17 replies to this topic

[Craig]

RHS is coming along well, LHS still needs a lot of work. Im undecided on what to do with it... Ideas and suggestions are very much welcome.

Im having a few issues with water clarity and brown algae on certain areas of the substrate. I think this is due to an overall imbalance in CO2 and ferts. It has been all over the place lately while I try to find a balance.













Craig

[Furnix]

very awesome man! look super healthy and lush! get some common bristle nose they will clean up any algae problems that you are having!

[BIG-PETE]

i tried bristle nose in my planted tank they just made a horrible mess
they dug up plants and when they went into spaze mode made the tank really cloudy

[dazzabozza]

Another great looking planted tank Craig. Is this your largest so far?

Daz

[Craig]

Thanks all

Yep it's my largest by far Daz. At 7x2x2.5', it is about 8 times larger (by volume) than my previous largest planted tank.

Craig

[Craig]

[waruna]

Well done mate It's coming along very nicely! Plants are a lot bigger since i've seen the tank last. Blyxa is growing nicely, lets hope they stay nice and small/medium

[Fox]

Once again Craig you've done an awesome job.. Simply stunning.
Very different from the tanks you were doing 5yrs ago when I came to Perth..

[Craig]

Cheers Az and you are right, back then I would never have believed I could ever do something like this.

It just goes to show that passion, hard work and a willingness to learn/listen goes a long way in this part of the hobby.

Quick update on the tank - Removed and rearranged a few plants today to fill out the left side of the scape. If anyone is interested in plant cuttings from this tank, just drop me a PM. I usually trim this tank on a weekly basis.

[garlic shrimp]

nice choice of plants Craig,certainly looks diferent to when i came around a while back.

[Craig]

Quick picture from tonight.

I removed some of the weedy plant species as well as the Rotala wallichi and Ammania gracilis (I've accepted the fact that I can't grow them). Now I just do a weekly water change and fortnightly trim. I am going to use the Blyxa for the foreground. Because the tank is so high, it doesn't look out of place.

Besides that, the tank seems to have stabilised. The brown algae has gone and plant growth seems good overall.

Current dosing regime is:

1 tsp KH2PO4
2-3 tsp KNO3
3 tsp MgSO4
5g Chelated Iron (13% EDTA)
20mL Seachem Flourish

Each is dosed 3-4x weekly.

[scarab]

oh no! And i was just wondering if i could get some wallichii from you cos I too seem unable to keep it. And is that Crinum natans i see at the back?

The tank is looking so healthy, should let your background plants grow taller and it would be awesome!

Edited by scarab, 18 August 2012 - 09:51 PM.

[Craig]

oh no! And i was just wondering if i could get some wallichii from you cos I too seem unable to keep it. And is that Crinum natans i see at the back?

The tank is looking so healthy, should let your background plants grow taller and it would be awesome!

Oops sorry!

At the back is actually Crypt balansae, similar to natans in leaf shape/texture though

[Yggdrasil]

Would some shrimp help keep the algae problems?

[Craig]

Would some shrimp help keep the algae problems?

Probably, but I would need hundreds for a tank this size and they would be sucked down the bulkheads.

Besides, the algae is gone now. I was able to solve the actual problem causing the algae, which is far more beneficial. Algae eaters are great but usually only a short term fix.

[Kimbo]

Looking good Craig! What was the issue causing the algae?

[Craig]

Looking good Craig! What was the issue causing the algae?

A combination of things.

I was able to get rid of it by halving the light intensity for 7 days (2 T5s vs. 4 T5s) and doubling my phosphate dosage. Now I have the lighting back at 100% and the algae hasn't made a return.

So I am lead to believe that it was an imbalance between the phosphates and light.

Folks are often afraid to add high phosphates thinking that it will cause more problems. However when you are running high light and CO2 you really have to or else you will face algae troubles like I have. It is all relative. As lighting goes up, CO2 and fertilisers have to go up accordingly.

Craig

[Craig]

Just a little update on the planted tank. The tank is fully established and pretty much on auto pilot now.

Sadly Im not sure how much longer I will have this dream setup, and will consider selling it in the coming months. The sale would include;

7x2x2.5' aquarium, 12mm glass will fully bevelled edges and black background
Solid Jarrah Cabinet
Jager 300W Heater
Eheim 2080 Filter, including plumbing connections to connect to bulkheads though the base of the tank.
Complete Hagen Glo T5 lighting system
Eco complete substrate (14 bags worth)
CO2 reactor and accessories (bottle not included because it's hired from BOC)
+ All plants and fish

PM me with any questions or expressions of interest.

Craig

Some pics of the full set up (old pictures)

Attached Files

•  filter.jpg   323.13KB   20 downloads
•  3.jpg   472.15KB   20 downloads
•  1.jpg   480.17KB   19 downloads

Edited by Craig, 15 September 2012 - 06:25 PM.