davemonkey's 50 gal journal - Page 24 - Journals

giypsy · 10-31-2009, 11:03 AM

Glad I popped in; between your tank and Rita's Princess tank,
I am inspired again. I have forgotten, what size is that tank again?

davemonkey · 10-31-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giypsy

Glad I popped in; between your tank and Rita's Princess tank,
I am inspired again. I have forgotten, what size is that tank again?

Thanks! This tank is a "55" (really just 45 - 50gal, 48" x 12" x 18" ). Rita's is a 12gal hex.

Chris, thanks. I really like the look I'm getting (even if the growth is a little slower that what I'm used to) with this "El Natural" tank. I'm planning on getting a few more of those T. espei and about 20 Cherry-Spot Rasbora. A couple pair of small Apistos should finish it off after that.

bratyboy2 · 10-31-2009, 07:53 PM

dave the tank is looking great!!!

davemonkey · 11-01-2009, 03:44 AM

Thanks bratyboy. You know how most times the pictures don't look as good as the real tank? Well, this time the picture looks a little better.

I think it's because how I trimmed the plants (thinned them out quite a bit) and the camera doesn't quite pick up on that. Anyway, I can't wait 'till it fills out more.

-Dave

davemonkey · 11-25-2009, 02:14 PM

It's been a little over 3 weeks since teh last update on this NPT. Growth is still slow, but things are looking good and the Marsilea is really doing well after all the old leaves died off. The fish are happy, the plants are happy, and I'm getting great color from my Polygonum sp. 'Kawagoeanum' (the pic has not been altered in ANY way at all to enhance red..that is totally natural).

First the Poly:

Couple of my favorites (you'll notice I'm not trying to hide the algae)

And my tank:

One of my Apistos

Thanks for looking.

MrSanders · 11-25-2009, 05:13 PM

Tank Is looking GREAT, and getting some really good color too!

What is the plant in the second picture?? I LOVE how tight the nods are with the hint of red on the top leaf edges!

mudboots · 11-27-2009, 05:02 AM

Quote:

What is the plant in the second picture?? I LOVE how tight the nods are with the hint of red on the top leaf edges!

In case Dave is sleeping in from a heavy day of eating (Happy Thanksgiving everybody) I believe the plant you mention is Ludwigia brevipes (not sure about common name). It's a good'un.

Nice tank, Dave; really looks nice.

rjfurbank · 11-27-2009, 05:22 AM

Looking really good Dave!

Any issues w/ the soil substrate so far? Have you been monitoring the water column (i.e.N,P, or CO2 via drop checker)? I am seriously considering trying a tank w/ mineralized top soil at some point--the idea of being able to limit algae by keeping all the nutrients in the soil is very appealing. . .

Also--what are the plants yoiu have in the back corners? (the ones w/ the long leaves and the thick stems)

Keep up the good work!

-Roy

davemonkey · 11-27-2009, 06:27 AM

Yes, the plant MrSanders is asking about is Ludwigia brevipes. It will get more colorful as it gets closer to bright light. In my picotope where the light was just a few inches above the plants, the tops got dark bronze to maroon.

HAHA! Yep, I'm still in my PJ's at 9:30 am.

Roy, that plant is willow leaf hygro (Hygrophila corymbosa 'Angustifolia' ) I have not been monitoring anything and have some staghorn algae on some of the older leaves that are dying off from the transition. I have some green water, but it is slight and has not caused me any real problems.

-Dave

MrSanders · 11-27-2009, 06:09 PM

Thanks for the plant ID guys, gonna have to find me some of this its a great looking plant!