A clean slate

I redid 2 of my 45cm tanks over the last few days, and would like some advice on what to plant in them.

There is currently only a piece of driftwood in each, with some Anubias, and Amazon Sword 'ocelot green' in each tank, together with an unnamed plant that I am still trying to identify.

Any suggestions on what to do with the wide open spaces in the tanks?
I was thinking of some Bolbitis on each piece of driftwood....





Bolbitis can come from the 1.2m tank, as there is too much...

 

Both look nice @Pezulu ... I definitely agree on the Bolbitis... Love them (even though they just don't grow for me)

Those Rainbows are looking beautiful as always

 

Thanks @MariaS

I think the mystery plant that I have is the Aponogeton Crispus.
http://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Aponogetoncrispus(083)/4531

 

Hi

@Pezulu what substrate are you using? Which lights are planning on installing?

It's really fun to rescape, I've learnt less is more. If lighting is good I would go with a nice carpet and some red and green stems.

Have you seen Floscopa scandens, might compliment your anubias and crypt I think is on the front left. With some red stems to hide your heater?

Enjoy!



Nate

 

@nate the current lighting in the tank is a Zetlight Lancia ZP4000-895.
Substrate is Prodibio Aqua Soil.

 

And so the fun begins, any CO2?

Yeah I'm sure the zetlight would bring nice colour to some ludwigia glandulosa and the floscopa has a island look to it with your wood placement in front. You will definitely be able to grow some MC too!

Just watch out for the algae bud lol!




Nate

 

I will be dosing with Seachem Exel, the same as all my other planted tanks.
I have a 60cm tank with HM that I am leaving to grow out a bit, together with Ludwigia Repens, Amazon Swords and Anubias.
It also has a Susswassertang wall growing in nicely.

Algae is the scurge of aquarists the world over, but I seem to be keeping it in check (mostly.)

 

I am sure you will have success with the excel, I just love to see plants grow with co2!

Keep us updated!

Sent from my VKY-L29 using Tapatalk

 

Two years (almost) later, and the "clean slate" tanks are no more.
I found the Prodibio Aqua Soil was very light, and no matter how slowly I poured water in, I created a crater that needed rescaping each time I did a water change.
It was also very susceptible to algae and Cyanobacteria, and did a poor job of securing the roots of stem plants, unless it was Echinodorus species that take over the whole tank floor with their root systems.
I finally tore the tanks down, discarded the Prodibio, and am currently storing the tanks.

Being terminally infected with MTS however, I couldn't leave everything well enough alone.
I have therefore set up another small 45 litre tank.
At this stage it is another clean slate.

Substrate consists of Seachem Flourite Dark.
Filtration is taken care of by a Cascade 100 HOB with a sponge on the intake sieve. The filter is filled with Seachem Matrix.
Lighting is once again a Zetlight Aqua 1200P connected to the WiFi network.
I am still debating on whether to use CO2 on the tank.

Even though I thoroughly, or so I thought, rinsed the Seachem Flourite, the water was extremely cloudy for 24 hours, even with filter wool in the filter to catch most of the dust and debris.
It is still murky, but I suspect time and water changes will sort that out.

I would like to try and get more Cryptocoryne Retrospiralis as well as Cryptocoryne Balansae for some height.
Bolbitis is something else I can fall back on if needed, although I would like to try something different this time around.
Corkscrew Vallis would also be awesome, although that would probably be a bit long for the tank height.

The tank needs to run for at least a month or so after being planted before I add any livestock.
A few limiting factors are the substrate is quite course and could potentially harm the sensitive barbels and mouths of Corydora species.
There is currently no driftwood, so Ancistrus are not an option at this stage either.

Being another clean slate, I am open to suggestions on what to stock the tank with, both fauna and flora wise.

 

Good luck Pez. We look forward to updates. MTS is crazy, innit?

 

The slate is not that clean anymore.
I have added some Corkscrew Vallis, as well as a stone with different Java Ferns attached.
A piece of driftwood is soaking in a bucket, and will be added to the tank once I am certain it is safe.

 

Hahha @Pezulu ..

Storing tanks????
You know thats short lived....

I also stored my 1.5m.. was told tonight... its going back into the house....

Looks good so far, good luck with the new project and.. yep.. keep the updates comimg

 

The tank has been cycling for 4 days now, and I decided it is time to add some livestock.
(The HOB is half filled with Seachem Matrix from an existing filter, and half with new Matrix.)
Seachem Stability has been added daily for the last 4 days as well, so there should be a bit of a bacteria culture going already.

A small piece of driftwood for some atmosphere, and I added 5 x Harlequin Rasboras.
The Rasbora can stay in the tank until it is matured enough for some shrimp.
They will then join the other Rasbora in the 4ft community tank.

 

I am trying to get this tank ready for some shrimp, which prefer an established tank.
Seachem Stability helps, and I am adding some Bacter AE as well to get biofilm going.
Then it is just a matter of waiting for the tank to mature.

 

10 Days later, and the tank has received its permanent residents.
I have removed the 10 Harlequin Rasbora that were in it, and added them to the 20 that are in my 4ft tank.
The residents are 20 Blue Dreams, that have started settling in.
They are eating the Sera Shrimp Naturals pellets I feed them as a staple diet.
Later this afternoon they will be getting some Artemia with spirulina and garlic as a treat.

The Corkscrew Vallisneria is growing well, thanks to the root tabs supplying their needs.

I am still not happy with the Seachem Flourite Dark substrate.
It is too course and sharp. Definitely not suitable for Corydora or even Otocinclus.

 

I am waiting to collect some 24K Yellow Neocaridina as well.
They will be going into an established 2ft tank that currently houses a breeding pair of GBR.

 

It's been 3 weeks, and the tank has matured and settled nicely.
A few of the shrimp didn't make it, but the majority are doing well.
Shrimplets have started appearing, and most of the females have already given birth or are berried again.

I have added some Chola Wood to the tank, as well as some Alder Cones to darken the water slightly.

On the plant front, I have added some Buce glued to a piece of Dragon Rock, and the Spiral Val has really taken off.
There are a lot of new plants shooting up, and runners are starting to criss-cross the tank.





In the 3ft Red shrimp tank, things are going well as well.
Colouration seems to be fixed at a Fire Red grade, which to me is not too bad, as I initially stared off with 10 RCS that were very low grade.
Here is a shrimp Xmas tree from the Red tank.

 

@Pezulu awesome cherry shrimp