My new 50 gallon

6840 Views 39 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Bunbuku, Oct 8, 2008

The old man

Discussion Starter · Jul 6, 2008

4

Pics of my setup tank after 2 days.
Coralife Aqualight lunar 192watts with a 10,000 and 6700 cf bulbs.
Tank is 36x18x18 with 1/2 glass top to give room for adjustable mounting legs.
Substate is Aquariumplants own about 3-3 1/2 inches deep.
Plants are Sags on left back and side. Vals on right back and side.
Anubias midground with mostly green small on left and gold small on right.
Will try and keep the sags and vals to see how they will do.
Filtering currently is with a Emporer 280 and it sure did clear up the tank after putting in
the substrate and planting overnight. Will be adding canister later.
Stand is from Petco. Lights are set up on a Coralife Digital timer controlling three cords
and running full time with the other cords for the pumps, etc.
Comments appreciated.

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The old man

Discussion Starter · #21 · Aug 3, 2008

I found the stand at Petco. Only available in stores. Really nice, but the bottom will only support the shortest canister filters because of the drawers.
The back is enclosed with cutouts for tubes and cords. Think it is made by Aqueon and will support up to 48" x 18".

Scouter

· #22 · Aug 4, 2008

I know it's very taboo to say this, but when my african fern wasn't doing well, I put it in a small critter-keeper tank and let it sit in a window. (I thought that it was beyond hope so I didn't care) I changed the water out about 1-2 times a week and that was it. I have never seen it grow so fast! For that matter, I've never seen my java fern look so bright green as when it gets sunlight. Then it was easy to put back into my tank. I don't know if you want to try it, but it did wonders for me.
Scouter

The old man

Discussion Starter · #23 · Aug 4, 2008

Not taboo for me. I just might give it a try. Got a small tank in window with a sponge filter for babies with hornwort and java moss. They both do well, so might try some of it in there. Gets lots of light and algea seems to not form much. All my babies are in the big tank now so got room for a piece or two. It is very slow growing and at my age can't wait to long.

davemonkey

· #24 · Aug 6, 2008

Howdy, Glenn! I just got back from vacation and saw the updated pics. The tanks looks good with the variety and extra color. I agree with Scouter about the bolbitus (no such thing as "taboo" in my book when it come to aquariums

). I'm glad you were able to find a place for most of the plants.

I thought for sure I would come home to a disaster area, but many of my new plants from TexGal started filling nicely and my Vals started taking over again. Only problem was some film algae, but it was easy to clean up. I found a moss in Ohio and I'm trying it out to see if it will grow submerged (I think it may be stricktly a terrestrial species of Sphagnum, but we'll see).

-Dave

The old man

Discussion Starter · #25 · Aug 29, 2008

3

My 60 day anniversary for this tank is coming up next week and since I got the day off today before a 3 day weekend and a hurricane on the way I thought I'd give an update. Start out with the good news. I think I won the battle with a bad case of BBA. I've added a few more plants and all is well with most of them. The Bolbitus is coming back now, but you'll never find it in the pics. I trimmed off all the black and found some new growth at the bottom and it is up about 2 inches, but hidden by a lot of stuff in front of it. It may show up in the next month or so dor a picture session.

I found out that baby tears grows really fast and I had just trimmed it back before I took the pics. Should have used it for a background plant as it has grown faster than the vals, but they may have been effected by the extra excel dosing with the bba. I moved the gold anubias out to another tank as they looked bad after I tried to dose them with algeafix for the bba. Bothered the green a little, but not as bad. The gold ones found their way to my barb tank and found out the Rosy Barbs had the dead BBA cleaned off of them in less than a day. They coming back now with new leaves and seem to be adapting well in that tank. Filled up their space with a variety of plants and it looks a bit overrun now, but everything is doing so well I'll just let things grow for awhile. Oh, I guess you will notice in the pics that I added a bit of hornwort to try and keep any algea from returning and it seems to be doing the job. Also the duckweed is growing like a weed and added a lot to the barb tank as well, but they also made short work of it too. They eat anything.

About the only bad item was the marineland 360 that was to tall for my stand. I put it under the barb tank and in 30 days it developed a bad leak from the block inside and they replaced it. Got it today, but told them I wanted the 220 instead and will give it a try. Seems they had a lot of defective ones. Hope this one holds up better. I really do like my Eheim and the Aquaclear 70 hob with a skimmer. Both are quiet and very efficient. Everyone have a great weekend.

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davemonkey

· #26 · Aug 30, 2008

It's looking good! Everything looks healthy and happy. Those 'Sunset' hygro's and Ludwigia will start growing super fast the closer they get to the surface (nearer the light).

-Dave

Tex Gal

· #27 · Aug 30, 2008

Boy what a difference! It's looking great! I'd love to see it with a little more Ludwigia and a little less hornwort!:eyebrows: It'll look great when the bolbitus is visible. My bolbitus is about 2" sprouting too. I think when I got it it was just a little old and ready for resprouting. I also cut off all my old black leaves. Love the new ones growing out. People say once it gets going it will grow rather quickly. I'll enjoy seeing that.

I miss your gold anubias. I love that variety. I have it in my 10g shrimp tank. I would like to bring some over to my anubias tree but have to wait for it to grow. I haven't' seen it available locally or I'd buy it up.

Great job! Now that you have the BBA behind you you can start fine tuning and grouping your scape. Such fun!

