20 Gal Planted build

[Coleallensmom]

So excited...Woke up this morning to find several new shoots off my chain sword plants! I have these in my 37 gallon but they've not really done any growing at all in that lower light setting. Baby tears are growing as well..!

 

[zach_1_6]

looks great!

 

[Coleallensmom]

Quick Update 2/4. Almost 1 month has gone by since setup. Have seen growth in Rotala. Chain sword spreading like crazy. Many new leaves on the Hygro..Everything seems to be going well!

My first Berried RCS. She's been using the Crypt Wendtii has her hangout the last few days.

 

[fort384]

Beautiful Alisha! It is coming along nicely.

 

[roydooms]

Nice tank Alisha! Do you have a CO2 system hooked up? You got some nice pearling on your plants.

 

[Coleallensmom]

Beautiful Alisha! It is coming along nicely.

Thanks! I'm very happy with this tank so far! My only small mishap was with my vals this week. I had been dosing my Excel in the front of my tank because I know Vals are sensitive to it. The first several weeks, they were not bothered at all by it but then last weekend I forgot and just dumped a dose at the back of the tank...which of course was right on top of the vals. The next day they were completely melted with only an a couple inches above the substrate still looking green. I trimmed them and so far the rest of this week they have seemed like they are hanging in there.

 

[Coleallensmom]

Nice tank Alisha! Do you have a CO2 system hooked up? You got some nice pearling on your plants.

Thanks, Roy! No C02, but Friday is PWC day at my house. The plants stay like that for a few hours after I do a water change. Looks pretty, doesn't it?

 

[roydooms]

Thanks, Roy! No C02, but Friday is PWC day at my house. The plants stay like that for a few hours after I do a water change. Looks pretty, doesn't it?

Looks really pretty.

 

[Coleallensmom]

I'm losing one of my hygro plants I believe. A few days after I planted it, it developed this strange clearish fungus on the middle of the stem. Waited a few days and then I finally decided to stick my hand down in there to see exactly what was going on. The stem had become soft and it broke right in half. I snipped it right below where the "fungus" was but left the bottom part of the plant still embedded in the substrate and a few days later, the remaining part of the stem was again covered. This time I completely snipped the plant away, leaving just the roots in the substrate. Was able to salvage a few leaves and I stuck them into the gravel as well. We'll see it will regrow or not. Also, today I noticed a bunch of green root/grass like shoots all around my crypt wendtii. Any idea what it is?

On a good note, I think my Vals have survived my assassination attempt. (Starting to see new shoots!) Rotala is growing like a weed..

 

[TraceyB4602]

Looks great. I love real plants they just make a tank. That's my next bout when my cycling is finished : )

Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium

 

[Coleallensmom]

Thank you, Tracey!

I have to agree..the fake plants just aren't anything like the real thing!

 

[zach_1_6]

wow im jelous! i wish my tank was coming along as fast and nice as yours!

 

[Coleallensmom]

Aww..thank you! I've had some bumps in the road, but am still making forward progress I think. I am really amazed at how fast the chain sword is growing and I am finally seeing some growth in the DHG.

 

[zach_1_6]

I do like the chain sword I'm looking to get some for my tank. Your tank is looking great and I like your light substrate aswell!

 

[daileene]

you did a great job with both of your tanks alisha...i am following this thread as well...

 

[Crepe]

Take the baby tears. Trim off the rockwool and leave ~2cm of rockwool and root left. Cut the bunch into portions and plant, using the rockwool to hold the plugs together and as an anchor. These are directions as per tropica and in my opinion is the most convenient method.

Looking great btw. Plants are in my opinion 10x more interesting than fish lol.

 

[Coleallensmom]

I did cut off the bottom half of the pot before I put it into the substrate. The top half of the pot/rockwool is still there as it seemed like the more I messed with it, the more of the DBT came loose.

 

[Coleallensmom]

I do like the chain sword I'm looking to get some for my tank. Your tank is looking great and I like your light substrate aswell!

Thanks Zach. I am impressed with the chain sword growth. There is something new to see everyday with those plants as they are constantly sending out new shoots.

I like the white substrate but I've fallen in love with darker substrates recently...My next tank is totally going to be something darker like the black eco-complete in your 65 gal build.

 

[Coleallensmom]

you did a great job with both of your tanks alisha...i am following this thread as well...

Thank you, Daileene!

 

[Coleallensmom]

Weekly photo update. Rotala only has about 4-5 more inches until it reaches the top of the tank. Down to only one Hygro now, but the Vals are making their come back, and everything else is doing great.