Start of a long relationship (planted tank journal)

[ejaramillo01]

Just a quick update. Blyxa is growing wild. DHG is starting to fill in slowly. I ordered some new bulbs over the weekend, Giesemann PowerChrome Aqua Flora bulbs... I'm hoping they'll jump start some growth. I'm getting a little hair algae, but nothing serious. I think it's because I let my autodosers get really low and they just weren't pumping much at all. I'm really loving this tank. I've said it a few times, but I am genuinely happy with it, and it can only get better from here.

Keep it coming! This tank has been also entertaining !

 

[McLumpy]

The tank is looking beautiful! Nice work w/ the layout!!

 

[mfdrookie516]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I appreciate them all

 

[mfdrookie516]

Here's an update from today. These bulbs are amazing. I have seen big growth in the 3 short days they've been in. The blyxa is growing big time. I will have way too much shortly.

 

[Bud]

Looks great! Relaxing in a way...kind of a zen feeling. Maybe it's just me.

 

[Joyler]

Wow, your female got way more black markings than mine did! she's beautiful though...I love that they picked up the orange color in the dorsal! In the third pic, what is that just below your female? Is it a Cory?

 

[giggalz]

wow grown a lot!

 

[HN1]

Looks great man!

That female almost looks like she's guarding again.

 

[Joyler]

Rookie did mention to me that they had disappeared for a day or two...queue the soundtrack!! Bahaha

 

[Joyler]

*annoying kid with another question* what's the cornucopia lookin thing on the left wall?

 

[mfdrookie516]

Wow, thanks for the kind words. HN1, I believe you are correct... Though I can't see them.

Joyler, I think you're talking about my drop checker? And yes, that's a Brochis Cory below the female apisto

 

[Coleallensmom]

Here's an update from today. These bulbs are amazing. I have seen big growth in the 3 short days they've been in. The blyxa is growing big time. I will have way too much shortly.

Looking good!

How does the blyxa propagate..runners?

 

[mfdrookie516]

Thanks.

I think it's considered a stem plant. It just branches off with new plants. Most of these can be separated in to 4-5 plants now... and I just separated them all in to 1 plant back a week and a half ago.

 

[daileene]

looking so nice there jon....great job.

 

[Coleallensmom]

Thanks.

I think it's considered a stem plant. It just branches off with new plants. Most of these can be separated in to 4-5 plants now... and I just separated them all in to 1 plant back a week and a half ago.

Wow, that's some great growth! If you ever want to unload some, LMk...I'm looking for some more plants for my 50 gal.

 

[mfdrookie516]

I've got some promised to someone else, but I'll probably have plenty more in a couple weeks. I'll let you know when I do.

 

[Pecktec]

Here's an update from today. These bulbs are amazing. I have seen big growth in the 3 short days they've been in. The blyxa is growing big time. I will have way too much shortly.

Are those CF bulbs? What wattage?

 

[mfdrookie516]

No, they're T5HO's. It's a 2x39w FNI fixture. It was 4x39w but I took the other fixture off... just too much work trying to keep the algae down.

The bulbs are 1x Geissman Power Chrome Aqua Flora and one GE 6500k (I put the same in the other fixture that's on my 20 long).

 

[mfdrookie516]

Another update. The blyxa is still growing like crazy. I also found out why I have been having such a bad BBA problem. The tubing I was using for my co2 was letting the co2 permeate through it, meaning it wasn't going in the tank. I've wondered why my drop checkers weren't reading very high lately. Everything is back on track now, drop checkers have been a nice lime green since yesterday, except for in these pics since I just did a water change.

 

[thras]

Looks great bud