dmastin

I'm hanging in there!
I can provide closeups of any plant(s).
Some die back, but also new growth is present.
Day 2:

Day 9:

My parameters:
50g tank (36x18x19)
~100 watts standard fluorescent various plant grow tubes
about 10hrs full and 1hrs 50 watts (I have a glass canopy these lights sit on that has some incredibly stubborn hard water deposits, so I'm guessing I'm losing at least 25% wattage)
Eco-complete substrate
pH (power of hydrogen, fun mnemonic only) 7.2 without CO2 closer to 6.8 with CO2
GH (general hardness) 100 ppm
KH (carbonate hardness) 150
Dosing Seachem as per their Aquarium dosing chart (dry ferts on the way)
Flourish tabs spaced 4-6 inches
Water temp 81F
Ammonia ~0ppm, Nitrite ~ 0ppm, Nitrate ~30ppm
Fluval 305 sponges and bio media only
Hydor CO2 pressure reducer Hydor diffuser on 24/7 about 40 bubbles per min
Drop checker reads green with aquarium water KH standard on the way
Air stone during lights off
2 Male Electric Blue Ram (Boron and Xenon)
2 Female German Blue Ram (Freon and Krypton/Helion)
2 Rummy Nose Tetras
2 Emerald Green Cory
5 Scarlet Badis
9 Cherry Shrimp (fish food?)
1 Mystery Snail
My story so far: http://fwaquarium.blogspot.com/

Veloth

I like your scape, especially the wood. The tank will probably do better when you get the dry ferts. My guess is you need more Co2. When I used a drop checker with tank water it wasn't reliable. I run my Co2 at 4bps through my XP3 on my 55g.

dmastin

Thanks Veloth. I wish much of the testing technology in this hobby were not tied to identifying subtle color shades. I've gotten away most of my life with saying that's green or blue and never worried about greenish blues and yellowish greens etc. A new drop checker and standard solution may arrive today and dry ferts in a day or two. Thanks so much for the interest. I'm so happy to be back to this hobby after years. I agree that piece of drift wood is pretty darn cool. It's uber large, but I decided to give it a go and make it the centerpiece of the tank. You can see a pic of only it in the tank and some details about where I got it here: http://fwaquarium.blogspot.com/2009/06/driftwood.html. Thanks for your thoughts!

Veloth

I gave up on the drop checkers when I got my 75g, I just started the Co2 at what I thought was close then monitored my fish as I increased it. When they went to the top I backed it off a hair and left it there.

dmastin

Pic of tank Day12, dry ferts as arrived today, and bachelor lunch I ate while looking at my tank (wife at in-laws)!

clearleaf

Nice closeup (and thanks for making me hungry), the ferts should really perk things up in there.

dmastin

Hey thanks for checking in! Today is day 17 planted and my 5th day on ferts using EI (my first significant attempt at a planted tank). I also added a Coralife F/W T-5 Aqualight Double Strip Light-36 today so I'm up to about 140 watts for a 50g tank. I'll post a new pic in this thread tomorrow and perkiness can be assessed! . I'm having fun anyway! Thanks again.

dmastin

It's day 46 planted and here's a pic! It's especially interesting to compare to the pic of day 2 at the start of this thread! I've been pretty lucky I feel so far and have been having a blast. I've just been planting everything I can get my hands on to see what I can grow. It's about time for my first trim (especially the wisteria as you can see).

I noticed two ich spots today after being clean for a bunch of days. Sorta stumped by that, but in any case that's why you see the micron filter hanging on the front and UV in tank on the right. Most of my plants are doing great. I'm spot treating some algae on my driftwood and hope I can keep that under control.
I have a 4x39 CA light fixture now and I'm using Pfertz and I can say I'm enjoying the convenience and sexiness! I'm still using my Hydor CO2 disposable canister system. Please leave a comment/suggestion for the noob, that's me! I should name the tank? Do y'all name your tanks?

Veloth

Your tank is filling in nicely! Some people name their tanks some, myself included, don't. I call my tanks 55g, 75g and 20g. I guess it's some sort of artsy thing. Each to his own.

dmastin

Ha, ha, artsy, yeah. I created a thread a couple of weeks back asking folks whether they thought aquascaping was more art or science. Hmmm, I still can't come up with a name for mine! "Unmitigated Chaos" maybe. My wife would name it "Clutter", he, he.