20 gallon High Tech

[foofooree]

Well, just figured I'd share one of my tanks on this forum ;)
Current specs:
-Lighting- 2x65 watt compact florescent (1x6500k, 1x10000k)
-Filtration- Eheim 2213
-Substrate- Eco Complete
-CO2- Pressurized @ 2.5 bbs
The transformation of this tank
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/attachments/photo-album/6855d1206494879-20-gallon-high-tech-new-lights-img_1342.jpg
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/attachments/photo-album/6856d1206494944-20-gallon-high-tech-new-lights-img_1347.jpg
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/attachments/photo-album/6965d1207106797-20-gallon-high-tech-new-lights-fish-002.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/photos001-1.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/up.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/20gallon006.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/tripod003.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/tripod001.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/java005.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/20up009.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/20up007.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/20up008.jpgAnd after a 10 day vacation ;)- http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/vacgrow007.jpgand after a trim-http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/trims004.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/031.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0011.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0021.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0024.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0029.jpg

[Bk828]

nice transformations. Very clean look.
Whats the plant in the last photo. Center right. The single taller one

[foofooree]

nice transformations. Very clean look.
Whats the plant in the last photo. Center right. The single taller one
Oh, it is pot. gayi I moved it today, too out of place. and Oh:mad2: I misspelled "teck" in the title, it should be "tech" ;) If a mod could fix it, that would be awesome ;)

[Bk828]

ahh nice

Click the http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/ms_icons_blue/buttons/report.gif and ask to have your title changed that way..

btw welcome from TPT lol alot of members from there are joining AC

[foofooree]

ahh nice

Click the http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/ms_icons_blue/buttons/report.gif and ask to have your title changed that way..

btw welcome from TPT lol alot of members from there are joining AC
Ive been a member here longer lol, just didnt post very much ;)
Edit: In fact, Ive been a member here longer than you ;)

[Virtuoso2K12]

i liked it after your 10 day vacation.

[foofooree]

i liked it after your 10 day vacation.
Thanks, I didnt kinda like the wild, edge of the jungle look:perv:

[Bk828]

Ive been a member here longer lol, just didnt post very much ;)
Edit: In fact, Ive been a member here longer than you :o ;)

lol a few months longer :silly:

well you should post here more often, im sure theres plenty of people who would like to get advice from a person who has experience with a high teck ( i mean tech) setup :grinyes:

[foofooree]

lol a few months longer :silly:

well you should post here more often, im sure theres plenty of people who would like to get advice from a person who has experience with a high teck ( i mean tech) setup :grinyes:
Im just starting my journey into the high "teck" world. Ive noticed that this forum is probably the most active of the three forums that I am part of (that have a freshwater section ;))
Im going to the lfs tomorrow, hopefully I can beging stocking this puppy (probably with espei rasboras :D)

[Bk828]

Yee i was going to say the same thing. You wont find another forum which gives you as many comments/answers within a short period of time.

These espei tetras, they go by another name?? because i found espei rasboras (false harleys) and espei pencil fish but cant find tetras

Also are you going to leave the center/foreground of the tank clear like that or are you planning to add some foreground plant??

[foofooree]

Yee i was going to say the same thing. You wont find another forum which gives you as many comments/answers within a short period of time.

These espei tetras, they go by another name?? because i found espei rasboras (false harleys) and espei pencil fish but cant find tetras

Also are you going to leave the center/foreground of the tank clear like that or are you planning to add some foreground plant??
Yep, I meant rasboras, for the foreground, I am going to add hairgrass to the back middle, and probably a moss carpet in front of that

[Bk828]

will be sticking with the same moss you got on the left for the foreground?? (is it Taiwan moss? or Christmas?)

[foofooree]

will be sticking with the same moss you got on the left for the foreground?? (is it Taiwan moss? or Christmas?)
Yes, it is taiwan. If I decide to go with a different moss, I will change it all out

[Bk828]

alright one last comment from me for today..

