msenske

Eklikewhoa,

Thanks, Its cool to hear that from you . I remember you stopped by for some plants after I took down the previous scape and I had you check out the hard scape . Remember the hard scape of this layout ? Amazing how it disappears and becomes the foundation for the layout.

eklikewhoa

I remember exactly how the hardscape was and it's amazing how it turned out!

Left C

This is one more beautiful planted aquarium!

Mike, do you have any pics of the hardscape? If you don't, will you describe it?

jsenske

jeff- I really have not had a problem with crypts except for when I move submersed, established ones into a newly set-up ADA substrate tank. Then melting is a problem, but I used to have that problem with other substrates too. As a rule I don't even try to move submersed crypts or start them in a new tank. I always use immersed-form, nursery grown crypts and I must say that I have not a any problems-- and I use then a lot. I can think of no fewer than 6 tanks right now with fairly substantial crypt populations, no melting issues at all. Were yours immersed or submersed when you started them?

jason- we start in with Brighty K (potassium) from day one, along with Green Bacter. We then phase in 1/2 dose or so (more like 2/3 dose on a high-light, heavy stemmed plant tank like this one) of Green Brighty STEP 1. Brighty Special LIGHTS, ECA, Green Gain usually don't enter the scene until after about a month or so, once things start getting settled, growing, needing trimming, etc. Once things start looking a little pale, we ramp it up further. As I have said before, we like to keep things a little lean (well, very lean actually) in the first 4-5 weeks. As long as plants are growing-I don't worry much and then wait for the plants to "tell me" they need more. I find this to be a very effective early defense against algae.

Jason Baliban

Amen brother!!

Thanks for the explaination.

jB

ballsmyberries

One word. WOW!

jassar

A really big WOW! nothing else to say (^_^)

FelixAvery

lovely, what plants is the foreground please

jsenske

Thanks everyone.

Plant list:
foreground: Eleocharis acicularis, Lilaeopsis novozalindae,
midground: Hygrophila sp., Bolbitis
background: Limnophilia aromatica, "giant" stellata (I forget the name of that main one in the middle), Rotala rotundifolia, Rotala sp. "colorata", Ludwigia arcuata, Micranthemum umbrosum

Freeman:
The tank is about 4 months old.

Very minor algae issues-- just some BBA that was dealt with using SeaChem EXCEL, high dose (about 3 times recommended amount for 5 days), and water change every other day-40%.

Just tap water used-- Houston city supply which is quite hard indeed. We never use RO, and never have before. Every tank we have done is regular (hard) tap water.

This tank was planted heavily from the beginning because of the style desired for the finished layout. We don't necessarily plant heavily though. If we are doing say a simplt iwagumi/rock style tank with just a foreground plant, then we just try to cover as much of the substrate as is practical. We never add temporary stemmed plants or anything like that.

We simply use the ADA liquid ferts on out planted tanks. Mike dosed GREEN GAIN and ECA very heavily on this tank-- ECA was dosed almost daily whenever stemmed plants were sufficiently grown back from trimming. GREEN GAIN was dosed heavily after trimming (after initial water change and for 3-4 days following). New growth was always established in 5-7 days and health was superb/fewer strees symptoms noticed.
There was aperiod when Lilaeopsis was not growing so well and green spot algae was present. I noted this and had Mike add higher doses of Green Brighty SPECIAL LIGHTS (ADA's N and P and additional K), and the problem was quickly remedied. With so much light and so many hungry, fast-growing stemmed plants, these nutrients were being quickly absorbed, and slower matabolism of Lilaeopsis was not able to get its fair share!

Not much chance of testing water parameters. We do not own those test kits. Maybe Luis or someone would want to stop by and do that.

Thsi tank was not intended to be long lasting (for us anyway). While it could be kept going longer, indeed, we are always anxious to try new layout styles with this particular tank. We do long-term layouts often in other tanks.

Diligence of maintenance-- frequent water change, good dosing regimen, frequent trimming of stemmed plants.

Mike and I have not been able to produce these high level results until we started understanding and using ADA products. Can you achieve this health with other products/methods? I am sure you can. Does ADA make it easier? In my opinion, yes. The combination of a rich, active substrate with precise daily dosing of nutrients + following the guidelines of Mr. Amano (creator of the style in the first place) = greater success, simple as that.

gf225

Stunning! I love the style, a nice mix of east and west, like another one of yours I remember, Mike.

Including your discus set ups? No heavy metal removal necessary, or is your water "clean"?