55G planted South American themed planted tank journal

[cobfreak]

Thanks guys.

Here's the Osmocote I used, and also visible in the bottle is the measuring cup I used (the small end) for each ice cube:

 

[dundadundun]

where'd you find it?

 

[cobfreak]

They have it at Lowes, along with at least one other type. When I went looking previously I was looking for bags of stuff, not little plastic bottles.

 

[dundadundun]

go figure, right? anyway, it's good you posted the pic. lots of folks aren't sure about it nowadays but apparently osmocote goes back to the golden days of planted tanks.

 

[cobfreak]

go figure, right? anyway, it's good you posted the pic. lots of folks aren't sure about it nowadays but apparently osmocote goes back to the golden days of planted tanks.

Yes, it was based on a picture I saw somewhere else that I started looking in the right place, so I figured I'd pass on the favor. I don't know how I'm going to be able to judge how much benefit this has for my tank, as I've got all the new plants in now, but we'll see.

I also see this morning that there is something that looks very much like duckweed floating in the tank. One or more of the new plants must've had hitchhikers. I've never seen duckweed personally (that I know of) but I'm judging based on pictures I've seen.

Also there are what I can only assume to be fish eggs on the leaves of one of the new crypt retrospiralis. I'm pretty sure they weren't on there when I put them in. They're white, not translucent, I guess they means they aren't fertilized but maybe it's too early.

 

[spencerguy1]

cool pics. i love south american tanks too!!!

 

[Ruskie]

There not snail eggs?

 

[cobfreak]

There not snail eggs?

Now I'm pretty sure they aren't eggs at all. They are white bumps on two of the leaves of one of the crypts. I tried brushing them off the other day and noticed two things: 1. with the lights not over the tank, they don't show up as white anymore, and 2. they don't come off and feel like raised bumps on the leaves.

I have no idea what it is. I thought I had a picture here I could post but I can't find it. Maybe later.


In the meantime, here's a full tank shot from yesterday, just before I did a water change:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6L0mAW9bDHM/T...dk/s800/fulltank20100809beforewaterchange.jpg

 

[RazzleFish]

It looks great!

 

[fishorama]

That's looking very nice. Glad to hear of your fertcicle experience too, maybe I'll try a little water in each cube spot then add some osmocote & more water. Just as a guess how big would you say the little scoop is 1/4 teasp? tip of little finger? I have some osmocote someome gave me in a jar for houseplants so I'm not sure which type it is. So the cube didn't just come floating up? I'm worried my goofy shrimp would to eat any fallout LOL.