457 replies to this topic

[Bostave]

Anubias coffeefolia and similar plants could also go in that space and add a variety in terms of plant species.

[Westie]

I love coffeefolia. I'm always keen on coffeefolia myself.

Edited by Westie, 03 April 2017 - 11:52 AM.

[Delapool]

Many thanks! Will check out.


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[Bostave]

Are you coming to the meeting tomorrow? We can discuss more then.

[Delapool]

Erk, thought it was next week for some reason. Should be there.

Edit - yes, definitely be there (can't believe a month has gone so quick).

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Edited by Delapool, 03 April 2017 - 09:59 PM.

[Westie]

Ameya has worms

[Bostave]

Lol. Actually mac does. He will be bringing some. I just talk abt it.

[Delapool]

Say no more

Pretty crappo at moment but this is the narrow leaf Java Fern at front of tank. It got thinned about a month back, hit with treatment, etc. Hoping the chain(?) sword behind it survives.




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[Delapool]

Went off to shop to check out plants and came back with more than I thought. As usual I've got to go back to find out the names but did get some more crypts. Cleaned just about all the plants out of the tank, added root tabs and sorted through what I wanted to keep. Was going ok, tank a little murky but pretty quick on mainly getting the narrow leaf Java Fern cleaned up for re-planting.

The melon sword has taken a turn for the worse but left it in there in case it comes back.



Then I thought I'd remove the crypt at back of tank I'd seen a leaf poking out. Turned out there there was a jungle at the back and almost fell into tank trying to get them and their long roots out of tank. This also made the water murky as clay tabs were pulled up.

Removed most water from tank and got the glue out to make sure some driftwood doesn't shift. Must of been several hours at this point. I used the gravel vac over the top inch of gravel and cleaned up a fair bit of muck so that was good to get rid of.



Into re-planting. Mild panic that all the plants I wanted wouldn't fit in but I think ok. Managed to keep a small space for stem plants. The water was still pretty murky so I'm hoping it will clear tomorrow so I can see what I actually did.




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[Westie]

Looks like you did the same thing as me today. I bought 2 pots full of those crypts from Aquotix today. Pretty annoying how the water goes cloudy when you uproot plants near clay fert tabs. I removed all my stem plants and a bit of wood covered in bolbitis out of my little tank and replaced with crypts. Can you believe I fitted two pots full of crypts in to a standard 2 footer?

[Delapool]

That's impressive! Pics or it didn't happen?!

Just looking at it today and I need to replant some but most are staying put.

I left some room for more aponogetons at back and then should be done.

Planning that this should be pretty easy tank keeping so less work (until I get bored lol) but I reckon this will take a good 6 months to get decent growth.


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Edited by Delapool, 09 April 2017 - 07:37 AM.

[Westie]

Pics? Here's the post last night:
http://www.perthcich...showtopic=63995
I didn't realise I went to Aquotix at 4:45pm. Oops! I hated when people did that to me when I was in retail.
I'll tank some better pics either today after cleaning the glass, or when I'm back from my trip down south

[Delapool]

Pics? Here's the post last night:
http://www.perthcich...showtopic=63995
I didn't realise I went to Aquotix at 4:45pm. Oops! I hated when people did that to me when I was in retail.
I'll tank some better pics either today after cleaning the glass, or when I'm back from my trip down south

Grand! I've got to learn how to do videos. (but first back onto ladder to fix buried and floating plants - it will look good in six months I keep telling myself..).

Big shout out to Aquotix as well for all the help in selecting plants.




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Edited by Delapool, 09 April 2017 - 09:43 AM.

[Delapool]

This is the ladder - almost fell into the bucket once stepping across rungs.





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Edited by Delapool, 09 April 2017 - 10:00 AM.

[Delapool]

Decided I'll leave everything where it is for now. Run it as a bit of an experiment and see what grows.

Tank is still clearing. I adjusted a few plants and checked I left some room at back for more Aponogetons.

And it looks pretty boring.

 

Most of the Java Fern has cleaned up ok and should go fine as a front hedge. Hopefully will have some progress in a month.

Back:   Aponogeton Crispus.
Back: Bolbitis heudelotii (African Water Fern) - not sure I like this after all.       
 

Front:   Java Fern (narrow leaf).
Middle:   Anubias (Petite).
Middle:   Bucephalandra (Wavy Leaf).
 
Right:   Cryptocorine Balansae.
Right:   Crypts (assorted).
Right:   Melon Sword (if it survives).      
 
Left:   Crypts (assorted).
Left:   Ludwigia Reopens (Rubra).
Left:   Hygrophila corymbosa (Giant Hygro).
Left:   Marble Sword   

[Bostave]

Looks good. I like Bolbitis. It's leaves start few inches from the rhizome so if you have Java fern growing along with it,the Bolbitis foliage looks that it growing on top as it's stem are hidden by the Java fern. Also has different shade of green to give a contrast. Does not multiple like Java fern so can be easily managed in an aquascape. The leaves have a stem plant like leaves appearance and doesn't require the degree of trimming as a stem plant does.

[Delapool]

Ah, that sounds better (especially the trimming part or lack of ). Thanks for the info, that's handy, will PM on the aponogetons too. Still got a bad headache tonight but all fish seem to be doing fine.

Hmmm, did water tests:

Old nitrate test - 5 (maybe 10)ppm.

New nitrate test - 0ppm.

(Won't throw out old test just yet lol). Both still in date but old one is almost used up.

Phosphate - 0.5ppm.


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[Bostave]

No worries. I am inspired by your journal and will start my own this week. Similar to my aquascape competition entry but more focussed as this time I can be more patient.

[Delapool]

Java Fern in the betta tank seems to be doing well now and settled in. And the taped off light is still going ok. Guessing I'm running a third of lights.

Put a couple of leftover ferns in there from weekend and thinking of turfing the plastic plants.

Sadly the plastic plants look pretty bad and on the way out. Algae covered all of a sudden. Pretty impressive but I think I'll chuck them.


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Edited by Delapool, 10 April 2017 - 10:07 PM.

[Delapool]

Dragging out the PAR meter tomorrow. The old nitrate test read 10ppm and new 5ppm while phosphates at 1ppm tonight. Looks like finally getting an increase in readings. (Starting to think old test is over-reading).


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