75g "Dutch" Weed Farm

burr740

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Considering how nice and flat the AR leaves are, I dont *think the problem is Ca or Mg.

Downoi likes Fe and traces, or to put it another way, it does not like low Fe and traces.

.1 or .2 Fe should be plenty. Mn, Zn, Mo and Cu....looks like plenty.

B is pretty low. I'd get that up around the same levels as Zn, or 8-10 ppb at least. You can use Borax for additional B, or boric acid. Both are listed on rotalabutterfly.

Low B could also explain the why the aromatica and bacopa are not growing straight. Also notice how the Cabomba's internodes have gotten a lot shorter at the top compared to lower down the stem? Its mild, but this is a telltale symptom of not enough B or Zn, and you have plenty of Zn.
 

slipfinger

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Considering how nice and flat the AR leaves are, I dont *think the problem is Ca or Mg.
Downoi likes Fe and traces, or to put it another way, it does not like low Fe and traces.
.1 or .2 Fe should be plenty. Mn, Zn, Mo and Cu....looks like plenty.
B is pretty low. I'd get that up around the same levels as Zn, or 8-10 ppb at least. You can use Borax for additional B, or boric acid. Both are listed on rotalabutterfly.
Low B could also explain the why the aromatica and bacopa are not growing straight. Also notice how the Cabomba's internodes have gotten a lot shorter at the top compared to lower down the stem? Its mild, but this is a telltale symptom of not enough B or Zn, and you have plenty of Zn.

Thanks for the info burr.

I will try adding some additional B and see what happens.

I question if its L. aromatica or L. hippuridoides. Anyone know the telltale differences between the two?

I hope adding B is the answer to getting Cabomba's nodes shorter. I've always question why mine are not like that, I caulked it up to the high lighting in the 75. Had some in a low light 10g and it looked amazing, bushy with very short internodes, pulled some out throw it in the 75 and bam, long and leggy in no time.
 
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slipfinger

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Update

FTS (water still a little cloudy after water change).
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Maintenance day! Decide to spend some time rescaping the right 1/3 of the tank, some time being four hours. I yanked everything out on the right and gave the AS a deep vacuum, what a bloody mess. Also cleaned the filter and all the pipes, Fe Gluconate really makes a mess of the filter piping.

Tank was really starting to get over grown, I was starting to see hair or staghorn algae on the Pantanal and Hygrophila corymbosa. I think flow in the tank was one of the main factors but I also messed around in the tank the other day and didn't have time for a water change. I only planned on moving a couple plants to make room for a few Eriocaulon cinereum, but ended up yanking all the AR and lobelia which stirred up the sub more than I would have liked.

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The Proserpinaca palustris (mermaid weed) which I planted as a tissue culture back on July 10th was finally ready to be moved. I trimmed down the Cabomba 'purple/red' and organized and replanted all the stems. I picked and cleaned all the deformed ratty leaves off both the AR 'mini' and AR 'variegated', having the grow out tank is so nice since I can throw all the left overs in that tank to sell or use in the future. As mentioned above I made some room for my newly acquired Eriocaulon cinereum, my first try at Erio's fingers crossed they do ok. I really need to work on the middle part of the tank. Pogostemon erectus is ready to be moved, not to sure where it will be going but I've got a week to plan it out. I'm thinking Pogostemon gayi might be getting the hook. I want to get the Pantanal moved to the middle of the tank way from Pygmy Chain Sword. It will probably trade places with the L. Aromatica/Hippuridoides not sure which it actually is.

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Not to sure why I am punishing these ratty looking stems of Rotala wallichii, I should just put them out of their misery. Poor things are covered in Hair algae and BBA, they are basically sitting there on life support. Probably going to be moving them over to the grow out tank which has new Aqua Soil, rich Co2, good lighting and no dosing.

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Pogostemon Erectus doing well.

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Pogostemon helferi growing gang busters since I spread them out and gave them some elbow room. Couple are still showing signs of deficiency but growing like mad, so I'm not to worried.

