I love the new hardscape config Neil. At first I thought the left island looked too dominating but imagining it post-filling plants I’m sure it’ll work just fine.
I understand you keeping the tenellus foreground; it does work very well, just higher maintenance. Have you had the joyous task of thinning it out yet?
One idea I did have if you wanted to make the transition to a sand foreground –
1.Slot plastic dividers (cut up ice cream tubs or similar) between the tenellus and midground i.e. where you want to start the sand.
2. Pull up all the plants and vacuum the substrate. You could use this old stuff in your new set up and it would be instant cycling with the mulm etc.
3. Replace with sand and remove dividers.
Just a thought.
I note you’re using the ADA Brighty Step 1. How long does the bottle last you (250 or 500ml)? When do you switch to Step 2 and then 3? Is it your choice entirely or is there a guide?
I’m finding the ADA ferts fascinating as they obviously work and at only 5 drops every other day in a 200L they must be super efficient. I guess they’re designed to be used in conjunction with the ADA substrates so this may explain they’re relatively low dosing requirements (+ your low CO2).
Very tempting. My concern with my new set-up is that if I EI with ADA Aqua Soil then I may overload with nutrients. I understand the Step 1 doesn’t actually contain any NPK so the AS must provide all the necessary. I guess I could just use my trace mix to start with………
Looking great, keep it up matey.
It maybe does look a little too full on, I may lower the three pronged wood thing slightly. I must admit for all the staining from this wood it does have some great shapes with it. If the rotala grows and fills in on the left hand side I will make cuttings and plant it on the right too.
There are all kinds of Green Brightly, Brightly K combinations. It's all very new to me but you are not mean't to dose 5 drops in a 200L tank, more like 10 maybe 20! I can't remember off the top of my head. But I am trying to keep the water column very lean as the substrate is so rich. I have tourmaline BC, (not sure what it does to tbe honest
) power sand special with nutrients in and aqua soil too, the water column is very rich so I am keeping an eye on it. It will get some info for you on the step 1, I think its a few months before you move onto the step 2. You are supposed to use it every day too, but I have been very catious with it as I am with ferts in general. The only thing I have stuck with is EI and step 1 which works really well in my other tank, but as this tank is using the ADA stuff I've been really careful with it. I don't know how effective it is over any other plant fertiliser.
Not tried thinning the tennelus out but I normally just hack it with scissors. The sand idea is a good one but it's not as straight forward as that. I would have to remove the bogwood completely and make sure the sand came under that, as it would look weird otherwise. Also I would need to take the sand right back into the distance because there is that 'channel' between the two clusters, which would involve too much work. The potential for leaping airbourne shrimp is putting me off
I will be using the sand in my new setup so that should satisfy my curiosity with it.
They also seem to be a bit stupid when I'm doing a water change, I sucked 2 of them through the hose by accident last night as the fools kept swimming towards it!
And I thought that my bridget rasboras were the only fish that enjoyed taking trips through my gravel vacumn!
Mine are completely fearless, I have to shoo them away from it. Add to this that the other night I had my arm in the tank which attracted the attention of a large amano shrimp, which began clinging to my arm and 'cleaning' it, which was at once fascinating and horrific!
