JMHart's Main FW Planted Tank

[jmhart]

Tank: 30g All-Glass (36"w x 12" d x 17" h)
Filter: Eheim 2026
Substrate: Blue Gravel
Lights: DIY 126w(See Sig)
DIY CO2: drop checker reads 20-30ppm
EI Dosing


Fauna:
8 Serpae Tetras
3 Gold Gourami's
3 SAE (C. Siamensis)
1 Zebra Danio
1 Yo-Yo Loach
1 Dojo Loach
1 Otocinclus
1 Common Pleco


Flora:
Ludwigia Repens
Rotala Indica
Limnophila Aromatica
Hemianthus micranthemoides("Pearlweed")
Echinodorus amazonicus (Amazon Sword)
Java Moss
Java Fern
Vallisneria americana
Rotala macrandra

Tank on 9-22-2007
http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1697/10584704/18904759/300931053.jpg
*This was cropped from another picture, hence the extremely poor quality. This is just to illustrate the progress

Tank on 11-17-2007
http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1697/10584704/18904759/300938859.jpg
*I don't have a good camera, hence the poor quality of the photo

Tank on 1-10-2008
http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1697/10584704/18904759/300931057.jpg
*See note above

I've already made several changes. I have removed the grey HOB you see in the pictures, and have run the co2 output directly into the cannister intake, thus doing away with the Hagen Ladder.

I have slightly rescaped as well. I'll update when the wife gets back in town with the camera.

Future Plans:

This tank "turns into" a 45 g (36"x12"x24") soon. Picking the tank up on Wednesday. I'll be painting the back black, so probably start putting it up this weekend.

First order of business is to put the bag of soilmaster I have on the back porch in the tank. Don't even think of hating on the blue gravel :shakehead:

Second thing is a lawn. Mellowvision is sending me somee HC which is going in. If I keep the rocks down the center, I'll likely add some HC on one side and Hairgrass on the other, creating two lawns.

Pressurized co2 is probably 4-5 months away.

[Bk718]

Nice, i had similar gravel before but was 2 bright for my taste.
The growth is hella fast lol
love the Limnophila Aromatica

[jmhart]

Nice, i had similar gravel before but was 2 bright for my taste.
The growth is hella fast lol
love the Limnophila Aromatica

Yeah, I'm looking forward to the soilmaster cutting down on the reflection.

The L. armotatics is probably the favorite of the house(women and their "pretty colors" :silly:), but I'm more partial to the Vals.

[Bk718]

the darker gravel will make such a big difference (not bashing on your "nice" blue gravel :silly:)
that plant was the first one that caught my eye.. well that and the ludwigia. Would love to have some plant like that.. plus once it reaches the surface the COLORS :drool:
http://tommycatkins.com/apc_limnophila-aromatica.jpg

[mphunk]

I love the 30 gal! It's a great size. You've done a nice job in your DIY projects.

I tried hairgrass, IMO it gathered algae quick. I am partial to dwarf sags for that lawn look! (Why do all of us Californian's want lawn in their tanks?)

[Mgamer20o0]

nice.

[jmhart]

So, clearly I'm no photographer. Any thoughts on how to improve the picture quality for future shots?

[FtwayneFish]

Very very nice progress, I have a few of those "pretty" plants, red ludwigia, I have also 2 new very "pretty" additions, rotala marcunden something and rotala wigia? its a redder red ludwigia like and a ferny red foxtail. very nice pink and reds on em'.

Nice tanks and I love the advice.

vote for Jeffrey the mod.

[FtwayneFish]

o and they say, no flash, and a tripod or chair. also theres macro and micro settings. use macro? and zoom in. I think. My shots are worse cause its the dang work camera and I didnt know how to use it.

[st0l1]

Awesome tank. :thumbsup:

[Cory Keeper]

Nice Val

[Lupin]

Nice!

[jm1212]

keep up the good work!

[bethkira2000]

Very nice tank

[jmhart]

Starting the process of upgrading the tank to a 45 today. This is the tank as is:



2-1-2008


http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1697/10584704/18904759/301999271.jpg


Freaking Dojo loach dug up the pearlweed, but I didn't feel like replanting it for the pic since I'm digging up all of it today.

So, soon(today) the tank will be 8 inches taller with soilmaster select as substrate. For now, the aquascape won't change much. I'm looking around for some nice hardscape items, but the tank will probably sit for a while until I find some stuff that is just right.

[jmhart]

Finished the upgrade last night. The water still needs to clear a little bit due to the sms. It looks great. Not quite so full as before. I ditched a few things, and rearranged a good bit. Add HC. Looks awesome. It'll look even better when it fills in a few months.

The size of the new tank really dwarfs the plants now. Gonna need some tall growers for the background...


Pictures coming as soon as the water clears.

[FISHSHROD]

good job:grinyes:

[jmhart]

2-5-2008
http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1697/10584704/18904759/302625839.jpg


New 45g All-Glass tank....probably start a new thread, let this one die....probably...

[mellowvision]

lookin good!

[H3D]

Nice tank.