I noticed you have some algae on your stone. What kind is it?? found ways to get rid of it??
I broke down a nice setup before just because a stone kept on growing a large amount of bba.

[foofooree]

Ummm, I think its gsa, never really looked it up. It comes and goes, my bn pleco likes to snack on it, as well as my otto

[Bk828]

k i know i said last question for tonight but w/e here goes another one

what kind of bn you have? I was planning on getting an albino one since they dont get as big as brown ones. Also how you think a bn will do with a clown pleco??

[foofooree]

I have a brown one. I have no Idea about the compatibility with a clown plec....

[DAVIDFBT]

Nice! What are the current inhabitants? Is that Eco Complete? I liked it after the 10 day vacation too.

[foofooree]

yes, it is eco. The current inhabitants are only a bn plec. a sparkling gourami, 7 amano shrimp and several cherry shrimp. and an oto

[foofooree]

I added some rotala and downoi today, as well as some killies :D I'll post pis later ;)

[Bk828]

what kind of killies??

[foofooree]

not sure. the male had yellow on the tips of his fins and red spots on his body. I almost got an orange (very bright orange) killie, but it had ich :(

[Fishy_Fun]

Nice tank!

[fishorama]

I liked all the versions. Post more pics please.

[foofooree]

Got some downoi for free!!! It was an extra with some plants.
The downio:http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0032.jpg
Some kind of rotala:http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0033.jpg

[foofooree]

http://www.azgardens.com/images/Gardneri-ClownKilliTHUMB.gif
This is the type of killie I got. I got a male and a female. I couldnt get a pic because they are really shy right now ;) (I didnt take the pic. above ;))

[DAVIDFBT]

I would get 2 more otos, they like being in groups of at least 3.

[foofooree]

I would get 2 more otos, they like being in groups of at least 3.
Yeah, I have had the one I have for a long time. I was going to get more today, but they were out ;)

[foofooree]

The plants I added today: Rotala sp. Goias, Pogostemon Helferi, Limnophila Aromatica
The fish: a pair of clown killies

[zzyzx85]

:bowing: wow...I wished my tank looks like that.

[foofooree]

:bowing: wow...I wished my tank looks like that.
lol, thanks. I bet you'll get there :) Just keep up with the research etc ;)

[foofooree]

So Im wandering what I should stock this with.... I want a school of around 18 micro rasboras, but I cant find them in my area.....

[Bk828]

Foo try www.franksaquarium.com (http://www.franksaquarium.com) I got mine from him. But i was lucky that he is in my area so i didnt have to deal with shipping.

Plus he got other rarer fish for good prices. Also if you dont see something on his websites stock list, send him a pm.

[foofooree]

Hmmm, I really like his phoenix rasboras.... How much does he charge for shipping?

[foofooree]

Nevermind, I see it's $35 :(

[DAVIDFBT]

You could keep your eyes open on the Classifieds section of our forum, you get good deals on fish there.

[Bk828]

Nevermind, I see it's $35 :(

ahh yes since he uses like fedex to ship or something.. email him and see if he can give you a better deal on shipping.

[foofooree]

Ok, I'll keep that in mind :) Thanks.

[foofooree]

I know people are going to say "Quarantine your fish!!" But, considering I have like two fish, Im not too worried about it. The two killies I got the other day looked like they had some fungus or something, so I took them back to the store, and the guy gladly took the back and replaced them with a very healthy trio from a different tank (giving me an extra female for free) That had a slightly different color varient (more pretty if you ask me) So here are the pictures (hard to get a decent pic because they move so fast ;)) http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0035.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0038.jpgHiding: http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0040.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0041.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0042.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0043.jpgThe best one IMO: http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0039.jpg FTS http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0045.jpg

[foofooree]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0046.jpg

[Bk828]

very cool killies.

[H3D]

Awesome tank!

[foofooree]

Thanks Guys!:D

[Alan R]

What is the plant that looks like a piece lily?

