My semi planted tank.

[edmlfc]

Re: My semi planted tank.

I got the aqua soil from home depot. If I was to do a new tank and have to cycle it I would probally go with the ada soil. But when I got this tank I was moving
three tanks into one. My plants are not dying but they are not really growing like yours. I'm still jealous! It seems that even my niece grows plants better than me.  I had sent her some swords and within two months they have outgrown her tank. She has no special light, substrate etc. But her mom says she is always overfeeding. I have to say your tank is doing so good, I can't believe the difference in only a month. Can I borrow your green thumb?

[edmlfc]

Re: My semi planted tank.

After Ike a few plants were starting to die from no lights. Now that the lights are back on things are looking good again so here's another update.
I was looking at pictures of my fish to see how much they have grown and thought wow my plants are really starting to take off too. Still not using co2 but I did use Flourish excel for a while and just started using it again today. Basically when I remember to put it in. I did buy a small co2 system just to play with but got lazy and never did anything with it.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: My semi planted tank.

I like that A LOT!  What kind of plants do you have?  Do you think it's the Flourish Excel that is making them take off like that?  Or the lights?  What kind of lights are you using?

Can you tell that our attempt at a planted tank has not done so well?  

[eklikewhoa]

Re: My semi planted tank.

Looks great! Really like the new tank.

[Zulaab]

Re: My semi planted tank.

The only planted tank I have had that has worked was when I had plenty of light on the tank.
I know I right now have a sorry planted tank which is why I am going to redo it here in a few weeks/months when I have the money to do it.
I am for sure going to put better lighting on it.

[myjohnson]

Re: My semi planted tank.

nice tanks guys.......a lot better than the jungle of a planted tank that I have!

[edmlfc]

Re: My semi planted tank.

I like that A LOT!  What kind of plants do you have?  Do you think it's the Flourish Excel that is making them take off like that?  Or the lights?  What kind of lights are you using?

Can you tell that our attempt at a planted tank has not done so well?  

It could be the Flourish Excel. I forgot to mention that I did put the flourish tabs in the substrate also.    That could have alot to do with it.  
I just kept trying different plants until one worked for me.  I have my lights on a timer they come on at 6:30am and go off at 8:30pm. It's taken me over 3 months to finally get it right.    Now my smaller tank I did not take an updated picture. It pretty much looks the same except most of the crypt that was in it melted during the Ike blackout. It looks like some of the leaves are already starting to pop back up.


Here is a breakdown of what I have, what I tried, and what I'm doing:

Fertilizer: Flourish Excel &  Flourish Tabs
Lighting :All-Glass Triple Tube Fluorescent Strip Lights
3 aquarium spectrum fluorescent T-8 tubes. 9325ºK.
Substrate: Home depot Aquatic Soil (Shultz)

Plants that did not work:
Java Moss
Vallisneria
Wisteria
Ludwigia
Cabomba

Plants that are working:
Hygrophila corymbosa 'angustifolia' (grows fast, started as a stick with a few leaves and is now all over my tank)
Balansae (growing slow & survived Ike)
Anubias Nana
Amazon Sword (still could go either way, survived Ike & not really growing)
Crypt ( Beatuiful!)
Java Fern (not growing & survived Ike)

[wesleydnunder]

Re: My semi planted tank.

Lookin' really good!

Mark

[fishlady]

Re: My semi planted tank.

your tank is very nice.....keep us updated with more pics.....you've done a nice job indeed.....

[FIREFISH]

Re: My semi planted tank.

It filled in nicely!

[Kiovo]

Re: My semi planted tank.

We about to start adding plants to our 29g, thanks for all the helpful info!  I'm sure there'll be a lot of trial and error but  you answered a lot of our basic questions  

[myjohnson]

Re: My semi planted tank.

Trial and error is how I learn. It's almost said sometimes.....because it takes to many errors for me to learn anything!