New Aquascape

[Jagwa]

Hi everyone,

I have a planted 4ft planted tank at the moment but im looking to get properly in aquascaping. does anybody know where i could buy the chemicals for fertalizer using the pps-pro method? The link is in the next post

also where could i get hold of ADA aquasoil?

I live in Cape Town. Any help would be appreciated

---------- Post added at 12:01 ---------- Previous post was at 12:01 ----------

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/pps-analysis-feedback/39491-newbie-guide-pps-pro.html

[azurekoi]

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?1508-Fertilization-Strategies

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?2499-Palmfiber-Peat-soaked-in-Chemicult-as-a-substrate.

Here is two to get you started + you are in CT,so the prof is just round the corner...lol

[Go-Big]

Is this thread upside down or is this the new way. Is see the black silicon thread from Tm also.

[Rory]

Testing

[Jagwa]

thanks azurekoi,

those links sorted me out :)

now for plant selection....

[TankMaster]

Azurekoi. . .your posts are going up top?? Why?

[Zoom]

There's an error in the system somewhere. Rory is trying to fix it.

[freerider]

azurekoi please stop posting answers before the questions have been asked. pfft!

[Rory]

It's good to have experienced guys around isn't it? :p

The problem should hopefully be fixed, just not in threads that are already screwed... will see if I can fix it manually in the db (so if the whole forum goes offline you know why)

[Rory]

Yay it's fixed and we're still up :)

[freerider]

cog-rats, its takes a big pair to dable with a db on a friday afternoon :)

[Rory]

Well I'm not doing anything else useful cos it's a friday afternoon :p

[Jagwa]

thanks for sorting that rory,

Im gonna go with dr dirks pfp and fertilizer drops. I should prob take a before photo to remember how bad it was and then some progression photos

does anybody know where i can get
Eleocharis parvula
Utricularia graminifolia

in cape town?

[azurekoi]

Azurekoi. . .your posts are going up top?? Why?

Think my massive psychic/time-space alteration tallent has finally manifested its full potential...Answered questions even before they where asked...lol

Rory - thanks for fixing mate...

[azurekoi]

Jagwa --> the Prof is away at he moment at a converence(I think) - just wait a bit,will be worth it...

[Jagwa]

Okay so iv bought the pfp, chemicult, pool filter sand, 2 dual 39W ballasts, 2x6500k t5's and 2x 8800k's.

Anybody know where i can buy dirks drops in cape town? cant seem to get hold of the prof.

It looks like im gonna have to build a diy hood as well to fit everything inside. will be posting some pics soon

[shihr]

i think the prof is overseas..

[Mic.E]

thanks for sorting that rory,

Im gonna go with dr dirks pfp and fertilizer drops. I should prob take a before photo to remember how bad it was and then some progression photos

does anybody know where i can get
Eleocharis parvula
Utricularia graminifolia

in cape town?

Isnt Eleocharis parvulus on the blacklist? or is it a different plant from the one you are looking for? Sorry for thread jacking a little bit, but im curious because its a very cool plant for the foreground, and if i understand correctly it forms a carpet?

[Jagwa]

i saw the blacklist shortly after i posted that and it is on the blacklist.lame it would have been nice to get it. if somebody in south africa already has it i would be interested in obtaining some. i think its legal if its cultivated here

[Mic.E]

What is interesting, i see this plant in lfs quite oftenly. hairgrass if im not mistaken?

[Jagwa]

This is how my current tank looks. It has no fertilization, 70W of lighting and DIY CO2. I apologize for the poor picture quality.
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Closer Views
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The current fish stock is:
6x rio tetra(what they were called in the shop)
5x sterbai cory
1x gold severum
1x tiger barb(last survivor)
2x bristlenose plecos (they have layed eggs once but no fry appeared and it has never happened again)
1x bush fish

[Jagwa]

here are some of the supplies i bought for the new aquascaping

lights and ballasts
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endcaps
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chemicult, pool filter sand and palm fiber peat
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[Jagwa]

For interest sake, here is my other 3ft demosani tank, i have found 1 baby fish in there before while cleaning the tank but never again, would be nice if they had more fry. The alpha male has really good colour and is in his cave on the right of the pic. Sorry abou the bad quality pics again
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Here is a pic of my DIY CO2 setup.
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Im looking forward to aquascaping the 1.2m tank. All that is holding me back now is the fertilizer and mounting the lights in a hood.

