finished planting, now it's waiting.

[boelo]

Hi
The new tank is planted. All is in and growing.
The waiting now is for the cycle to finish and then the fish can go in.
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This is the tank three weeks ago, waiting for the plants to arrive.
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This is what it looks like today.
Most plants went in two weeks ago, the crypto I planted yesterday.
And the Marsilea and tenellus came in on friday.
The tank has two main views, front and side view, so we can enjoy it from the lounge.
Soon I might need advise in how to trim and maintain a nice look.

[thrak76]

That looks very nice!
What kind of fish you thinking about adding to it?

[Stargazer53]

Wow! What a stunner. It's amazing how something so simple (your original empty tank) could be transformed to something so majestically beautiful. Great work! :)

[rustilldown_7]

I agree that your tank is incredible. I will be keeping my eye on this thread because if everything goes good in my tank, I will also need advice on trimming.

[bigwave]

My only trimming advice is to be sure to keep up on it. If you wait long it turns into a jungle in no time!

I just pinch the plants off between my thumb nail and pointer finger. Nothing too complicated. Stem plants split and grow at the node just below where you trim. Occasionally you can trim the top off, pull the lower part out, and replant the top, otherwise the lower part of the plants gets old looking and grows algae.

That's about it from me, but I am sure there are experts out there with better advice.

And the tank looks GREAT. Very nice setup, and nice planning that you put into it.

[psyche]

With some plants, pinching off the growing tips can cut down the need for constant trimming.

[fishorama]

Wow, very nice! What lighting do you have?

[67chevelle]

Beautiful tank.
What are you planning on stocking it with?

[boelo]

thanks for the complements
the fish are the ones living in the old tank. little tank.
two dwarf gourami, two cory's, six cardinal tetra's and six rhumminose.
and Yoshi, our betta male. big and red. beautiful (he is where it all started).
He went in today, by the way.
Several friends with aquaria said to put a fish in. to help finish the cycle.
ammonia 0.25 - 0.5, getting lighter by the day.
nitrite 0.25, on it's way back to blue.
He (Yoshi) is not sure yet. Had a few hours of light (HI 5, four tubes) and now the light is off but the moonlight is on. (small blue light in forward center).
He's been trying to impress his reflexion in the backwall.
We were hoping he would swim and explore...

First trimming question: how far from the bottom do you trim Limnophila sessiflora. he is reaching the surface and the end bits are not at their bests.
Is three weeks after planting to soon for a trim?
Do I have to wait for other plants to need a trim (the rotala wallichii starts to touch the surface, bacopa caroliniana is stretching to reach it as well).
Think my plants have missed the light, since I started up with only four hours of light a day, to six to now eight hours.
which plants are good for topping?

Thanks upfront.
can't stop looking at my tank :drool:

[fishorama]

You can usually trim or pinch off stem plants when & where you want. I throw away the bottoms if it it sparse, woody or I have a lot & keep the pretty top 6-8 inches.

Keep in mind the plant may branch at the top node of the lower stem (where leaves attach to stem). If you just remove the tip you may end up with a bush at the end instead of down lower.

[drunkenmastera]

boelo,

how much wpg are u getting and are you using co2?

[SMinNC]

Besides one or two plants here and there over the years, I'm just getting started with plants myself.

Once my stems reached the surface. I basically cut them in half. Through out the bottom half and replanted the top. This pretty much left only the part of the plant that was grown... in my tank, under my lighting, in my water.
After that i was leaving the bottom half/two thirds, where it was, and replanting the tops.

After a few months now, I'm still adjusting stuff, trying different plants, etc. To see what I like and/or at least what works for me. So I have a big mess of around 15 or so different plants right now, going on 20. Trying everything under the sun or uhhh... water in their. ;)


Your layout looks very nice, btw.
Good job!

[Daniel K.]

That is a very nice tank. I like the driftwood.