[foofooree]

What is the plant that looks like a piece lily?
Not sure which one you are talking about. mind pointing it out?

[Mozl0v]

nice tank man

[fishorama]

I think your killies are p. gardneri, not clowns, pretty whichever.

[foofooree]

I think your killies are p. gardneri, not clowns, pretty whichever.
Yes they are gardneri killies, not sure why I put they were clown killies. They dont even look close to clown killies:perv:lol

[foofooree]

pearling:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0048.jpg
Female killie:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0049.jpg
Male killie:http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0051.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0052.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0053.jpg

[Bk828]

beauties..
What plant is that beside the L. Aromatica?? is it aromatica mini??
How much did you manage to grab the killies for??

[foofooree]

beauties..
What plant is that beside the L. Aromatica?? is it aromatica mini??
How much did you manage to grab the killies for??
The plant to the right of the aromatica is rotala sp. goias. The killies were $19 after tax for all three :D:perv::headbang2:

[foofooree]

look what I got :D :http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0055.jpg
and some crazy pearling: http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0054.jpg

[Bk828]

show off!!! you know you just did a water change and got those air bubbles lol j/k

nice, i cant wait to get pressurized

[foofooree]

You'll love it! :D I know I do :D

[Bk828]

lol sure i will, no more sugar wasting every 3-5 weeks.

Your diffuser is special, it has a tiny marimo ball inside of it lol

[foofooree]

lol sure i will, no more sugar wasting every 3-5 weeks.

Your diffuser is special, it has a tiny marimo ball inside of it lol
LOL:grinyes: That is a peice of eco. Not sure why it looks green :perv: lol:grinyes:

[foofooree]

Well, Ive been going through a bacterial bloom, though I dont know why :(
I started to get ready for the trimming
Here the before picture: http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0067.jpg
I pulled out the rotala: http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0068.jpg
Which scared a rainbow shrimp that was sold to me as a blue mole shrimp out of hiding (I hardly see him, and he has acquired an orange color, before that he was blue, brown then red) http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0069.jpg
After 45 minutes of seperating, cutting, then planting, and stirring up the substrate, then doing a big water change (Im guessing close to 70-75%) the water is still a little cloudy, but due to sediment in the water, and is no longer the milky white (but it may come back tomorrow :(): http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0072.jpg
And the shrimp is still out of hiding (and in clearer water ;)): http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0073.jpg

[Born4spd]

I am also curious about the plant that looks like a peace lily.

( The plant you had in the first set of pics that put up a white tube like flower)

[Ozymandias]

I believe that is a Anubias of some sort right foofooree (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=73855), and varry nice growth there

[Alan R]

Not sure which one you are talking about. mind pointing it out?

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/gareptilenut/20up009.jpg

[Ozymandias]

yup looks like a flowering Anubias

[foofooree]

ahh yes, that is an anubias flower. They pearl more than any other part of the plant for some reason lol

[BubbleBack_Ek9_]

Beautiful tank and i like your shrimp and do you have cherries in there because on your first post i saw them or is my mind playing tricks on me... lol

[foofooree]

yes I have cherries

[Bk828]

hows the tank going?? why did you pull out the rotala again?

[foofooree]

water has clearedhttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0074.jpg

[Mgamer20o0]

nice update.

[WaywardSon]

Cool ...

[Starry]

I really like your aquascaping. I have a 10 gal, and I've always found aquascaping tough. I just have clumps of plants everywhere, it never actually looks like a "scape". It's also hard to create depth in such a small tank.

I'm also super jealous of how clean and algae-free your plants are! I've been battling algae for a while now, but my new batch of CO2 should help. I can't wait to go pressurized, I will actually do it on this 10 gal, once I finish school and move into a more permanent place.

