6 Month Progress of my 110 gallon

[30searay]

I thought I would post a couple pictures of my 110 gallon set up around early summer of this year. It's doing OK although I am not entirely happy with the layout so far. I do have some problems with algae although the various tank mates help to keep it in check. I run a pressurized CO2 system at 30-35ppm and use G. Watson fertilizers dosing with the EI system. I have 330 watts total light of CF that does OK. The tank is 30 inches deep so I have found numerous problems with certain plants not responding well, so I may convert to the MH lights next year. As you can see in the pic's, the crpyts do well, as does the cabamba, C Spiralis, Vals, and several others. The tank is 18 inches deep so I can plant a lot more in the tank.

I am still working on gaining a better understanding of the needs of the plants in my tank, but it has done OK so far. I do want to get some input from every one on what you think of it so far?

 

[Glenc]

That is a big canvas your painting on! I think you are on the right track. Find out what will grow for you and what won't before you really start to design your scape. I think you've done a great job, maybe try a few foreground plants to see what will grow for you. Get a foreground happening in that monster and it will be outstanding. I think a little splash of red would be nice in there also. Great work

 

[Peyton]

Looks great! Plants look real healthy. What are you using for substrate?

Man, I would love to have a tank big enough for crypt spiralis. I had it growing in a 40g and the leaves completly covered the surface. I had to remove it. The leaves were about 4' long! I'm now trying to grow it in a 30g hex.

 

[evercl92]

I used to run CF on my 120 (4x2x2) and in the past month switched to HO T5's. Less wattage, brighter bulbs, less heat, better growth already. Reasonably cheap too. Maybe something to check into.

Otherwise, looks pretty good.

 

[rkilling1]

First off, as far as aquariums go, you have a VERY nice looking tank. I'm sure everyone who sees it, comments on it.

Secondly, I totally agree with with Glen (nothing new there, LOL). You need to start layering the scape and add in some smaller plants in the foreground. That probably also means you are going to have to get ride of the Vals. There are just too big of a light hog to allow for the foreground plants to stay close to the substrate.

Also a touch of RED would be great. I would put it in the background slightly off center as a great focal point.

IMO, the Vals, no matter what, need to go. They only look good when the encompass the entire surface of the tank.

If you were to remove the Vals and add in some red right there and move the hump you have in the foreground to midground and then add some glosso/HC/HM/Marsilea quadrafolia in the foreground, your tank would look MUCH better.

To each his own. I really can only give you advice based on what I prefer. Rightnow, I would say you are in the jungle category of scapes. Not that that's bad, it just can be improved.

Not saying mine is anything great, but as a reference to layering I am going to post a pic of my 75 gallon tank. It isn't even close to how wide yours is, but the 'look' is much more dramatic when you layer the plants.

It that pic I was working on the layering instead of the jungle look like you have now. Again, your tank doesn't look bad AT ALL, but it can be improved upon. That also goes back to what you want as well. If you are after the jungle look, you have done well and I wouldn't do anything then.

 

[30searay]

That is a big canvas your painting on! I think you are on the right track. Find out what will grow for you and what won't before you really start to design your scape. I think you've done a great job, maybe try a few foreground plants to see what will grow for you. Get a foreground happening in that monster and it will be outstanding. I think a little splash of red would be nice in there also. Great work

All very good points Glenc. I have tried a couple red plants with very little luck so far. Everything I have tried rots out very quickly. Same goes for glosso. At first it grew like crazy - but then suddenly stopped all growth and rotted out. So I am still trying. Not sure if the depth of the tank (32") is an issue for the plants (in terms of how much light reaches the bottom). This is why I am considering MH as they are much more brilliant.

What other foreground plants would be good options to try?

Thanks Peyton. I use Eco complete with a laterite base. Does really well for me. The Spiralis is a great plant for my scape. It grows about 3' feet tall and looks really nice. The pleco's love it as well. The only complaint is that it spreads like crazy, coming up every where it shouldn't be.

Rkilling1 - I agree completely with you concerning the vals. I have been pulling vals that have been over 5' long. Absolutely crazy. I have never seen them so long. I actually put them in to help me with nutrient absorption and help with algae control while I figured out how all this works. But now I am not so sure they will work long term.

 

[30searay]

Ok - tank update. I ripped out the all the vals and the hygrophilia as both just spread much too quickly. I am trying some low grassy type plants for the foreground to see if will have any luck and have ordered some HM and HC to see if either will take. Also, I tied some of the java ferns I had in there to the wood in the tank to see if have any luck with them taking hold. Also bought a few anubias to try out - where do these plants look best? Lastly, does anyone have ideas on how to trim back the crypts in the tank as mine are becoming very large, much larger than I thought they would. They continue to spread very quickly, do I just tear up the plants on the outside?

I will submit a few new pictures when the tank shows more promise.

