Johns 450ltr (110 Gals) Journal

[john starkey]

You have Arcadia overtank 4 x 54w HO T5 right?

I would keep the total photoperiod for 10 hours but adjust the qty. of tubes.

i.e. for first 2 weeks - 4 hours 2 tubes, 2 hours 4 tubes, 4 hours 2 tubes

Then gradually build-up the 4 tubes on to a max. of 8 hours with 2 tubes on 1 hour start and end. Say over a 3 month period.

Hope that makes sense. Basically you're gradually increasing intensity as plants adapt and algae is less likely.

As for planting, I keep all new plants in a bucket full of water whilst planting. Take care in separating the plant roots from the rock wool and pots. Cut them away if you need to.

hi george, thats a good idea with photoperiod i will start off with something along those lines. i had a bit of a disapointment yesterday, some of the plants i want from tropica are not available at the moment they are bacopa australis,eusteralis stellata,hygrophila polysperma "ceylon",ludwigia repens "rubin", now i dont know what to choose maybe i will just have more of the others, ed at aquajardin says that sometimes at tropica when they get low on plants they say they are out of stock but if he tells them they are for a special customer order they will release them , i was going to do my pipe work and so on today but i have a bit of a hangover so i will do it tomorrow i dont want to make any mistakes, thanks for help regards john

 

[George Farmer]

Personally I'd wait until you have all the plants you want at once. Don't take short-cuts at this point in the game....

I'd like to visit Aquajardin one day. I've heard good things about it.

Glad to help. Hope it all pays off for you....

 

[john starkey]

Personally I'd wait until you have all the plants you want at once. Don't take short-cuts at this point in the game....

I'd like to visit Aquajardin one day. I've heard good things about it.

Glad to help. Hope it all pays off for you....

HI george,i take your point if tropica wont release the plants i want then maybe i it will be best to wait until they can supply my order in one go, as for aquajardin it would be great if we could arrange a shop meet one day through the ukaps site, edward the manager and stuart are both realy into planted tanks and they both speak very highly of you and i am sure they would love it if you could make it to the store one day. regards john

 

[john starkey]

Hi all,i have just had some good news about my plant order, tropica have agreed to supply all the plants on my original order, the only one they cant do is ludwigia repens "rubin", it is now discontinued by them so i have swopped it for rotala rotundifolia, so planting thursday it is then i will post some pics as soon as i can i may need a lie down after doing all this. regards john

 

[john starkey]

Hi all, my friend and i have just finished setting up all the pipe work, co2 and so on, i have placed all the eco-complete into the tank, i used 6 bags and i think i need another three for the effect i want my plants are coming on thursday if i get it all planted in one day i will load up some pics. my wife and i are of to northumberland in the morning for one night to visit alnwick casle and gardens. regards john

 

[kpintheshed]

can't wait to see it done

 

[john starkey]

Hi all, to say i am not happy is an understatement, i had the phone call from aquajardin this morning which i thought would be to go and pick up my plant order, to my dissapointment tropica after promising me all my order at once only sent half of it, the order was five species short of what i wanted stuart at the lfs rang them up and they said they were very sorry but couldnt let the plants go because they were too small and whoever originally took the order should not have said they could supply them, tropica said they will hopefully be able to supply my order in two weeks so i have decided to stick with the order and not add substitute plants, Stuart was very apologetic and said they will keep chasing the order for me. so what a waste of a day. regards john.

 

[nry]

You will be soooo happy to get them finally though!

 

[john starkey]

You will be soooo happy to get them finally though!

hi nry, yes i will be most happy, anyway mini update ed at aquajardin (glos) recieved a phone call from the director of tropica today 16/07/07 and he was very sorry for the incomplete order but went on to explain that tropica are strugling to meet demand at the moment, the main reason apart from moving to a new state of the art premisies is they have had a rather big fire and this has slowed plant production right down and they think my order will take at least three weeks, so there you go sods law just my luck hey. regards john

 

[nry]

Blimey, I think the entire world is against your tank

 

[Biulu]

What a shame! Only patience helps here though!

 

[orange shark]

wow, im really hating tropica at the moment! Ive bin following this post for ages and i cant wait to see it finished!

orange shark

 

[john starkey]

wow, im really hating tropica at the moment! Ive bin following this post for ages and i cant wait to see it finished!

orange shark

hi orange shark, i am so frustrated at the moment so guess what i am doing while i wait for my plants? planing my next setup and i have decided to do a 60X45X45 cube but i am going to use all ada stuff where possible, so look out for the new journal in a few months time. regards john.

 

[SuperColey1]

This tank has been in preperation and plantless for an eternity (or so it seems)

What you playing at John. We're all waiting with baited breath to finally see it. lol

Unlucky with the Tropica situation. Hope it comes good soon. I can't wait much longer.

Andy

 

[orange shark]

Are you cycling your tank now?