[Bk828]

Nice the rotala has really picked up, all nice and bushy now

[foofooree]

Ok
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0075.jpg
Downoi http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0076.jpg
Some pellia Im tryin http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0077.jpg
Love this stuff: http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0078.jpg

[Starry]

Love the P. helferi. How does it propagate? Runners?

[foofooree]

I think it does have runners, and it branches off as well

[WaywardSon]

Looking very nice!

[Bk828]

hotness!! Rotala is very beautiful, also love how you can keep the blyxa so red.
You still planning to do anything with the foreground?? seems very empty

Doesnt the P. helferi propagate the same way blyxa does, by growing new side shoots.

[foofooree]

Yeah, I still plan on hairgrass back middle with a patch of downoi in front of it and extending the moss out in front of that. I have seen some runners on my downoi....I think???

[WaywardSon]

Sounds like a pretty good plan.

[foofooree]

Well, I moved the blyxa that was hidden by the rotala into the empty spots on the left. I also trimmed one of the...gah, I cant remember the name of the stem plant in the back left...tall, stray stems and put it in the last empy spot. The tall thin stem is pot. gayi that just sprouted up there and I dont know what to do with it. You can see how the downoi has grown (sorry the water is a little cloudy from the replanting)
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0090.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0091.jpg
I started out with just four crowns :o
I also moved the pellia that was just in there because to the left some and trimmed and replanted a couple of the stray rotala stems
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0092.jpg

[foofooree]

Oh, should I move my intake from behind the mass of rotala to get better suction?

[Bk828]

Plant in back left, talking about L. Aromatica? (yours looks very very colorful)

The tank is coming together great. Both sides look so bushy with nice growth. Though on the center left side i would move the anubias and the crypt to another spot, the downoi seems to be blocking them from view. And the lone pot. gayi doesnt seem to belong there in the bushyness of aromatica/rotala.

About the intake, I think thats a good place for it, as long as your outflow creates a nice flow through the tank and there are no dead spots then you are good. (does the intake suck on the lower leaves of your rotala??)

Either way the tank is beautiful!!!! Youve done a great job!

[foofooree]

Yeah, that p. gayi just sprouted up there and I'm not sure what to do with it lol.

[foofooree]

Also, I am thinking about moving the downoi onto the slope where the moss is and spreading the moss carpet out somewhere else in the tank. What do you guys think?

[Bk828]

I personally like the moss where it is. It seems to flow with the background plants/stone. You can try moving the downoi along the right side by the rotalas.

[foofooree]

Trimmed some things. Especially the moss. Now I have a baseball sized portion of taiwan moss, pm me if you want to buy it

[foofooree]

The water isnt really cloudy, thats algae on the front glass.
Im going to refill my co2 tomorrow, the 30c will have to wait :'( http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0095.jpg

[foofooree]

I need to change the right side somehow...the rotala is about an inch from the top, its grown noticeably from 11 pm yesterday

[foofooree]

The rotala was halfway across the top of the tank. I trimmed it and got four otos from store credit :D http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0105.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0106.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0107.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0108.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0109.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0110.jpg

[Fishfiles1]

what kind of plant is that, that flowerd

[foofooree]

Anubias nana

[DAVIDFBT]

I love how clean your tank looks. I also got a couple of otos from plant trimmings. :D I love trading at the LFS.

[Bk828]

What the _______.. thats some crazy growth right there
Did you change your dosing? I noticed your blyxa and aromatica went back to green

[foofooree]

They were as red as they were bc of low nitrate. I started dosing that as well as phosphorus in addition to my k and Fe

[Bk828]

yee and i read you lowered your lighting period as well. (to get the full story one has to use all the sources lol)

[foofooree]

yee and i read you lowered your lighting period as well. (to get the full story one has to use all the sources lol)
haha

[WaywardSon]

Excellent - I love the clean look of your tank. And, of course, the amazing plants!

[foofooree]

trimmed a few things, added a few others http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0122.jpg

[Bk828]

Excellent!!
The p. gayi is growing fast

[DAVIDFBT]

Can I have your trimmings? I'm jealous of your tank right now.

