Noobs Ltlb 10

[Termato]

Do you see how on the right side the substrate goes up a lot in the front. If you could make it like a hill that starts off lower in the front and goes up in the back you will get more dept like you have on the left side. I think if you do that and maybe something in that background area that is empty it will fill in a lot.

I really like the rocks too!

I went with gravel for all my tanks because it is easier to maintain. I didn't like the idea of everything being so loose. I got really small gravel.

I want sand later though when I have gained some more experience.

 

[Steve H.]

Do you see how on the right side the substrate goes up a lot in the front. If you could make it like a hill that starts off lower in the front and goes up in the back you will get more dept like you have on the left side. I think if you do that and maybe something in that background area that is empty it will fill in a lot.

I see what you're saying. I guess you can't tell from the picture all that well, but it does slope up from front to back.
It started off at 1" in the front left corner and slopes upwards to 2.5" all along the back, and right side of the tank. I was trying to imitate working up to the shoreline of a river bank.
However, I find the substrate is constantly shifting due to the force of the flow from the filter. The gravel from the back is being forced to the front glass.
It is slowly starting to level itself out again....maybe when I get the plants in order I'll start fighting that battle, but you can never under estimate the force of water.

 

[Termato]

You can also use the wood to help keep the gravel in place.

 

[Steve H.]

The way the Sag is coming in is really starting to grow on me.

Between the wood sticks there are 3 runners which are going to look good there naturally. It also has runners like mad inside there own planting area. Once they get rooted solidly, and some decent growth I think I will move one or two of the mother plants from the back-right center to open that for a taller plant of some sort.

The last of the HC is about to go...that's ok because my wife is tired of me using her fry strainer to scoop out stray HC floating in the current.
My hope is the Sag will keep running to the left because I think that will be a great natural look.

H. Difformis is getting close to being ready for its first pruning...I'm going to let it go for awhile yet because I'm getting some nice side shoots which is filling out, and have really nice green color.
Also, because I haven't thought that far ahead yet and have to read up on how to prune this plant?

I added Seachem Purigen to the filter, and am really impressed at the crystal clear polish it gives to the water!
I did not notice until I just scrolled back to look at the pictures from just a couple of weeks ago how good the tank is looking with the Purigen. I also changed the lighting. I went from a 14w 5000k to a 13w 5500k. I didn't think there would be much difference, but clearly looks much better to me now.

 

[Steve H.]

Just got done changing it up a little bit, and I added some new inhabitants.

I finally found them!!! 6 new Celestial Danios...5 males and 1 female. I found them at my local shop which had not had them in the past. They have a sale every weekend 40% off Friday/Saturday/Sunday. This made them $4.80 each...not bad. Think I am going to go back Sunday and pick up 4 or 5 more.

I also picked up a Leopard Nerite snail to clean up after things.

I wish I had a better camera, but believe it or not the camera on my phone is actually better than the digital camera I own.

I didn't completely give up on my Sag, but I found some Crypt Spiralis I am going to give a try

The water is still a bit hazy from moving things around. I really like the natural-unmanacured look.
I will post a better pick once the Purigen clears this all up. I also did not clean the glass because I want to see if the Nerite snail cleans as advertised, or at least how much it does eat in a couple of days.

 

[Steve H.]

I started Flourish Excel today. Also, I added some API root tabs.
Although my plants are growing well I am having a slight algae break out. Green Dust Algae. Only see it on the glass right now, and have a Nerite snail in there to help out. I want to get to the root of the problem.
I read green dust algae is from low nutrients or low co2...so I will see if these steps help.

At the risk of sounding like a complete moron...but everyone here knows that I am already...I recently discovered this tank is actually only 5.5gallons. The wife said that what she bought was a 10, and I never questioned it....

The problem this presents for me now is that all my calculations were based on 10, so the lighting that I thought was 1.3 wpg is actually 2.1. This is why I started the Flourish today.

I re-homed the Tiger barbs and started a new stock.

Originally started with 6 CPD's, and went back to get more today but they only had 2 left. So, now I have 8.
I was also looking for some Boraras, but no luck. However, they did have some Endler's that I was never really interested before, but they were really nice looking and my son thought they were really cool. So, I picked up 6 and blew my Biotope. But, it's the least I could do for him since I gave away his Tiger Barbs that he loved.

Overstocked? Probably...but I feel I have more than enough filtration for this stock level.

 

[Steve H.]

Note: although a tank with soil promotes good plant growth this will be the last one. Every time something needs to be altered it makes a huge mess.

I just got done with my first pruning of the Wisteria, and Uhg! As soon as the crypt spiralis and Sagittaria start showing signs of positive growth I think I will replace this fast growing stem plant with something that does not need to be pulled in order to prune.

 

[Termato]

Note: although a tank with soil promotes good plant growth this will be the last one. Every time something needs to be altered it makes a huge mess.

I just got done with my first pruning of the Wisteria, and Uhg! As soon as the crypt spiralis and Sagittaria start showing signs of positive growth I think I will replace this fast growing stem plant with something that does not need to be pulled in order to prune.

Try having the wisteria float. It produces beautiful roots that help filter the water and it looks great.

 

[Steve H.]

10 day update:
Pruned the Wisteria
Changed photo period to 7hours...no siesta
Added some xmas moss today
Dosing flourish Excel every other day to two days

 

[minnnt]

Coming along great mate, keep up the good work1

 

[FishFanatic04]

Very green and healthy.

 

[Steve H.]

Thank you both! I am starting to realize your never really done....are you?
Always a work in progress. At least when your learning.

Sag still being a pain. I've tried everything I know. Just does not want to grow in my tank. In the pics you can see the mothers are melting away, but yet the runners thrive until they reach a certian size before melting away....my nemisis

 

[FishFanatic04]

lol there are other plants that look grass like. Maybe try some micro sword?

 

[Steve H.]

Still holding out for the Sag to come around, and if I can't get that to grow I worry I wouldn't stand a chance with micro sword.

Just a snippet

http/static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http/vid1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh523/stever42/VIDEO0045.mp4

 

[Steve H.]

Just found a snail!
He was a pretty good size...slightly smaller than a pea. I hope he was alone, but now I'm on the look out for more.