_Maq_
Member
Some plants are too robust (Aponogeton, Echinodorus, some Cryptocorynes) for a rather small tank, I'm afraid.
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Slow 60 (ADA 60p low tech)
- Thread starter aec34
- Start date
aec34
Member
Lots of things moving in and out as part of shutting down another ‘temporary’ tank. Went from this glorious view with the pots on suckers dumped on the front and a pile of epiphytes…
…to something I’m really very pleased with. Small crypts grew pretty well in their little pots, and are now in the foreground:
Also bit the bullet and swapped the fancy Twinstar for two Leddy lights. Other half thinks I’m imagining things, but I do think the colours are more pleasing, and it’s really nice to be able to see into the tank from the top.
Ferts are TNC complete, plus squirt of iron and bit of Epsom salts when I remember. Lights now on for about 8 hours.
6 embers seem fine, shrimp breeding like mad. Interestingly, most of my limpets have gone, but I’ve a few more tiny snails than before.
Thinking about adding a few more fish: I’d love some CPDs but I worry about getting healthy fish. Might go for pygmy cories after all.
…to something I’m really very pleased with. Small crypts grew pretty well in their little pots, and are now in the foreground:
Also bit the bullet and swapped the fancy Twinstar for two Leddy lights. Other half thinks I’m imagining things, but I do think the colours are more pleasing, and it’s really nice to be able to see into the tank from the top.
Ferts are TNC complete, plus squirt of iron and bit of Epsom salts when I remember. Lights now on for about 8 hours.
6 embers seem fine, shrimp breeding like mad. Interestingly, most of my limpets have gone, but I’ve a few more tiny snails than before.
Thinking about adding a few more fish: I’d love some CPDs but I worry about getting healthy fish. Might go for pygmy cories after all.
aec34
Member
Tank ticking along. Weekly 30ish % WC, plus ferts regime the same. Floaters perking up which is a good sign.
Last week I removed the big echinodorus ozelot (= cos lettuce) and a lagenandra, and shuffled some of the crypts into the space freed up. This was all surprisingly not messy, but blimey the crypts throw out long runners.
The most exciting news is the addition of 6 CPDs! They’ve been in for 4 days and seem to have settled ok. I love that they prefer it lower in the tank than the embers, lurking under the crypts at the front. Tank feels really quite full of life now with the vast numbers of shrimp.
Turns out they are very hard to photograph.
I have given up trying to keep the sand uncovered with bits of soil. Reminder to self: sand or soil, not both.
Last week I removed the big echinodorus ozelot (= cos lettuce) and a lagenandra, and shuffled some of the crypts into the space freed up. This was all surprisingly not messy, but blimey the crypts throw out long runners.
The most exciting news is the addition of 6 CPDs! They’ve been in for 4 days and seem to have settled ok. I love that they prefer it lower in the tank than the embers, lurking under the crypts at the front. Tank feels really quite full of life now with the vast numbers of shrimp.
Turns out they are very hard to photograph.
I have given up trying to keep the sand uncovered with bits of soil. Reminder to self: sand or soil, not both.
aec34
Member
Tank nearly 5 months old. I really need to get in and do a good clean and prune - including the thick layer of floating plants - but here’s an update.
Pleasingly, my ceratopteris is finally doing the curly surface thing (not shown). Moved a crypt flamingo into a little pot to give it some more light.
I’ve just added the monstera at the back on a sucker cup; it’s been growing in a separate pot of water quite happily so I’m optimistic.
Good news is that I’ve still got a nymphaea. The main plant died back in my previous tank, and this is the little secondary bulb it had produced - it lives!
General regime is unchanged. I have an assortment of algae here and there, but nothing out of control; the only exception is the front right corner which I think has very little water circulation.
CPDs have made friends with the embers - and one continually trails round after them. It’s quite cute.
Pleasingly, my ceratopteris is finally doing the curly surface thing (not shown). Moved a crypt flamingo into a little pot to give it some more light.
I’ve just added the monstera at the back on a sucker cup; it’s been growing in a separate pot of water quite happily so I’m optimistic.
