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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Phil Edwards

· #81 · Oct 24, 2008

Dave,

It's good to hear your made it through your move safe and sound. How about trying a Ludwigia genus specimen tank? They tend to do well in harder water. If you want something a little less stemmy, there are always the different epiphytes. They make pretty tanks too.

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #82 · Oct 24, 2008

Thanks, Phil. I looked through PlantFinder and I feel brave enough to try out L. brevipes and arcuata (and repens, which I had in the previous set-up). Ovalis and palustris looked easy enough as well, but too similar in appearance to repens (at least from the pictures I saw).

Anubias is a shoe-in, and I have some attached to that driftwood I saved along with some Java Fern.

Phil Edwards

· #83 · Oct 24, 2008

Dave,

There's also L. glandulosa and L. inclinata 'cuba' too. I've got most of my Ludwigia in a 90g with a lot of calcium deposits from the tanks former life as a reef. With the CO2 enrichment it's dissolving pretty quickly and the Luds are doing just fine.

Regards,
Phil

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #84 · Nov 9, 2008

Well, I'm back online and my tank is up and running. I went to a NASH get-together and was warmly welcomed. Although it's not official yet, I consider myself a NASH memeber.

I got TONS of wonderful plants and did a 'quick-like' aquascape. Tex Gal sent me some AWESOME foreground plants (Echinodorus quadricostatus....the type of plant I've been hunting for 9 months now) and some other plants to top off my scape. I should be ready to take some pics in a couple weeks or so.

There are 5 plants in my tank that I do not have ID'd. I'll find out what they are before posting pics.

-Dave

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #85 · Nov 26, 2008

5

Updated pics as promised. General scape has not changed much, but the plants are very different. Much growing to be done in the background, especially in the center.
Enjoy.

Left side:

Center:

Right side:

Close-ups in a few moments.

-Dave

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davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #86 · Nov 26, 2008 (Edited)

11

Echinodorus quadricostatus

tiger lotus

Artraxon in front of L.repens

Nessaea pedicillata

Myrio?

Thanks for looking.

- Dave

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Tex Gal

· #87 · Nov 26, 2008

Boy your arthraxon is a way larger plant than what I have. Mine has smaller leaves. I wonder if we have a different variety?

Your tanks looks great. I see your little brown crypts. Mine have finally begun to grow upright a little bit. They have thickened up quite a bit. The E. Quad. looks so good in there. I love the bright green color.

It's gonna look good filled in. Now you just have to wait, ...and wait, ...and wait..... hahaha! No- you'll be playing in there - I know!

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #88 · Nov 26, 2008

Hey there, Tex Gal!

He gave me some really tall stems of the Arthraxon (thanks, apistaeasy) and they started growing fast on top of that. The one in the pic has already been cut off and replanted, and there are two 3-4" stems grouped with that one. There is a taller one that I set aside to give to Bhushan to try out.
Can you post pics of yours to compare?

My little crypts aren't too happy righ t now, I think because they get full light now and they were used to being shaded out a bit. That will change once the other plants start growing and making some shade.

The E.quad is AWESOME!!!!! (thanks, TexGal) . It has been growing fast since day 1 and I was already able to share a couple plants with a guy in Nebraska (along with some other cuttings) . (Hopefully he will get them without them freezing...eeek! ) Can you believe I've trimmed the Hygro. 'angustifolia' 3 times already just so the other plants can catch up?!

And the tiger lily you sent me, WOW! The color is absolutely incredible. A perfect contrast to the E.quad IMO.

-Dave

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AaronT

· #89 · Nov 26, 2008

davemonkey said:
R.macrandra'green' ?

- Dave

Nice looking tank Dave.

I'm glad the move went pretty well.

It looks more like Nesaea pedicillata.

The old man

· #90 · Nov 26, 2008 (Edited)

AaronT: It looks more like Nesaea pedicillata.
You might be right I gave it to him and had got it from someone else. I'll check with them and find out for sure.

Just confirmed it is Nesaea pedicillata. Plant finder said difficult so we should have a challenge.

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #91 · Nov 26, 2008

Thanks for the correction and ID. I corrected the name over the image of the Nessaea pedicillata. WOW! This is my first "difficult" plant to try. I will certainly keep tabs on it and post updates.

How about the Myrio pictured? Is that what that plant is?

I also have some Pogostemon stellatus 'braodleaf' that is starting to recover and acclimate. It'll be fun to see that one grow as well.

-Dave

Tex Gal

· #92 · Nov 27, 2008

2

Just took a px of my little crypts. They are choking out my Rotala indica bonsai! They are about 2" high at most. They have really thickened up. They are so thick they are traping moss pieces. lol

Here is px of my Arthraxon. The leaves are, at most, 1/2" long. It is getting tall enough to trim. You can see my betta in front so you can kinda get an idea of size.

I sent some plants to Theoldman yesterday. They arrived great! Only problem is I sent him someone elses plants!

Now I have to grow some more Singapore moss for him.... The other guy got the best deal by far, even though I'm not quite sure he knows it.

If I had half a brain I'd be dangerous! LOL

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davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #93 · Nov 27, 2008

Tex Gal said:
Just took a px of my little crypts. They are choking out my Rotala indica bonsai! They are about 2" high at most. They have really thickened up. They are so thick they are traping moss pieces. lol

DAAAANNNNNGGGGG!!!!!!

