Jay's planted 180g tank
- Thread starter jay973
- Start date
I love the tranquil zen like scene. I am thinking of imitating it and set up a planted 125 in my family room. I notice that the scene on page 1 has grassy cover and then you replace it with gravel. Is it because it's too hard to maintain? What is your routine maintenance and monitoring to make it so lush. You mentioned that you planted some stem plants in pots. They are well hidden, and wonder what pots and how deep they are.
Thank you.
It hard to provide you any true statistical evidence because I'm more of the try it and see if it works for your conditions type of guy. That could be an expensive route to take if you are buying retail but if you are fortunate enough to have club or group then plant swaps are a good way to collect things and try you normally wouldn't. My skills lend themselves more to farming plants in my tank than actually aqua scaping, I just attempt to arrange them that makes sense.
All that to state this the grassy cover plant in the back was Cyperus helferi which was actually relatively easy to grow initially. After splitting the plant to thin it out what was left eventually died. I have since tried it again several times and haven't been successful. Most recently this past January from our last meeting.
If you are referring to the foreground it is currently crypt parva which will take it's time to cover. Other foreground plants that propagate by runners are more challenging to maintain and become a regular chore. I've done Marsilea, Glossostigma, Blyxa, and C. parva as foreground. I also tried Monte carlo but the plecos and hair algae got the best of that plant.
I use containers for my crypts purchased from the dollar store (true use is for organizing a utensil draw). The 2 sizes I have are 4x4x3 and 8x4x3. I also have some sherbet containers but anything will do. The reason is the convenience of uses mineralized soil for heavy root feeding plants like crypts. Also the containers keep the plant grouping tighter instead of the plant propagating all over the tank with runners. Also makes it easier to identify my plants in the containers. I can take the container out for easy maintenance without disturbing the whole tank... etc....
Routine maintenance is 50-60% water changes every 2 or 3 weeks. Alternating dry ferts in smaller dose KNo3/Kh2P04 one day CSM+B, Co2 injection on a timer, Lights on a timer, Metricide daily more as an algaecide than a carbon substitute.
Bet you regret asking now =) sorry so long winded.
Here's a picture of Crypt Usteriana in a cold cut container that was in desperate need of thing out. I took the whole container to our club meeting and separated it there probably not the best idea. =)
32" to the bottom of the pot.
32" to the bottom of the pot.
Thanks. The plant list in the tank changes pretty frequently not always by choice...LOL
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