<![CDATA[Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community - Freshwater & Brackish

<![CDATA[Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community - Freshwater & Brackish - Planted Tanks]]> http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/ Aquatic gardens. Some of the most wonderful freshwater tanks are planted tanks. en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:47:43 GMT vBulletin 60 http://cdn.aquariumadvice.com/forums/../forums/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community - Freshwater & Brackish - Planted Tanks]]> http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/ New 55 gal, need suggestions http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/new-55-gal-need-suggestions-133958.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:41:01 GMT Well, I've kept a 29 gallon planted tank for about two years now, so I figure I've earned the chance at something larger. So I went out a built a stand for my 55 gallon tank that's been sitting unused for almost that long, and now I'm getting into the setup stage.

Since I really only have enough room for the one tank I'm planning on moving all of the current residents of the 29 gal to the 55 gal. Currently that's a few black skirt tetras, red velvet platys, a lone swordtail, and a cory. Now I've got four feet of floor space for them and I'm going to need some plants. After I get everything situated I was planning on more some more platys and swords as well.

The hood I built currently has a two 46" T5 light setup, and I've got some off brand HOB filter that I was planning on using in tandem with the Penguin 200 I currently have in the 29 which currently has the bacteria, so why not. One day I'll move up to the canister world, but one step at a time. I also have about 60 pounds of tahitian black moon sand and 40 pounds of flourite that I was planning on using for this setup. I was also planning on picking up some egg crate from the local mega mart to attach the plants to, then adding another inch or so of the substrate.

I'm currently looking for a decent vendor to purchase these plants from, possibly one that could put together a package for me. I was hoping to use a good bit of eleocharis acicularis, a few pieces of dwarf riccia, and then some assorted swords, although I'd gladly welcome some suggestions for adding height and character.

I know how you guys love pics, so I've included a few of the basic stand build. I ended up painting it a flat black but it's outside right now waiting to dry, so no finished pics just yet. I've also painted the back of the tank a nice blue, so I'm definitely going to show that off once it gets finished as well.

I have a ton of questions, but I'm basically trying to determine whether that works as a whole. I can easily change bulbs, or start with a different substrate, or do whatever right now. So I just wanted to make sure that I'm not setting myself up for failure before I start. Any suggestions on the plants, substrate or lighting would be greatly appreciated.

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]]> PrawnShop http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/new-55-gal-need-suggestions-133958.html What Is This Around My Java Fern? http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/what-is-this-around-my-java-fern-133936.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:40:56 GMT I'd had my Java Fern for about a month, bought from Petsmart. It's been doing alright for the most part, but still isn't becoming completely green. I thought it might be what is at the root of the whole plant. I've been told it's a thread clumping the plants together, some said it was normal, others weren't sure. So I was wondering what you guys think it is. Thanks!

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]]> Scott23 http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/what-is-this-around-my-java-fern-133936.html Will be away from home - Temperature, lightning and food?? http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/will-be-away-from-home-temperature-lightning-and-food-133932.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:49:25 GMT Hi all As subject suggests I will be abroad for a week. I usually take care of the lightning, temperature and food needs myself but now I am at a loss on how to do. Any ideas how I can automate these essentials? I got some weeks chance left. At the moment got only some yoyo loaches and... Hi all

As subject suggests I will be abroad for a week. I usually take care of the lightning, temperature and food needs myself but now I am at a loss on how to do. Any ideas how I can automate these essentials?

I got some weeks chance left. At the moment got only some yoyo loaches and guppies in my aquarium. You can take a look at YouTube - My new aquarium [added guppies and yoyo loaches]

Thanks ]]> ramon82 http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/will-be-away-from-home-temperature-lightning-and-food-133932.html How to keep my amazon swords pretty? http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/how-to-keep-my-amazon-swords-pretty-133925.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:51:38 GMT Ok... I just added some new amazon swords.. They are very pretty and look like this..

I have a few older that look like this.. Notice there isn't as much stem, and the leaves are not as round..

