New Planted Tank. Could use your advice (Pics inside). - Page 2 - General Aquarium Plants Discussions

davemonkey · 03-14-2009, 09:24 PM

Okay, it sounds like the substrate plus the liquids you're adding is giving enough ferts. Flourish excel migth cut it for a carbon source. I would definitely cut down the light to about 7 hrs to start with, and maybe even 5 hrs on the days you are away (if you have a timer) . After a couple months you can gradually bring that time up (in 30-min intervals per week) . Also, some fast growing stem plants will do much good in helping the fight against algae since they are heavier feeders.

EQUINOX · 03-20-2009, 12:34 PM

Okay I've done some changes and "armed" myself with new weapons during the last week.
Some of the plants rotted and I'm sure if the reason is algae or just inadequate conditions..
What do you think?
Anyway, the changes I've made help fight the algae very well, for now:

40% water change
almost all the plants taken out, dipped in 4% bleach and aquarium water solution, then rinsed in a bucket with aquarium water and Prime.
Filter's Perlon swapped.
Many dead leafs manually picked up.
Lighting time were shorten to 8 hours (with a timer).
New plants bought.
Hungry molee fish (not sure what the name in in English) and Siamese algae eater added
Bought and fertilized with Seachem's NPK and Excel. Also bough today Seachem Iron, Dosed once.
Bought algae-killing-powder as "doomsday weapon". not using for now.

I should mention that no Micro Fert (EasyLife Profito) was added for more than a week since algea bloomed right after. Uncertain if in fact that was the reason, i chose to cut on the Micro for now.

Man At Work

New buds of growth?

Vales. lost in battle..

What are these plants (next two photos)?

Overall image

For some reason I'm getting the feeling that I'm struggling to hard for just plain, normal growth..
Other tanks with weaker light set-ups and inferior substrate don't have plants like Sagittarius dying like mine..

Happy to hear out everyone's advice!
Thanks.

Fishtory · 03-23-2009, 08:54 AM

Hi Equinox,
I think you have to use more patience.

You will have poor growth, brown leaves, and algae for a few weeks or even a few months. Then everything will settle down and you won't have to work so hard. It is a biological system that you are trying to create -- and nature takes longer than we want it to.

Good luck!

EQUINOX · 03-27-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishtory

Hi Equinox,
I think you have to use more patience.

You will have poor growth, brown leaves, and algae for a few weeks or even a few months. Then everything will settle down and you won't have to work so hard. It is a biological system that you are trying to create -- and nature takes longer than we want it to.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice..

Some changes made!
Took out the Anacharis. It grew very strange:
It grew higher and the roots (after taking it out, i saw) spread widely, but the leafs and the stem got sparse!
It could be the Excel. Be happy to hear your opinion.

Received some Vallisneria Spiralis (Huge amount!!) and spent about 2.5 hours planting it..
It set for a week in a bucket outside the donor's aquarium, but I hope it'll recover and do well.

Full outlook

Three best growing plants in the tank
The green one growing between the driftwood's stems got a reddish color in the higher leafs! When I bought it, it was fully green..

(I'd be happy if someone refer me the their profiles as I don't know what their called)

Hope the Vallisneria Spiralis will take over the tank. The regular type grew poorly..

Do you think I should risk by dosing Excel?
Afraid the Vallisneria would react bad to it..

I'd be glad if you answer some of my questions. Plain comments will also be welcomed!
Thanks.

uglybuckling · 04-02-2009, 09:56 PM

Your tank is already starting to look more healthy. Also, those pieces of driftwood are gorgeous.

An analogy I like for planted tanks is that it's kind of like driving a car on a highway--you can go 30 miles an hour and avoid all the pot-holes, and eventually get where you're going, but it'll take awhile. You can go 65 miles an hour and bounce around and swerve a little but still keep control if you pay attention, and get wherever you're going a little faster. But try to go 120 miles an hour and you will fly off the embankment into a ditch. Nothing great happens fast, only bad things happen fast.

The green plant growing between the driftwood's stems, that recently turned a more red color toward the top, looks to me like Ludwigia repens. If it gets enough iron and a lot of light, this plant can be grown to be a very pretty red color.

The one in front of it, with pink on its leaves, does not look like an aquatic plant to me. It might be a terrestrial plant that a fish store decided to sell as an aquarium plant. This happens sometimes, and it never ceases to irritate me. You wouldn't try to raise a terrestrial CAT in your fishtank, why would you put a terrestrial plant in there?

I won't offer an opinion about Excel, since I've never really used the stuff for anything except killing algae.

EQUINOX · 04-03-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uglybuckling

Your tank is already starting to look more healthy. Also, those pieces of driftwood are gorgeous.

An analogy I like for planted tanks is that it's kind of like driving a car on a highway--you can go 30 miles an hour and avoid all the pot-holes, and eventually get where you're going, but it'll take awhile. You can go 65 miles an hour and bounce around and swerve a little but still keep control if you pay attention, and get wherever you're going a little faster. But try to go 120 miles an hour and you will fly off the embankment into a ditch. Nothing great happens fast, only bad things happen fast.

The green plant growing between the driftwood's stems, that recently turned a more red color toward the top, looks to me like Ludwigia repens. If it gets enough iron and a lot of light, this plant can be grown to be a very pretty red color.

The one in front of it, with pink on its leaves, does not look like an aquatic plant to me. It might be a terrestrial plant that a fish store decided to sell as an aquarium plant. This happens sometimes, and it never ceases to irritate me. You wouldn't try to raise a terrestrial CAT in your fishtank, why would you put a terrestrial plant in there?

I won't offer an opinion about Excel, since I've never really used the stuff for anything except killing algae.

Thanks for the support..

A small update:

Red Ludwigia Repens

How do i propogate this?

Corry Family

Male Remirez

NeonFlux · 04-03-2009, 01:50 PM

Nice start up! I completely agree with the others

EQUINOX · 11-21-2009, 02:18 PM

Hey guys,
A lot of changes took place since entering this hobby.
I'm still developing and learning a lot.
It's important, in my opinion to be able to tell all the hardships I've been through and I will attempt too. But.. Until I do and until the tank fully matures, I'd like to share some "teasers".. Questions and comments are welcomed.

P.S. sorry for the dirty glass (water stains etc').