a pic or two

[Sully]

depends on size limits--may turn into links.

Looking for some helpful hints from folks and general criticism.

okay--gotta be links.

http://www.tropicalfishgallery.com/photo-gallery/displayimage.php?album=184&pos=54

http://www.tropicalfishgallery.com/photo-gallery/displayimage.php?album=184&pos=53

If you poke around in my user gallery there a bit you will see where the tank was a few weeks to a month back.

Thanks for asking a bunch of the same questions I had Roan Art.

[Roan Art]

Thanks for asking a bunch of the same questions I had Roan Art.You're welcome. I think? Which questions were those? I ask a lot of them ;)

BTW, gorgeous tanks!

Roan

[Lauren]

your tank is absolutely stunning, and congrats to the new angelfish parents

[Captain Hook]

Very nice! I like the thick background of plants. What size tank is it?

[Sully]

Roan all of them--lol. I had low tech tanks for a few years. had no clue about keeping plants other than plunk them into the tank and let them grow--lol. oh, and after plunking them do not be surprised to see algae, slow growing, and even dead plants if i made the wrong plant choice for low or mid light.

I think that is sort of what i am doing now--just adding ferts, more light and Co2.

Thanks for your comments.

So, is pinching new growth as it begins better tahn a harder "prune". Or does anybody have a list of prune v. pinch plants?

Is there a good gallery showing different species growth somewhere on line? It is easy to see a plant at the lfs or az gardens or somewhere wjhen it is little. is ther a place that shows how they grow and look at a more mature stage?

Is there some compendium of knowledge sort of helping id what plants are notorious for losing lower leaf growth as they develop? There is a reason you see the water sprie/wisteria trimmed short and scattered about the tank.

It is a 75 gallon tank Cap'n

[reiverix]

Stunning tank.


So, is pinching new growth as it begins better tahn a harder "prune". Or does anybody have a list of prune v. pinch plants?I tend to go in a few times a week to trim things down. If I leave it too long it gets out of control pretty quick.

[Sully]

please do not judge me harshly. bout those angel parents. When i decide to let the wrigglers grow to fry I tend to cull aggressively. The gold angel was a "gift" from a hobbyist that i met on a board. He knew i had several pair and it needed a home so i took it in to raise as one of my own. It is not a fish that would have ever survived had it been born in one of my tanks. the dorsal fin is genetic trait that seems to show up in about 70% of his offspring. Those ones turn into snack food in another tank. I do not want to let that trait out of my tanks. Then others are culled for other reason--belly sliders, or other defects. When all is said and done with that pair only about 20-25 of the fry move into the hobby. None of the wriggers survived from that spawning--i was traveling a lot last week. Left them in the tank with mom, dad and the rest of the crew. somebody ate well while i was gone.

Thanks for the comment though. The pics were taken to let a guy in Canada (he breeds angels) know i was thinking of him when i saw the eggs.

Here is what i am thinking about for the plants in that tank:

i want the rotalla in the left corner to grow to the right, along the back glass, and behind the sword. Then i want to end it once it overlaps, behind the ludwigia. Create a layer of front to back depth is my goal.

I want the telenthera to go back at about a 45 degree path. Fill in that sort of void i keep trying to maintain behind the sword to the right of it. Get some depth and directional things going on using the red splash tall in back, lower in midground, and moving at a 45 degree angle.

The hair grass and the dwarf sag mixing in together is something I am not sure of--we will see where that goes.

The wee bit of glosso on the far right, front just needs some help from me. need to finally get the BA's (ed note, BA's are tetras. photos are linked to from a third board where i spend most of my time--people there know my tanks--sort of a bit of shorthand. from just after the angel discussion this is a cut and paste at a board where people know me) the heck out of there. i don't think i will mind mixing in little areas of differing foreground, ground cover plants. time will tell there as well.

I hope i like the tools(ed. a guy at the other board got me a deal on some tools)--god knows the handles are long enough. I am hoping to get the ludwigia "thicker, leafier".

And i forget the name of the plant--getting older, lol--that i have hidden behind the swords on the right. It reminds me of a sword, but it will get long stems with broad leaves at the top of the water column. a small bit of a canopy. Hopefully it creates some "depth", or another layer of growth in that area. Leaves are a pinkish, magenta like red as they initially grow--turn to a green as they mature. might be a nice "splash" of color to add in addition to getting a multi teired growth look.

Time will tell. This is going to a long, patient game with me. A tank as a garden. sort of different for me to think of a tank this way. having a blast though. any other thoughts on what to do with it--or am i stupid thinking some of what i am thinking?

[reiverix]

any other thoughts on what to do with itSure, take more pics and post them in the plant pictures sticky (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71614)

[Lauren]

I honestly love how the tail looks, very different and beautiful. Also, I hate to break it to you, but the babies you are letting survive still carry the genetic trait for that tail, and they may pass it on to their children.

[Blinky]

Nice tank! Looking at such a beautiful setup makes me pine for the days when I had my 65g planted (it's since been converted to SW) :)

[Sully]

i know the trait still resides in the fish that move along--i can only hope that it is contiually weeded out in future generations by other hobbyists.

reiverix--that tank is drop dead gorgeous. not sure i want to put my tank shots next to yours--lol.

[djlen]

Very well done!!!! Now that's what I call a heavy plant mass!!!
The tank not only looks great, but you should be doubly congratulated on keeping those sword in scale.:)
Way to go Sully.

Len

[Lauren]

If you want to weed it out, you should not allow him to breed. If you dont' want the trait to be perpetuated, then I wouldn't trust other hobbiests to do the same as you. Somewhere down the line they will get to someone who doesn't know not to continue the trait, and they might like it. i love how the tail looks, it would be hard for me not to keep a few with that tail.

[reiverix]

reiverix--that tank is drop dead gorgeous. not sure i want to put my tank shots next to yours--lol.Thanks man, but you have some dynamite looking plants yourself. Would be nice to see some closeups.

[Roan Art]

Thanks man, but you have some dynamite looking plants yourself. Would be nice to see some closeups.
Yes! And post them in the Plants Sticky at the top of the forum :)

Roan

[Sully]

When i decide to let the wrigglers grow

I don't often let them grow. When i have then let a pair ot two form mixing offspring from this gold with offspring of other angels I keep the characteristic is evident in only about 10% of the 2nd generation out. I cull them. By the 4th generation i don't see it as a "deformity. I can only hope other hobbyists think about what they breed.

i will get my camera out again this weekend. These shots and the angel shots were not planned. I am trying to get a shot of a lyretail pleco -- wild caught in papu. it is an interesting fish. trying to get definitve about genus. i have two thoughts. want to see what a couple of folks i know think. while i am doing that i will get a few close-ups in this tank as well.