Are these basicly two different species of swords, or is that how they get when older? Thanks!! ]]> cjldad http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/how-to-keep-my-amazon-swords-pretty-133925.html Trimming Water Sprite http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/trimming-water-sprite-133900.html Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:18:23 GMT My water sprite has recently been taking off and needs to be tamed. Anyone know a good way of trimming it so it doesn't look terrible?

Pic below if anyone's interested.

When I first got the new plants (~3 weeks ago)

Now.

]]> dxs2104 http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/trimming-water-sprite-133900.html rubber bands http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/rubber-bands-133877.html Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:27:16 GMT I've just purchased some new driftwood and faster growing plants for my tank. The driftwood is being weighed down by rocks right now till it's water logged and I've just arbitrarily put the plants in the tank where they'll get sun, but I plan on rescaping everything after the driftwood is sunk.

I've two questions: Any idea how long a 17 inch long 5 inch wide piece of driftwood might take to get waterlogged? And the plants were tied together with rubber bands at the LFS. since I'll be uprooting them and planting again soon, I left the bands on so they'll all stay neat and together. Is this ok or should I untie everything?

Thanks! ]]> Da Squid http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/rubber-bands-133877.html 10 Gallon Planted http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/10-gallon-planted-133837.html Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:23:48 GMT ok I have a 10 gallon Fish Tank 3 Zebra danios 4 Neon Tetras 1 Betta I have some white ribbon plants and another water plant in the back of the tank and some grass plant. I just brought two more plants online Baby tear plants. How will I go about planting the baby tears and will they... ok I have a 10 gallon Fish Tank
3 Zebra danios
4 Neon Tetras
1 Betta
I have some white ribbon plants and another water plant in the back of the tank and some grass plant.

I just brought two more plants online Baby tear plants.
How will I go about planting the baby tears and will they spread? ]]> rocktrns http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/10-gallon-planted-133837.html trimming wisteria http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/trimming-wisteria-133801.html Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:23:15 GMT i looked around the internet but i couldn't quite find a good article on pruning plants. but i think a couple of my water wisteria plants are coming close needing to be trimmed so doesn't anyone know how i could go about doing it?

]]> jeremyblevins http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/trimming-wisteria-133801.html Planning stages of 29 gallon planted tank http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/planning-stages-of-29-gallon-planted-tank-133751.html Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:27:39 GMT Hello all! :smile:

I'm in the planning stages of a 29g tank. I can't post the specs of this tank yet, as I haven't actually purchased it. I will be purchasing it on Friday, and hope to have this set-up going by my target date which is the first week of October. I'm on a bit (ok, a LOTTA bit) of a budget so I have to space out buying my supplies weekly... like stand, filter, etc.

I already have two filter media from a cycled tank that I'll be transferring to the new tank once I break down my current tank.

Current inhabitants of this future tank will be: 5 neon tetra, 1 albino cory. Yes, I'm aware that they do well in groups but he is aggressive to other cory....long story that I'll cover in my introduction post on the other category. :wink:

Planned inhabitants of this tank once I get it where I want it to be will be: 5 neon tetra, 5 harleqin rasbora, 1 albino cory.

I've read so much about lights and stuff that I'm hoping to get a customized answer because I feel kind of hopeless. :sad:

I've decided to abandon the idea of CO2 because I don't have the money to go pressurized nor do I have the lighting, so that's going to have to be a future upgrade.

My substrate is going to be Eco-Complete.

I've decided that I want this tank to be LOW-TECH and not even mess with CO2, even DIY. So, I'll need low light plants and low-light lights.

I'm going natural, so the focal point of my tank, besides the plants, will be a piece of driftwood. I'm also wanting the backwall of my tank to be black.. any ideas on how to paint it?