 

[Glenc]

Hey there 30searay, I also have a few large crypts in my tanks, I just pinch off the bigger leaves at the base of the stem with my fingers. Keeps them a managable size and does them no harm. In fact, they send out new leaves and get bushier instead of taller.
As far as foreground plants go, I have had good luck with HC in Eco complete. Because your tank is deep, you may have to throw more light at it to get HC to grow well. That will open up another can of worms for you, as soon as you increase your light, your whole tank balance will change. I have had good luck in just about any light with Marsilea quadrifolia, four leaf clover. Once it takes hold there's no stopping it. I covered the whole bottom a ten gallon with it in about 2 months. In lower light it will grow, only alot slower. You will have to keep thinning it out as it will grow on top of itself. You'll find all foreground plants take alot of thinning and pruning to keep them looking good. The final look is worth it. Good luck, post pics when you can

 

[Electrobes]

Man 30searay I loved your jungle looking tank. It's a shame the Vals had to go, but I am curious to see what your tank looks like now

 

[30searay]

Tank Update

Well, here we go. Still not happy with it but Black Hills TJ (AKA 'Mike') is helping me get on the right path. Note the nice batch of HM that is slowly taking hold in the front - thanks Mike, looks good so far. I hope this continues to spread and do well. If it does, I'll pull back the anubias behind it and move them to the right side as they are doing well. Also took the advice of RKilling1 (AKA 'Randy') and ditched the Vals (sniff, sniff...loved those vals - were almost 5 feet tall). Note the large batch of Rotala rotundifolia growing in place of the vals and is doing great. All the hygro is gone as well. I do not know what to do with the spiralis (front left) as the roots are everywhere in the substrate and it is throwing up shooters everywhere I don't want it to.....the crypts are over a foot wide and a foot tall and I am stuggling with these as well. Not sure of what the sword is on the right side, although obviously doing good. Java ferns are also doing great (see the ones growing into the drift wood) BUT I need some red in here but still can't get it to grow. Randy, if you have some reds that you think might work here let me know. It's still a jungle theme but I will get it culled back!!!

Don

 

[neilanh]

What's the large plant right-front?

 

[30searay]

I'm not sure any more, I have had the plant for so long I can't remember

 

[marchmaxima]

It's looking heaps better IMO. I have no suggestions for you, cos I'm not the expert in plants but I just wanted to say that I think it's coming along great.

 

[Purrbox]

I actually like the spiralis on the left. On the right I'd probably thin and push back the bushes of crypts, etc. and then let the HM fill in the front right as well.

 

[pitt420dude]

HM?? HC??

I think your tank looks great. I too especially like the spiralis on teh left. It's tall verticle foilage is a good contrast to the immediately adjacent short squat lawn-type carpet (what is that again, the low lying foreground plant? Begins with an "M" right?).

I would (if i had a planted tank that is) keep the left pretty much as is, maybe even rubber band or tie the anubias to the top 3/4ths of the driftwood (it will latch on too!), and thin out the right side considerably. Even if you kept the same plants but just groomed em more, it may look better.

Your ENTIRE tank is pretty much green, which looks great, but if you allowed some substrate to show in between plants, like a little border around each one, it may even look better. (just my opinion). As far as getting some red, I dunno. C'mon peoples, what are some hardy/easy to grow colorful reds?

 

[Purrbox]

HC = Hemianthus Callitrichoides, a popular foreground carpet plant
HM = Hemianthus Micranthemum, can be used to create a carpet or small bush in the foreground (This is the plant in the foreground you were asking about.)

 

[pitt420dude]

Thanks for the names purrbox, I really like the HM. It looks like it's doing great.

Is that a java fern that is growing on top of the piece of driftwood in the middle of the tank, I really like the way that looks.

Your tank looks so much better than the first pics in this thread; lots more contrast and better views of all the different plants and fish.

 

[30searay]

Thanks for the comments Pitt420. I am happier with it as well, although it needs so much more work. The anubias are flowering on the bottom of the tank...Purrbox have you heard of or seen this before? It is really cool.!! The flower bubbles out oxygen bubbles non stop. And yes, that is a java fern on the drift wood, although it doesn't seem to do anywhere near as well as the java fern towards the back of the tank on the bottom, that one is quite large.

Thanks again to Black Hills TJ for the HM , that stuff grows quite well and is already in need of a serious hedge clipping. It's over 6 inches tall and is taking over the anubias space. I would still like to find some reds that grow well but haven't had success so far. I am tempted to change one of my lights (maybe the 6700 K in the center row) over to MH to see if helps with growing red. Depends on whether I get any money back from the tax man this year (or I guess I could take out of the kids college funds). The wife just won't have me buying any right now as they are a bit expensive.

 

[Purrbox]

It's really neat when Anubias decide to bloom. It's pretty common for Anubias Nana to bloom underwater when it's happy. Mine's done it a few time and is in the process of blooming again after having taken several months off. Unfortunately unless the blooms make it above the water they won't be fertilized. I'm actually growing a couple in my emersed setup in the hopes that I'll be able to get them to bloom and fertilize them.

Congrats and enjoy the sign of happy plants!!!

 

[30searay]

Lighting Update

Well, 3 weeks ago I went ahead and upgraded the lighting on my 110 from the 330w CF setup from AH Supply to the Nova Extreme T5 setup with 416w output. The lunar lights are really something. I guess for us fish fanatics there is always something else to spend our hard earned money on! I wonder if this bothers the fish at night?

I am seeing improved results in some of the plant growth already. However, the HM I have continues to grow upwards rather than outwards. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to get the stuff to spread?

As soon as I get the tank cut back a bit I'll get some new pictures posted. Still need to try some nice reds in the tank and will do that soon....I am eager to see if I can grow them now with the new lights!

On a sadder note, I neglected to notice that I was out of water conditioner until well into a significant water change a couple weeks ago. As it was well past 10pm a couldn't run out to my LPS and pick some up. Ended up having to put tap water into the tank which wiped out my entire school of penguin tetras that I have had for several years. They were huge, very colorful and most importantly, a peaceful schooling fish. Live and learn I guess.