You'd want to go easy on the glut with shrimp. I think it was JKeating8 or misterpenguin4 that lost most or all of their shrimp because of an excel overdose. Not say don't use it, just don't be over zealous with it.
You really cannot go wrong with the liquid Seachem products. They work. After a while it might get costly. However, this is a 10 gallon tank so this might offset the cost a bit. I am just starting out with PPS Pro in a 20g. I like that you can adjust the portions of the ferts as needed (e.g. Omitting the nitrate dosing). I am still in the adjustment phase. For the most part I have been growing green plants; started with some red plants a couple of months ago. They look more bronze than red. Prior to PPS Pro, I was using a combination of Seachem Flourish Comprehensive, Excel, API Leaf Zone, Aqua Fertz root pellets, and DIY CO2 with good results.
I have a pair of clamp on 13w CFLs in a grow out tank but I do not have any red plants in there (yet). I have some regular Althernaria reineckii (AR) that needs some trimming. I might throw the cuttings in the grow out tank and see how they do under those lamps (change in color, leaf size, growth rate). There is also some direct sunlight that hits the tank for several hours so that will throw off the "experiment".
Hope the algae gets under control. I have battled Blackbeard, stag horn, string algae this past year.
Sounds like you have some knowledgable followers here so keep the questions coming.
Ill own up to it haha. I spilled a good splash of excel into the tank (dont try to pour excel over the tank, I was not thinking) and even a 75% water change wasn't enough to save them. But anyway, tank looks great. Really like the scape. I also recently started a shrimp tank about half this size. Will be following along!
Did some trimming and replanting so cambomba starts to fill the left side. Ludwigia is starting to show more of a red color in the new growth.
Any ideas on how to control the fern on the right side? Besides trimming it continuosly. I think that species has leaves too big for my 10 gal, might have to take it out and replace it all together.
You could try rear of tank towards the center and to the left near the air line tubing. That way it can grow large and and not trim as often. Maybe try some Staurogyne repens in it's place, it gets approximately 3" or 7 cm tall. It has a nice brighter green color. If it still requires too much trimming you can remove it.
DIY CO2 lasted about 9 days before drop in bubble count and mix has already been replaced.
fresh2o started a detailed walk thru thread in DIY c02! Def worth checking out...Your tank looks great. Where did you find the info to your DIY CO2? I've been wanting to try something like that myself for a while.
early bird gets the post I'm getting ready to try it myself! Waiting on my phosphate test kit...Brookster you beat me to it. Here you go: My DIY CO2 Setup http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298168 Long winded but should be enough info to get you started. Have had good results with it.
Brookster you beat me to it. Here you go: My DIY CO2 Setup http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298168 Long winded but should be enough info to get you started. Have had good results with it.
Hey Fresh2o I like your DIY CO2 build thread, it very informative, but it could do with some photos or a short video. If you have seen my setup it includes an IV line (Medical equipment) as a bubble counter, one bottle only and check valve. Just to keep in mind for smaller tanks.