Now, here are my questions coming in:

---- What kind of lighting do I use? Is there a way to set up a "night time" light so I can see my fish without disrupting their sleep cycle? I already have a built in aquarium timer in my power surge style apparatus.
---- I'm making a list of low lighting plants that I'll be bringing into my LFS that I'll be purchasing. Ideas, please? I'm really interested in a "carpeting" kind of plant.. I think my best bet may be java moss?
---- Is it impossible to grow plants in this big of a tank without CO2? :sad:

I've already got "mild" experience with planted tanks. I'm currently running a 5 gal planted with six very overcrowded residents just itching to get into their new home ASAP. In this tank I have three amazon swords who I'm struggling to keep alive and I'm sick of it. They were half dead coming home from PetSmart (manager's special, plus my employee discount), and it's been a constant struggle of ferts and pruning just to keep them from dying. I'm ready to throw them away. ]]> tnunderwater http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/planning-stages-of-29-gallon-planted-tank-133751.html Problems with inverts? http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/problems-with-inverts-133710.html Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:07:22 GMT So I don't know why it took me this long to realize what's been happening, but I've been adding ferts to my 20G planted tank for a couple of months now, and my MTS and ghost shrimps (and RCS) have all been gradually dying. Yesterday I put in another dose of fertilizers and today I found my last two ghost shrimp dead...

I'm guessing one of my ferts is causing problems for invertibrates. The pond snails are the only things really surviving and they're hanging out near the top of the tank, sort of out of the water, which I realize now means that they don't like the water.

Here's what I'm dosing: I dose 3X every two weeks and then do a 50% water change every two weeks. The plants have been doing great. Each dose consists of:

5 mL Nutrafin Plant Gro (for micro nutrients)
1 capful Flourish Excel
1/4 tsp. Potassium Sulfate
1/4 tsp. Mono Potassium Phosphate.

I condition my water with Prime, of course

The fish are doing great as well. I realize this is probably horribly obvious for you all -- if the answer is to not have inverts anymore, well, the problem just got solved tonight. The only inverts I have left are pond snails and if they make it through all of this, they'll be puffer food one day when I get a puffer.

So, which chemical is the most likely culprit? ]]> AdamHorton http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/problems-with-inverts-133710.html My new aquarium - need suggestions http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/my-new-aquarium-need-suggestions-133671.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:27:55 GMT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs41e15a5v4 This is my latest setup. As you can see I added more cryptocoryne and some ceratophyllum demersum. I also have a shoal of 3 pakistani loaches taking care of a snail problem I had recently. What do you think? Thanks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs41e15a5v4

This is my latest setup. As you can see I added more cryptocoryne and some ceratophyllum demersum. I also have a shoal of 3 pakistani loaches taking care of a snail problem I had recently.

What do you think?

Thanks ]]> ramon82 http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/my-new-aquarium-need-suggestions-133671.html Newb Question... CO2 related and more! http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/newb-question-co2-related-and-more-133616.html Sun, 29 Aug 2010 01:42:18 GMT So, I have a 36g bowfront with only an 18w T8 light right now. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be bumping the light up to 52w with a new CFL setup. If I dont get to it tomorrow sometime this week I'll take care of the lighting as I know 18w in a 36g is super low for a planted tank. My question becomes will 52w be enough to support the following plants which are already in my tank and thriving even with the low light they get now...???

- 1 Hornwort (decent size bundle 8 stalks maybe - several stalks over 3ft long in 2 weeks)
- 1 Anubias (medium - 5 stalks about 6" tall)
- 1 Amazon Sword (medium - 7 stalks about 8" tall)
- 1 Anacharis (medium - 4 stalks about 7" tall - producing nice shoots off several branches now)
- 1 Dwarf Baby Tear Drop (1 small pot - just planted it today I know it needs more light)
- 1 Java Moss (smaller bunch - Also added today attached it to a rock)

Substrate is pretty small gravel and not anything nutrient enhanced. Ive been using Flourish root tabs for the Sword, Anubias, and now the Tear Drop as well. Also been dosing with liquid Flourish twice a week with a little more than suggested amount since I know the Hornwort can really suck nutrients out of the water fast. Everything has been growing great and thriving in the last 3 weeks since I added the first round of plants. Im interested in bumping the light so I can get a better variety of plants. My second question is should I be adding a CO2 setup of some kind with these conditions? And if I should add CO2 what kind of system should I be looking for?

Here's a picture for reference

Dont judge the overall setup... lol. Im not super happy with it yet. That stupid fake stump is coming out. I borrowed it from a friend to kick start my cycle a few months ago and never took it out. Looking to add real driftwood.

