First Attempt

[Ps3Steveo]

Rummy nose sound great, shoal nicely too. It would look even better if you swapped the blue backing for a frosted white backing.

 

[Mattyduk]

Well I do need to sort the background aswell as the heater ( I bought the wrong adaptors) I can get pretty much any colour backgrounds at work as stick on vinyl so will have a play again. I have tried white and looked very stark. But didn't have the green then.

So I'm currently got the lights on for 6hrs a day but no ferts etc. Any tips on what to do recommendations of brands.

Have decided on rummynose x 7 guess I can get them today Just a thought would it be prudent to get a few shrimp to help pick of any algae ?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Once the plants grow in I think a frosted or black background would look great.

Ferts wise TPN+ is a good all in one start, also Aqua Essentials own brands are good bit you'd need their nourish and nourish+ but they work out cheaper than TPN+ I believe.

 

[Mattyduk]

Bit of an update

Got 7 rummy nose in really nice shoal really well.

There appears to be some green shoots popping up allready from the hair grass and the bits I left longer really have grown will need a trim soon lol What the best way sciccors and a net?

No ferts yet and also noticed a bit of what I think is Diatoms ? ( brown looks a little like dust)

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Defo diatoms mate, just scrub them off, I use purigen in my filter, best diatom filter on the market, ebay do it cheap, gets rid of any ammonia spikes too . Looking forward to some pics of the Rummy's, one of my fav fish. Yeah with trimmiing just scissors and a net works, you'll prob find a few bits floating for the next few days. When I trimmed my HC it would go everywhere and now I have it growiing in my ferns and mosses too lol, looks cool tho seeing it on some hardsape.

 

[Mattyduk]

http/s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee112/mattyduk/?action=view&current=VIDEO0004.mp4

You ask thou shall receive

Just a quick vid not very good tbh. I was just doing a quick 10% change so they look a duller red I was amazed that when I got them home they were almost white over night bright red faces I do have one that appears not to be part the group though

 

[Mattyduk]

Quick update

Am dosing 3ml of Aqua Essentials ferts daily.

The hair grass has sent out a few shoots but in general looking a little worse for wear. The diatoms are getting quite bad am getting a few Oto's tomorrow to help deal with that. I do have a few snails though.

Planted some Camoba Carolina and is rocketing up grown an inch in a week. Viallis sending out lots of shoots already

Photos to follow

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Which aqua essentials fert? You need to dose both and the + needs double the dose of the standard nourish fert.

 

[Mattyduk]

I am just dosing the Aqua Nourish as read on website:

"Should you have a high light aquarium or use CO2 then we recommend our AE Design Aqua Nourish+"

I was dosing 10ml per day but was worried about the algae growth so cut back a little will up it again now I have 3 Oto's looking far tidier now

Am thinking of upping the Rummynose to 10/12 and am really keen on a pair of Apistos what you think ?

Fitted the external heater tonight have to say makes a massive difference getting rid of the internal

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Tbh you still may need the N&P in the nourish plus, all plants need it, you may be lucky tho, just keep a close eye on the leaves and how they're growing.

 

[Mattyduk]

The issue I am having is that its is growing in that I have to trim it each week to keep it short but its not really spreading. I just had a quick look and the ends are a little yellow Maybe I should give both a try. Have to say the Viallis has sent out loads of runners and is sprouting up all over the rear. So I can grow something.

And the Otos are brilliant never stopping

 

[Flubberlump]

Looking good! I love my otos

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Yeah grab some nourish + but a bottle double the size of your standard nourish as it's double the dose mate, should help.

 

[Mattyduk]

Bit of an update

Had a bit of a tidy up as I found some snail eggs so decided had a little reshape. The flat bit on the wood was annoying me so moved stuff around. Also the Camboba was touching the surface so replanted the off cuts. Moved some of the Valls. The wood on left now has some really interesting holes & pockets so should hopefully suit the pair of Apistogramma I am after.

Need some more Rummy Nose and a few Corys any advice on which ? not too keen on the pygmy bit small

Just saw post the pics are a little dodgy have new phone on way and please excuse scratches

 

[Mattyduk]

and my dwarf hair grass is finally spreading

Slowly but its spreading