Wellydave Posted November 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 sweet as sam thanks will try that out. im still not evin shure on what ferts to use i want to do dry and i checked out the article someone linked me on here but it just confused the crap outa me :slfg: any one have like ei dosing for dummies or summit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 quick update. most of the plants are in still waiting on a few more to arrive. lights are under powered so currently looking for some mh's. some of the wood wasnt quite water loged enough so after filling it lifted but i am just going to leave it to sink in its own time. have ordered fert's from valray and also a wave maker as the pump in the sump dosent make enough water movement in the tank the turn over of water is fine but the plants are not moving in the current. anyway heres some pics whole tank left side right side schweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 That hair grass is going to look amazing when it fills in. How awesome! Any idea how long it might take to fill out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 i have no idea to be honest haha have never done a proper planted tank so this is all a big experiment for me. its growing up fairly rapidly but im not shure how long it will take for it to stretch out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 I'm trying to create a ground cover with lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae - same thing - it's getting vertical growth quite quickly, but it's that spreading and denseness that makes a cool carpet. That's the awesome thing about photos, you can see the changes over time so you know what you're doing is working! It's going to be such an awesome tnak when it grows out. Have you decided on a full stocking list yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 haha cool yeah ive got some of that in here on the left and it seems to be stretching out rather than up where as the hair grass is going up insted of out :-? its weird. so far stock list is not to interesting really 4 - 5 german blue rams 3 of which i have and are in my other tank a pair of apistogramma cockatoo triple/super reds (still trying to find a pair of these) 50ish harlequin rasboras (waiting for tank to settle b4 buying) a couple bristlenose's that are in my other tank mabie a nice pleco (undecided on which type) and mabie some discus if my mate can ever get his to breed without eating the fry haha probably some guppies from my other tank as well since they seem to be breeding like crazy! thinking i will seperate the boys and girls so i dont end up with 100000 of the things first fish in will be the 3 rams and then go from there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 haha cool yeah ive got some of that in here on the left and it seems to be stretching out rather than up where as the hair grass is going up insted of out :-? its weird. so far stock list is not to interesting really 4 - 5 german blue rams 3 of which i have and are in my other tank a pair of apistogramma cockatoo triple/super reds (still trying to find a pair of these) 50ish harlequin rasboras (waiting for tank to settle b4 buying) a couple bristlenose's that are in my other tank mabie a nice pleco (undecided on which type) and mabie some discus if my mate can ever get his to breed without eating the fry haha probably some guppies from my other tank as well since they seem to be breeding like crazy! thinking i will seperate the boys and girls so i dont end up with 100000 of the things first fish in will be the 3 rams and then go from there Awesome! Did I see you talking about panda cories too? I love those little guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 yeah i have 5 in my other tank but unsure if they will be transfered yet i think the monando might be a bit rough for them was going to see how the bristlenose went and if they seem ok will put the pandas in and try to get mabie 10 - 15 more so there is a nice little group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 What's the flow like in that tank? No flow gave me horrible algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 there is not a hell of a lot of flow so i have a 3000L/ph wave maker thingy on the way so i can get some movement going haha not keen on algae! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Number one cause of algae is poor CO2 distribution due to lack of CO2 or lack of correct circulation. I have two wavemakers rated at 2000LPH (they do less than that of course) in my 100L and I still have poor flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 oh really? i was thinking of getting a 12000 lph one but after reading a few reviews online saying they were way over powered for 500l tanks and that they recommended getting 3000 lph ones i figured i might as well. its np tho they are cheap enough if i need 3 or 4 more then ill just get 3 or 4 more :slfg: and also that way if i do end up with 3 or 4 i can direct the flow to certain areas in the tank. well in theory that is :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 what do you mean by "they do less than that of course" ?? am i missing something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 I'd go with multiple smaller ones than one large one. Pumps are always rated at their maximum flow, most will sit below that with normal use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonnz Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Good luck with your hairgrass. May I make some suggestions for fish stock in your planted tank: - Any tetra - Rams will be great - Gouramis - Mollies until your tank and plants take hold and are strong - avoid I have 2 larger pleco's in my tank, cory's .. bristle noses siamese algae eaters and flying foxes .. These fish destroy my plants - I have wasted a good amount of money trying to get my plants to grow, and made the wrong choice of fish. It's cost me a huge amount of time and frustration. But .. i love all my fish .. and for now .. they are a little more important. I used alot of JBL product in my tank. If you havent seen my thread, check it out here : viewtopic.php?f=28&t=59027 it has some info about my setup etc. Nice safe choice of plants too. I am very excited to see how your tank is in a few months time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfishybuisness Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 I have a school of 80 harliquins they school well in the upper water but only if its clear otherwise they stay scattered. But make sure you keep an eye out for any hanging away from the rest, they are usually sick or injuried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Plants will stretch upwards instead of out sideways if they are looking for light. To get the carpet effect you will need lighting that penetrates through to the bottom of the tank. Wiith the hairgrass insufficient light will cause it to die off, however if you have just enough light in a few weeks (2-3) you will see the new shoots hanging off out the side. Replant these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 yeah im prety shure my fish choices will be ok i have basicly the same fish (apart from the apisto's) in my other tank which is planted and they are all fine its actualy cranking for a low tech tank great growth and the fish are happy as larry so im not to worried about the fish going into this one. i know the lighting isnt that great but after exactly 1 week ive got shoots of hair grass coming out from the sides so its starting to spread by it self so im not to worried about that. the glosso actualy hasnt been to bad its going up and sideways so im just going to wait and see what happens there was thinking of adding mabie 1 250 mh in the middle of the tank between all the fluros do you guys think this will be of any benefit or do you think 2 would be better? i want to get an all in one dual 250w metal halides with quad t5's but like ive said b4 there are none in wellington and bloody no one wants to ship :an!gry also in unrelated news yesterday i brought another tank lol a 55l aquaone aquanano 40 which is ither going to be a nano planted or nano reef i am undecided on which yet but since i have no experiance with reefs im thinking planted may be the way to go... wanted a little tank for the lounge and this was the perfect size 40x40x40 :slfg: :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 I would definitely not be starting my first dabble into reefs with a 55l. The bigger, the better for reef tanks, especially if you're just starting off. My first reef tank was a 90l and it was very hard work. I'd never go under 200l now unless I also had a bigger tank so I could do daily WCs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 yeah i thought that might be the case so mabie ill go with the original plan and do a nano iwagimi style tank haha ill start a new thread once i start on it haha have to wait for some more funds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Nano planted are awesome - here'smy first planted tank - 23l. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 hehe ive been keeping a sneeky eye on your tank :lol: looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 hehe ive been keeping a sneeky eye on your tank :lol: looking good! I'm super jealous your hairgrass is spreading already. My stuff is taking it's sweet time, though bf insists it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellydave Posted November 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 haha yeah its still not fast enough i get impaitent haha. i forget are you running co2? if not i highly suggest it and if you can upgrade your lighting (like i need to do) lol it will make all the difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 haha yeah its still not fast enough i get impaitent haha. i forget are you running co2? if not i highly suggest it and if you can upgrade your lighting (like i need to do) lol it will make all the difference No CO2, and I won't be running it. The tank is almost a closed box and I'm a bit concerned about gas exchange at the best of times. I'm thinking of rigging up some supplimental lighting. It is growing, just too slow for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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