Mid-Year Tank Progress! Let's see your growth!

[ryancamaratta]

I mentioned in my original build thread struggling with a really weird strain of algae, and it had my tank held up for about four months. I took some pretty drastic measures to overcome it and blessedly it worked (was pulling my hair out). M initial planting when I set the tank up in Feb of this year:


It was pretty great timing but left my tank empty and stunted-looking, I pulled most of my plants not wanting any of the algae to remain in the tank. Waterbox reached out for an interview at the *worst* timing, and they got the version of the tank that was algae-free, but very empty :
Edit: sucks to not be able to show the transition but I just spent 10mins trying to upload this picture and it's just not having it

I went to work, hard, on bringing the tank back around from disaster and (if you look closely at the timestamps) managed to get this within a month:

 

[plantnoobdude]

I mentioned in my original build thread struggling with a really weird strain of algae, and it had my tank held up for about four months. I took some pretty drastic measures to overcome it and blessedly it worked (was pulling my hair out). M initial planting when I set the tank up in Feb of this year:
View attachment 2470

It was pretty great timing but left my tank empty and stunted-looking, I pulled most of my plants not wanting any of the algae to remain in the tank. Waterbox reached out for an interview at the *worst* timing, and they got the version of the tank that was algae-free, but very empty :
Edit: sucks to not be able to show the transition but I just spent 10mins trying to upload this picture and it's just not having it

I went to work, hard, on bringing the tank back around from disaster and (if you look closely at the timestamps) managed to get this within a month:
View attachment 2471

I'd love to see some of the original rares back in

 

[CFassett]

I see the Bacopa and Meta are doing alright, did the Ramosior make it? Mine got the droops and died, which is ironic since I carefully nursed it back from a single stub of a stem when I first got it.

 

[ryancamaratta]

I'd love to see some of the original rares back in

Wait which ones it's been a while lol

 

[Dennis Wong]

I see the Bacopa and Meta are doing alright, did the Ramosior make it? Mine got the droops and died, which is ironic since I carefully nursed it back from a single stub of a stem when I first got it.

For Florida, I haven't seen a droop in many years since using higher Ca/GH levels (around 5?dGH) in their tanks and richer substrate. Those that I grew in raw soil did much better than those I've grown in aquasoil historically. I think folks over-look the water hardness part due to examples where folks can grow them well in lower GH levels, but I think it makes a big difference. How I know? I come from a country with soft tap water default 2-3dGH out of the tap - Florida and crypt flamingo were deemed difficult plants in earlier years, and tanks that had good examples of them were fewer. Once the calcium/GH angle was figured out and folks began using GH boosters, the plants grew like weeds, now every tom dick and harry can have those plants if they wanted

 

[CFassett]

For Florida, I haven't seen a droop in many years since using higher Ca/GH levels (around 5?dGH) in their tanks and richer substrate. Those that I grew in raw soil did much better than those I've grown in aquasoil historically. I think folks over-look the water hardness part due to examples where folks can grow them well in lower GH levels, but I think it makes a big difference. How I know? I come from a country with soft tap water default 2-3dGH out of the tap - Florida and crypt flamingo were deemed difficult plants in earlier years, and tanks that had good examples of them were fewer. Once the calcium/GH angle was figured out and folks began using GH boosters, the plants grew like weeds, now every tom dick and harry can have those plants if they wanted

That tracks perfectly, because I did some water changes recently and forgot to add my GH booster. My tap water is 37 TDS , about 2 dGH and 0.5 dKH . My Nesaea pedicellata 'Golden' seemed very unhappy as well, though it just twisted up rather than melting. Thanks for the info!

 

[Dennis Wong]

That tracks perfectly, because I did some water changes recently and forgot to add my GH booster. My tap water is 37 TDS, about 2 dGH and 0.5 dKH. My Nesaea pedicellata 'Golden' seemed very unhappy as well, though it just twisted up rather than melting. Thanks for the info!

If you forgot to dose GH booster, your Mg/K ratios might have moved out of range for the pedicellata - so the twisting makes sense. The other thing I can spot immediately is that your trace composition is off, which is why the AR is very twisted. Could be either through the root zone or water column. The thing about AR is that it is a super low requirement plant, so its easy to rule out CO2 etc; a lack of stuff may slow its growth, but it doesn't result in very twisted leaves, essentially, you can't twist its leaves with a lack of stuff - the one thing it is more sensitive to is traces. You can switch it out for a plant that is more tolerant such as the Red samolus instead if you don't want to manage this angle

 

[CFassett]

If you forgot to dose GH booster, your Mg/K ratios might have moved out of range for the pedicellata - so the twisting makes sense. The other thing I can spot immediately is that your trace composition is off, which is why the AR is very twisted. Could be either through the root zone or water column. The thing about AR is that it is a super low requirement plant, so its easy to rule out CO2 etc; a lack of stuff may slow its growth, but it doesn't result in very twisted leaves, essentially, you can't twist its leaves with a lack of stuff - the one thing it is more sensitive to is traces. You can switch it out for a plant that is more tolerant such as the Red samolus instead if you don't want to manage this angle


View attachment 2489

Interesting, I've recently (a month or so ago) switched to Joe's micro mix (BurrAqua) and have been dosing according to his instructions, but I don't do nearly as many water changes as I should (between ADHD, two young kids, and my wife and I both working full time, even 2 hours a week is often too much for me to manage ) so it would make sense for my micros to be accumulating. I can dial those back easily enough. I'm dosing each nutrient separately via a Chihiros auto doser.