[foofooree]

Excellent!!
The p. gayi is growing fast
It really is, it all started from one 2 inch stem that came as a hitchhiker, took forever to grow to trimming height, I moved the one stem to the back left corner, then I suddenly saw like 7 stems growing out of my aromatica, trimmed those, move them, and its now growing like a weed. It pearls more than any of my other plants.
Can I have your trimmings? I'm jealous of your tank right now.
Thanks for the compliments. Im probably going to make the rotundifolia bunch on the right smaller when I think of a good plant to add in. I took my trimmings in and got 2 otos and 3 rummy nose tetras to add to my 55 gallon tank. I now have 6 in there and they school great :D

[Bk828]

only if lfs here traded plants for fish. I will have to double check again. All owners are grumpy here

[foofooree]

My rotala is really shaping up :)
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0136.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0138.jpg
Trying to get a pic of my new additions:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0139.jpg
Oh, and yes, I did take the moss out. I didnt want it to get infested with algae :(

[foofooree]

It was very overgrown:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0147.jpg
I trimmed the rotala down a lot. I didnt want it to die off too much from lack of light and wanted better flow. Some of the leaves had died, but they'll grow back and it will bush up:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0148.jpg
I have been trimming and replanting the downoi (going for a foreground maybe) And using root tabs with great success. I found and extra stem of it in my lim. aro. jungle when I trimmed it back:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0149.jpg

[Bk828]

you should add a yellow or a red plant to the tank. It seems 2 green. Looks good though no doubt about that

[foofooree]

lol yeah, it is very green, that's why I added the lily. As I just posted on another forum, It;s because my nitrates were so high. I haven't dosed in a long time and I've been doing big water changes. The new growth will be more red.

[Bk828]

is that ludwigia repens x arcuata you got in the center back??

[foofooree]

is that ludwigia repens x arcuata you got in the center back??
no unfortunately, its ludwigia repens
well, it might be...hmmm

[fishorama]

I love the downoi!

[foofooree]

I love the downoi!
Thanks:thm:

[fishorama]

The anubias behind the downoi seems awkward somehow. Maybe replace it with an interesting rock or like BK suggested something reddish.

[foofooree]

Some random shots:
I added some hc that I had and didnt know what to do with:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0150.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0151.jpg
Some of my blyxa:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0152.jpg

[DAVIDFBT]

Is that HC tied to a piece of slate?

[foofooree]

Is that HC tied to a piece of slate?
Yes it is, easier than planting each sprig individually, because I wasnt trying to cover a large area, I just tied it to some slate :) lol

[foofooree]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0153.jpg
I noticed I was getting some bba, so I moved the powerhead to just above the diffuser, so the bubbles dissolve a lot better.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0155.jpg
I moved some blyxa from the back where you couldn't see it to in front of the rotala
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0156.jpg
I am impatient, so I moved my mystery fern to this tank, and it is already pearling :D
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0157.jpg
As you can see, I am starting to get some color in my rotala:)
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0154.jpg
FTS, no the water is not cloudy, those are just co2 micro bubbles :D

[foofooree]

I FINALLY figured out the right white balance with my crappy 3.2 mp camera lol
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0158.jpg

[DAVIDFBT]

Good job! The tank definetely looks a lot less blue-er. What powerhead is that?

[foofooree]

Good job! The tank definetely looks a lot less blue-er. What powerhead is that?
Its a kinda custom/ modified/ salvaged "powerhead" (really a water pump I guess) made by jebo

[Virtuoso2K12]

Looking better, keep it up!!!

[foofooree]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/001.jpg

[DAVIDFBT]

Not just green anymore! I love your downoi!

[foofooree]

Not just green anymore! I love your downoi!
Thanks!

[StereoKills]

Very nice! Getting some nice reds now.

[Bk828]

looking good.. real good. The ludwigia really got a kick and is showing great colors.

