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| Freshwater Discussion A place to discuss fresh and brackish water tanks and ponds. |
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02-13-2005, 02:39 AM
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#1
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Semi-retar...eh...retired
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 2,995
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Plant tank pics
Thought I'd post a couple pics of my 75 gallon plant tank....
It's been up for 4 months and I think I'm finally past the crappy algae stage of things.  I'm pleased with it so far, but want to work on a more solid aquascape - whaddya think?
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02-13-2005, 03:40 AM
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#2
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feesh
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Eugene Oregon
Posts: 217
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That looks really good! What kinda lights are you using? And filtration? are you doing C02? My planted tank looks like crap, so I think I want to upgrade...
I think some bogwood would really be a nice addition to your tank.
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02-13-2005, 08:46 AM
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#3
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Eat more PIE
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 18,610
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Dude it rocks! nicest tank I have seen great job. 
__________________
Double your drive space. Delete Windows
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02-13-2005, 11:01 AM
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#4
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That Biker Looking Guy
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,446
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Very nice!!!!!!
Post some specs on it will you size lighting etc....
Jeff
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Proud to be a card carrying member of the "J" Crowd
Body By Nautilus; Brain By Mattel.
If Walking Is So Good For You, Then Why Does My Mailman Look Like Jabba The Hut?
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02-13-2005, 11:43 AM
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#5
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Semi-retar...eh...retired
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 2,995
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Thanks guys!
It's a 75 gallon AGA. I don't really know the exact lighting wattage. It's a VHO and 3 NOs running on two separate VHO ballasts (one Icecap, one workhorse) - I'm thinking right around 350 watts or so. It's funny how folks on the plant boards freak out about all the light....I guess I have that reefing perspective  .
It gets CO2 when the lights are on (9 hours right now) - about 2 bubbles/second and that runs into a homemade PVC CO2 reactor, which is fed from the Eheim 2224 canister filter. I have a small 15W UV on the tank, too. I think that really helped me get over the top in the algae battle....this is the first plant tank I've had without some type of weird algae plaguing it forever. I think the UV may be a reason I have no problems.
Fertilizer is PMDD-style, using KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4, CaCl, MgSO4 and Plantex CSM+B for iron and micros. I dose it every other day (macros one day, iron and micros the other), and try to keep levels at 10-15ppm NO3, 1-2ppm PO4, 20ppm K, 40-50ppm Ca and 10-15 ppm Mg.
So far, so good! 
PS - krackel, there is a piece of bogwood in the right 1/3 of the tank...my plant tanks have had too much of it iin the past and I wanted to go more plants less filler on this tank . |
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02-13-2005, 02:04 PM
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#6
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BIG SMELLY MOD
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Denham Springs, LA
Posts: 18,739
Reviews: 21
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That is a great looking tank , I will have to venture out and away from salt and reefs one of these days and try a planted tank , I am lucky as My neighbor is also a reefer and is going to set up a planted tank next , Thank You for the pictures , Very Nice, Vince
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02-13-2005, 02:28 PM
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#7
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Semi-retar...eh...retired
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 2,995
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Thanks Vince.
IMO, plant tanks are much harder to dial in than reefs are. You can't limit nutrients, so the battle with algae is harder to swing your way...I love 'em, though!
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02-13-2005, 07:42 PM
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#8
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Look deeply into my eyes
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 12,042
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Graham, That is one NICE tank! the longer i've been away from FW, the more i like to see nice tanks like yours,,Don't know if i will ever try a planted tank,but lately , i've been getting the itch to have at least a nicely aquascaped FW specie tank again,
Thanks again for the great pics of a great tank! 
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Jeff
1st generation J-Crowd member
PRG Member since '09
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02-14-2005, 03:02 AM
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#9
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Shark
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,119
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 NICE!!!
THose angels are gonna have a great home! |
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02-14-2005, 08:28 PM
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#10
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feesh
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Eugene Oregon
Posts: 217
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Where do you get your substrate?
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02-14-2005, 09:19 PM
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#11
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Semi-retar...eh...retired
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 2,995
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krackel,
It's "home-made". 1/2" of moistened peat on the bottom, 1" of Shultz Aquatic plant soil on top of that. The next 2" is a blend of the Schultz soil, laterite (clay) and the smallest grain river gravel you can find. The top 2" on that is just the small river gravel with a little laterite. I ended up siphoning most of the upper layer of laterite out, since it's pretty messy stuff (clouds tank, leads to green water and clay deposits on everything). Next time, I think I'd just bite the bullet and go with all Eco-complete. It's easy, isnt' messy, and folks get great results with it right off the bat.
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03-27-2005, 11:28 PM
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#12
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squid
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canton, GA
Posts: 9
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Very Nice Tank!!
I started my first planted tank (75 gallon bowfront) about 5 months ago. What a challenge (Reef tanks are nuch easier) - I am having issues with algae and TDS (total disolved solids) and alkalinity (both are on the low side). I think that the 3 huge pieces of Malaysian driftwood is a variable in maintaining water chemistry.
I'm up for any tips and tricks you would like to share.
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03-29-2005, 11:37 PM
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#14
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Plankton
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 37
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alaskan reefer i found you
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04-12-2005, 12:49 AM
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#15
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Plankton
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: HILLSBOROUGH, NEW JERSEY
Posts: 12
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Graham
Thought I'd post a couple pics of my 75 gallon plant tank....
It's been up for 4 months and I think I'm finally past the crappy algae stage of things. I'm pleased with it so far, but want to work on a more solid aquascape - whaddya think? |
I think it looks great!!!!! 
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