First Planted Tank hand holding required...!

[nodding_dino]

It's been running since about 8 last night...I'm sure it will jump into action soon enough!

 

[jimbooo]

congratulations, it sounds like your well on the way (that bit took me about 3 months of faffing about).

cant wait to see some pics..

 

[George Farmer]

(that bit took me about 3 months of faffing about).

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I'm with you on that one Jimbooo. What nodding dino has done in days took me about 6 months of reading, research, buying crap etc. etc. If only there was someone to help me out back then I would have saved £££s.

Thankfully I can help spread the "gospel according to planted aquaria" now though and hopefully make it easier for people.

 

[nodding_dino]

(that bit took me about 3 months of faffing about).

[snapback]848919[/snapback]​

I'm with you on that one Jimbooo. What nodding dino has done in days took me about 6 months of reading, research, buying crap etc. etc. If only there was someone to help me out back then I would have saved £££s.

Thankfully I can help spread the "gospel according to planted aquaria" now though and hopefully make it easier for people.

[snapback]848953[/snapback]​

it's much appreciated guys...

I have been out and bought a Nutrafin KH/GH test so will let you know how things are looking soon...

on another matter - my old man has just handed down his 'old' digital camera (a fuji S2pro - he's upgraded to a S3pro) so I'll have a go at taking some pictures with that soon!

 

[nodding_dino]

OK...KH test done...so here goes:

pH 7.6
KH 100ppm

so 100/17.9 = 5.5

This sits between two values on the reference chart. so I guess I'm currently looking at a figure as low as 3.7-4.5 for the CO2. I presume that as the CO2 is only just begining to enter the tank, this should start to improve. Am I also right in thinking that the pH should also drop too as the level of CO2 increases...helping the process again?

 

[nodding_dino]

OK...some first pictures, not too great but you'll get an idea of how things look on 'Day 1'!

 

[nodding_dino]

well, seeing that that one worked OK...heres a few more!

This one is a closer picture of the left hand side of the tank...




A little nearer to the tank...




and finally, a show off (the fish...not me!!!)

 

[houndour]

hiya,

I've been following your post and have been waiting for pictures.

I don't want to sound negative, or criticise in any way, so I hope you don't mind me saying the following. I think the cobbles are rather large and distract from the plants quite a bit. Especially the white one in the middle. Just an idea...maybe you could put some foreground plants infront?

Otherwise, looks great. It takes a while for things to settle in. I also got the 30 inch bunch from Greenline. I'm now down to about 5-6 species of plant lol, but they're growing brilliantly.

Good luck with your tank.

Sam

//edit
I forgot to say the last 3 pictures are very clear. Good shot of the fish.

 

[jimboliana]

Looks good mate, well done, i just wish i could get mine up and running just as fast!

 

[nodding_dino]

hey houndour, criticism is just what I need now, so fire away!

I agree about the cobbles...to be honest I suddenly realised after planting everything that I had the bogwood and stones still to put in! There wasn't much room left, so I just layed them down where I could )

(I'm not convinced about the location of the bogwood either...although it is growing on me (pardon the pun).

I would have left the stones out entirely, but like the idea of having something in there if I put in some dwarf cichlids...but I think your right saying that the position isn't ideal.

I will let the plants grow on a bit and then look to re-position...the fish have probably seen enough of my hands for a couple of days at least

It's interesting to hear that you are now down to half a dozen plant species, having spent ages gawping at the wonderful pictures dotted around the old Interweb, I have come to the conclusion that less is more...that said, I am going to resist the urge to start ripping things out just yet, and let everything grow on for a while...

The only other things I am keen to look into are:

1. Some carpeting...Riccia/Glosso?
2. Some floating plants...I quite like the look of Azolla(sp?)

I also think I could do with an extra light..something more in the 'white' range to balance the colour out for viewing...?

Thanks for the pat on the back re the photo's! They were a bit hurried and in the end I opted for my trusty old finepix 5900 instead of the S2 as my daughter needed to get to bed!

I will try and take some more son so that you can all help me ID whats' in there so far!

 

[nodding_dino]

Looks good mate, well done, i just wish i could get mine up and running just as fast!

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thanks jimboliana, it only happened quickly due to all the help from the people on here, and the pressing need to keep the missus happy (how is they can always find things more important to do than the fish )...plus this is a fairly lo-fi setup compared to yours (which I am reading about with interest...!!!!)

 

[George Farmer]

OK...KH test done...so here goes:

pH 7.6
KH 100ppm

so 100/17.9 = 5.5

This sits between two values on the reference chart. so I guess I'm currently looking at a figure as low as 3.7-4.5 for the CO2. I presume that as the CO2 is only just begining to enter the tank, this should start to improve. Am I also right in thinking that the pH should also drop too as the level of CO2 increases...helping the process again?

[snapback]849195[/snapback]​

That CO2 figure is about right for a non-CO2 injected tank. Your pH will drop as your CO2 gets dissolved (CO2 reacts with water to create carbonic acid). How's the nutrafin units doing - should be working by now.

Tank looks good mate - especially for first "draft". It's good to see the other guys contributing to the cause too. Keep it up.

 

[nodding_dino]

the CO2 units have now started to (regularly) release bubbles...they are still getting stuck on the ladder, but am sure they will eventually force their way up to the top!

 

[zig]

Well i have to say its looking excellent, i like it, and after only a week or so you must be really pleased, but you have an excellent mentor, a serious advantage, i have the same nutrafin KH/GH test kit instead of useing 5ml of water i used 10ml of water and doubled up on the droplets and this way you can get a more accurate reading, so if your water changed colour say at 5 droplets in the 5ml of water, it may change colour at 9 droplets in the 10ml of water and this will give you a more accurate test, just a tip...........probably a nerd tip

Anyway your tank looks great .....well done

 

[nodding_dino]

thanks Zig! I'm really pleased considering it really was just chucked together...I think everything just needs some time to settle in now....I've got SOOOOO much to learn too, so while nature does it's thing in the tank, I'll continue to read up on things...

I really am indebted to gf225 for all his help...it's like most (semi-technical) hobbies, there is a huge wealth of great information out there, but often as a newcomer it's so over whelming that you just don't know where to even begin...I've been given a great headstart, and I'm really looking forward to it's continuation!

(oh and there nothing wrong with a nerdy tip every once in a while!)