HamzaLH Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 I put this up another forum, thought I would share here ... As most of you know my love has always been for tangs, but I really had the urge to start up a nano planted tank ... I have a bad habit of limiting myself (Im sure you're all suffering the same problem). So I pulled out an old curved tank I had laying around ... This is my first official planted tank, It was going to be a test to see if I could keep plants alive, then buy a larger tank later ... I ended up buying a larger tank even before i got this one going Current Specs: Tank: 35cm x 25cm x 27cm ish (and very scratched) - Im really liking nanos atm, so i want to replace it soon. C02: Originally was DIY, but it now has a C02 Pro system Lighting: 2ft T5HO Substrate: ADA Amazonia Plants: Anubias Nana 'petite', HC, Xmas Moss, Erio Shiga & Parkeri & Eleocharis acicularis Fish: Endlers & Cherry Shrimp Now the story All the advice I got seemed to direct me towards LED Floodlights ... So to fleabay I went and bought a 10W LED Floodlight. Next stop bunnings to make a stand. This was the result. I need to add that I have a serious hatred for snails, So i bought some HC and a Anubias Nana Petite from a LFS, brought it home and soaked them in bleach fir 15 min (not diluted). Just to be sure i then rinsed and soaked in a potassium permanganate mix for further 15min. By the time this was up I was down to 30% of the HC (that didnt look healthy) and all the leaves on the Anubias were gone (looked like a yakka ). I persevered and planted the HC into the Dupla Ground (my original substrate). 1 stem at a time (PAINFUL) So the tank started out like this I ordered some Flame moss from a member thinking it was the way to go for the tree. In my infinite wisdom (or lack thereof) I repeated the snail killing procedure, but this time with diluted bleach. Needless to say it took a few weeks for the moss to recover and start sprouting again. As the weeks went by I grew impatient. I needed to see results so I changed a few things. LED floodlight was ditched to a dual T5 light I had laying around and the dupla substrate had to go. So in came the ADA Amazonia. Around this time I got some Xmas moss to replace the Flame and a small C02 system. You can see the dreadful looking anubias on the bottom of the tree. Its finally starting to grow some new leaves I added some endlers and Cherrys as well ... I now have dislike for endlers, they're constantly picking at the HC and uprooting anything thats not remotely stable. The ADA, light and C02 made a huge difference, it wasn't long before I was here: I took a few plants from my other tank to see what effect High lighting had, so I added some Rotala Macranda and Rotala 'sp' Goias along with some Erio Parkeri and a Shiga. The Macranda went nuts, awesome colour and a root system like a weed. I originally bought 1 or 2 Parkeri, but I now have 5 (they're doing really well and splitting too) ... I wasnt too happy with the way it was going so I did a small rescape this evening were i added the Eleocharis acicularis and moved the erios to the front ... The Macranda is back in the 3ft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted December 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 This is how it looked a few days ago: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadFishFloating Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Have you considered just having it, the tree + HC and maybe adding in a few rocks? the chains and rushes..... they look a bit out of place IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netty_3164 Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Great first attempt! Plants looking really lush. I would agree with DFF, implementing some rock work would be nice. Also, the large filter is a bit obtrusive. IMO, the Erios would contrast better if it was placed behind the finer leaved HC. The Hair grass should look awesome once it spreads out more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted December 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Thats how the plan started out ... But I have an issue with keeping things simple I feel like its a waste, I want as many plants as I can get. Have you considered just having it, the tree + HCand maybe adding in a few rocks? the chains and rushes..... they look a bit out of place IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted December 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 I will add a little rock work at the base of the tree (just need to find something small that fits) The erios were behind the HC, but I brought them to the front because i felt the HC was hiding them too much. This was just a test tank, I want to move everything to a tank with less scratches eventually, when that happens there will be some glass lily pipes and a canister. Great first attempt! Plants looking really lush. I would agree with DFF, implementing some rock work would be nice. Also, the large filter is a bit obtrusive. IMO, the Erios would contrast better if it was placed behind the finer leaved HC. The Hair grass should look awesome once it spreads out more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie wonder Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Cute nano i like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted December 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 I think ill ditch the Hair Grass ... Its been in there for about 1 week and its already shooting up everywhere, its going to be impossible to control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted January 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 (edited) The HC has gone crazy ... The hairgrass is gone, it grew a 10cm runner with 8 new shoots in less than a week and was popping up through the HC. I replaced it with some UG thats taken off realy well (thanks EA). I had some Fisseden I wanted to grow so thats in there temp on a rock to get it going. the Erios are going crazy too with the flowery/stems and splitting too. Ugly internal is gone - replaced with an Eden 501 Shrimp have been added, few CBS, CRS and Chocolates thanks to a mate Edited January 11, 2013 by HamzaLH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netty_3164 Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Looking great mate, very healthy plants. Nice to see the ugly internal has been removed i was also going to suggest adding a black or blue background but the tree shadow effect is pretty nifty lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadFishFloating Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 love it very jealous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Thats guys ... The Shadow was accidental so I cant take credit for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Thanks not Thats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daharkazangel Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Looks sweet mate!!!! Now i want one haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Lol, Its not hard to do ... This was my first shot at a planted tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slr5000 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Lol, Its not hard to do ... This was my first shot at a planted tank how do you like the flood light ?? dose it grow plants good ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted March 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 It did a reasonably good job, If I was to get another flood, I would get a 20 or 30W not 10. I've now changed the light to a DIY LED with 6 Cree's and its doing REALLY well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Mate that tree looks fekk'n amazing!! I so want to do that now lol Well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamzaLH Posted March 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Mate that tree looks fekk'n amazing!! I so want to do that now lol Well done Thanks ... I changed things around, I now have a heap of UG thats started going well, hopefully a tank full soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza88 Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 You'll be popular if you ever decide to sell the UG. Many always looking for it. Any Pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
florix Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Nice little nano there. Join Date Jan 1970????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
