davemonkey's 50 gal journal

47698 Views 290 Replies 49 Participants Last post by mudboots, Jul 6, 2010

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · May 19, 2008

7

Okay, this is my first planted tank set-up. My goal is low-maintenance, low (or moderate) tech, and just to get a good feel for planted aquaria.

-Tank is 48"x13" and 18"tall (50 gal...or more like 48...).
-Substrate is "planted aquarium substrate" from aquariumplants.com, 3" deep.
-Filters: emperor w/bio-wheel; 1 powerhead on undergravel filter for right side of tank only.
-Lighting is 130 W PC of 50/50 10,000K and Actinic and a 2x15W "aquarium bulb" (came with original hood). Light duration is for 10 hrs (but only 8 with the PC hood).
-DIY CO2, 2x 1 gallon jugs with same ingredients for smaller containers (gives just a bit of CO2)
-dose excel and ferts

Plants are val, swords, crypts, anubia, egeria, mosses, java fern, hygo. difformis...low-mod light (due to half my light being actinic and non-productive)

Fish are random fellows I've been trying out, haven't yet decided what to keep in there. Getting rid of 5 SAE's and a Pictus Cat soon.

Many of the plants still need to do ALOT of filling in. Feel free to critique/comment. I am totally open to suggestions (unless it involves buying more plants for awhile).

Here is the moss-rock I just tied-up a couple days ago. The SAE's liked it alot...yummy treat...hence, I'll be trading them in soon...:boxing:

Thanks for looking,
Dave

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davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #21 · May 28, 2008 (Edited)

8

Well, I did it again. I've got this Ozelot Sword that I decided to make my focal point, so I moved some stuff around. The only problem is that the sword is currently too small to pull it off, so this will just have to take some time to start looking the way I intended it. I debated posting pics, but I figured it couldn't hurt anything, and everyone likes to see pictures!

Just think "two months from now it would look like..." The sword will be flanked on either side by Bacopa that slopes downward to the sides and front (I'll have to trim it that way). I'm hoping it won't be long before the sword can compete with that large piece of 'mopani wood'. The darkness of the wood should start to be hidden by an anubias and the moss I've attached. (I may have to put some crypts in front, but we'll see.)

Pics are Full Shot, then Left to Right, then a close-up of the sword.

Here are more pics of what has been identified (for the time being) as Cryptocoryne X willisii lucens 'bronze'. (I think C. lucens 'davemonkey' has a better ring.)

(The larger small crypts in the midground are C.wendtii 'brown' or 'red')

-Dave

Edit: I forgot, the back right corner will eventually be filled in with Hygo. difformis. It's there, but it just got a major trim and hasn't recovered yet.

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Tex Gal

· #22 · May 28, 2008

Dave - your tank is looking great. Looks like your mosses have already started growing!

It won't take long before you ocelot sword takes off. (Hope you have a plant tab or two under it's roots.)

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #23 · May 28, 2008

Tex-Gal, I've already given that moss 2 light trimmings! You must have been feeding those things their Wheaties before you shipped them over here.

I put two plant tabs under each sword (about 1" from center on either side). Then I placed more tabs throughout (according to normal instructions), so all my plants should start pretty soon here. I'm sure it will take a week for the root systems to get back where they were (I trimmed roots again when I moved everyting around).

Tex Gal

· #24 · May 28, 2008

davemonkey said:
Tex-Gal, I've already given that moss 2 light trimmings! You must have been feeding those things their Wheaties before you shipped them over here.

I put two plant tabs under each sword (about 1" from center on either side). Then I placed more tabs throughout (according to normal instructions), so all my plants should start pretty soon here. I'm sure it will take a week for the root systems to get back where they were (I trimmed roots again when I moved everyting around).

WOW! That's amazing growth for mosses! ...And they even have had a tank change! Keep up the good work!!! You'll be sharing it with someone else soon.

Shurik

· #25 · Jun 8, 2008

Hello, Dave!

I really like your moss job, it does looks great sitting on the drift wood like you fixed it

What is going on with the carpet, any plans on that?

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #26 · Jun 8, 2008

Howdy, Shurik!

Well, I'm totally pleased with how the moss is turning out. I had done two 'Very Light' trimmings on it, and then I hacked it down pretty low just recently. But it's growing surprisingly fast for moss. And I had some doubt about whether the Flame Moss would attach as well as other mosses, but it has latched on with a death-grip just like the Christmas Moss!

My C. willisii x lucens 'bronze' carpet plants haven't done much since splitting and replanting. Each plantlet has put on 1 new leaf, and so far they are still 'low-growing'. I was heavily tempted to 're-bunch' it all and buy some Hemianthus micranthemoides this afternoon after Church (we took a trip to PetsMart for some food and they actualy had some nice aquatic plants...even some of that lacey-topped Java Fern that I forget the name).

But, I really want to give these little guys a chance to reacclimate and start spreading. I'm a very impatient person by nature, but I'm giving these plants every bit of patience I can muster. I don't think they'll let me down.

Maybe in another couple weeks they'll start spreading again.

BTW, "Hagrid's Woods" is looking WONDERFUL!

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Tex Gal

· #27 · Jun 9, 2008

davemonkey said:
But it's growing surprisingly fast for moss. And I had some doubt about whether the Flame Moss would attach as well as other mosses, but it has latched on with a death-grip just like the Christmas Moss!

But, I really want to give these little guys a chance to reacclimate and start spreading. I'm a very impatient person by nature, but I'm giving these plants every bit of patience I can muster. I don't think they'll let me down. Maybe in another couple weeks they'll start spreading again.

You are becoming the moss man!!!

Hang in there with your little crypts. I'm watching to see what they do. I'm VERY interested in your little mystery plant. If you want you might consider putting root tabs under them. (OR did you already do that?... I forget

)

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #28 · Jun 9, 2008

Howdy, TexGal!

