Pics of the tank...

[Bill M.]

Here it is, finally finished *pssh yea right, are they ever finished?*

Specs:
Plants:
Java Fern
Brazillian Sword Plant
Combamba
Water Wisteria
Ferns

Fish:
Black Skirts
Serpaes
Clown Loaches
Zebra Danios
Honey Sunset Gouramis
Common Pleco

Filtration:
Aquaclear 20-40 HOB
Eheim 2232 Canister filter

Lighting:
20 Watt Flora-Glo

Heating:
100 W All Glass heater

Thinking about adding CO2.... worried about possible consequenses tho...... talk me into it people!

[Rue]

Nice! Next time you clean you might want to rearrange things so it's not as symmetrical...unless of course, that was your intent.

And I'm not a fan of coloured gravel (no secret there - I'm even sorry I got the black gravel for the goldfish tank)...but still...very nice!

Congrats!

[Lady Hobbs]

Nice clear pictures. And NO. They are never done! I need something for every tank still.

[Bill M.]

Nice! Next time you clean you might want to rearrange things so it's not as symmetrical...unless of course, that was your intent.

And I'm not a fan of coloured gravel (no secret there - I'm even sorry I got the black gravel for the goldfish tank)...but still...very nice!

Congrats!


Hmmm.. that is what I was going for.....does it look bad?? Give me some suggestions??

[Zerileous]

How big is the tank? It is the 29 in your sig right? You will need more light to grow plants. As a general rule, you want 2-4 wats per gallon of water if the tank is over 30 gallons and under 100. The Cobomba is not going to do incredibly well without more light, but the others might be okay (though they wont grow very quickily).

After you hit 2 wpg, then CO2 can be very helpful. I would use DIY unless you have some money. Pressurized systems can be pricy, but DIY can be had on the cheep. Its not as good, especially for a larger tank, but it certainly helps. I wouldn't bother with any CO2 if I only had 20w over a 29 gallon tank though.

Also, I can't tell from the pics, but if you are running an air stone, it is getting rid of CO2. Same is happening with your HOB filter unless you keep the water topped off so that no bubbles are formed. You want to at least preserve the CO2 from your fish for the plants to use. (of course, if you ever see fish gasping at the surface, begin immediate aeration)

Would it be possible to at least add another 20w grow light? that would be a great improvement alone. If you are using a stock flourescent hood, there are a few options to retrofit a compact flourescent/power compact bulb. If you are comfortable with electronics, you can overdrive a normal output bulb with an electronic ballast (requires proficient wiring abilities). There are also probably lots of various lighting fixtures that would fit on your hood.

ps. it all looks very nice. I am just trying to help you keep it that way. :cheers:

[Bill M.]

Thanks Z......Yea I only have the stock aquarium hood which is only capable of handleing one light. I actually am not having any issues with the combomba. Since I've added the flora-glo, they have grown nearly 5 inches. So is this a general consensus, a DIY CO2 would be pointless in this tank?

[Bill M.]

Just thought of something.... I run my lights 14 hours a day... from 8am to 10pm.. I never have algea, either my pleco eats it before i notice, or the plants get all the nutrition. Becasue I run my lights for so long, would this compensate for only haveing a 20w bulb????

[Zerileous]

everything I have read sais no, but on the other hand, everything i have read sais your combomba should be wilted and dying right now :/.

It would never hurt to run a DIY CO2 bottle either, as long as you monitored kH and pH to make sure concentrations dont get too high and kill the fish. Wont necessarily help but if you really want to throw it togather its not like it will cost you money.

[crackatinny]

I think it looks fine, if all tanks was done along the same lines it would be a bit boring.

Nice job Bill.

[RobbieG]

Nifty looking tank Bill

A tank is finished when you tank it down to put in a bigger one

[jeffs99dime]

looks good. keep the pics comin':ezpi_wink1:

[Drumachine09]

Nice tank. Your plants look healthy and green too!

Is that rock fake or real?




I belive it was Chrona who said "99 percent of the time, CO2 is good for a planted tank" or something to that effect. I dont know what the 1% of the time is.......but oh well.

[digger]

nice tank i wish i could keep live plants in my tanks but my fish consider them extra food.:19:

[Bill M.]

Nice tank. Your plants look healthy and green too!

Is that rock fake or real?




I belive it was Chrona who said "99 percent of the time, CO2 is good for a planted tank" or something to that effect. I dont know what the 1% of the time is.......but oh well.

Hey drum... yea that rock is 100% real...bought it at my lfs for 20 bucks...
Can anyone link me the best DIY CO2 system?? Thanks!

[Rue]

The problem when you ask for feedback is that you get everyone's personal opinion...because aethetics are totally subjective...

And all tanks WILL have a certain 'look' just because to some extent we're all using the same materials...there's only so much you can do with stock gravel and decorations within the confines of a rectangle.

As a rule though...asymmetrical decorating is more pleasing...the other rule is to group objects in the tank...for example...group all your plants on one end and leave a big open space in the middle...

My tanks aren't going to win any prizes...I just muck around and see what stuff looks like...that's why I don't enter any for TOTM, lol...but I've looked at many tanks over the past few months...and read many articles...I'm just giving you the consensus opinion together with my own...

My 'big' personal experimentation for the year has been with driftwood...2 pieces which still need more soaking...haven't even added them to the tanks yet...

[Rue]

...btw...I think planted tanks REALLY need substrate heaters...

[zackish]

Thanks Z......Yea I only have the stock aquarium hood which is only capable of handleing one light. I actually am not having any issues with the combomba. Since I've added the flora-glo, they have grown nearly 5 inches. So is this a general consensus, a DIY CO2 would be pointless in this tank?

It is never pointless to run Co2, especially because DIY is so easy. If your cobamba is growing pretty well now I guarantee you it will grow even better with Co2 in the tank.