Nah I didn't take it that you were suggesting I change anything...I was just verifying with someone with more knowledge in the fresh water side of things than me, that what I was currently doing was correct and would result to long term success.
On Wednesday I added the last 3 plants I will be adding to this tank...it has gotten a little crowded in there...but the whole aim of this tank was to learn about different plants and get a feel for which ones I like and can keep easily enough. I will now just let everything grow out and when I can find the last 3 lots of fish I am looking for I will be done. I added a school of otocinclus to the tank as well this week...wow! for tiny little algae eaters they do a great job...I can see why they are a highly rated fish. Also got myself a small Insta Co2 system to test my hand at...got it very low at the moment as I am still waiting for a drop checker. I believe with the tank having an overflow it is not ideal for co2 but unfortunately thats what I am stuck with. Tank as it is now... Oto's acclimatizing... The new plants... Little Insta set...
Not much has happened with the tank in the last week...plants are growing nicely...may or may not be due to the addition of co2...although this is minimal. Definitely starting to see the emersed plants I got in start to take shape now as their submersed form. Added a Siamese Algae Eater to my clean up crew...don't see him very often, but he is quite small. A FTS to end off the week...
Thanks Ferdie! I actually have no idea what to look for as good growth or not...so those are encouraging words. Thanks Broder...you have had some stunner tanks yourself! I have only seen pics of the kitchen tank as fresh water...dont suppose you have some pics of the larger tank converted...keen to see how it looks now a days!
I've come to realize that these little Insta Disposable co2 bottles are not ideal as running them 8hrs a days at 1 bubble every 5 seconds or so only lasts around a week...not sure If I should start to look into a decent co2 system or whether I should just carry on with a low tech system and just let things go at the current pace. I think the co2 has definitely made a difference though, since its introduction submersed growth has taken off on my emersed purchased plants...you can see it in the pic below of the Staurogyne Repens that I have only had a couple of weeks. Oh well, once my little disposable bottle pack is finished I will look into it more seriously.
I got myself a Halfmoon Siamese Fighter yesterday...been wanting one as the show piece fish for the tank...something that will give a splash of colour and really contrast against the greens, blacks and browns that dominate the tank.
Some random plant pics to end of the week... These have got to be my two favourite plants in the tank...just love their appearance.
Forgot to add this pic with the others of him...think it brings out the colour of the Betta so nicely!
Thanks @Broder. My concern is keeping it going long term...I assume plants will be similar to keeping corals in that the larger they get the quicker they are going to use up elements they require to grow and be more demanding...and if they start using elements up in an uneven ratio am I going to know what to dose and how to recognize what is missing to keep them going strong...its kind of stressful when I think about it! Do you think the weekly 50% water changes and dosing Excel and trace elements is going to be sufficient long term?
I'm not really an expert with plants to be honest. I have one low tech tank that looks ok, but the rest always end up as algae pools. Your regime sounds ok. If it's working now, stick with it. If you notice any deficiency, adjust dosing when the time comes. If growth rate of root feeding plants slows, you can stick some root tabs under them.
cool I will just continue as I currently am. I did go for low requirement plants when I stocked the tank...so hopefully the water changes and current dosing will suffice. I have heard of root tabs, but haven't seen them around EL...actually been wanting to try them out anyway to see how they work.
There are some DIY threads on making your own root tabs, here and on the net. Check with the Gonubie shop... Think they may have some?
Moved house yesterday...drained the tank water to a low level and pretty much just moved it as is...long stemmed plants got a bit disheveled but other than that everything seems to be fine and no noticeable side effects yet....been a very hectic 3 days, I'll post some pics this weekend.
Did my first water change since the move this evening. Also did some pruning as well as rearranging. Moved the pennywort to the back of the tank as it was blocking out all the other plants and cut it back a lot. Removed the hornwort as well as it was starting to annoy me. Tank is starting to look a lot more open again.