I put the roots tabs at the recommended spacing (5"x6"), but this doesn't give the little crypts very much "special attention". I've made my mind now that tonight I'm going to treat them like my swords and give them extras beneath their roots. Although I'll have to make 3-4 of them share a tab instead of each one getting it....otherwise I might overload the system. Thoughts?

Tex Gal

· #29 · Jun 9, 2008

davemonkey said:
Howdy, TexGal!

I put the roots tabs at the recommended spacing (5"x6"), but this doesn't give the little crypts very much "special attention". I've made my mind now that tonight I'm going to treat them like my swords and give them extras beneath their roots. Although I'll have to make 3-4 of them share a tab instead of each one getting it....otherwise I might overload the system. Thoughts?

I think that's a good idea. Just watch for any nutrient overload signs, i.e dark brown spots, pit holes, etc..... Maybe just a partial tab... It will probably take a while for them to adjust to being moved. Keep us posted! I'm anxious to see if they begin to get height. They just don't look like C. willisii x lucens 'bronze' that I have seen, though I am far from an expert

curt_914

· #30 · Jul 6, 2008

Hey Dave sent out the bulbs on wensday Priority. You should have goten them on sat or at the very least monday.

Curt

The old man

· #31 · Jul 7, 2008

How did you attach your Flame Moss to the driftwood? Is it similar to Java Moss?

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #32 · Jul 7, 2008

Curt, thanks! I just got back in town from a LONG weekend, so they are probably sitting at the post office waiting for me to pick up (we had our mail put on hold).

"Old Man", I spread the Flame Moss out along the area I wanted to attach it (just like you would Java Moss) and then tied it with 4lb fishing line. It attached securely after about 4 weeks, but I never removed the fishing line because the moss hid it well enough.

What's amazing is that it has grown very fast for me. I don't think I'm doing anything different from anyone else, and my temps are actually on the high-side for mosses. It could actually use another trim pretty soon here. The more you trim, the thicker it will get!

curt_914

· #33 · Jul 9, 2008

Dave if you have any flame moss from your trim I will take it for my 20 gallon. Let me know.

Curt

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #34 · Jul 12, 2008

7

My tank isn't really ready fo ran update, but I thought I'd better do it now while I have access to a camera. I moved a couple things around, and my Hygro. difformis has not grown AT ALL! I think it's because I had it planted in the highest flow area of my undergravel filter (nutrients got pulled past the roots before they could be taken up), so I've moved them over several inches and put Bacopa in their place. (Don't use UGF in a planted tank.)

Enjoy:

Flame Moss and Christmas Moss coexisting on a small rock

Cryptocoryne willisii x lucens 'bronze'

-Davemonkey

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davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #35 · Jul 12, 2008

By the way, I stopped using the DIY CO2 and have gone exclusively to Flourish Excel as my carbon source (and I dose ferts using the EI method). I also got some better lights from Curt, so I have a true 2.2WPG and NO MORE ACTINIC!

Thanks Curtis!

The pictures above are just after a trim (and a heavy trim of my mosses...hope it was enough, Curt...if not, let me know).

Also, the excel doses haven't hurt my Vallineria much yet, maybe because of such a large volume of water and many other plants to absorb it all? (Still want to get rid of about half my Val if anyone is interested.)

-Dave

curt_914

· #36 · Jul 13, 2008

Your welcome And Thanks dave. As soon as the package gets here I will let you know.

Dave I have been using Excel as well and it seems to do well. I am looking to switch over to the brightwell aquatics carbon Source as it is an all natural source, where as excel use's a formaldhide substance. just a thought as you may want to try it as well, they are both excelent products though. Your tank is looking good.

Curt

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #37 · Jul 16, 2008

Curt, I got a notice that the package arrived yesterday, did they survive the treck?

I just re-did the middle section of my tank and part of the right side thanks to TexGal's generosity. :bounce: I wish I had a camera again so I could show pics, but it's probably best to let it all grow and fill in a bit so it will look it's best. By then I'll either have a new camera or I'll borrow the office camera again.

hoto:

I ripped out 60% of the Vallisneria, a few crypts, and most of the Bacopa. Some things got moved around and then I added:
Phyllanthus fluitans, duckweed (which my rainbowfish LOVE to snack on), Ludwigia repens, Sunset Hygro, 'Windelov' (just a tad), Blyxa japonica (a whole fore-ground worth), downoi (we'll see if it lives), and a great big Aponogeton longiplmphnfdlunphemus :-s (the one with LONG, narrow, wavy-curled leaves...very elegant!).

I went back to doing DIY CO2 (4 gallons of wine in the making... :drinkers: ) and added 30 watts to give me 2.8WPG.

My tank has really changed alot. The middle is more open and alot more light gets through to the foreground.

Anyway, I'll let it grow for awhile and then update with pics.

-Dave

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Tex Gal

· #38 · Jul 16, 2008

Can't wait to see it!

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #39 · Aug 7, 2008

10

Some updates. I just got back from out of town for a week so I avoided close-ups of the algae spots.

A few differences, but the same concept. 'Sunset' Hygro is replacing most of the Val (still needs to grow out) and Ludwigia repens replaces the Hygro. difformis that would not grow. Some Blyxa and Downoi in the foreground. All the duckweed and red-root got gobbled up by my rainbows (PIGS!!!). :hungry: Thanks to TexGal for the majority of my aquascape!

Here's a new moss I found (to the right of my "moss rock" )in Ohio growing in a yard in a shaded spot. Been in water for 5 days...only time will tell if it can be grown submersed.

Thanks for looking.

-Dave

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inareverie85

· #40 · Aug 7, 2008

Very nice, Dave

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