OVAS

Aquarist Forums => Freshwater General Discussions => Plants => Topic started by: jrs on November 14, 2007, 10:56:25 PM

Title: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: jrs on November 14, 2007, 10:56:25 PM
I pretty much peep rather than post but I have had a few people contact me so I thought that I would post some pics of my tanks.  For myself, I am only really interested in plants; fish are neat but secondary to me.

Here is my main tank
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi167.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu150%2Fjrschem%2F284.jpg&hash=bd82a997ee63bce1622c9944b6476a1e94a53e4f)

Here is some flame moss
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi167.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu150%2Fjrschem%2F100_0325.jpg&hash=dc30c5df0dfa963e5489a8d4f8e1e07b4126fac3)

Here is one with a christmas moss wall
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi167.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu150%2Fjrschem%2F100_0369.jpg&hash=d121f8ede72ce146f46a461b1c3ea2799d300969)

Here is some Fissidens fontanus
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi167.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu150%2Fjrschem%2F000_0031-1.jpg&hash=e57ee51b773279881e6a68e8ee0f158052aa75f9)

Here is a low tech no CO2 tank
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pnlovesyou.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F21550%2Fnormal_Pdr_0004.jpg&hash=ef98f6f18d2ebda9e2b09300e3e23a53b86e4b79)

These last three are DIY CO2
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pnlovesyou.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F21550%2Fnormal_Im000185.jpg&hash=6d530ca7b66033bbad0a7d1bd7d25474b6a498c1)
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pnlovesyou.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F21550%2Fnormal_Pdr_0013%257E0.jpg&hash=3c2574a4afb7a8f9592f63aa821dccc1ef52bcce)
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pnlovesyou.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F21550%2Fnormal_Pdr_0002.jpg&hash=cd8aa187dd52e3d45548441b3456c24d17c13803)


Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: babblefish1960 on November 14, 2007, 11:01:28 PM
Wow, very nice, all of them, okay, now you've gone and done it, you absolutely must share more details and photos, these are very lovely looking tanks.

By the way, have you considered entering a photo in the monthly photo contest?  I am sure we would all like to see that! :)
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: fischkopp on November 14, 2007, 11:04:14 PM
Very nice tanks! I like all of them, especially the idea with the xmas moos walls!

Thanx for sharing! You have a lot of new ideas for me. I need more moos ... ::)
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: jrs on November 14, 2007, 11:17:43 PM
Quote from: babblefish1960 on November 14, 2007, 11:01:28 PM
By the way, have you considered entering a photo in the monthly photo contest?  I am sure we would all like to see that! :)

I think it more appropriate that homegrown OVAS club members enter for the chance to win.

The tanks range in size from 20g to 100g.  The high tech ones are fully pressurized and run between 3 to 5 wpg depending on the tank.  The low/lower tech ones are much higher maintenance and many times a PITA for keeping algae at bay.
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: babblefish1960 on November 14, 2007, 11:22:39 PM
Quote from: jrs on November 14, 2007, 11:17:43 PM
I think it more appropriate that homegrown OVAS club members enter for the chance to win.

I would disagree, it is open to all registered users no matter where they may be, you included, so don't be shy, they are very nice tanks. :)
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: apuppet on November 15, 2007, 01:42:21 AM
oooohhh... ahhhhhh... so nice!!!

look everybody!!!! he has Fissidens fontanus!!!  and such are large clump of it!   ;D
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: Anubias on November 15, 2007, 04:09:31 AM
Quote from: jrs on November 14, 2007, 10:56:25 PM
I pretty much peep rather than post but I have had a few people contact me so I thought that I would post some pics of my tanks.  For myself, I am only really interested in plants; fish are neat but secondary to me.

Very beautiful tanks -I like the garden wall too.
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: charlie on November 15, 2007, 05:16:01 AM
Fantastic tanks John, thanks for sharing the pictures.
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: irene on November 15, 2007, 07:55:33 AM
Quote from: jrs on November 14, 2007, 11:17:43 PM
The low/lower tech ones are much higher maintenance and many times a PITA for keeping algae at bay.

Interesting you would say that, I'm finding the opposite.  My low light setups run themselves and are algae free but my higher light ones require a lot of work to keep them looking nice.

