Couple of my favorite photos

[fishman76092]

Ive changed it up from time to time:

In the beginning (Oct 06)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC02767.jpg

A couple months later: (12/06 ish)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC02900.jpg

A few months later: (4/07 ish)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03132.jpg

Moved the tank to my office (5/07 ish)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03247.jpg

Recent photos:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03542.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03550.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03442.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03440.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03429.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03491.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03544.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fishman76092/DSC03551.jpg

[EAST_TX_RN]

You make me want to get rid of my cichlids and have a beautiful planted tank! Thanks for letting me drool over your photos!:drool2:

[rolloffhill]

Awesome, I like the progression of it. :clap:

[poel_19]

wow....absolutly stunning!!! im gonna have to take notes from you!!

[bra8ndy8]

Can you some over and HELP my 100 gallon!!!!

[kewlkatdady]

wow...
that is a beautiful tank.

[Vivarium Concepts]

Very impressive!

[Kathy]

Impressive Indeed!!!

[FishGurl721]

what are the stats of the tank? co2? do you use laterite and fertilizer? oh and what kind of lights do you have?

sorry, I'm really into plants, I'm so jealous! :) lol

[fishman76092]

No problem:
180 gallon 6x2x2
706W of 6700K PC Lighting
Turbo twist 12x UV Sterilizer
Rena XP3
Pressurized CO2 with pH Controller
Eco complete gravel
Ferts: Flourish, Potassium, Iron, Phosphorus 2X weekly

Everything is on timers-9 hours of CO2, 11 Hours of light. UV runs on the same timer as the light.

I will be adding a second XP3 with a spray bar that will run opposite of the CO2. The plants have a tendency to use a lot of O2 late in the day for respiration.

Plants:
Giant Hygro
Ammania senegalensis
Rotala indica
Ludw. glandulosa
Crypt. lucens
Red temple
Blyxa japonica
Red Lotus

[biggin]

What is the purpose? Not to question that it is wrong or anything but I have not heard anyone say to turn off the UV. Just curious.

UV runs on the same timer as the light.

[biggin]

Tank looks great... I only hope one of mine will look that good some day....

[chebert22]

No problem:
180 gallon 6x2x2
706W of 6700K PC Lighting
Turbo twist 12x UV Sterilizer
Rena XP3
Pressurized CO2 with pH Controller
Eco complete gravel
Ferts: Flourish, Potassium, Iron, Phosphorus 2X weekly



Ok, now say that all over.... in kindergarten terms! LOL You got to dumb it down for me.

Seriously, I'm just joking. But I do want to know how you keep it clean with that many plants.

[fishman76092]

What is the purpose? Not to question that it is wrong or anything but I have not heard anyone say to turn off the UV. Just curious.


You dont have to put it on a timer, but the bulbs for these are not cheap. I lost an nearly and entire tank of fish to velvet about a year ago. If you notice the change in plant species from the beginning-it was mostly due to the acriflavine I had to use to kill the velvet...it kills plants too.

Since the UV, Ive not had one bout of disease or algae issues. Any time I add new fish, I turn it on full time for a couple of weeks. I use the timer just to save a bit of money on the bulbs.

[fishman76092]

Ok, now say that all over.... in kindergarten terms! LOL You got to dumb it down for me.

Seriously, I'm just joking. But I do want to know how you keep it clean with that many plants.

I am a firm believer in that you get what you pay for. In my opinion, planted tanks are like reef tanks-if you want to make it look right, you need to buy the right equipment.

I havent done a water change in that tank since March(no kidding). There are enough plants in there to keep the nitrates to a minimum. Certain plants are nitrate hogs and that helps. Big amazon swords are good for that. I actuallly had less nitrates when I had swords than when I do now, without them. Unfortunately, the red plants suffer a bit in coloration when any nitrates are present.

As for active cleaners:
I keep the glass clean...

I also have 18 SAE's, one Ptery. joselimania (sp) pleco (a no-no if you ask most plant people-but this one does a great job), a bunch of Botias, Corys, etc. Also have about 25 Amanos.

I am redoing the tank either today or tomorrow to change the look and add some wood and rocks to it. With that, Ill be doing weekly water changes until the plants take hold again (probably a month)

Hope that helps.

[biggin]

That makes a lot of sense, I had never thought about that.

You dont have to put it on a timer, but the bulbs for these are not cheap. I lost an nearly and entire tank of fish to velvet about a year ago. If you notice the change in plant species from the beginning-it was mostly due to the acriflavine I had to use to kill the velvet...it kills plants too.

Since the UV, Ive not had one bout of disease or algae issues. Any time I add new fish, I turn it on full time for a couple of weeks. I use the timer just to save a bit of money on the bulbs.

[Jim2982]

Wow, that looks amazing. My uncle keeps trying to convince me to plant a tank, said he'd give me clippings of all his plants to start. Seeing your tank makes me want to give it a try. Make sure to post some pics with the new wood and rocks and make us all even more jealous!