You guuuys
thanks so much for the nice comments and taking the time to read the update. I guess I'm being a little harsh on myself, but being my first EI tank I don’t really have any idea what’s good and what’s bad! I'll keep plodding on and will update you as and when. Any suggestions would be greatly received, especially as to what I should be doing with the HM and HC to get it looking its best once I get past the algae stage.
The tank looks good Sam, I would be pleased if I were you. I also really like the size. Thinking about setting something like that up in the future. How are you rasboras doing?
The more I look at it the more I like it, and the pic of the java moss just shows me that I shouldn’t always look at it from the same angle, its quite surprising how different it can look just by moving my head 1 foot to the right!
The rasboras are doing great, not lost a single one for a long time, think that’s due to having moved the spray bar to the back. I may even get a few more to help the shoal stand out a bit more.
I would highly recommend this size tank to anyone, that said I have absolutely no frame of reference (apart from all you're lovely tanks
) but it is a bit different being so small, but then again I love small things as does the misses so that probably helps! Substrate costs a huge amount less too! Just one bag of eco-complete. Bargain!
Tank looks really great, and I'm especially impressed with the growth of your foreground!!!
It really has taken off. How many bubbles per minute are you getting?
Also, are you planning on adding any different coloured plants to provide a constrast? I think some plants growing out of the water would be nice, as you don't see that often, but that is JMO.
Oh yea, did you think about moving the anubias (?) under the wood, as it really isn't noticable unless you look closer... The moss on the wood is a good touch as well, looks really natural!
Good luck, keep on doing whatever it is you're doing, and keep us updated.
Can’t say I’ve done anything special to get the plants to grow, but pleased that they are and you people all seem to think so, so it must be! It might be the stupidly high light I have, as from what I understand HC needs good light. The fact that the tank is only 8" high probably helps to as it doesn't take a long to 'fill up', not like a 24" high tank.
If you mean CO2 bubbles, one every 4ish seconds. If you mean pearling, then I'm not really sure, there is pretty much a constant stream of tiny bubbles rising up and the odd big one every now and then. The hornwort seems to be producing the most though, as it’s permanently covered!
I'm not sure what I'll be doing about more plants, I was thinking a small clump of dwarf chain swords on the right hand side as this will add some height and look like a small woodland copse in the middle of my HC meadow. But you're right a splash of red would work just as well if not better, if you have any suggestions for small red plants let me know. I am looking very enviously at the two plants Zig posted pics of, especially the second one I love the crinkly edges and it doesn't grow every big which is perfect, but if he had such trouble getting it I doubt I could get some, but tropica have it so might see if is can order some from Birstall.
And you're right about the anubias, but when you're near the tank it shows up much better than in the pics so not sure if I’ll move it. Any further out and it'll be in direct light, and I don’t want it to get covered in algae. But will see. As to the java moss that pearls nicely, it's looking a bit sparse so may redo it and make sure I add plenty, but that’s not at the top of the list just yet.
Looks VERY good and natural. Good work, mate.
Cheers dude
Wow Sam you've come along in leaps and bounds. It's looking fantastic for the period of time you've had it going. Well done
Again many thanks, I'll get it in my think skull that it's better than I think!
Cheers peeps
)
Sam
EDIT - just a quick note to say its currently using around 12ppm NO3 and 1.5ppm PO4 very two days so something must be growing!