(btw someone stole your co2 indicator :P)

[foofooree]

looking good.. real good. The ludwigia really got a kick and is showing great colors.

(btw someone stole your co2 indicator :P)
Thanks. HAHA LOL I just put it in there even though I have no indicator (too lazy to buy any lol) because I got tired of my drop checker witting on my desk...:lol:

[Bk828]

lol you aint the only lazy one.. i need the darn solution as well

[fishorama]

OOooh, it's looking really good. I think you have too much downoi & need to send some to me! I see the anubias has gone...Don't you like rocks?

[foofooree]

Don't you like rocks?
I love rocks, it's just too late to add any now :(

[foofooree]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0315.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0316.jpg

[foofooree]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0320.jpg

[Karl.E]

Ever think of selling some of that downoi? :perv:

[foofooree]

Ever think of selling some of that downoi? :perv:
No problem when I finish my foreground
I separated and propagated some more http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0321.jpg

[Bk828]

very nice. for me downoi just melted after a month :(

[foofooree]

very nice. for me downoi just melted after a month :(
Hmm, that sucks. I'm glad it worked out for me. I have heard many mixed success stories. It grows pretty easily for me.

[Bk828]

show off lol
loving how your anubias are algae free as well. guess its that much easier to find a balance with a smaller thank than with something like a 55g

[foofooree]

show off lol
loving how your anubias are algae free as well. guess its that much easier to find a balance with a smaller thank than with something like a 55g
I have no anubias in this tank anymore...

[Bk828]

lol excuse me.. im a lil off tonight
but generally speaking

[foofooree]

lol excuse me.. im a lil off tonight
but generally speaking
ah lol. But I have a ton of string algae :( :(:mad2::swear:

[foofooree]

Did a trim to the left side:http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0322.jpg

[Fishy_Fun]

Looks very nice

[Virtuoso2K12]

I missed the green :cry:

[fishorama]

Wowee! Did the downoi grow that fast from what you had or did you add more from another tank?

[foofooree]

Good news! I just ordered a 2217 for $70 and the algae is going away! :D

[fishorama]

W00t!

[foofooree]

I made an inline reactor today and got that ugly diffuser out of there :D
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0351.jpg

[Bk828]

Dude the downoi is sick!

[DAVIDFBT]

It's amazing how much the downoi grew in the past week.

[foofooree]

Dude the downoi is sick!
I know bro!
It's amazing how much the downoi grew in the past week.
Has it really grown that much?

[Bk828]

I also like your trim of the right side. Really brought out the difference between the green rotala and hm. Planning to grow hc for foreground 2?

[foofooree]

I also like your trim of the right side. Really brought out the difference between the green rotala and hm. Planning to grow hc for foreground 2?
Everyone thinks that rotala green and some other plant, but it's all rotundifolia:grinyes: I just trimmed it like that. IDK what I'm gonna do with that hc, I used some of it on my nano tank, but not nearly all of it :P

[Bk828]

really? rotundifolia? wow mine was never that green.
I think having another blyxa on the left blocking off that dark spot + either HC as foreground or having a complete downoi foreground and your tank scape is DONE! Though i would go with the HC since a full foregound of downoi would look strange.

[foofooree]

really? rotundifolia? wow mine was never that green.
I think having another blyxa on the left blocking off that dark spot + either HC as foreground or having a complete downoi foreground and your tank scape is DONE! Though i would go with the HC since a full foregound of downoi would look strange.
Yes, there is some blyxa in that spot, just waiting for it to grow. I might put a couple of limno stems in that spot as well. I'll try the full downoi foreground fist to see how it looks, because no one has ever done that before (that I've seen) and idk why my rotundifolia is soo green. I think it might be dosing too much nitrate, because I have plenty of iron.

[Bk828]

how much nitrate do you dose?

[foofooree]

how much nitrate do you dose?
maybe 1/8-1/10 tsp every other day

[Bk828]

why so little? worried about shrimps?