The slower-growing plants are also having the hardest time with the odd GDA that I get whenever my CO² runs out. I'm typically able to correct things, but this particular GDA is something I've never seen before this tank, the consistency is like a durable Cyano, when I scrape it, it comes off in slimey strings. The faster growing plants recover quickly, but it tends to hang around on the older leaves of the slower growers. I had assumed the knackered AR 'Mini Variegated' leaves were simply the result of that. The Nesaea and Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'White' have also been significantly hampered by it

 

[Dennis Wong]

Interesting, I've recently (a month or so ago) switched to Joe's micro mix (BurrAqua) and have been dosing according to his instructions, but I don't do nearly as many water changes as I should (between ADHD, two young kids, and my wife and I both working full time, even 2 hours a week is often too much for me to manage ) so it would make sense for my micros to be accumulating. I can dial those back easily enough. I'm dosing each nutrient separately via a Chihiros auto doser.

The slower-growing plants are also having the hardest time with the odd GDA that I get whenever my CO² runs out. I'm typically able to correct things, but this particular GDA is something I've never seen before this tank, the consistency is like a durable Cyano, when I scrape it, it comes off in slimey strings. The faster growing plants recover quickly, but it tends to hang around on the older leaves of the slower growers. I had assumed the knackered AR 'Mini Variegated' leaves were simply the result of that. The Nesaea and Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'White' have also been significantly hampered by it

oh I have a new algicide that seem to work on a broad spectrum of algae, can also be dosed on mosses without burning them, if you want to test it for this new algae send me your address/contact number and I can send you a sample.



before/after

 

[LRJ]

Haven't done much with my tank this summer beyond routine maintenance. The picture below was taken today after returning from a week vacation at the beach. Needs a trim and water change. Once fall rolls around I'll likely get back to more active scaping.

 

[Art]

Wow, great looking Crypt! Is that a large wendtii?

And by the way, I wish my tank looked that way after I got back from vacation!

 

[LRJ]

Wow, great looking Crypt! Is that a large wendtii?

And by the way, I wish my tank looked that way after I got back from vacation!

Thanks, Art! Yes, that's a wendtii v. tropica. As you can probably tell, plant selection for this tank is all about low maintenance and easy color.

 

[Art]

Love it.

 

[Art]

new algicide

OK @Dennis Wong you have me intrigued. Can you expand on this?

 

[Achi]

Aloha everyone! I haven’t been active here, my apologies, I do visit and read. Here is my tank and some photos of my plants, I hope you enjoy!!

 

[Art]

Aloha everyone! I haven’t been active here, my apologies, I do visit and read. Here is my tank and some photos of my plants, I hope you enjoy!!

Aloha, @Achi - it would be great if you created a build thread for your tank. You get a nice banner by doing it.

 

[Dennis Wong]

OK @Dennis Wong you have me intrigued. Can you expand on this?

If you want I can send you a sample haa...

 

[HardeeParty]

With hesitance because of other works-of-art posted, I post some update photos after a water change and light trimming. Sourced a local shop that sells RODI for a very fair price (.59/gallon) so from here on I’ll be using this until I get a small under-counter system. Not really targeting any style of scape (obviously). Just focusing on stability, methods, and techniques. I welcome any and all criticism. Within the next month I’ll hopefully have enough solid growth to do a major cut and replant.

 

[Unexpected]

With hesitance because of other works-of-art posted, I post some update photos after a water change and light trimming. Sourced a local shop that sells RODI for a very fair price (.59/gallon) so from here on I’ll be using this until I get a small under-counter system. Not really targeting any style of scape (obviously). Just focusing on stability, methods, and techniques. I welcome any and all criticism. Within the next month I’ll hopefully have enough solid growth to do a major cut and replant.

View attachment 2712
View attachment 2713
View attachment 2714
View attachment 2715
View attachment 2716

Tanks look excellent, shouldn’t hesitate at all.

 

[Art]

Just focusing on stability, methods, and techniques.

Perfect! IMO this is exactly what you should focus on. Learn the techniques, build your routine and get those plants growing healthy. Then worry about aquascaping to your taste.

Thanks for posting. While we have many people that are at a high level of aquascaping, there are many, many more of us more "mortal" types. Posting our work is the best way to receive guidance from others that will help you improve.