29 gallon planted nano

blackwaterguy

I hadn't realized that you could break them into that many plants. That is certainly a lot more natural looking then what I have going on right now. I hope I get to see your tank when you're done planting.

Sorry for the dumb question but where did you get the forceps? I've been just using my fingers. Long roots and the eco-complete are making that route difficult. Everytime I look in I notice some roots that I failed to bury enough.

Quantum

I didn't either, I initially had them bunched together in clumps.

These make planting a lot easier, I have the curved ones:

Reef Aquarium & Planted Aquarium Care: Aquatic Forceps

blackwaterguy

Thanks for the link. I'm going to have to order a pair.

I had been trying to do a checkerboard to start, but I had a ton of plants and that flew out the window quick. I ordered what the seller recommended and I certainly have a lot. I just have to make it work. :)

blackwaterguy

I ordered the forceps Quantum recommended along with some root tabs. I know I'll be needing the root tabs eventually, but have no idea when I should start adding them.

The green wendtii is mush. The brwon wendtii is partial much. The lucens are show some holes in the leaves and a few tips of the retrospiralis are deteriorating. Totally expected and yet still annoying. If the plan is to add fish soon then I'll be lucky to have any leaves in the tank with them.

I'm not sure that a couple of days will make a difference, but I think I might try and aqascape again before the forceps arrive. That's a few more days for the crypts to be left alone. That's my thinking anyway, or rather my excuse for being impatient.

blackwaterguy

When can I start to fertilize? Some of the water sprite fronds have turned brown, but I'm not sure if that's normal or not. I do plan to add a lot more water sprite to go through a silent cycle. I can always remove it later. I might have to remove some crypts as well, but for now they stay.

It is safe to order fish correct? I'm ordering from the Wet Spot since they have a seriously impressive list of fish I could be potentially interested in.

Byron

The crypts will not recover soon enough to help in cycling, so the Water Sprite is it, and provided you cover the surface, it will do the job. I would make sure it is growing before adding fish, i.e., not dying but green. And yes, you want to fertilze as soon as plants are in, WS is a heavy user of nutrients which is why it is good for this. A liquid comprehensive is what you need for WS, prob mentioned this previously.

On the root tabs I would wait until you have the crypts where you want them. A few tabs spaced around the clumps of crypts (forgotten what the directions say, but don't overuse).

blackwaterguy

Thank you. I only have two bunches of water sprite. I've already been looking into buying more. I was thinking four bunches, but can easily get mre than that. Maybe I will just to be safe.I have Seachem Flourish to use. Once week the day after the water change is what I think you said. Since I'll be waiting for plants to arrive should I be adding ammonia through any means in the mean time?Will I be able to see growth with just treated tapwater and fertilizer?

Since I'm asking dumb questions like I'm clueless (wait I really almost am ;) ) I have another. I can get potted water sprite shipped to me probably quicker. Would I just cute the roots off if I do that or should I just look for bunches and wait?

I broke apart the crypts. I'm not entirely happy with where they are, but they are staying there until I see how they grow. It's much better than it had been, but I'm picky. I think it will look better once the grow in and I can rearrange/remove then. Now they are staying. Which means I guess I can add the root tabs when they arrive.

Byron, just on the off chance there's a fish you haven't heard of (besides my kitty tetras). I'm thinking about these guys instead of the dwarf hovering loaches. Hard to chose honestly but this was my new find of the day. "Tuberoschistura arakanensis" — Loaches Online

Byron

No on the ammonia. There actually is nitrogen in Flourish, though not much, but it will suffice initially. The fish and more than that the bacteria breaking down waste will soon supply ammonia.

Not sure which species this would be. Planted in the substrate it will grow fast too, if it is the non-floating species. The floating is C. cornuta and it will grow planted but not as well. Don't cut off any roots of whichever.

While Loaches Online is generally highly reliable, this entry is questionable. According to my biologist friend, this fish is more likely in the genus Yunnanilus, here's some info:
IG BSSW e.V. Eine Schmerle zum Züchten: die Myanmar-Zwergschmerle (Yunnanilus sp.) |
though the text is in German. My German is not that good, so don't ask me what it says.

I have to go offline now, may be able to offer more tomorrow.

Byron.

blackwaterguy

The Water sprite I have is C. thalictroides. It was just stems with no roots. The seller said it could be grown floating. The potted stuff would be the same speices. Is C. cornuta the only one that will grow floating?

My German is horrible. That loach was listed for sale as Burmese rosy loach-Yunnanilus sp. Loaches Online was simply the best page I could find on them, but it seems you've already heard of them. :)

blackwaterguy

Sorry I found out about the Water sprite. Renaming and possible split of the old species, with most in the aquarium trade being C. cornuta but mislabeled as C. thalictroides?