[foofooree]

why so little? worried about shrimps?
That and to try to bring out the reds:wall:

[Mindcrime121]

That is an incredible tank. I just read the entire thread and love the way it has evolved.

[foofooree]

That is an incredible tank. I just read the entire thread and love the way it has evolved.
Thanks:grinyes:

[Bk828]

That and to try to bring out the reds:wall:

yee ive read about that and L. Aromatica but by looks of it.. it doesnt seem 2 be working 2 well for you.. since its like a seesaw one turns red.. another turns green.

[phanmc]

That and to try to bring out the reds:wall:

I first thought that it might have been your camera. I've never had a problem turning Limno a deep purple or the L. repens and R. rotundifolia reddish and I never had to limit anything. What is the rest of your dosing like?

[foofooree]

I first thought that it might have been your camera. I've never had a problem turning Limno a deep purple or the L. repens and R. rotundifolia reddish and I never had to limit anything. What is the rest of your dosing like?
1/8 tsp of k, 1/32 tsp P and 1/8 tsp kno3 one day and 1/8 tsp iron the other alternating back and forth. 5 mils of excel daily

[phanmc]

Are you adding the other traces in addition to iron? What is the GH of your water?

[foofooree]

Are you adding the other traces in addition to iron? What is the GH of your water?
umm, my gh is like 180 and my kh is around 80 ph 6.5
I'm adding the plantex ms + b or whatever it is

[phanmc]

Everything else looks to be in order. If you continue to see little red development I'd up the dosage of nitrates and maybe add some magnesium.

[foofooree]

Everything else looks to be in order. If you continue to see little red development I'd up the dosage of nitrates and maybe add some magnesium.
Thanks. I don't think I have any Mg though :(

[foofooree]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0364.jpg
Just messing around
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0362.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0363.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0365.jpg
I put the 2217 on the tank when I got home today. The plants are pearling more. Maybe the co2 is dissolving faster with a higher flow rate through the reactor?

[Bk828]

nice riccia ball (remove it before it becomes riccia hell lol)

[fishorama]

Quick, give me your downoi before it wrecks your 'scape, Please....Looks great foo.

[DAVIDFBT]

So many O2 bubbles, it's crazy!

[foofooree]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0373.jpg

[Bk828]

looking sweet!! (still LOL at the riccia ball)

(hey i dont see shrimps being stuck to the front glass from the strong eheim.. mustve had the filter off..:evil_lol:)

[foofooree]

Well, currently the tank is being rescaped. Well, not really rescaped, more like replanted, as in im moving some of the stem plants. I was getting kinda bored with it, so I hope that the 'replant' works out for the better

[foofooree]

Ok, I'm going for a wall of rotala with the corners having lim. aro. and a row of blxa with a foreground of downoi and hc. The wood is oak that I whittled and boiled etc. myself The water is cloudy because I stirred the substrate. I'm going to do a big water change and hope that everything starts growing.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0375.jpg

[Bk828]

whoa big change. So is the wood going to be as if its coming out of a big blyxa bush?

[foofooree]

whoa big change. So is the wood going to be as if its coming out of a big blyxa bush?

Yes, well, a blyxa bush with a rotala bush behind it :) You can't really tell from the pics, but I have put a 'lining' of blyxa in front of all of the rotala, spanning the whole tank from wall to wall. Hopefully it will turn into a nice hedge. I really hope it all grows in good :o

[Bk828]

well if it dont you can break down your tank and send me the downoi

[foofooree]

well if it dont you can break down your tank and send me the downoi

:lol: sure....you wish :silly:

[foofooree]

Old camera: http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/IMG_0508.jpg
New camera :D http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/DSC00023.jpg

[starrystarstarr]

omg its really really pretty:)

[Mindcrime121]

Looking nice. Keep the new camera! :P

BTW, what is the floating plant?

