[Wet Thumb Forum]-Need suggestions: 30 gal

[skylsdale]

I took down the 20 gal tiger barb tank I had going and decided to get it going in the 30 gal (36x12x17) that I had sitting around empty. My attempt is something of a lowland stream in SE Asia. It's still a bit cloudy, but here is a pic so far: http://community.webshots.com/photo/...13191872wypAtO

The large rocks have to hold the wood down since it isn't waterlogged. I plan to add a few more small-medium to vary the substrate a bit, and also to add to the cobble look (which isn't evident in the pic).

My inspiration is from these pics of similar streams in Thailand and Singapore:




I would like to stock this with primarly crypts (C. albida are in the above pictures). I would like to bunch them in the rear left corner, then have some taper down and to the right. The substrate is composed of sand from the river. I've never attempted crypts before--what would work best for keeping them in here? Jobe's plant spikes? Any tips would be appreciated.

[skylsdale]

I took down the 20 gal tiger barb tank I had going and decided to get it going in the 30 gal (36x12x17) that I had sitting around empty. My attempt is something of a lowland stream in SE Asia. It's still a bit cloudy, but here is a pic so far: http://community.webshots.com/photo/...13191872wypAtO

The large rocks have to hold the wood down since it isn't waterlogged. I plan to add a few more small-medium to vary the substrate a bit, and also to add to the cobble look (which isn't evident in the pic).

My inspiration is from these pics of similar streams in Thailand and Singapore:




I would like to stock this with primarly crypts (C. albida are in the above pictures). I would like to bunch them in the rear left corner, then have some taper down and to the right. The substrate is composed of sand from the river. I've never attempted crypts before--what would work best for keeping them in here? Jobe's plant spikes? Any tips would be appreciated.

[imported_Xema]

Hi sky...

I am very impresive with your wild layout (this and your tigar barb tank)

I really only could add moss java and some species of cripts, maybe some java fern

Greetings

Feel the Chocolate Gouramipower

[skylsdale]

Given that I'm using sand, not a whole lot seems to seep down into the substrate--it pretty much just sits on top of it. Should I be doing anything to get nutrients down into the substrate...maybe taking some pinches of flake food and pushing it down into the sand in that area, or will that even do much?

[Phil Edwards]

Skylsdale,

If you're using a plain sand/gravel substrate you may actually be better off with small daily doses of fertilizer vs. plant spikes or larger less frequent doses. Do you have any other aquariums going at the moment? Of so, you might do well to put any mulm syphoned off from those tanks into the 30g before adding any plants. That will help enrich the substrate and will help them establish better.

Luckily Crypts are fairly hardy plants if given more or less stable conditions. C. albida would look really good in that tank. Other than tank, have fun with it! You've got a beautiful substrate there please don't cover it up much. Along with that I really like your use of twigs in there. They add a very organic look.

Best,
Phil

[img]/masthead-refined-mini.jpg[/img]

[Neal]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by skylsdale:
I would like to stock this with primarly crypts (C. albida are in the above pictures). I would like to bunch them in the rear left corner, then have some taper down and to the right. The substrate is composed of sand from the river. I've never attempted crypts before--what would work best for keeping them in here? Jobe's plant spikes? Any tips would be appreciated.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I really like the idea of planting primarily on the rear left and tapering to the right. It will make it appear like a stream bank running off to the center of the stream on the right. Very nice.
As far as plant keeping tips, I would second the advice to get as much old mulmy gravel in there as you can. My crypts have always done best with old, rich substrates.

[trenac]

Looking good so far. I have a couple of Wendtii Crypts in my tank. The older leaves tend to die off on a regular basis. So when I redo my tank I am thinking about removing them. I also have a Lutea crypt which I really like. It is really full & the leaves don't die off like the Wendtii. In the subtrate I use Seachem Flourish tabs.

[skylsdale]

Thanks Phil, your advice is appreciated...as usual.

If you're using a plain sand/gravel substrate you may actually be better off with small daily doses of fertilizer...

Any suggestions in particular? I've never ventured much beyond the bunch plant varieties, so I'm still unfamiliar with a lot of the specifics of more advanced plant keeping. Would any additive dosed via the water column work?

Do you have any other aquariums going at the moment? Of so, you might do well to put any mulm syphoned off from those tanks into the 30g before adding any plants.

Unfortunately, I just did a big downsizing to simplify things a bit, and this is currently the only tank I have up and running. By mulm, do you mean decayed plant material...or more along the lines of detritus? If so, I can siphon some out from a friend who's got a pretty mess plec and let that settle into the substrate.

I'm still going to work on the substrate a bit...I'm not satisfied with it yet. I want to compress the stones more to give it a more level and current washed appearance.

As for filtration, what would your suggestion be for this type of setup? I was thinking a small Aquaclear, but how well do crypts do with that? I may not worry about it for a while and just not add to the current bioload of tiger barbs.