FresH2O's 20g planted rescape

[Autumnsky]

So I woke up to see this with the new carpeting plants:

Toothpicks don't seem to be holding the plants in place. The MTS are pushing Glosso out of the substrate. Grrrrrr!!!!
I came up with an idea of how to anchor the plants into the substrate. I took tin snips and cut a 4"x4" stainless steel mesh into sixteen 1"X1" squares:

After cutting, superglue was needed to keep some of them from coming unbound.
The carpet plants were removed from the tank, placed upside down, and using a paper towel, blotted dry. The Glosso had plenty of roots while the HC Cuba had maybe 1-3 new roots per group. Next, a few drops of super glue was applied to each steel mesh square and pressed firmly to the bottom of each plant group. After letting them dry a few minutes, I dropped them into the tank. They sank like anchors. I planted each one 1/4"-1/2" deep into the EcoComplete.

I am hoping the combination of weight and the tines of the mesh will keep these in place.
I thinned out a row of Staur repens, planted Pogo erectus in the right corner, and pulled some AR mini from the left side. The DW was raised up a smidge. This is a daytime shot showing the completed work and how much direct sunlight hits the tank.

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Plants...you will bend to my will....with some wire and a snipper, and a dab of glue.

That is looking great, excellent idea about the mesh. I was going to say that you were gonna have the cleanest roots around with the snails, now they are gonna need a different approach or get poked with the wire.

Aside from that, the plants look pretty good so far. The tank is gonna be awesome when it fills in and all those carpet!

 

[Caliban07]

Aside from that, the plants look pretty good so far. The tank is gonna be awesome when it fills in and all those carpet!

+1 looks good can't wait to see the carpet.


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[Fresh2o]

I moved a few plants around (taller towards the back, shorter up front). As for the battle with the MTS, I've underestimated the strength of these things. Yesterday I reburied two squares of HC Cuba and today I noticed two more were slightly lifted out of the substrate and one of the ones I replanted was rocking back and forth. I won't speculate what was going on under there as these are very prolific snails and I'll leave it at that. Perhaps I should have used 1.5"x1.5" squares instead. I will reseat these squares and keep an eye on them.
On a positive note, I am starting to see new roots develop on the HC Cuba stems. Hopefully they will take hold soon.

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[Ziggy953]

I moved a few plants around (taller towards the back, shorter up front). As for the battle with the MTS, I've underestimated the strength of these things. Yesterday I reburied two squares of HC Cuba and today I noticed two more were slightly lifted out of the substrate and one of the ones I replanted was rocking back and forth. I won't speculate what was going on under there as these are very prolific snails and I'll leave it at that. Perhaps I should have used 1.5"x1.5" squares instead. I will reseat these squares and keep an eye on them.
On a positive note, I am starting to see new roots develop on the HC Cuba stems. Hopefully they will take hold soon.

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Frisky snails.....

The rescape looks great!

 

[Fresh2o]

Frisky snails.....



The rescape looks great!

Frisky or not, I may start catching them and moving them to my holding tank. Or the shrimp tank. With less than a quarter inch of sand, there is no hiding or burrowing in there.
3-4 more squares disturbed. Again, seeing more root growth.
I found some stray Glosso and planted that in a terrarium along with the HC Cuba.


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[DaleV87]

Really nice Fresh!


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[Fishperson]

Looks good fresh.

*Trump voice* Those parva are huuuge!

If you have some of it around (and the SS mesh doesn't work) you could try using some monofilament netting, putting it over a square of the carpet plants, and burying the edges of the netting in substrate. A week or two later you can remove the netting.

I mean netting like this: Monofilament Net | VIET AU Ltd.

