Nature Calls...

[Mcbenthy]

Okay, a 1 week update.

My excel arrived today, however the 7 hour photo period hasn't resulted in any algae growth so far. Fingers crossed this keeps up.

Any idea on what I should do to my dosing regime with the excel? I'm thinking adding 50% the suggested excel value as I am hoping to not do water changes for quite a while. SO how much Excel and how many ferts?

Well, enough boring questions, time for the pics!

First, FTS - with algae (green spot ghey stuff):

And after scrapping off :

left side - can see new growth on the top of these stems, they seem to be doing really well and I'm very excited about this stem:

Maybe a better shot of the new growth:

Right side - still not sure about this grass... not growing on me. Really still interested in crypts or similar, but unsure - Suggestions?:

Arch - really happy with this, although the shrimp ate all the thread so the java fern has had to be moved to where I could wedge it in :

Upper back - the wisteria is looking really great, and it seems to be growing well :

Corymbosa:

And it's new growth:

Apologies for the poor quality photos, stuck using my phone atm

 

[paulc]

I'm liking this - what a great piece of wood as well.

 

[Mcbenthy]

I'm liking this - what a great piece of wood as well.

Thank you

The wood is actually 3 pieces that I have rested together, hopefully the java fern will slowly lash them together whilst leaving a central channel through them open.

I'm really gutted that the phone pictures don't do it justice currently

 

[Mcbenthy]

WOWZERS!! let me never again diss liquid carbon...

Seriously, I never thought it could be THIS IMPRESSIVE!

FTS to come tonight, already pulled out almost all of my floating plants as they had completely covered the surface! (in 3 days!!!)

 

[Biulu]

That is great, congratulations! Looking forward to the new pics.

 

[Man of fish]

Nice little tank!

 

[Mcbenthy]

I haven't forgotten about this journal , promise!

Been a hectic few weeks (break ups, broken teeth, police involvement, planning PhDs, prepping a move etc), so the photos I have been taking are of 1 week snap shots, and from my phone, so fairly low quality. I will add them for completeness soon (tonight or tomorrow).

I have however gone ahead and taken out a further 10 endlers to sell to my LFS (75p ea), and with them and the remaining credit I had, upped the rummynose to 10 (6 bought), and bought 2 young German Blue Rams. They are beautiful and amazing! This tank is doubtful going to be their final home, looking like I'll move them into my 250L when I move, along with the rummynose, leaving this tank open to be SE Asian themed. (timescale for the move is late July/early August).

The extra Rummynose has really livened the tank up, they are now always out, and much happier as a result, however the tank looks seriously overstocked as even tho I removed >30 Endlers, they always hung around the top / in the plants making the tank seem a lot less full.

I'm not concerned about the stocking filtration wise as the overal bioload has dropped, but the fish don't have as much space each as I want. This will be fixed when I move and set up the larger tank as the Rams, Rummynose and maybe the cories will move leaving the Harelquinns in here (going to up their numbers) and I may add some dwarf neon gourrami (sp?).

One problem I am facing is that I have some hair algae showing up, and I have no idea how to stop it. I have heard that high Iron can trigger it, but the bacopa (species ?) in the corner seems to besuffering from low iron... As I said, I will upload some pics and hopefully we can figure it out.

I'm also considering binning the Java fern. gone off it on the wood, may leave the wood bare, or add some Aunbias(?). Also need to pick some crypts to go on the right hand side as I binned the grass

 

[Mcbenthy]

Okay, so.

I have now moved, re-scaped this tank, re-arranged a lot, added new wood, removed plants, added plants etc etc.

I also have a new camera NEX 5N so expect some not-good pictures as I learn how to use it

I currently only have internet at work or via my phone, so pictures may take a while to upload (unless some kind soul is happy for me to e-mail them? - I can e-mail photos through my work machine, but uploading via flickr or photobucket is banned)

The tank is beig used to try out plants ready for setting up the 250L whose stocking is being decided over in the new world cichlids, with a lot of help from Minnnt (here)

Promise to get this journal back on track before the PhD starts!!!!!!!!! (sooooo giddy about that... they're letting me play in a microbiology lab )