just started planting [Archive]

bluekrissyspike

01-28-2009, 9:32 PM

my fifty g!! i took the moss and aponogeton crispus(thx jpappy) out of my 30g and started planting my fifty g the other day. i added some lace java fern, but it melted a bit cause i bleached it(which i now know is not a good idea at all), some moneywort i got at the lps today and some watersprite from my ten g which was a bit over crouded. tomorrow i am going to go get a few more plants at my lps(yeah for payday!!) but this is how it's looking right now. i'm not really sure how to do a good scape so i would appreciate some advice. lighting is two 40 watt t8s in a shoplight.
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2003.jpg?t=1233195559

this is my ten g although i rescaped it a couple days ago and took some of the plants for my 50
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM1949.jpg?t=1233196171

and my 30 b4 i stole it's plants.
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM1948.jpg?t=1233196240

now it looks like crap, see?
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM1987.jpg?t=1233196319

jpappy789

01-28-2009, 9:34 PM

The aponogeton crispus may not do so well in that light...nice start though.

bluekrissyspike

01-29-2009, 4:48 PM

looking for help to make the first tank look nicer please. how about plant placement ideas? i got some crypts(red and bronze) today too and an anubias of some sort. i'll look up their names when i don't have a baby sleeping on me (:

bluekrissyspike

01-30-2009, 5:52 PM

hmmm....no one wants to help me?
i did a bit of re-arranging last night and added my crypts and moneywart but it still doesn't look quite right to me. i'm wondering if i should take the aponogeton crispus out because it's kinda big and jpappy says it may not like being in the tank. is there a reason for it to not like the lighting?
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2014.jpg?t=1233355754
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2015.jpg?t=1233355784
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2013.jpg?t=1233355921

jpappy789

01-30-2009, 7:28 PM

I would replace the aponogeton with vallisneria. It should thrive in lower lighting and is a great background plant IMO.

bluekrissyspike

01-30-2009, 9:39 PM

the vallisneria look nice. good suggestion. so i;ll take the big plant out and get some of those.

EdFanatic

01-30-2009, 10:03 PM

I think you should take out the rocks and replace them with a certain type of rock then add a large piece of driftwood to bring focal point to your tank.

svf

01-30-2009, 10:10 PM

I think that it is way easier to work with plants with a deeper substrate. The pound per gallon thing doesn't seem to be enough for me - I like it deeper so the plants have room to root. It's also WAY easier to get them to stay in place. I like to have it deeper in the back, angling to shallower in the front.
Other than that - your tank (and angel) is lovely. It is fun to wait for it to grow in a bit and then decide what you would like it to look like.
Great job!

lovemybarbs

01-30-2009, 10:33 PM

I had to add more substrate and upgrade my lighting when I planted. Great start!

rocker92

01-30-2009, 10:33 PM

i agree with the drift wood!!!! you need a little hight and drift wood would look great!!!! i agree with jpappy also on the vallisneria!!! they are great plants and add some hight!!

good luck!!!!

bluekrissyspike

01-31-2009, 12:59 AM

thanks guys. those are some good ideas. is there some kind of subterate i could mix with the sand that would have fertilizer in it and still look ok? i think i saw a reddish coloured one online somewhere that might not look bad. i know my lps doesn't have any-they told me aquatic plants don't need ferts! lol. i will check out some driftwoods next time i am out. i love driftwoods. i see so many beautiful tanks on here, i appreciate the pointers. i will keep updating this thread as my tank progresses. is there anything else i should do?

