Troy's Nano

[TroyFish]

Hi all

Okay i decided to try this nano thing everyone is talking about.

I got 12 1ft tanks from Slojo. 6 are in use for breeding. Which leaves me with 6 other tanks....all for nanos:bigsmile:

Im going to be trying different stlyes with each, but thats for a later stage.

Okay so tank 1:

Potting soil capped with black sand. Please note that all my nanos will be PO!
Hair grass on right
Left? Need ID please
No heater
Small internal filter, removed for pic (400lph set on LOW)
Lights...1 30w tube (Runs over 3 tanks)

Been running for about 1 week or so. Needed to 5 80% water changes during that week to get the cloudiness away!
Can already see some growth.
Its not much but ill get there

83508351


Will be getting tank 2 running this week sometime.
Suggestions welcome please!


Kendall

[Rudi]

The plant on the left is Lilaeopsis species.
Don't add any fertiliser for at least a month,potting soil is loaded with ferts.Even better,do a 100% water change every week to flush out most of the organics and chemicals in the soil.
Don't add any live stock for a month or so,the organics in the soil will start to decompose and release ammonia into the water column.
Be careful of to much light or a too long photo period,the high organic content of the potting soil could cause algae.
Let the creative juices flow.

[TroyFish]

Hi Rudi

So nice of you to drop by and give me some helpful information!


Lilaeopsis species
Thanks, finally a nice plant that isn't BL


potting soil is loaded with ferts
Just what i was looking for, plenty water changes it is!


Don't add any live stock
With these set ups im trying to keep it plant only. Maybe in the FAR future though.


Be careful of to much light
What lighting time would you recommend? And at what volume? I can swop the tube to a Osram 14w/840 energy saver bulb (cool white) if it would be better?


Let the creative juices flow
Lets hope so, this is one project (Nanos) that has really caught to my attention!

[SHiBBY]

Very nicely done mate!

[Rudi]

What lighting time would you recommend? And at what volume? I can swop the tube to a Osram 14w/840 energy saver bulb (cool white) if it would be better?


Keep the 30w if it is practical,but keep the photo period,the time the light is on,to 5 or 6 hours per day,for the first month.You can slowly increase the period after that.4 hours is about the minimum light period plants will recognise,and by keeping it low for the first month or so,algae can be kept at bay.Not a guarantee,but it will help.

[lennard]

Seeing the hair grass in your tank- what are your the other members experiences on this grass?

Lennard

[riyadhe]

Yeah, I would also like to know, Have you find that they grow fast or slow?

[TroyFish]

Plenty people on this forum have had great success in keeping hair grass.

From me, 1st time i have ever seen it grow this fast. All depends on set up.

[Zoom]

Starts off very slowly. Sometimes it will loose all it's leaves when planted for the first time.

About 6weeks - 9weeks later the stuff takes off like a bomb. What you don'e realise in those 6-9 weeks is that the roots are anchoring, an new shoots are growing under the substrate. Moment new shoots start coming up you are sorted!
The plants likes good lighting, and ideally good water column fertz. (Mine enjoys the full range of Seachem FLourish)

[Rudi]

A quick hi-jack/guide to planting hair grass.
Remove grass from pot,separate into smaller clumps or groups,remove all the rock wool,cut top of grass with scissors,what you have left is small clumps of grass no taller than 2 cm.plant with tweezers.
When you trim the grass it will encourage new roots to grow.The original grass shoots removed from the pot will eventually die off because it is emersed growth,but it is replaced by submersed growth as soon as the roots are established.

[boebie]

Another good idea is to have some sort of flow over the hairgrass to prevent muck from being trapped. These plants are like dirt and algae magnets.

[TroyFish]

@Rudi (http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/member.php?u=304)

What is your experience with Lilaeopsis species?
Read a few articles on the net, most say its a slow growing plant?

I have noticed about 5 new 'leaves' popping out in this area. (Old photo from 3 or 4 days ago)
8467

Also thanks for the guide on hair grass, never done it that way before.

[Rudi]

TroyFish,
I've been growing it for about 6 months now and I like it.
It really is slow,even with Co2,good light and good fertiliser.
Mine is staying short,but I suspect it's because of the Co2 and the amount of light I have over this tank.
On my next project I'm thinking on doing a full carpet with lilaeopsis.

[TroyFish]

It really is slow
Hmmm maybe mine is on steroids lol. Maybe in a month or so i will be able to tell if it is indeed grow fast or im just blind.

Hows it looking in your setup though? Cant seem to spot it in your thread?http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?6294-New-scape-in-a-quot-old-quot-tank-for-the-new-year.

Excuse all the questions:p But your information is very helpful!

[Rudi]

It's slow in comparison to glosso and H.C..
The lilaeopsis is planted in between the glosso and not very obvious in the photos.Still a nice plant.

[TroyFish]

Can any one tell me why my hairgrass is doing this?

Sending all its runners ontop of the substrate and not under?
8601

[shihr]

maybe give it some time and see if it carries on doing that.. if it does i would put it down to lack of light? just a guess..

[TroyFish]

Will give it some more time and update, dont really think its the lights but will see.

P.S The glosso is growing like mad! (The ones floating) The ones i planted in my other Nano has started growing.
Did put a little in this one, one or two new leaves have started

[Rudi]

I don't think you planted the grass deep enough.You can push in quite deep into the substrate.