[fishorama]

The tank looks great but...What happened to the downoi?!?! & the wood? Did the new camera make it disappear? Or, OMG are you sending it to me?!?!

[foofooree]

The tank looks great but...What happened to the downoi?!?! & the wood? Did the new camera make it disappear? Or, OMG are you sending it to me?!?!

I took the wood out. The downoi melted :( Over $100 worth of it too :headshake2:

[H3D]

Looks amazing!

[SchizotypalVamp]

As always, NICE tank

[foofooree]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/DSC00111.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/DSC00112.jpg

[DAVIDFBT]

I need to get me some Riccia, great tank as always! $100 of Downoi melted? Wow, that's gotta hurt, sorry foofoo.

[foofooree]

I need to get me some Riccia, great tank as always! $100 of Downoi melted? Wow, that's gotta hurt, sorry foofoo.:werd:

yeah man, I could already taste that mistking system :shakehead:

[fishorama]

Oh that's terrible about the downoi, foo. It looked so good. Still, your tank looks great & I'm sure it'll be different again soon. Keep up the good work! You still don't have animals in there do you? Yellow shrimp look cool.

[powerkit]

Very nice thread. I love that ricci!!! You were deffinately blessed with two green thumbs!!!

[Mindcrime121]

Dang, that bites about the downoi man! What happened? What caused it to melt? No chance of any of it coming back like Crypts often do?

[foofooree]

I threw on the 2213 as it was not in use ATM, so I have both the 2217 and the 2213 on this tank in opposite corners, both pointing towards the middle. The plants seem to love it because they have gotten so thick that the CO2 rich water gets better circulated through the tank :D
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/DSC00168.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/DSC00169.jpg

[Bk828]

Nice.. looks like it needs a serious trim :)

[Fordtrannyman]

whoa, momma!

I like the open look in the front better.
Let me know when you trim. I could use some more Rotala.

[foofooree]

Nice.. looks like it needs a serious trim :)

whoa, momma!

I like the open look in the front better.
Let me know when you trim. I could use some more Rotala.

Thanks guys! I'll be doing a trim the day after Christmas, that way the plants won't get caught up for a day, plus the PO is really busy ATM. Sure thing FTM. I'll be trimming it back hard, like the top 2/3 of the whole rotala bush will be gone. How much do you need?

[Mindcrime121]

Good god... That looks AWESOME! I wish my rotala would grow in that thick! I can't complain though, I've got prolly 30-40 stems now, off an original 9 I think it was from the pot I bought at the LFS, and some bottoms have begun sending up 2 replacement tops instead of just one. :)

Propogation is FUN! :)

[foofooree]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/DSC00176.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/DSC00175.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/DSC00174.jpg
Here it all is:
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/clwatkins10/DSC00178.jpg

[DAVIDFBT]

I wonder how th etank looks like with all that rotala gone.

[foofooree]

I wonder how th etank looks like with all that rotala gone.

Well, I trimmed it rather flat, But I'll shape it when it gets taller.

[Bk828]

talk about good lighting.. even with that wad of rotala covering the surface, the HC is still growing fine. Nice. Waiting for an update :)

[foofooree]

talk about good lighting.. even with that wad of rotala covering the surface, the HC is still growing fine. Nice. Waiting for an update :)

lol, it's only 130 watts ;):headbang2:

[DAVIDFBT]

Only 130 watts over 20 gallons? I think you may need to upgrade your lighting, the plants may not grow with such little light. ;)

[foofooree]

Only 130 watts over 20 gallons? I think you may need to upgrade your lighting, the plants may not grow with such little light. ;)

:lol: The cut tops are releasing O2 bubbles like you wouldn't believe

[Mindcrime121]

All I can say is WOW!!....just WOW!!

I have GOT to get mine growing like that!! Was gonna retrofit my lights with 2x26W daylight CFLs, but if I can get something going with pressurized CO2 and get off the DIY thing, I think I'll double that wattage!