EdFanatic

01-31-2009, 11:41 AM

I think you should switch your background, paint it blue or black or make it more aquatic XD

bluekrissyspike

01-31-2009, 2:07 PM

lol....yeah, i hate that background! it came with the tank and it's been there so long i don't even notice it anymore. i took it off to switch it around, but the other side has pillars and statues on it.
i can't wait to get my next pay check so i can start switching things around more (:
if anyone knows about the fertilizer/sand q i asked or has anything else to add, please do so!!

bluekrissyspike

02-03-2009, 4:34 PM

hey, i did a bit of rearranging, and took out the aponogeton. i tried to give it some height without going and buying driftwood cause i don't have any 'pet store' money right now. i'm going to be switching the background to either dark blue or a rock wall looking pattern. i'm leaning towards dark blue right now. there are a bunch of crypts planted behind the moss/driftwood on the left that you cant see yet but i'm hoping they will grow in soon. how long do you think it will take for the crypts to grow? i have no co2 or anything. i'm also going to be adding a few more cories and i'm thinking of taking the guppies out and adding either some ember tetras or some cherry barbs. my bf keeps calling the moneywort 'that alien tenticle one' LMAO
wow. i didn't notice how crappy this pic looks until i posted it. i'll try to get a better one tonight..lol

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2057-1.jpg

pinkertd

02-03-2009, 5:42 PM

I like how you rearranged it and your angel is awesome! The crypts will take a little while to grow up but they should look awesome as a backdrop to your moss/driftwood on the left. Going good!

CatsMeowww

02-03-2009, 5:57 PM

I think that it is way easier to work with plants with a deeper substrate. The pound per gallon thing doesn't seem to be enough for me - I like it deeper so the plants have room to root. It's also WAY easier to get them to stay in place. I like to have it deeper in the back, angling to shallower in the front.
:thm:

I agree. I started with the pound/gallon and found it difficult to cover the roots of all my plants. I added an extra 20lb bag of gravel, and it makes all the difference.

I also have discovered that where I once thought some driftwood is "too big" for a tank, that ends up not being true. Once the plants grow in, it looks really cool.

kyle3

02-04-2009, 7:22 PM

looking good. As far as a plant specific substrate to mix with your sand I use eco-complete or seachem's flourite.

By the way ideas substrate depth is about 3 inches for plants

and as mentioned above it really works well to slope it so it's deeper in back.

bluekrissyspike

02-04-2009, 7:53 PM

so here's some shots that i think r a bit clearer. switched out the background this afternoon. it's not exactly the color i wanted but it was a gift and i think it looks pretty good.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2065.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2063.jpg

my one floating peice of water sprite has exploded in size this week

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2077.jpg

and my crypts are starting to take on their new colors. one is wendtii bronze and the other is red. when i added them to the tank a couple days ago they were both green and hard to tell apart. now i c they are definately different

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2067.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2066.jpg

here's a coconut cave covered in (mts and)a mossball which i flattened out because it was deformed
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2068.jpg

jpappy789

02-04-2009, 8:04 PM

Things are looking better already!

bluekrissyspike

02-04-2009, 8:19 PM

thanks! i can't wait to get my vals in a couple weeks.

JAY973

02-04-2009, 8:57 PM

IMO I think you will serve yourself best by being patient and letting plants establish themselves, moving things around every few days really impedes what your trying to do. I wouldn't think about aquascaping until you have substantial growth.

You can add an inert substrate and just use root tabs to add ferts which should be released slowly for the plants to use. I like the background.

Just my .02 (FYI I didn't have much patience either when I started keeping a planted tank a few yrs ago I've come around since then.)

It's an excellent start!:thm:

kyle3

02-04-2009, 9:24 PM

Jay has good points!

bluekrissyspike

02-05-2009, 12:44 AM

yes, i see your point. most of them are either tied to rocks or i planted them in coconut shells so i could give them a richer subterate. i'm going to add some valls and some sort of feathery plant in a couple weeks depending what the lps has available. then it will just be a waiting game for a while

stezatois

02-05-2009, 7:41 AM

great start

bluekrissyspike

02-05-2009, 11:24 AM

thanks! (:

bluekrissyspike

03-23-2009, 6:20 PM

well, i've rearranged again. came back a couple days ago from out of town and decided to mix it up a bit. i added a sword plant and something similar to the moneywort but with needle shaped leaves. if you know what it is let me know...lol. i moved my anubias nana to a tank with less light because it was getting covered in algea and nothing else was. it is now flowering, i'll get a pic of that later on tonight if i have time. i switched around my ten g shrimp tank too and changed the gravel too.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2328.jpg?t=1237846940

