Input on 55 gallon planted stocking with Bolivian Rams

LadyKeiva

Thank you both! Spent about 5-6 hours last night between water changes, figuring out where I wanted to plant, and then planting everything right. Was a late night.. one very tired little lady here lol.

I have no plans on buying more plants, I shall be patient =). I started with 9 quarter sized pieces of Amazon Frogbit about a a week and a half ago, its EXPLODED with growth (It's that mass of roots on the left).

As for the Pygmy Chain Sword (planted a week and a half ago also) I was thinking of moving it a bit last night, I have it a gentle little tug to see if it had rooted well or not already... it must already be shooting roots out all over, there was no way it was going anywhere easily so I said forget it and let it be.

LadyKeiva

Just an update ^,^

All the plants seem to be doing wonderfully. The Cabomba Carolina and all the floating plants have shot up/spread rapidly. Swords have new shoots/leaves coming up, same for the anubias, and crypts. Hair grass is spreading a little bit, and I can see roots starting to go all over from (when looking at the glass under the tank) from the Pygmy Chain Swords and the grass. I even have a little Cardinal Plant and a Red Temple Plant that seem to be doing well (didn't know anything about these ones, it was given free from the seller).

What doesn't seem to be doing well is the Java Moss, Echinodorus 'vesuvius' and 2 of the Wisteria plants. One Wisteria doesn't seem to be doing bad or good, Just sort of at a stand still, and the other one is loosing leaves but at the same time has new leaves coming out.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the look and the plant progress! =D
Still waiting to get my first stocking of fish for the QT. My preferred LFS is waiting on their next shipment and my second choice LFS didn't have stock that I was happy with.

I'm tempted to just buy my Harlequins from Liveaquaria.com, I've heard decent things about them. Either I do that or just be patient and check my LFS again in the next couple weeks. Any thoughts?

Byron

I have found Java Moss to take quite a while to establish. But once it is...

Stem plants can be fast or slow. Give them time.

Can't comment on LiveAquaria, never used them (I'm not in the US).

LadyKeiva

I think my lighting is too much for the java fern. Where ever the plants ate that aren't shaded by other plants, the floating or the swords, those ones are turning brown. The java fern in my
10 gal are doing fine. (The light is much weaker)
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LadyKeiva

Completely butchered that post on my phone lol. Was trying to say the JAVA MOSS seems to be doing better in the areas that are shaded by the swords and floating plants. The moss not shaded is turning brown.

beaslbob

FWIW IMHO IMe and all that

When I started planted tank back in the day I got a recommendation to basically use a mix of fast growing and slower growing plants. For both initial and long term conditioning.

I was just thinking on the thread there is a very good feed back for that kind of setup. At least having a mix of plants. Some may not do as well as others. But over all it increases the probability that enough will thrive to condition the tank.

but that just my fwiw, imho ime and all that

Worth at most .02

LadyKeiva

Decided to take out all the Eco complete in the small slate terrace in the right corner. >,< Decided to replace it with more sand. Preferred the look of the sand and didn't want the Cory's to end up scratching themselves
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LadyKeiva

Well... Still waiting on first fish since my LFS hasn't gotten Harlequins in his passed two shipments for some reason. He's not sure why his supplier hasn't had them. Been toying with the idea of Diamond Tetras in the tank instead of the Harlequins. They're kind of big compared to my other shoaling type fish. Not sure if they're a good idea.

But anyways.. Just an update.

My tank is now a jungle and I love it. Need to do some pruning and I think I need move around some of the floaters, Maybe thin it out. Can't decided if its too much up there or not. The plants still seem to be getting plenty of light. My Frogbit is still expanding rapidly, as well as the Cabomba. One of the swords has a long stalk rising towards the surface. Pygmy chain swords are sending out some runners.. Even the Hairgrass is spreading a little bit.

Nilet699

That really does look like a jungle! I like it!

Whats your lighting/additives?

aussieJJDude

WOW, that looks awesome!
LOVE it!