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Journal of a planted aquarium
Categories:
Aquarium
The following sequence of pictures shows how quickly an aquarium can be transformed when aquatic plants are kept under the right conditions.
The first picture shows the Red Sea flora base substrate in place as well as some carefully positioned driftwood and lava rocks. Careful consideration should be given to each element of the construction of such an aquascape. Try living with the rocks and wood in position for a few days before filling the tank, this makes it easier to make adjustments to the layout before planting begins.
Once your happy with the 'Hard Scape' the aquarium is ready to be filled. Planting heavy from the start has its advantages especialy with fast growing long stemmed plants. If your using high output lighting, Co2 and nutrient rich substrate its important that there are enough plants to use it so as algae does not proliferate. It is more practical to tie any plants to drifwood prior to filling the tank, here you can see Microsorium Pteropus 'narrow' attached to Sumatra wood.
The pictures below Show the detail of some of the foreground planting. Hemianthus Callitrichoides is planted in 1 cm clumps in order to achieve a carpeting effect as the clumps grow to meet each other. Riccia Fluitans is also shown attached to slate with netting, Instructions on how to do this can be seen elsewhere on this site. Pogostemon Helferi and Sagittaria subulata were also added to the foreground.
4 days later and after adding more long stemmed plants some growth is allready apparant. Plants added include Alternanthera, Eustralis stellata, Heteranthera Zosterfolia and Rotala Indica
1 week later and the plants are growing well!
Another 10 days go by and the plants have reached the surface......
Only 21 days have passed since the aquarium was filled. The pictures below illustrate just how quickly the plants are growing. The Pogostemon Helferi and Hemianthus Callitrichoides are starting to cover the substrate.
Another week later and the Hemianthus Micranthemoides (centre) is showing better growth.
35 days Echinodorus Sp. 'Red Diamond' is removed to make way for Micranthemum umbrosum
38 days and 50 Cardinal Tetra's are added
The pictures below show the detail after just 38 days. Although some die off was seen in Riccia Flutians it now seems to be recovering.
Under 60 days have passed and the tank is thriving! weekly water changes have been carried out since the start and liquid fertilizers were added from week 4. Some plants have been replaced in an effort to improve the aquascape and cuttings are taken reguarly. Algae has never been an issue.
Categories
Aquarium
