Planted 50L tank NEW PROJECT

Hi guys,

Starting a new project, been drooling over the fully ADA planted aquariums on the internet, the Japanese can really really do some gorgeous underwater botanical gardens!!!!

I have searched almost all pet shops in CAPE TOWN looking for some kind of substrate or fertilizer i could use to do the planted tank. No luck, all i could come up with was a black flourite substrate! does anyone know about this substrate how good is it? i went along i bought it and im giving it a try, please feel free to comment and if you know where i could get the following in South Africa :

- Aqua soil ( i think this is the gravel i need for the planted tank )
- in vitro plants or seeds, ( if you a master at this could you brief me how you did it in your aquarium and where in south africa you managed to get it)

Thanks guys, all the help is much appreciated

Warmest regards

Rico

 

Hi Rico & Welcome to the forum.

The person that you need to speak to about ADA soil is @Sean J, he is the importer here in SA and he can possibly guide you to a stockist in CT.

Love the setup, it's looking good so far and I think that the Seachem sand will be just fine for what you are wanting to do with it by way of the planted tank. It already has all the right nutrients and things. Now all you need is a decent fertilizer regime and I think you will be A for away...

 

Flourite is fine...but oly for trace elements - and not all of those either... Use in conjunction with some fertilizer tablets for your bigger root feeding plants...

Where your tank is severely lacking though is in lighting... you need to provide at least about 25W to 30W of lighting over that tank for a lowtech setup...of the correct colour spectrum as well...

What ferts do you use and what do you use as a Carbon source?

 

Welcome bud. I wouldn't feel comfortable with that tank on that glass table, are you sure that it can handle over 50kg? It doesn't look that the weight is spread evenly. Use that white light you have at the back and get a 20w 6500k cfl for more light.
Otherwise nice start bud.

 

The tank is looking good! That table is scaring me too, you only make that mistake once, believe me!

Would also like to know where to get the ADA soil, but I'm from JHB.

Have you decided what to keep in the tank?

 

Hi guys,
@Skye01 thanks for the info i will be in touch with Sean J! A local Nursery manager emailed me and he can get "microbe lift bloom and grow" does anybody know about this substrate or has used it before?

@azureko thanks for the Lighting tips , im going to do as @boebie suggested and face my other lamp to the aquarium for now. As a carbon source im using "Flourish Excell" from SEACHEM (same make as my Black flourite)an organic carbon for the planted Aquarium. is there any other way of doing this?

@boebie i took your advice and changed theAno tank to a solid wood table dont want to wake up to a broken tank!

@ bylaag i got the following contacts for ADA in Jhb, they distribute countrywide centurion@dorrypets.co.za ; sales@dorrypets.co.za


I wanted to grow plants from ground up in this project, but i have not been able to find "in vitro" plants in CAPE TOWN, i managed to get a few exotic plants from a couple of local pet shops and attached a photo for how the tank is looking at the moment Does anyone know where we can source the plants in vitro in SA?

 

nice looking scape. I fear that the grass like plant is mondo grass tho, which will stay like it is for a few weeks and then die

Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk 2

 

@Rico,why are you looking for invitro plants?

 

Nice bud, good start. You are on the right track. Just stay hungry as you are and you will be amazed how quickly things start falling togethor.

 

Thanks for the contact details Rico! Your tank looks brilliant!

 

Looks like you got some Eriocaulon in there, and Rotala wallichii... You are going to need Co2 or those plants will die. And, yeah, get rid of the Mondo grass. Go plant it in your garden, Seriously...

 

@Zoom i heard about in vitro plants, that they were easier to plant "as half bloomed seeds" but i have spoken to @Verndog he has a gorgeous planted tank, and he uses Glosso to create that low "carpet" grass in the front of the aquarium so im going to try get some of that in Cape Town.

 

@Verndog Thanks for the tips i am going to try get a c02 diffuser etc and watch this planted tank bloom! thanks for the motivation!

@bylaag No prob man you welcome

@Sean J Thanks for the info, im planning on getting my c02 system in Cape Town if i do not manage, i will contact you and see if you can help me in that regard The grass in the front does look silly im going to transfer it to my bigger community tank ehehehhe

Cheers

 

Finally got my ADA Amazonia Soil

Last photo of the Tank before adding the ADA substrate ( i left for 2 weeks on holidays and when i came back plants were HUGE overtaking the tank so i had to do some trimming and start new as i finally got my ADA substrate in Cape Town.

new rescape left a bit of the old Black fluorite substrate underneath the ADA and at the front of the tank. replanted some of the plants, now looking for GLOSSO or HC to plant all over the tank! anyone in CAPE TOWN that could supply this? or any kind souls that would go trough the trouble of shipping it to cape town?

After 2 days of adding the ADA plants already showing a significant growth

My "underwater tree" at its early stages, have proper lights and c02 running as well as some seachem additives lets see how it grows during the next couple of weeks java moss takes time but im patient!!


Feel free to comment and share ideas, i am desperate looking for Glosso or HC to plant all over the tank to get the "loan" look if any one in CAPE TOWN can spare some or sell please let me know! big thanks to @Sean J that made it possible for us in Cape Town to get a hand on ADA soil! @Altum a big thank you for the patience and time explaining the c02 setup we will be in touch regarding the c02 canister etc and hopefully soon you can organize some Glosso

will keep posting photo the following weeks with updates

 

Tagging, nice tank there, would also like to know where to get glosso, im in PTA:bigsmile:

 

I managed to get some glosso finally! on friday will get some HC aswell from a LPS.

 

@ilovetetra When my glosso grows i do not mind giving you some, but its going to take another month im guessing if you have someone in Cape Town who can collect and take it to you in PTA then Pm me.

Cheers

 

@Rico your tank looks good thus far.:tongue:

 

Time for an update!!
Before i left for holidays this is what the tank looked like:

My Glosso was finally taking shape!!

After 3 weeks away from my baby Algae struck!!!



After cleaning the all tank again, all the plants were covered in black algae, my glosso specially!!
Decided to rescape the tank! this is what it looks like now,
Day 1:

 

Unlucky man. I am not looking forward to the day I have to go on away for a period of time. Not looking too bad in the rescape.