The old man

Discussion Starter · #28 · Aug 30, 2008

Just keeping the hornwort to make sure no algea resurfaces. The plants are growing well now so can probably move it out soon. The gold anubia's getting some new leaves so it will be ready soon to journey back to the tank.
You better hope you don't pick up to many of them as they cost me $20 ea. They better make it. Is Bolbitus also known as African Fern? I heard Ted Nugent mention it last night on Glenn Beck. Saw a tank at lfs with that written on a tank yesterday, but none in it.

davemonkey

· #29 · Aug 30, 2008

Yes, African Fern is the common name for the Bolbitus that is used commonly in the hobby.

BTW, I bought a bristle-nose today at PetsMart! It was the first shipment they have ever had with them at this location. All the bristle-babies are just barely showing hints of bumps on their noses. I wanted to get 3-4 of them, but I could only get ONE since they were $10 and my wife was there to "help me manage the funds". [-X

Oh well, the fewer fish I have to move, the better.

-Dave

The old man

Discussion Starter · #30 · Aug 31, 2008

That is about the price they going for here at my lfs. Hifin's and albinos go for about $15.00. My oldest one had just a few bumps too, but they are growing now and should start branching soon.
We need to send our wifes to shoe stores when we go looking for fish.

eace:

davemonkey

· #31 · Aug 31, 2008

The old man said:
We need to send our wifes to shoe stores when we go looking for fish.eace:

ound: YES!! Even my wife thought that would be a good idea!

Tex Gal

· #32 · Aug 31, 2008

I originally got my gold anubias from Aquatic magic. They sell them on Ebay for $3.75 each. I really like this plant. It puts so much color in the tank.

Some places that use the name African fern sell a plant that is not an aquatic. Make sure if they use that name that it is truly bolbitus.

I'd be careful about that shoe shopping. If they are like my sister (affectionately know as "Emelda") you won't have any money left for fish!

The old man

Discussion Starter · #33 · Oct 5, 2008 (Edited)

2

Here is an update on my tank after Hurricane Ike. Plants and fish all survived and after a minor trimming (Hate trimming)

and getting rid of a lot of the baby tears I'm trying out a different foreground plant and even added a small lily from my hex tank that seems to be doing much better.
Still got a little hornwort and duckweed just to keep algea at bay for awhile until I'm sure it not coming back for awhile. The Bolbitus is growing nicely although you probably can't find it in the pic and the repens and sunset are getting quite red and pink. I've included a pic of the sample foreground plants that Dan at HAW gave me to try, but forget the name. Anyone got an ID for me?
Waiting on DaveMonkey to get the word and come here bringing his shovel and Pickaxe to help me thin out the Vals and Repens.

Any suggentions welcome. Is this plant BLYXA JAPONICA

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Bunbuku

· #34 · Oct 5, 2008

The old man said:
Any suggentions welcome. Is this plant BLYXA JAPONICA

Hey old man! Yes, I think you are right that's Blyxa japonica. I have dense row of Blyxa that served as background for my tank. It survived Ike and probably kept my tank from having an algae bloom when we got power back. Its gets too tall to serve as for a foreground plant though.

davemonkey

· #35 · Oct 5, 2008

The old man said:
Waiting on DaveMonkey to get the word and come here bringing his shovel and Pickaxe to help me thin out the Vals and Repens.

ound: I actually got the official word on Friday. I'll bring the PickAxe and Shovel! [smilie=l:

How do I join NASH?

-Dave

The old man

Discussion Starter · #36 · Oct 5, 2008

Just watch the NASH forum and we'll see when the next meeting is. I'll try and keep you up to date and we'll go to the meeting and get you signed up. Dues are minimal and you should get a free plant at your first meeting. Maybe a duckweed (singular)

Bunbuku

· #37 · Oct 5, 2008

davemonkey said:
ound: I actually got the official word on Friday. I'll bring the PickAxe and Shovel! [smilie=l:

How do I join NASH?

-Dave[/QUOTE]

Hey Dave:
Look in the NASH forum for meeting notices. Usually we meet once a month on a Saturday. The Senskes are often generous enough to let us hold meetings at ADG. First meeting is free and you can bring the fee at the subsequent meetings. kwc1974, our treasurer, head cook and bottle washer, or Navarro our artist-in-residence, can give you more details.

davemonkey

· #38 · Oct 6, 2008

Thanks, Bunbuku! I'll keep my eyes open. It'll probably be the November mtg since I won't actually be there until Nov. 1....unless the October one falls during my house-hunting trip. I can't wait to meet everyone.

The old man

Discussion Starter · #39 · Oct 7, 2008 (Edited)

The Blyxa should only get about 3 to 6 inches high with my high lighting I hope.
That is about what I want in the front as the other plants behind it are quite tall.
Bunbuku, did you ever get any flowers and how hard is it to propagate from the basal side shoots?

Bunbuku

· #40 · Oct 8, 2008

The old man said:
The Blyxa should only get about 3 to 6 inches high with my high lighting I hope.
That is about what I want in the front as the other plants behind it are quite tall.
Bunbuku, did you ever get any flowers and how hard is it to propagate from the basal side shoots?

I get little white flowers coming up all the time. I have 150 watt MH + CO2 for my 60P - the Bylxa pearls like crazy! Its easy to propagate as you describe.

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