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Johnny's Plant Build

29K views 303 replies 18 participants last post by  Pep 
#1 ·
JANUARY 9, 2010

So after much help from Byron, Angel and WisFish....I've decided to enter the realm on live planted tanks....this weekend was the first steps towards achieving that goal...I plan on keeping this post running and keeping it updated as I continue my adventure....

I was advised to switch out my stark white gravel.....here is a before shot:



MY LIGHTING:
After much research, I wound up @ Lowes and picked up a shop light for $12.99, my main concern is that the bulbs will sit directly on the glass lids...

so I built a 'riser' for the light to sit on and keep it off the glass, and painted it black....





So after about 4 hours worth of work...here's the final product:






I'm obsessed with the new look!!!! :-D:-D I think it really adds a much much more natural look, espically once some live plants come into play

oh, and this is sparky the diamond tetra!!



I kept all the old fake plants until i can get back to the LFS to pick up my plants after I decide which ones I want. After sitting back and looking at it some more...i've decided i'm not crazy about the orange rock and that one red plant, but I got nothing else to do with them until I get new plants which is in there right now...I'm keeping my eye out for a piece of driftwood....thats about all for now.....Thanks for checking it out!

Any and all advice is welcome!!!
 
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#256 ·
Do Ramshorns like Staghorn Algae? I seem to have that on some leaves of plants and the plecos and Amano shrimp are ignoring it. Maybe I just have fussy plecos and shrimp :)

Tank is look great Johnny!!!
 
#257 ·
April 12, 2010

Hey Y'all!!! Figured it was time for some updated pics!!! Nothing much has changed....except for the fact that my two ludwigas in the back right corner and the pennywort in the front are floating on top of the water!! they're are growing so much!!! I've also picked up an orange spot pleco, I have yet to name him...I'm thinking Herald...haha.... Thanks for keeping an eye on my plants!!!



















Here's a before and after shot....about 3 months worth of growth.....
DAY OF PLANTING:


LAST NIGHT:
 
#259 ·
Looking very good, nice work Johnny.:welldone:
 
#263 ·
what the are the little grassy looking plants in front and on the right side of your dw? How big do they get? I am looking for something for the front right of my tank to fill some empty areas that I want low plants in to not block the view of others in the middle. And to give the kuhli's something to swim around in and yet feel safe there. I like the looks of those a lot.
 
#264 ·
Thanks everyone!!!!

I got the e-mail about a sale @ SA this weekend....hmmmm...... :)

Pep, they are narrow leaf chain swords....i only planted two of the plants....all the smaller ones to the right of the DW are runners from the original one...they only get about 2-4 inches tall from what I've read...
 
#265 ·
Its filling in soooo nicly :)

I seen the SA email too and was wondering what else plants I may need now that I gave a BUNCH overgrown stuff away lol
 
#267 ·
How to trim plants...

Sooooo, the time has finally come...I need trim back some of these plants....

the plants in question are my two pennyworts...they are both riding the top of the water. The other is the ludwigia...same deal...

do you trim the plant at the root?? (cuz that would lose the whole stem) or do you trim it maybe half way up the plant??? never done it before so I'm a little lost....thanks!!!
 
#268 ·
I always pull the plant up and cut off the top portion as far down as you want it, then push the top cut end in the substrate; it will root very quickly, and in some species roots will already be along the stem anyway (like Pennywort, Wisteria). This way the new growth end which is the most attractive is always on top. And the plant naturally grows upward towards the light, so the top end has the best growth.

If you leave the bottom end in the substrate and cut off the top, the bottom may sprout two new stems from the node where it is cut. But I usually find that the bottom part of the existing stem is not as nice as the top portions, often without leaves in some species, so I prefer the above method to keep the plants always fresh looking.

Byron.
 
#269 ·
Thanks for the quick response B.

So you're saying I should cut the longest stems in half (roughly) then take the part I cut off and re-root it?? So I guess that'll make the plant look 'more full' too huh???

Also, while on the topic, my swords have seem to hit a wall growing....is this normal??? They are hovering around 5"-8" high....
 
#270 ·
So you're saying I should cut the longest stems in half (roughly) then take the part I cut off and re-root it?? So I guess that'll make the plant look 'more full' too huh???
The length is up to you, and depends upon how long a plant you want and what it looks like. I currently have Pennywort in one of the Amazonian tanks and Wisteria in the Asian. I find that the Pennywort, by the time it reaches the surface, has rather sparse-looking less green leaves closer to the base, so when it is time to trim the stem, I pull it up and cut off the parts that look ratty, leaving the nicer-looking top ends; sometimes these might still be 15+ inches long, sometimes only 7 or 8 inches. They soon grow back to the surface, usually within the week or maybe two. And cutting them at different lengths creates a nicer "bush" look, with 3-4 stems of differing lengths. Looks more natural.

Also, while on the topic, my swords have seem to hit a wall growing....is this normal??? They are hovering around 5"-8" high....
Echinodorus do go through growth spurts. All of my E. bleherae sent out flower spikes last Nov/Dec, 2 or 3 per plant, and each with 2 or 3 branches. All at once, basically. And I have noticed that the leaves tend to grow more during certain times, then kind of slow down. New leaf growth the same. I suspect this is the reason. The only other thing would be a decline in nutrients (or light).

Byron.
 
#271 ·
I have always had good luck cutting stem plants approx. two pair of leaflets above the area above the substrate. I get two new side shoots at the area that I have pruned, and after the side shoots have grown two to three pairs of leaflets I prune again. The tops that have been cut get replanted closely next to the original plant (making for a real "bushy" look), or in another tank. It's easy and what works for me. Little diagram, in case it's helpful:
 

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#273 ·
That's a good illustration kymmie posted; I've saved it, if only I can remember it next time the question is asked again.:)
 
#278 ·
You should post a updated pic of your tank by now :) I'd love to see one. Some plants can really get quite "invasive" under the right conditions in your tank and you may wind up like I gotta do on both the larger tanks and trim the plants weekly to keep matters in 'check' :)
 
#279 ·
I did the trim and the plants look alot more full like I said, I also picked up a shoal of peppered (i think) corydoras. They are sooo freakin' cool.... the tank is really starting to fill in quite nicely...my one sword is looking awesome...the other twos seem to hit a growing stunt....I'll work on photos tonight....
 
#281 ·
Updates 4-27-10

After some haggling ;-) from Angel and Kymmie, here are some updated pics....the first set are from about a week ago, before I trimmed for the first time....









AND AFTER A SNIP HERE AND THERE....I replanted the stems I cut off, thanks to the advice from B and Kymmie....I think the pennywort has a much more "bushy" look now...and in the 3rd pic, I'm not sure how (i think the current does it) but I love how the pennywort on the right hangs sideways!













AND HERE ARE MY NEWEST TANK MATES....MY NEW CORRIES!!!!
I love them and so does the wife (which is always a plus!)









Thanks for the continued interest in my transformation!
 
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