Staurogyne Sp Tropica between the crypts and hairgrass is just to see if it develops differently to the other stems behind the crypts.

So my high tech E.I regime begins, I must have dosed too much CO2 as my danio were gasping, once I get in a good stable routine I will introduce some Galaxy Rasbora, Pygmy Cory and Ottos.

 

[blackers92]

Little update.

Not much has happened at all. Crypts all look much healthier growing upwards. Staurogyne hasn't grown. Hairgrass hasn't sprouted and a few strands are turning yellow. I trimmed back my needle leaf. CO2 is constant at about 1.5 bps, E.I Dosing. 8 hours of lighting. Aquasoil substrate.. Why am I experiencing no growth

Staurogyne looked like it was pearling. A lot of plants including anubias and crypts had little bubbles on them.

Advice would be appreciated!

 

[Ps3Steveo]

May just be adjusting mate, all your plants ate pretty slow growers too. I've had my staurogyne for a month now, it's in an 9Gal with 24W T5 over it and has just started shooting. Hopefully it's just adjusting, good luck, do you have a drop checker?

 

[ian]

he does and it looks a nice colour.

as Steve states, you have some slower growing plants in there. You can give a tank 3-4 weeks to settle, even in a high energy tank. Nice layout Blackers.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Oh yea didn't notice that lol