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2325-1.jpg?t=1237847202
comments and constructive critisisms welcome. :)

bluekrissyspike

03-24-2009, 12:10 AM

;)

Carlsonr

03-24-2009, 10:41 AM

It's starting to look pretty wild in there! I like the tank, and the only thing I could offer is possibly something with some vertical structure in the back or corner. A rock pile, drift wood, etc. to help bring attention to the entire height of the tank.

bluekrissyspike

03-24-2009, 10:08 PM

petluvr

03-24-2009, 10:12 PM

I have that same lighting over my 55 and to be honest I can't even keep java moss alive in it. Good luck with yours:)

mellowvision

03-25-2009, 10:57 AM

I'd go with sag over vals... vals are so thick, I don't like them much.

bluekrissyspike

03-25-2009, 1:03 PM

I have that same lighting over my 55 and to be honest I can't even keep java moss alive in it. Good luck with yours:)

really? everything seems to be growing really well for me so far.

I'd go with sag over vals... vals are so thick, I don't like them much.

i'll add that to the things i'm considering. my lps doesn't always have plants and when they do the selections not that great. would i have to have co2 for that?

bluekrissyspike

06-19-2009, 11:36 PM

I have that same lighting over my 55 and to be honest I can't even keep java moss alive in it. Good luck with yours:)

you were right...:lipssealedsmilie:

bluekrissyspike

06-19-2009, 11:40 PM

so i replanted this tank, since as petlvr said, those lights didn't work too well for the tank.

50g as it is now
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2736.jpg?t=1245468881

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2735.jpg?t=1245469122

about a month ago or so it was like this
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2705.jpg?t=1245469188

bluekrissyspike

06-19-2009, 11:41 PM

incase anyone wonders, the angel is moved to a different tank because he was pulling plants apart.
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2738.jpg?t=1245469290

bluekrissyspike

06-20-2009, 11:55 AM

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2744.jpg?t=1245513082

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2742.jpg?t=1245513280

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2741.jpg?t=1245513531
a couple more pics. enjoy. critisism and comments appreciated. :)

bluekrissyspike

06-23-2009, 3:12 PM

so i decided to take the driftwood from my other tank, to add to this tank. of course that led to moving a bunch of stuff around, which was a lot more work than i planned on doing but i think it looks quite a bit better now.

what do you guys think?
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM2760.jpg

bluekrissyspike

08-08-2009, 3:09 AM

a few more recent pics

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM3102-1.jpg?t=1249715159
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/tattoogemini/HPIM3101.jpg?t=1249715286

Slappy*McFish

08-08-2009, 2:38 PM

It looks good, IMO. You just need to clean the algae off your glass...lol.

BettaFishMommy

08-08-2009, 3:06 PM

looking good! and i agree, the algae needs cleaned up a bit.

bluekrissyspike

08-08-2009, 3:21 PM

lol.. thanks. algea scraping is not one of my favority chores.

hydrophyte

08-08-2009, 3:30 PM

I like the way you planted it. It will look sharp when you can rein in that algae.

I have a piece of mopani wood that looks just like that.

BettaFishMommy

08-08-2009, 3:40 PM

lol.. thanks. algea scraping is not one of my favority chores.

two words.......

mag float!!!!!

bluekrissyspike

08-09-2009, 9:55 AM

I like the way you planted it. It will look sharp when you can rein in that algae.

I have a piece of mopani wood that looks just like that.

thanks. the algea is looking a lot better than it was a couple weeks ago. i had a green water outbreak:mad2:

two words.......

mag float!!!!!

i'll check my lps next time i'm there to see if they have one.