shell

Looks like a nice plant. Is there a clear list of allowed plants anywhere? I can't find one on any one website.

Flourish is a good product. I like the Iron one too. Pity they all smell so bad So it sounds like getting the NPK from hydroponics isn't a waste of time. Cheaper than Seachem NPK. And dosing macros will help to balance your CO2 and lighting Get ready to prune lots!

Is flourish and flourish comprehensive the same thing? Plain flourish is just micronutrients isn't it? Not NPK?

Wow, this thread is really stressful to read! You forget how many pitfalls there can be! I think most low light plants will live in low light, but they do well in high light as well. Also even though you are planning java ferns and grass type plants, it might be good to have some fast growing stems in the tank for the first few weeks until things get more stable.

Not all of these use hairgrass, but the idea is the same - mixing and contrasting glosso with a grass like plant. http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2010.cgi?&op=showcase&category=0&vol=0&id=130 http://www.amanotakashi.net/portfolio/nature_aquarium/images/019.jpg http://www.amanotakashi.net/portfolio/nature_aquarium/images/003.jpg http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2005.cgi?&Scale=2&op=showcase&category=0&vol=2&id=125 This layout design guide by T. Amano is great (if you ignore the product placement and the hilarious English). It gives you an idea of how to arrange driftwood in a small tank and about planting densely in a step by step guide.

Looks great! There are some really good aquascapes out there that merge glosso with hair grass. If you want a natural look you might not need a barrier.

I found it difficult to find the plants on all sites. And wasn't able to find both plants on any one site. Plantgeek and aquaticplantcentral have databases that are easier to use - maybe we need a NZ version? The first two websites were pretty useless. NIWA and the biosecurity website had the best and easiest to find info. Took way too long to be able to identify the plants and find out if they are banned.

Source: http://www.amanotakashi.net/portfolio/nature_aquarium/index.html

Thanks for the advice! I guess its just a case of continuing to suction it out of the tank. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and it mucks up the foreground by growing so fast! I have seen some amazing tanks where it has been used properly on rocks and branches.

I can't get rid of the stuff! If there's the tiniest bit on a plant you buy it takes over! I'm guessing Potassium Permanganate won't do anything?

Banana in the tank... that's hilarious! I had a bristlenose vs sword problem too. Much better now I have Otto's. And they are so cute!

More lighting. Also once your plants are growing check that you are adding macronutrients (PMDD...) not just the micro's (flourish).

rummy nose tetras (school really well) or bumblebee gobies (which don't)

I used the Dupla root laterite. Plants seem to like it. Its also a redish colour.

Turn heater off before doing water change (I'm up to heater #4 in 2 years and still forget). Think heaps before adding Java moss. Can't get rid of the stuff!

Stem plants like ambulia are usually fast growing. Here are two plant databases: Plant geek Plantfinder

Stink! ... goes to look dreamily at iwagumi tanks on Aquaticplantcentral....

Thanks for the link. Not sure about Blyxa aubertii. It grows too big! Japonica is supposed to grow more compact. Looks good with hair grass.

Anyone know if we can get Blyxa Japonica in NZ? Pic from Aquaticplantcentral.com's plantfinder:

Here's a converter. If you measured your kH as 50 I think that it is probably already in ppm. It is equal to 2.8 degrees (dKH). If the 50 was in mg/L, it would equal 140 degrees!

The grass at the back is Cyprus grass. It has been struggling in comparison to the stem plants in front of it. It grows, but much slower. I've been reluctant to remove it though as my oto's love it for some reason! I think Cyprus grass looks better in bigger tanks when it curves over with the current. The diffuser is a 20mm glass/ceramic diffusor (ADA knock off) from trademe. It's hiding behind the ambulia. Pressurised CO2 is great. But I have to dose ferts heaps for a small tank to keep it in balance. How's the CO2 going gills? What plants have you got? Any pics?

Yes, I should have backed up what I said about Zebrafish being a genetic model. I realise also we are getting way off the topic, but here's some links if you're interested. The zebrafish as a model organism has the following advantages: Its genetics and development have been studied intensively. It is a vertebrate, so its genome is similar to other vertebrate species including humans. It is inexpensive The embryo does not develop hidden inside the mother (as mammalian embryos) The embyo’s themselves are translucent, allowing visualisation of individual developing cells. There are stock centers/libraries around the world containing large numbers of some live mutants and frozen sperm of others. One of many articles explaining the importance of Zebrafish (in pdf). Websites of two of the stock centers: the Zebrafish international research centre and the Max Planck institute in Germany.

It's just hair grass. It means I don't need to vacuum the gravel. So lazy! :oops:

Second that. And the milk production genes??? Hilarious! However genetic research can't just be done on any fish. The Zebra Danio is a genetic model. It's Genome is currently being sequenced. Its been used for ages in researching the expression of different genes especially in embryonic development. It's one of the most important research models after mice and rats.

Here are before and after pics to show you how good pressurised CO2 is going to be for your plants. At CO2 setup... 1 month later..... So go buy some scissors now!