Need your help or opinions

Inga

As many of you know I had a huge algae outbreak in my tank when the lights were left on staight for a few days while I was in the hospital. I have been struggling with that to fix the problem but it has taken time. I should have cut the affected plants out sooner but didn't and now I have cut most of them way back or out completely leaving the tank pretty bare.

Also as many of you know, I have been for the past 4 days extremely busy fighting for my dogs life as he is having seizures and manic episodes. The reason I am mentioning that is because what I planned would happen this week was that the plants that I ordered over the weekend would be nicely planted in my tank this week. However, as I was so busy with my darling dog, when the plants did come I had to basically toss them into the tank wherever I could and be done with it.

Here is what it looks like now and I would love some suggestions as to where to go from here. It looks pretty sad considering what it looked like a few months ago. I had some lovely mature plants in there and it was nice and lush and healthy looking.

I will likely not be keeping the HOB filter in there as I have been doing a plain sponge filter successfully until this outbreak. I added the HOB filter to try to "fix" the problem a bit. With the algae, I had a lot of dying plants and material the sponge wasn't able to handle on its own. Also, the heater is usually lower down and out of site (when I had mature plants you couldn't see any of that stuff)

Now... With all that said, how can I fix this mess with what I have here. I am waiting to get a few more larger swords which will likely go close to the others to fill that area out and hide the heater and sponge. Other then that???

Inga

crap, looks like I need much better pictures. They didn't look so bad when they were smaller. Sorry

Inga

Alright, let's try this again. I know it still isn't the best shot but it is the best I can do for now. I know the background is crappy but it didn't matter so much when I had so many mature plants as you couldn't see much of the background, now it is horrid but hopefully the plants will fill in nicely. I do need help though so let's hear it.





You have no idea how sad this is compared to a few months ago. I would cry over it but I am all cried out now.

bozzzz

Fisrt of all i feel for you i am new to this but the reason i got a tank is for something to do my lad died of cancer and my life is now over but i got to carry on. I know how you feel seeing your dog in pain is horrible but things can wait your tank looks great compared to mine LOL but ive only got Guppys and 2 moillies but there happy like your fish are whished i could help you more about plants as ive just put mine in like you think i will wait to see what happens
Take care hope your dog gets well soon and you tank is back to how you had it .

Inga

I posted another thread but I kind of miffed it up by not having decent pictures so... Here it goes again.

Little history. I had a lovely heavily planted tank a few months back but had an OOPS when I was in the hospital and the lights were left on for days straight. Needless to say, algae took over and I wasn't feeling good enough right away to be real proactive about clean up so... Long story short, I had to cut out most of my lovely mature plants.

I recently purchased a few more plants, likely not enough but a start. Sadly with all the crap going on with my dog right now, I didn't have time to do anything other then stuff them into the tank. What I am looking for is opinions on what I can do to re-vamp my tank. Also, I will say, I am likely not keeping the HOB in there, I just put it in to deal with the over abundance of dying plant bits. Also, the heater is usually down lower so you can't see it but with the HOB in there right now it sort of sticks up. Other then that, I am open to suggestions. Where to re-position plants and what I might add etc... I am keeping it low tech so no high tech additions will be made.

I know it isn't the best pic but it gives you and idea of what I am working with. I know the background is crappy right now but when the plants were all mature, you barely saw it so... I hope to re-grow my pretty plants.

Byron

My dear Inga, some of our members would consider themselves very fortunate to have a planted tank like that. You know what it has been through, but it is certainly not anywhere near being finished and it on the road to recovery. I would suggest just letting it fill in.

I am very sorry to hear of your poor dog. That can be very heart-wrenching, and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Byron.

P.S. I merged the second near-identical thread (actually just your initial post) into this one.

Hanky

Geeezzz, I wish my plants looked that" horrid" lol, looks great I would just give it a little time to fill in, I'm just starting to get into live plants myself so I strive to have a tank like yours. Did you fix the algae problem? I put my lights on a timer when I'm not going to be home for a few days.
I've also been following your post about Carsten and hope he is doing better.

Inga

Thank you both so much. My problem is that I just sort of stuffed the new plants in and I think some of you guys have a better eye. Like which plants would look better where? Should any of them be moved? Should anything be added? Also, it seems I am still getting some algae on my glass and plants. I have my lights down to 8 hours a day and I am dosing with Flourish 2 times a week? Thoughts anyone?

Also, thanks Byron for merging the two. I didn't know how to change the title to alert people to the fact I got better pictures. The old ones were even worse and hard to see anything at all.

bigehugedome

Yea your tank looks great. I think you placing them anywhere is better then what I do after planning an aquascape :)

Good luck with everything
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Hanky

I kinda like the "just throw the plants in look" it looks very natural and not all designed, I dont know to much about plants so I dont know which ones will grow fast or big so i would let it go abit see how it looks. Do you have any algae eating critters in your tank? hows your nitrate levels?