60 Gallon cube with S. porto velho

[Tom Barr]

This tank has gone through a few different changes, but has settled in. I'd originally wanted some finer foreground leaf shapes, but the plecos would have none of that, this plant does not uproot and and allows a nice understory place for the plecos to grub around and the RCS to pick and clean anything missed by the plecos. I have 15 caves made into this piece of wood for the plecos(Leopard frog). the brass tetras are about 2 years old, this is as big as they get, very pretty and excellent schooling, lively fish. Maybe 100 RCS in here. Simple display, but low light + easy care, makes it a nice tank.

Good current, flourite sand, wet/dry filter, 1.7 w/gal and about 30 micromols along the bottom.

Recently send a basket ball sized piece oif bolbitus off for sale, and about 50 dwarf hygros. 30 RCS are culled about once every month or two from the filter.

Now if I can get some Leopard frog fry or have some tetras' spawn, I'm in good shape.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Philosophos]

Beautiful tank, Tom.

Your obsession with stuarogyne is now official

 

[csmith]

After looking through pictures of a handful of your tanks I've noticed you keep your plants from ever getting next to the glass. Is there a reason for this, or purely asthetics?

 

[JDowns]

Great looking tank Tom. Nice and clean. I also appreciate seeing a pic of the tank in its day to day operational state.

Love the Staurogyne (pointed leaf variety) used like that. I recently did that with two tanks not to far back and love the look. Very easy plant for low light and CO2 or no CO2.

 

[nipat]

Well, I don't like the Staurogyne. But I understand your reason (those plecos).

 

[Tom Barr]

After looking through pictures of a handful of your tanks I've noticed you keep your plants from ever getting next to the glass. Is there a reason for this, or purely asthetics?

This is an old gardening rule, perhaps Dutch in origin. I'm not certain.

I like it because I can place food there, it gives a large focus of a slope front ot back, and a good place for catfish to grub around where I can see them.
Gives a cleaner look.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Tom Barr]

Well, I don't like the Staurogyne. But I understand your reason (those plecos).

Yes, I agree, I'm not pleased entirely, maybe 40% and it's more utility and well, it's not a common plant, it looks much more appropriate here:

I had tennellus which looked much better, a nice Gloss rug would do well also, but they'd maul the Gloss, or UG, HC etc..........

I'd thought about E triandra, but that's a weedy species, this plant is not.

I'm game for suggestions that meet the criteria for the plecos, the other 049 species will do fine in here, but I already have 7 sq ft of that, also for more ultility reasons.
But utility is often the mother of invention.

Do not know till you try it.
Break it down, try something else.

I think Gloss might have the best chance in this tank of the others.
It's a weed, but I can handle it a bit better with the low light.

I think moss stones, Fissidens might be a good option also, the SS mats would fill it quickly, but the moss ends up all over in a high current pleco tank also.
I made this mistake already. Xmas moss clings to the wood really well, the Fissidens not as bad, but it sloughes off and gets in everything.



Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Philosophos]

I'm not sure if it'd stand up to the abuse, but Ranunculus inundatus would look pretty cool.