It's been a couple of weeks since my last update ...so to bring you up to date for day 43 of my first attempt at a 'high tec' tank.
At the end of week 4 I had increase the light intensity to 80% and everything appeared to be going well with good plant growth. So good in fact that I gave the Eleocharis Acicularis a 'hair cut'. I also trimmed back around 50% of the Ludwigiga Repens as it had reached the top of the tank and was beginning to shade the other plants. Whilst trimming I noticed that the slate had taken on a lovely golden colour. It looked really nice but on closer inspection realised it was Diatoms. I've read that the Diatoms often show up during the set up phase but then in most cases disappear all by themselves. I had planned to move my Otocinclus from my old tank in week 6 but after carrying out a nitrate test decided to put them in a week early. They did an amazing job and the next day the slate was spotless.
The Hygrophila Difformis (HD) I had ordered arrived at the start of week 5 and so I replaced the majority of Ceratophyllum Demersum. I'm much happier with the HD and looking forward to it reaching the top of the tank and hiding the heater.
A couple of days after the Otos' went in they appeared happy in their new home and so I decided moved my Rummy-nosed Tetra's into the tank. So now all of my fish have been moved across from my old tank which can now be decommissioned. Apart from the 9 Otos' and 18 Rummy Nosed Tetra's much to my surprise I also have a Pakistani Loach and a Red Shrimp! Both must have come in with the plants.
I've added a few pictures which I took at the start of week 7. Already the 'grass' needs another cut.
The first picture shows the whole tank and with the exception of the Staurogyne repens and the odd Ludwigia repens everything has been cut back at least once.
The second picture shows how well the Vesicularia Montagnei Christmas Moss has grown although I'm a little disappointed as I had hoped it would hang down over the entrance to the cave. (The Pakistani Loach has adopted the cave as it's home) What I've kept of the Ceratophyllum Demersum is growing well behind the cave and needs regular trimming.
The last picture shows the newly planted Hygrophila Difformis which once established will cover the heater. Also the Staurogyne repens (bottom right), which as a slow growing plant I was a bit worried about, is now beginning to creep across the substrate and is a healthy green colour. I have decided on a slight change of plan with the midground plants. The Ludwigia repens grows much more quickly than I imagined and in the near future I'm going to replace some of it with Alternanthera Reineckii "Red". Although this plant can grow fairly tall I've read that keeping it trimmed causes it to become bushy giving me a nice splash of red just above the rock line. As this is a very narrow tank I'm hoping this will give the impression of more depth.
More updates in a couple of weeks time.
Chris.