 

[Fresh2o]

Exciting day! New light (Finnex 24/7) should arrive today.
So here's the original plan and what I think might happen. Wife looked at my temp tank and said it looked ghetto with the clamp dome light and CFL floor lamp (especially since it is next to a window). I told her the only solution was to get a new fixture (I'm brilliant).
Rather than get a 24" finnex stingray for the temp tank, why not get a 30" Finnex 24/7 for the planted tank, move the existing Finnex planted+ to the shrimp tank, and move the Finnex FugeRay from the shrimp tank to the temp tank. The FugeRay is a bit oversized for the temp tank but I can live with that. Well that was the plan...
What I think is going to happen is that I might keep the planted+ on the planted tank and add the 24/7 to it. Serious high light there. They would be on separate timers to reduce the overlap time. Aside from increased light, I am looking for better coverage/light spread. This should kick start the new carpet plants.
As for the ghetto lights on the temp tank? I do have an old T-8 hood I could slap on there for now. Win-win.


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[Brookster123]

New toys!! You're going to enjoy that led. It's pretty sweet. Don't get frustrated at first if you can't customize spectrum. Try unplugging. I couldn't get mine to set for a few tries

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[DaleV87]

Sweet Thinking!
Can't wait to see your setup and see the results of it.
I am wanting one myself.


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[Fresh2o]

New fixture arrived today! This is me waiting for the mailman:

Anyhow, the fixture was packed well:

Here is the Finnex 24/7 next to the Planted+:

Side profile comparison: The 24/7 chassis is very thin and the LEDs are set about 1/2" higher compared to the Planted+. Since I have 3/4" risers, there is some front side light bleeding.

I tested the settings and I'm going to use the 24/7 mode for now. I think I can land a plane with its MAX setting. I will have to take some time to learn how to adjust and save settings.
Even a few minutes into it I can tell the pearling has picked up. The Planted+ can be seen from the front. FTS:

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[fishenthusiast]

New fixture arrived today! This is me waiting for the mailman:

Anyhow, the fixture was packed well:

Here is the Finnex 24/7 next to the Planted+:

Side profile comparison: The 24/7 chassis is very thin and the LEDs are set about 1/2" higher compared to the Planted+. Since I have 3/4" risers, there is some front side light bleeding.

I tested the settings and I'm going to use the 24/7 mode for now. I think I can land a plane with its MAX setting. I will have to take some time to learn how to adjust and save settings.
Even a few minutes into it I can tell the pearling has picked up. The Planted+ can be seen from the front. FTS:

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Nice! I bet that's really bright. I put my light on 100% for a minute to compare it to what low light looked like yesterday, and I thought 100% was bright.


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[Brookster123]

Hey!!

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[Autumnsky]

Big win win!!!

 

[DaleV87]

Looks SssWeeeeeeT!


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[Fresh2o]

I was curious about the light cycle schedule for the 24/7 (since it was on when I got up) and I found it and a decent review/comparison of other Finnex fixtures here.
According to the chart in the link, lights are on at 0430 and off around 2400 with upper range light between 1100 and 1530. The Planted+ comes on between 1500-2300. I might move the 24/7's schedule back 3-4 hours so that maximum overlap is between 1500-1900.
In other news, the Glosso is starting send out runners and these are pointing downward into the substrate. The MTS continue to abuse some of the HC Cuba. Had to re-bury a few yesterday a little deeper than usual. On a good note, growth is good as well as root development.

Yes, Spagett strikes again.


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[Brookster123]

I set a custom spectrum. 24/7 is cool l, just didn't want to make the other tanks jealous. Imagine all 5 tanks on the same 24/7 cycle. That'd be pretty epic me thinks.

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[Ziggy953]

Very nice!

 

[KingKoopa512]

Very nice fresh waiting for my planted 24\7 in the mail with a ray 2 supposdly it has hi par I have a 45 tall so hope it reaches the bottom

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[pittbully13]

Everything is looking nice. New plants and new lights...lucky you. Lol.

With the HC you can probably add some tooth picks to the corners to "hold down" the plants until the roots take hold. I have to do that with s.repens since my MTS are heathens.

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