Any help greatly appreciated! Ive been lurking on this forum for a few months and its nice to actually post. Some really great info and tanks on here!!! ]]> GitMoe http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/newb-question-co2-related-and-more-133616.html Test kits http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/test-kits-133596.html Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:11:14 GMT Okay i just started adding co2 to my aquarium. and i want to start dosing nutrients so what test kits do i need for the plants i know i need kh but what else? Okay i just started adding co2 to my aquarium. and i want to start dosing nutrients so what test kits do i need for the plants i know i need kh but what else? ]]> jeremyblevins http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/test-kits-133596.html Attack of Green Spot Algae! HELP PLZ! http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/attack-of-green-spot-algae-help-plz-133595.html Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:57:32 GMT Ughh I have never had this trouble before in my planted tanks. But my crypts and anubias have a severe case of green spot algae, as does the glass on the side of the tank that they are planted. I understand green spot algae is almost exclusively caused from low phosphates. Help...what should... Ughh

I have never had this trouble before in my planted tanks. But my crypts and anubias have a severe case of green spot algae, as does the glass on the side of the tank that they are planted. I understand green spot algae is almost exclusively caused from low phosphates. Help...what should I do?

About my setup:

20g Tall
3.5 wpg
CO2~25ppm
pH 7.0 (although the driftwood might eventually lower this)
Dose with Flourish Comprehensive (every other day accordingly)
Flourite substrate
Flourish Root Tabs in substrate according to suggestions (3 weeks ago)
Temp 82F
Filtration HOB Aquaclear 30
Ammonia=0 nitrites=0 nitrates=5ppm

Plants in tank: Melon sword, hornwort (1 bunch floating, 1 planted), 3 asian crypts, 2 random crypts, 1 red lotus, 1 small amazon sword, 2 bunches red ambulia, 6 anubias nana petite. Only the anubias and the crypts have GSA.

The algae crew: 1 tiger nerite snail, 1 bristlenose pleco, 3 otocinclus.

I have a CO2 diffuser on the opposite side of the tank of the crypts with green pox. The filtration flows in the middle of the tank. So my questions are...

1) Do I need to have a CO2 diffuser on the other side of the tank? Will more CO2 help green spot? I was thinking maybe more CO2 on the other side could boost plant growth, but not sure about GSA?

2) Can I dose more comprehensive to increase phosphate? Will this promote other algae growth?

3) Suggestions for other phosphate ferts for a 20g?

4) Can my filtration be depleting local phosphate on the right side of my tank with GSA?

5) Are there any other algae crew besides nerite snails that I can add to my setup? Can I add one more nerite snail?

6) Both the Flourish Comprehensive and root tabs have phosphate P2O5 at 0.01% and 0.17% respectively....how much phosphate should I be dosing? What types of things deplete my phosphates.

7) Is PO4 the phosphate that I should be worried about dosing versus P2O5? ]]> kaiofcanada http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/attack-of-green-spot-algae-help-plz-133595.html Java Fern turning brown http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/java-fern-turning-brown-133588.html Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:28:49 GMT I've had this java fern since I set up the tank about 1 to 2 years ago. I started noticing that it's leaves were turning brown in the center last weekend, so I trimmed those leaves off. Today I looked at it and the brown color is spreading and the some of the leaves look like they are deteriorating It looks like snails or something munching on the plant. I have a bushy nose, and 3 Cories in the tank, 2 angel fish and head and tail light as well as black neons that's it. I don't think the fish are munching on it. The other java ferns look fine as well as the other plants. It's my understanding that fish won't eat the plant because it doesn't taste all that great.

I did a PWC (20%) last weekend. It's a 35 Gal tank with a 17 watt life-glo bulb in it, which isn't much light I know. I aspire to get more watts later. Main levels are fine Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia.
Fish get fed twice a day with Tetramin rounds that have a mix of plant matter and other stuff.

From what I can see since the leaves are turning brown and the plant seems to be dying that this could be related to phosphates. The other planted tank I have is a 30 long with java ferns as well and it also had a 20% water change last week.

I'm going to take the plant out and trim off the brown leaves and inspect the roots.

Other than phosphates what else could this be? ]]> IT-FishGuy http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/java-fern-turning-brown-133588.html