darkswan

Hi Gomer!

First of all I’d like to let you know that I find your tank really impressive! Even if I have to agree with other guys that maintenance/pruning should be quite a heavy duty…
I’m recently into ADA philosophy (3 weeks setup – but dreamt for many years) and I kindly ask your advice concerning some fertilizing/maintaining tips.
- I see you use K2SO4 instead ok Brighty K. We already quickly touched this point elsewhere… Is it because raising KH (as Brighty K does) after the start-up is of no use or just because K2SO4 adds K at a much cheaper cost?
- Python Git and Green Gain. Since I have not them in my fertilizing plan, do you see real benefits by using them? Can you recommend them?
- ECA. Not used up to now but I’m about to buy it because I know that Step 1 is almost iron-free. I see you dose it only at water change: do you have any particular reason? Maybe you do it because you are dosing Step 2 which already has iron inside…
- After 3 weeks from setup my plants are really doing fine. Growing quickly and looking in best shape. Water is not dusty but still yellowish despite several 50% water changes. Is that because of peat in Power Sand? I used plain Power Sand with no Clear Super and Bacter. The tank was new in everything except filter. Are you using carbon in the filter? Do you recommend it? I’m quite hostile by nature to its usage…
- Finally, after how long would you recommend to introduce some N,P through Special Light/Shade? I guess there is a good N,P source in Power Sand but no idea of their expiring time… My very personal opinion concerning Special Light/Shade is that it is the same product with different concentration, so it would be fool to purchase Special Shade. Agree?

Thanks for attention and again many compliments for your set-up

ching4ever

great tank. added in my favourite tank pic!! nice job!!

RedBaron

Gomer,

I love your tank. It's amazing. I wonder what do you do to keep HC in such shape near the front glass? Any special trimming techniques? My heminathus climbs up all the time :/

regards
Marcin

Marc

Gomer- Nice tank.

One question about your tank. I'm thinking about getting an acrylic tank made but without the euro type bracing like your tank. Is the bracing necessary? If not do you think 1/2" would be thick enough for about a 55ish breeding size style tank?

Gomer

I don't do anything special. I only trimmed the tank ONCE over the entire journal time (if you ignore the rotala which was removed). On that trimming, I only cut back a little HC on the front of the glass Just use some scissors to trim it back and new growth will cover the cut ends in no time.


Acrylic, while much stronger, is also much more flexable. The bracing is to minimize bowing. There is slight bowing when the water is all the way up, but without the bracing, the bowing would be a big problem. I don't think 1/2" would solve the problem.

plantbrain

Hey, looks better than that algae tank you had haha
Moss sections came out nice. Fairly low maintenace also in the plant selection. Might try out some Bolbitus in place of the Narrow leaf if you get bored later.
Slowly try out different plants and think what they will look like later as they grow in. Nice tank.

As far as the $$$, it's worth it.

I like Acrylic, I treat my glass tanks like Acrylic also.
Some basic care will keep it in great shape for decades to come.
Kent pro scrapers with ther pplastic edge and the white scrub pad, always, clean top to bottom, remove snails first.

There ADA soil does have one benefit, it does not scratch the glass like a piece of EC, SM, Flourite etc. Careful though, the Powersand most definitely will.

Regards,
Tom Barr

TWood

Get two algae scrubbers - one for use from about an inch above the substrate and higher, and another for use along the substrate. Never touch the substrate with the first one so it will never pick up a piece that can scratch. Never use the other on the main body of the glass.

TW

Marc

I don't mind some bowing- I'm actually more concerned about safety. Ive heard from someone that if there is no brace, the tank could fall apart? I know that the thinner the acrylic the more bowing- will 1/2 material bow enough to be unsafe?

hir0

gorgeous tank and excellent journal. Just curious how long it took your HC to grow in? was it the whole 2 months?

John P.

Tony, do you still like your Tek Light? I'm thinking about getting one.