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Random shots
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The 40b grow out tank already full of plants, still have more to fit in there. The second tank might be needed sooner than later.

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Greggz

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Nice update, and the tank is looking beautiful.

A great mix of colors and shapes. And plants all look happy and healthy.

Nice work!
 
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DutchMuch

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oooh both look good! :) I could never get my wallichii to really take off either... I have had it for maybe 3 weeks now and its still stunted it seems...
 

slipfinger

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Update on dosing.

I've decided to give urea a try at .25ppm per day.

Current dosing will look like this.

Macros
1/3 tsp KNO3 5ppm
1/4 tsp KH2PO4 3.5ppm
1/4 tsp K2SO4 2.5ppm
.25ppm urea

Micros
.2ppm Fe DTPA
.1ppm Mn (more than I need but trying to keep the 2-1 ratio)
20ml Flourish Trace
.025ppm extra Boron

I finally ordered all the individual elements to mix my own trace mix. Once they come in, I will be following EI traces to start with.

On another topic, I was sick of my Fabco needle valve giving me fits, so I updated to a Hoke 3100 series metering valve. This valve is unbelievable, I can literally dial it down to 1 bubble every 2 secs if I wanted. But of course I have bubbles racing through it an uncountable rate.

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slipfinger

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Update time.



This last week I've notice a little hair algae here and there around the tank. BBA has also popped up on some older growth and on the ends of the Dwarf Sagittaria (I believe) in the back left corner that I trimmed a while ago. I've been really stirring up the sub the last couple of maintenance days, pulling all the plants and deep vacuuming a 1/3 of the tank to remove mulm and such. I'm guessing this is probably the reason for the 'outbreak'. I cleaned the filter and replaced the poly wool both times the day after I really mucked around, in hopes of keeping the organics down. My plan was to remove all the plants and vacuum the middle 1/3 of the tank today but ended up just leaving it because I wasn't sure how I wanted replace everything and was also worried about causing more algae. I'll do a couple of water changes this week and let things settle do before tackling the middle. I want to thin out the Bacopa or remove it completely but I currently do not have anything to replace it with. Any thoughts on what to do or plant?

Below you can see the amount of built up mulm in the area I have not vacuumed compared to the area I've deep vacuumed.




I decided it was time to move the L. hippuridoides, I was sick of it growing all over the place and looking like azz. I also need a place for the Pogostemon erectus and figured I could kill two birds with one stone.. I kept three stems of L. hippuridoides in the 75 just because and replanted them between the Proserpinaca palustris and Ludwigia palustris.
Panatanl doing ok, still a couple tips that stunt for what ever reason. I need to top and replant those couple of stems that look out of place, but I'm letting it grow out. The amount of stems are steadily increasing week by week, not too bad to say I started with two wimpy looking stems.





I'm really happy with the growth and look of the AR mini, its not perfect by any means. But, it was not long ago that its leaves were stunted, twisted and full of GSA. I've started to really fuss over them, trimming, picking and cleaning leaves that look bad. I think this has been a big part of the turn.



Lastly the 40b is getting a little crowded already. Some of the helferi and Hygrophila 'araguaia' melted for what ever reason. Im not to concerned, there is a fair amount of new growth just going to take time. I had a buyer for some of the Hygrophila 'araguaia', but decided to hold off and let it grow out before selling. I am not dosing the tank at all, just letting it do its own thing for a bit.

 

Kyalgae

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Hey slipfinger, where do you get your aquasoil from? As a fellow Canadian I have one place I get it from, but my credit card details always get stolen when I buy from them.
 

slipfinger

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Nice! Really enjoyed this post.

Thank you, glad you enjoy it.

Hey slipfinger, where do you get your aquasoil from? As a fellow Canadian I have one place I get it from, but my credit card details always get stolen when I buy from them.

I'm in Ontario, I picked it up from anglefins.ca. They deliver as well. Where are you located?
 

slipfinger

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I need some ideas.....