[Jagwa]

Question: does anybody know where to get the chemicals for this pps-pro method in the link and how much it would cost?

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/pps-analysis-feedback/39491-newbie-guide-pps-pro.html

[Mic.E]

Hey Jagwa, how much did the ballast and tubes cost you? and what wattage is it?

[Jagwa]

Hey Jagwa, how much did the ballast and tubes cost you? and what wattage is it?

The 2 ballasts cost me R385ish together and the tubes cost R45ish for each 6500K and R75ish for each 8800K. The tubes are all 39W and the ballasts are dual ballasts. They can also power 24W Tubes

[Mic.E]

Thats not bad at all. so youll end up with 154 W T5 lighting. thats good light in my opinion. What is your tank's dimensions? it holds probably about 300 liters give or take. then your lights should be sufficient. just depends on the depth aswell, but the t5 should penetrate quite effectively even if it is a deep 60cm tank.

[Jagwa]

Its 120x45x45ish not sure about the height and not at home now. im also adding another 39 t5 that i have already taking the lighting up to 193W.

[Jagwa]

Here is an update of what iv done.

Finally took the plunge and set up the new tank :) Just havn't got round to the lighting yet.

Again I apologize for the poor quality.

The hardscape with palm peat fibre
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The scape with pool filter sand
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The scape filled with water and plants :)
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[Jagwa]

Some close ups of the scape

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my wood
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can anybody identify these

Lilaeopsis brasiliensis - brazilian micro-sword?
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Eleocharis parvula - dwarf hairgrass?
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???
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Havnt added the lights yet. Im hoping that one or more of the three do well so i can have a decent carpet going soon

[tracyp]

I might be wrong (let's wait for a plant fundi to speak up!) but I think pic 5 (???) is mondo grass, which is sold as aquatic but isn't! ps: we've all been had!

[Jagwa]

it does look alot like mondo if i google it. hope it isnt though.

[Gert Combrink]

Mondo Grass, aka "fountain plant" it is! A nice garden plant though...

[Jagwa]

do the pet shops know about this plant?

[ryanj252]

Nice scape! Look forward to seeing it all out. may i ask, how long those two DIY CO2 bottles last you? And if you notice a difference when they're off?

[Jagwa]

they last between two and three weeks of being on constantly. I havnt had a high light aquarium before so i will test with them on and off after i install the lights tonight. I have about 1 watt/gal at the moment and it did seem to make a difference. The plant leaves seemed to grow much bigger than before. It should make a bigger difference once the new lights are in

[ryanj252]

Ok. Thanx. Keep them pics coming.

[Jagwa]

ok, last night i wired up the lighting only to realize i didnt buy enough wire :( went to get some more this morning. I will finish it up this afternoon. I did however have enough to wire up one of the ballasts and when i turned it on...nothing. Panic set in for about two seconds and then all of a suddon there was life :). I will post the pics when im done.

[ryanj252]

nice!! I had my two T5's fitted in lastnight. my tank looks so much better.

[Jagwa]

finished at last. what i mission but hopefully worth it :). installed all the lights and cut holes in the side of the hood for aeration.

lights in
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check that they work
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ballasts and timer
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Tank - a bit yellow because of the tannins and the 6500k lights but mostly tannins.
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I took all the mondo out and moved some of the micro sword to the middle, hopefully it takes:)

any comments?

to come:
-install a 12VDC fan on the hood
-spray paint inside of the hood white

[Rudi]

Jagwa,
You'll need to get more plants very soon.With a high nutrient substrate, like PFP+chemicult,you need to plant heavily from the start to avoid algae problems.
Get more stems and heavy rooters like crypts.

[ryanj252]

Looking Good. Have you tried boiling the tannis out of the wood for a while and then adding it to your tank, or do you like the effect?

[Jagwa]

Rudi i will be looking for some more suitable plants this weekend

ryanj252 i havnt tried that but i do know about it. If you do weekly water changes it keeps the levels down. I also guess i kind of like it. It gets less with time

[ryanj252]

Yeah it does.