Good news is that I’ve still got a nymphaea. The main plant died back in my previous tank, and this is the little secondary bulb it had produced - it lives!
General regime is unchanged. I have an assortment of algae here and there, but nothing out of control; the only exception is the front right corner which I think has very little water circulation.
CPDs have made friends with the embers - and one continually trails round after them. It’s quite cute.
PARAGUAY
Member
That's a lovely jungle tank 😍
aec34
Member
Thanks, I’m not sure where to go regarding fish. This is my only tank, and I’m very keen not to overstock - but it’s not big enough to be a community tank as such I guess with several different species, tempting as that is. Having said that, I’m idly thinking about Otos, but I’ve heard they can be tricky.
aec34
Member
Thanks - jungle is definitely the right word!!
aec34
Member
Finally thinned the floating plants. Fingers crossed the fish won’t be too timid as a result.
It’s LOVELY being able now to see into the tank again.
It’s LOVELY being able now to see into the tank again.
aec34
Member
Not a lot going on. I did battle some fluffy green algae round the filter, but have managed to remove most of it and at the same time I also replaced the sponge which was getting on a bit. Interestingly, the algae did smell unpleasant.
Needs a damn good clean and prune, including a lot of runners from the crypts.
Monstera growing out the back is doing really well.
Needs a damn good clean and prune, including a lot of runners from the crypts.
Monstera growing out the back is doing really well.
hydrophyte
Member
- Joined
- 22 Aug 2009
- Messages
- 1,044
Happy plants in there!
MichaelJ
Member
aec34
Member
Thanks all 🙂 I’m really happy with it. It’s pretty gloomy at the bottom but I just know I’m going to find a ton of bolbitis hiding out.
aec34
Member
Love this plant, though I appreciate that cutting a leaf off might be a funny way to show it…
And FINALLY some interesting colour morphs in the shrimp!
One CPD looks a bit off, and another one appears to have vanished in the last 2 days. Bit of a worry.
And FINALLY some interesting colour morphs in the shrimp!
One CPD looks a bit off, and another one appears to have vanished in the last 2 days. Bit of a worry.
aec34
Member
So one of the CPDs has died, and one has some fluffy patches. Now, this is probably coincidence but this time last year I also lost a fish randomly, and both then and now this is about a week after I gave the shrimp a lolly.
Could the shrimp lollies be responsible? I feel like this is unlikely, but here’s the wrapper anyway. I’m still doing my big weekly water change.
Could the shrimp lollies be responsible? I feel like this is unlikely, but here’s the wrapper anyway. I’m still doing my big weekly water change.
aec34
Member
Well, pygmy cories are my new favorite thing! Thanks to a UKAPS buddy for these adorable creatures. There are a little group of 5 who I’ve seen at least once all happily snuffling about together.
I particularly love that they make the CPDs look big…
(Further to the last post, I did lose the second poorly CPD, so waited a good time before adding anything else - all the other fish are fine.)
Tank is well overdue a good trim.
In equally pressing news, my Fe source has run out. I’ve just been using an off the shelf ‘Iron’ additive liquid product, but after reading round including @KirstyF ’s brilliant thread, I’m going to get some DTPA. This is because (a) I don’t really think in my small, non-CO2 tank with moderately hard water I will notice much difference what I get, and (b) I saved a link for some for £6 off eBay which was posted somewhere on ukaps = path of least resistance.
Plant gurus please feel free to advise on (a) before I press buy.
I particularly love that they make the CPDs look big…
(Further to the last post, I did lose the second poorly CPD, so waited a good time before adding anything else - all the other fish are fine.)
Tank is well overdue a good trim.
In equally pressing news, my Fe source has run out. I’ve just been using an off the shelf ‘Iron’ additive liquid product, but after reading round including @KirstyF ’s brilliant thread, I’m going to get some DTPA. This is because (a) I don’t really think in my small, non-CO2 tank with moderately hard water I will notice much difference what I get, and (b) I saved a link for some for £6 off eBay which was posted somewhere on ukaps = path of least resistance.
Plant gurus please feel free to advise on (a) before I press buy.