What are you feeding those things!? Seriously, what is you fert and light schedule? Mine really look stressed and stunted since I moved and have stopped growing all-together. All my other plants are doing fabulous, though.

That's odd about the Arthraxon having such a difference in leaf size. If you want I'll send you a stem of what I got so you can grow them together and compare. Just say the word and it'll be in the mail on Monday.

That's too funny about Glenn's plant 'mix-up'. Some lucky fella is saying right now, "Wow, look at all the extras I got!" :biggrin:

-Dave

Jdinh04

· #94 · Nov 27, 2008

Dave, your Echinodorus quadricostatus looks amazing! Beautiful plants!

The old man

· #95 · Nov 27, 2008

I wasn't even going to tell Davemonkey about the mix up. :spy: Wish you could have watched me go thru the peanuts three times looking for another bag. Well, at least I knew what was in the bag wasn't right. :dance:

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #96 · Nov 28, 2008

Jdinh04 said:
Dave, your Echinodorus quadricostatus looks amazing! Beautiful plants!

Thanks.

krisha

· #97 · Nov 28, 2008

davemonkey said:
Okay, this should probably go under the DIY forum, but since xpistalpetex asked, here is my version of DIY CO2:

Two 1-gallon bottles* (Tropicana OJ) that I alternate. Each has 4-weeks of CO2 production (1/4 tsp yeast, 6 cups water, 2 cups sugar).
(*if you have the output end in a proper diffuser, use a 2-liter bottle to reduce the air space "void")
I have a T valve connecting the two containers and run only one line as output.

The 'make' was simple. I punched a nail through the cap, cut the tip of the tubing to a point, and pulled it through about 1-2 inches with pliers. (The dark color of the contents of this bottle is because I'm trying a cheap/no chemical wine-recipe.)

Check Valve between the T Valve and the output end

The "correct way"* to run the output directly to a powerhead. The CO2 bubbles get sucked into the intake and this provides a fine bubble spray with your waterflow. (*I took the picture this way to show what is recommended, but I actually have mine hooked up to the air suction intake and get a vacuum effect. I can only get away with this because I have so much air space in the 1 gallon jugs.)

Also, I don't use a bubble counter because the amount of CO2 I'm getting isn't near enough to over-dose my tank, but I recommend one for safety (muck guard) for anyone doing DIY and for smaller tanks.

-Dave

Hello Dave - first what a great lookong tank, you've got talent

I was wondering if you could tell me what a check valve is? I'm setting up a 120 l tank and love the DIY idea for CO2 produktion - gotta build one. Allso a "cup" is how meny grams/decilitres ? if you know.

davemonkey

Discussion Starter · #98 · Nov 28, 2008

krisha said:
Hello Dave - first what a great lookong tank, you've got talent I was wondering if you could tell me what a check valve is? I'm setting up a 120 l tank and love the DIY idea for CO2 produktion - gotta build one. Allso a "cup" is how meny grams/decilitres ? if you know.

Thanks for the compliment.

A check vavle is a small plastic or brass valve that allows air to flow in only one direction, and prevents anything from flowing backwards through it.

A cup is 240 ml (not sure how many grams).

I have since changed my recipe a bit. I now measure 3-4 cups of sugar per bottle and just fill up with warm water until the water is about 1-2 inches from the top of the 1-gallon jug. I no longer hook up the tubing to my powerhead suction, but now I let the bubbles flow natually up to the powerhead intake.
I put 1.5 full tsp of yeast. I do both bottles together and clean/redo both every week. This gives me very good CO2 production, between 4-8 bubbles per second. (I'm hoping to get pressurized in a couple months. )

Hope that helps.

-Dave

krisha

· #99 · Nov 28, 2008

davemonkey said:
Thanks for the compliment.

A check vavle is a small plastic or brass valve that allows air to flow in only one direction, and prevents anything from flowing backwards through it.

A cup is 240 ml (not sure how many grams).

I have since changed my recipe a bit. I now measure 3-4 cups of sugar per bottle and just fill up with warm water until the water is about 1-2 inches from the top of the 1-gallon jug. I no longer hook up the tubing to my powerhead suction, but now I let the bubbles flow natually up to the powerhead intake.
I put 1.5 full tsp of yeast. I do both bottles together and clean/redo both every week. This gives me very good CO2 production, between 4-8 bubbles per second. (I'm hoping to get pressurized in a couple months. )

Hope that helps.

-Dave

Thaks - great info, very helpfull.

Tex Gal

· #100 · Dec 1, 2008

davemonkey said:
DAAAANNNNNGGGGG!!!!!! What are you feeding those things!? Seriously, what is you fert and light schedule? Mine really look stressed and stunted since I moved and have stopped growing all-together. All my other plants are doing fabulous, though.

That's too funny about Glenn's plant 'mix-up'. Some lucky fella is saying right now, "Wow, look at all the extras I got!" :biggrin:

-Dave

I'm doing EI dosing with lower nitrates in that tank since there are shrimp in there. They have really taken off. See how their leaves have stood up.

Yeah the other guy offered to send the plants back, but I told him to consider it a freebee for my blondeness!

Glenn - Yes, now that I think about it I'm sure you must have thrown them out with the peanuts! :eyebrows: I just trimmed some more moss, so it'll be on it's way tomorrow.

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