New Beginnings

[Biulu]

An update: Crypts are sprouting up all over the place; even there where I didn't plant them . I will let them develop a few leaves and then plant them in between the existing ones.

The rotala is almost reaching the surface. I wonder how I can prune it best to get a bushy growth? Probably just nip off the tops to promote lateral growth? Having to prune a plant is relatively now for me. Until now I only had cabomba growing too long...

Today I picked up two Siamese algae eaters ( a crossocheilus type; I hope to be able to take proper pictures so it can be identified) to deal with the diatoms and a few green algae that are establishing itself.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

If the SAE's don't work out for ya could always throw a bag of purigen in the filter, ian suggested it to me a while back and I haven't seen a spec of diatoms since, even when I rescaped and got major melt. Looking nice and full now tho, love the colouration on the leaves.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I need to prune my rotala too, my plants are very bushy but I'm having a hard time telling if it is healthy because the diatoms attacked it. Let me know how yours goes?

I didn't know that crypts create runners.

 

[Biulu]

Ich seems to be in the air these days! I got it out of nowhere and have no clue where it came from; I have been doing water changes (around 15%) 3x a week to battle the diatoms, I have changed feeding to 1x a day instead of 2. The 2 SAEs that I introduced are very healthy, so no clue. Anyway, I am removing the carbon out of my filter and will be medicating for the next few days.

My fears regarding the limnophila have come true too; the plant is not doing well and on top of it, it looks like my fish like to eat the tops.... I have not found the culprit but since the plant is losing its leaves at the bottom as well, I have decided to take it out and replace it.

The H. corymbosa seems to be doing well, even if it is in the shade so I might buy more of that or does anybody have another suggestion for a nice low-tech Asian plant? Suggestions welcome!

 

[FishFanatic04]

ew. Hope that goes away quick.

 

[P&J]

Has the corymbosa grown out enough to see it well in pics? If so, I'd love to see how it looks!

-P

 

[Biulu]

I will get rid of the limnophila and then there is enough space to take a picture of the corymbosa. I like it, but only have a few stems; I will try to get more today.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Looking good so far mate

Hope you get rid of the problems soon enough

 

[Biulu]

Thanks Josh!

Update time !

Today the medication period for the ich finished so a good moment to do a water change and some other things. The best is though that all the fish look good and healthy; I was on time! Only the hengeli that as affected has a bit of a battered fintail, but nothing that will not heal quickly. I am very happy with this; one problem less to take care of! I am saying so since all my halfmoon bettas mysteriously are getting finrot despite the planted, heated and filtered tank they are in plus the regular maintenance....

As I already told you before, the limnophila was not doing well so I took it out. It is not dead but the lower parts of the stems are leafless (I guess not enough light) plus I noticed that some fish had started to nibble on the tops. Wonder which one that could be?

Yesterday I was at an lfs and I found H. corymbosa (yes!, although I think it is the narrowleaved variety), a red crypt, I think it is wendtti red and water sprite (ceratopteris). As I knew this plant was also called Sumatra or Indian fern, I thought it would fit right into my Asian themed tank, especially as it is also a low flow species. However, I now found out that it is pantropical! In other words you find it anywhere in the tropics. So, don't know what to do now...

I also wanted to trim my rotala but unfortunately nobody answered me how to do this. Anyway after having looked at several aquatic plant trimming videos I noticed that people simply chop them off at the desired height, take off the leaves of the lower 2.5 cms and replant. So, I did the same. Normally when trimming plant tops this result in side shoots and I hope it will be the case here as well, so the plants become more bushy instead of the individual stems that you still see now. I am dreaming of the Dutch aquarium type Rotalas.

Pictures have to wait until tonight or tomorrow as there is too much reflection at the moment.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I would happily trade my rotala for yours right now lol Mine is being wasted with all the diatoms starting to cover it, making it ugly and brown.


Glad your ich went away easily. It really must be the season for it. Everywhere I look someone is saying they've got it, and all the fish stores around here have major outbreaks.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Sounds like good progress to me

The only thing missing from the update is photos

 

[Biulu]

I also have diatoms but it is not getting worse which is a good sign. The glass was basically diatom free while doing this water change, so it is not growing back that quickly anymore. I can also see my SAEs working although I doubt they will be taking the algae of the small leaves of the rotala; they prefer to be sitting on a larger leaves and work their way up and down systematically.

 

[Biulu]

So, as promised here are some new pics:

I didn't have much time, so I only took the obligatory ones

FTS:

I like the colours in this picture. I haven't done anything special with the settings nor have I treated it in any picture programma.

Then these are pictures of the right hand side with a special shot of the H. corymbosa on request . You can see the new ceratopteris that I hope will cover the filter intake.

The corymbosa is a bit rough I find with their big leaves, not as delicate as the rotala for instance, but I do like their shade of green.

It is so difficult to take pictures without the angels getting in front of the camara! They are like goldfish in that sense; they think that every time somebody shows up close to the tank, there is food to be had...

Here you can see more or less where I planted the cuttings from the rotala. You can also see that my leaves are still not algae free....

And another shot of the left hand side, you can see my Vietnamese betta named Pho in there; he is my favourite fish.

I have now officially started with my ferts regime; alternating 3x week macros and 2x a week micros, last 2 days of the week rest and time for a waterchange. I hope this will also help against the diatoms. I feel lucky though that no other algae have kicked in so far. Fingers crossed!

Edit: I don't understand why my rotated pictures sometimes don't show up rotated, although they are in Photobucket....

 

[FishFanatic04]

Oh it looks great. The H. corymbosa is going to look great when it gets taller next to the water sprite. My water sprite growth was driven by my light and it got wild and went "to seed" too quickly. I didn't find it friendly to a high tech tank {so far} I really think it will do well for you. It's nice offsetting the rotala on opposite sides. I should take a close up picture of mine with the diatoms to make you love yours

 

[Joshwainwright]

Looking good so far and will look even better when it has grown

Every time I see a planted tank I want to buy more, but I'm stuck with my ever growing java fern