I have to pull and vacuum the center section of the tank. I would like to redo the front, mainly the center of the tank. I'd like to get rid the of the Bacopa 'compact' its over stayed its welcome. I'm also not excited about the Pogostemon 'gayi' and the Rotala sp 'nanjenshan' (I think) in the back.

I'm open to moving things around and/or trying new plants. Don't tease me and say Rotala wallichi or Rotala macrandra, currently these plants do not like my tank.

I picked up some Nesaea Pedicellata 'golden' I believe it was grown emersed, will need time to settle in. If I can actually keep it alive and looking good, it should add a nice splash of yellow, which the tank is currently missing.

Lets hear your ideas.
 

Greggz

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Is that the Bacopa Compact in the center left? How do you keep it so low? Mine grows like a weed and is 30" tall. I could never figure out why they called it Compact??

And that's funny about the Wallichii and Macranda, looks like anything would grow great in that tank.

And by the way, much like Burr, you are drawing out some of the nicest colors out of each species. Nicely done.
 
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deepgreen

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Lets hear your ideas.

What about something like a Nymphoides hydrophilla "Taiwan" in the back at 1/3 on the left? It could grow further up and fill the open space while introducing a new leaf form with a bright green/yellowish color. It will grow probably relatively fast in your tank but you can replant or initially cut the older leaves.
 

slipfinger

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Is that the Bacopa Compact in the center left? How do you keep it so low? Mine grows like a weed and is 30" tall. I could never figure out why they called it Compact??
And that's funny about the Wallichii and Macranda, looks like anything would grow great in that tank.
And by the way, much like Burr, you are drawing out some of the nicest colours out of each species. Nicely done.

Yup that's the one. I mow it down. Higher light might also be playing a roll in keeping it low and compact. In my other tank with less light it grows taller and less dense.

I purchase Wallichii and Mac at least once a month hoping for a miracle. They look good for a week and then go for a shat. Rinse and repeat in another three weeks.....

Pantanal needs help colour wise. Maybe my expectations are too high at this point, random stems stunt for what ever reason. Work in progress!

Ludwigia "cuba" and or limnophila hippuroides get my vote!

Ludwigia "cuba" would probably look to similar to the Pantanal. I'm considering moving the Pantanal closer to the middle once I have enough stems to create a descent grouping.

Limnophila hippuroides, love the colour. I have a bunch of it in my grow out tank. I actually just moved it out of the 75, I could not keep it under control. Too much flow? @burr740 suggested maybe add more B to my mix to see if that would help straighten it out a bit, trying that in the other tank. Plus I needed to make room for the Pogostemon erectus.

A low carpet of HC or eleocharis mini in the front center?
Tank looks incredible slip...

I've actually been considering giving a carpeting plant a try. Maybe HC or UG. Not a big fan of Eleocharis mini. Maybe it has to do with the grass look and being a Golf Course Superintendent by day. I deal with enough grass on a daily bases as it is.... and Thank-you.

What about something like a Nymphoides hydrophilla "Taiwan" in the back at 1/3 on the left? It could grow further up and fill the open space while introducing a new leaf form with a bright green/yellowish color. It will grow probably relatively fast in your tank but you can replant or initially cut the older leaves.

I kinda like it. I think the tank is missing a bigger leafed plant in the back. It definitely would become a focal point.

Thank-you everyone for your suggests and kind words.
 

burr740

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Think once the hygrophila in the back right gets taller, that'll help things a lot.

Consolidate the AR minis, or pick one and go with it. Put them in front of something green, not something brown or red.

I like the mini bacopa in front, makes a nice break in height from everything else - very depthy. Basically what I was trying to do in mine before receiving the wrong indica plants.

Dead center the little erios and whatever is next to them, off to the grow out tank. Expand the Lobelia either over to that area, or where the AR is. H araguaia is good but here again, it'll look better in front of something green instead of something red.

Also reds/browns are not the best corner plants. visually shrinks the tank. Brights/greens "expand" the tank, much better in the corners, especially front corners

That's jsut some thoughts if you're aiming for a more Dutch look. It's perfectly fine the way it is! :)