my 125l from com. to planted - Aquascaping

colonel mustard · 09-27-2007, 10:29 AM

HI all; This is a journal of my 125litre tank which should last about 4months (if i remember to up date it) i may also make a Blog of my process after the work has been completed.

Basically what I am going to do is turn an extremely lightly planted tank, a community aquarium, into a medium planted tank, an actual planted tank. I am new to planted tanks and this is going to be my first. I have done LOADS of research over the last 3 months and found that this forum (which only recently I have joined) has been the largest help alongside practical fish keeping magazine. In the mag Jeff and George really helped me, and without doubt others, by showing me great layouts and tips; so it is worth getting the sep issue of pfk.

Any-way I have made some mistakes, one I have no co2 and two I have 3wpg; mmm not a good combination. I have just been putting some plants from Java in the tank, it has taken a long time but I enjoyed it no end. To my surprise the plants were of a decent size which was unexpected for the price of £10.50 for 75 plants. They were well labelled and packed coming with foam and lead weights. There is not a lot of hard scape at the moment and i will be adding some rocks to the scape so it would be great if you could give me your opinion on this.

The tank is (as i mentioned above) 125lites a fluval 800deep from which I have removed the light hood and added a 4x24watt bulb hood. I am running the tank on a external 205 filter also from fluval. The substrate is nothing special at just gravel, but I like it. i will be getting pressurised co2 in about 3 months but for now i will soon be feeding seachmans excel

plants:
5 x Echinodorus Tennellus
5 x Hygrophilia Polysperma
5 x Red Ludwigia
5 x Ambulia Aquatica
5 x Bacopa Monniera
5 x Red Ivy
5 x Diplis Diandra
5 x Vallis Torta
5 x Elodea Densa
5 x Hairgrass
5 x Bacopa Caroliniana
5 x Pygmy Chain Sword
5 x Cabomba Aquatica
5 x Vallis Corkscrew sml
5 x Sagittaria Subulta

fish:
6 penguin tetra
5 glowlights
1 (unfortunately) neon
2 rainbow crossing
lots of platy fry
1oto (getting more soon)

View1

Filter, yes that is foam it was vibrating a bit so that reduces it, works great!!

front on

so it would be great to hear what you think and your advise thanks a lot

colonel

Jessie · 09-27-2007, 11:56 AM

I think you have a really good thing going on the right side of the tank. The driftwood edged with those young crypts creates a nice look. And it's great to see Penguin tetras! They are unsung gems for planted tanks, IMO.

Of course you're going to be told to get CO2 as soon as you can. That will significantly increase the health of the plants, as well as keep your a few steps ahead of algae. Granted, for now you can use Flourish Excel to help as well.

I would consider adding more plants for one, as well as more hardscape on the left side to create a sense of balance. Of course you want to avoid too much symmetry, but as things grow in, you'll be able to see what needs to be changed or moved.

Great start!

colonel mustard · 09-27-2007, 12:16 PM

thanks

i think that i will add more plants latter on but your right i do need more. the reason for this is that i don't want to add more plants when i have no co2.

could you help suggest what material i sould use for hard scape. eg wood or rock. im thinking some smalish rocks behind a small piece of wood the size of those on the right

thanks for the posotive feedback!!