Aiden's Planted Journey

[Aiden123]

Hi everyone. I'm sure some of you have seen my threads regarding setting up my first high tech planted tank. Well the process began today so I thought I would start my journal detailing the development.

I want to turn this:



Into something like this:



The new tank inhabitants will be:
20 Celestial Pearl Danios
10 Pygmy Corys
Red Cherry Shrimp

I recently saw a technique for growing carpet plants emersed and since I won't be setting up the tank for a few weeks I decided to give this technique a try.
You basically use a propagator with some compost to grow the plants.
My test plants are:
Dwarf Hairgrass
Micro Ranalisma Rostrata

Here are the picks of my attempt to emerse grow these:

[Compass]

Heck I like the way it looks now! lol but I get trying something new. You should talk to Triton about emersing plants. He's our expert I reckon. lol Looking forward to progress on this.

[Aiden123]

I like it how it is now too but I want something more "clean cut" and just more eye catching.
I will have to pm Triton and see if he can give me some tips

[gronlaura]

Hooray, a new journal! I'm not a live plant person, but I love your experiment with the immersed plants. Should be a stunning tank with that stocking list. Also, making your substrate deeper in back will make the whole tank look deeper, front to back.

[Aiden123]

Thanks!

I wouldn't be too surprised if the Micro Ranalisma Rostata does really well in this experiment as it has grown quite well in low light etc. Meanwhile I didn't even know I had dwarf hair grass in the current tank. I planted it ages ago and it just dissapeared. I managed to get about 8 tiny portions so hopefully it does well.

If the hair grass does well I may swapped it for HC as that's the carpet plant I ultimately want to use.

[cm12setx]

glad to see you back. hope the new project goes well.

[Aiden123]

Thanks, its great to be back :)

[Aiden123]

Lighting wise for the tank, would this be too strong?

http://www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aq...or-silver.html

48 watt T5 light for a 60cm x 30cm x 30cm tank

[Aiden123]

Nipped to LFS to get some HC for the experiment.

Got my fingers crossed it works




I also picked up an LED light to test, looks quite nice tbh



The light is an Arcadia Classica LED Stretch 23 Watt

[Aiden123]

I may get another one to equal 46 watt. Would this be too much light?

Me and my Dad are working on construction a glass lid and I shall be attempting to make the archway using left over lava rock today