[Jagwa]

Hi everybody. I have now managed to spray the inside of my hood with white gloss. It worked pretty well and there is a visible notice.

The java fern leaves have gotten bigger and the vallisneria has started to spread. I just cut all the old leaves off the anubias. I do however have a bit of a tannin problem from the palm fiber peat. Doing water changes twice a week now.

I also have a problem with something mowing down my Brazilian micro swords and some of the hair grass.

I have a bush fish, corys and "rio tetra"(cant find them on the internet).

Who is the culprit?
Im suspecting the corys.

[azurekoi]

Nope - watch your Rio tetra's - ask TroyFish 'bout them...

[TroyFish]

Not 100% sure if its the same fish, name rings a bell. Google says also know as 'flame tetra' which im pretty sure is
the same. Unfortunately google images gives me different fish pics with the ones i had. A pic from your side will help
alot. But if so these fish love munching your more 'sensitive' plants. Keep an eye on them.

i highly doubt its the corries.

[azurekoi]

TroyFish ... you knew yours as Buenos AIres tetras.... Same thing the Rio Tetra(Common names....Eish,confusing hey?) - Hyphessobrycon anitsitsi.....?

[TroyFish]

Lol thats the name! Wish they could just keep one name....yeah right!

Beware lol, all seemed good for a few days then BANG! plants started to go bye bye!

My cure, removed them. To be honest my plants were MORE important than my fish.....why???

azurekoi its amazing how one can research a fish with out even noticing....Red eye tetras and villis dont go together either....

[azurekoi]

TroyFish.... If only you stuck to my list....he,he(Sorry for your dad...lol) - refrained saying anything bout your Red eye's,but start watching out for you Angel's tails(& your soft plants....).....remeber,Red Eye Tets get 2 be 7cm +.... Good bye plants(unless you got LOTS++++)

[TroyFish]

Lol. Funny thing is that this really isn't funny but ja....point not being much....The little female angel said bye bye tank and hello toilet lol....not cool.

The one red eye is...well quite big lol. Theres plenty plants. Let them have there fun, apparently we moving so doesn't bother me much.

[Jagwa]

they are Buenos AIres tetras after doing some googling. I will move them to my other tank where they can duel it out with some demosani. (had them in there before and they were fine). The problem now....catching them. It took me a long time last attempt.

[TroyFish]

Took me about 10 min to catch 8.

place a net along the font pain, use your hand and chase them in that direction. Works very well for me when catching tetras

[Jagwa]

managed to catch 7in about 20minutes. they are quick. now to find a suitable fish that wont eat the plants....and that the bush fish wont eat.

[Jagwa]

I read in Ecology of the planted aquarium(pg 16) that charcoal removes natural dissolved organic carbon from the aquarium which would otherwise remove excess metals from the water column. Should i remover the charcoal section of my canister filter?

[Jagwa]

Ok here are some pics of my progress, I acquired some more fauna and flora.

The fish in my tank are now:
5 sterbai cory
2 ancistrus (bristlenose pleco)
4 apistogramma cacatuoides "double red" (2m,2f)

gonna eventually add a school of rummy noses.

I had tannin problems so i added seachem purigen (100ml) in the filter instead of the carbon.
It didnt make the water crystal clear but the tannins did diminish and dont seem to get worse at all.

here are some pics. please excuse the quality. If i use a flash it seems to make the tannins look really bad.

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As you can see i have put in a few extra plants. The brazilian micro sword will hopefully start spreading in a few weeks. The only problem is that i still havnt acquired the ferts which i desperately need. If it does i will take out the hairgrass on the right and let it spread there to.

[windfire]

hey dude interesting setup it'll look great when its grown in. the only thing i would say is whatch your anubias from the pics it looks like you've planted them in the substrate in which case they may rot rather allow the rhizome to stay on top of the substrate or attch the to a piece of rock or wood. oh and the apistos are gorgeous!

[ryanj252]

Looks like it will be a good scape soon. What rocks are you using there?

[Jagwa]

The rocks are from the sea... gave them a good soaking before putting them into the tank. Also I will probably take out the anubias because i cant seem to get them to stay where i want them to unless i put a few rocks there and tie them down.

[ryanj252]

Ok. The anubias you could just tie them to the rock or driftwood with some fishline