Irene
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: Iceman on November 15, 2007, 10:15:09 AM
Those are fantastic. Makes my tank look like a pothole.
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: Nerine on November 15, 2007, 10:35:36 AM
BEAUTIFUL!!! thank you for sharing!
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: jrs on November 15, 2007, 02:23:33 PM
When I say that the low tech ones are higher maintenance I just mean in terms of keeping the various types of algae in low concentration.  I find that to run a successful low tech system you need to find the right balance between bioload from the fish and plant mass.  That is not as easy as it sounds.

The high tech ones are more work (ie) fert schedule, testing, pruning but much easier to maintain consistent water parameters and reduce possibilities of algae.  For the high tech ones I always keep a low biolad of fish because I know that I can easily alter my water parameters with my ferts to reach target levels.  The rapid growth of the plants and weekly water changes doesn't allow the nutrient levels to become skewed long term; therefore less algae.

So high tech ones are more work but lower maintenance.  How is that for a convoluted arguement?  ???

I will be trading some of the Fissidens fontanus (US Fissidens/Phoenix moss) with someone on your board.  If there is interest from people on your board I will send a little bit of Flame, Zipper, Spikey, xmas and maybe Taiwan...I will have to look.  Maybe after a while they can spread it around.  They tend to be slooooooowwww growing though.     

I was walking along a local river this summer and picked up some type of carpet moss.  I brought it home and submerged it.  After 6 months or so it has acclimated and it is beginning to grow.  It is some type of Fissidens or Fontanalis but I do not know what species.  Point being that there are some really cool mosses in your own backyard and we dont necessarily have to get them from the Pacific rim countries. 
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: renadia on November 15, 2007, 03:18:00 PM
WOWVery very nice, I love your moss wall ;)

Thanks for sharing

Diane
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: Brine on November 15, 2007, 03:24:16 PM
INCREDIBLE Thanks for sharing. You must spend a lot of time on your tanks. Perhaps you are the one who could pull this off. http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2007/10/creating-waterfall-illusion-underwater.html
Your tanks make mine look like a green pothole.
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: jrs on November 15, 2007, 04:00:43 PM
Quote from: Brine on November 15, 2007, 03:24:16 PM
Perhaps you are the one who could pull this off. http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2007/10/creating-waterfall-illusion-underwater.html

I seriously doubt it!

Brine as in KWAS Brine? 
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: Brine on November 15, 2007, 06:35:59 PM
Indeed, as in KWAS Brine. As you can see I moved to Ottawa.
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: kyonis on November 16, 2007, 12:41:05 AM
Very motivating tank setup. Very nice selection of moss and various plant colors
I liked your explanation regarding the high work, low maintenance tanks. It makes since, like any garden you need to spend time on it to look good, and if your plants are healthy and well taken care off, they will not give algae a good chance of growing. In a way, if you keep them happy, they take care of you  ;)

what substrate are you using in your tanks, is it soil or gravel?
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: jrs on November 16, 2007, 09:20:15 AM
I have tried schultz, flourite, gravel, florabase and eco complete.  Eco complete is the one I like best and I use it in all of my tanks.  I would like to try ADA soil but there are no Canadian distributors.
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: Glouglou on November 16, 2007, 07:29:40 PM
Beautiful Tanks
what are your water parameters?
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: jrs on November 16, 2007, 09:47:30 PM
My main tank is:

4' quad T5HO (4x54W) + (2) 24"x65W PC's
Fluval 404 and 204
UV sterilizer
Pressurized CO2 with a DIY CO2 reactor inline with filter
Eco substrate
Dose on demand ferts:
NO3 ~ 15ppm
PO4 ~   5ppm
Fe    ~   1ppm
K - dont know
pH around 6.5
CO2 based on drop checker ~25-30ppm
temp ~80F

Here is a pic of a DIY inline CO2 reactor

This is a DIY CO2 reactor that I use on my tank inline with a fluval 404. The intake is the same on the filter. The output line enters the top right side of the picture. The outlet to the tank is the left side. The CO2 enters in the middle portion. This stands at a 60-70 degree angle at the back of the tank; right side of the pic being the top. With a pressurized CO2 system I get almost 100% of the CO2 dissolved when it enters the tank

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pnlovesyou.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F21550%2Fnormal_CO2Reactor1.jpg&hash=759748484193b7cebb039960893d82550910b04d)
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: jrs on November 27, 2007, 05:10:20 PM
Here are some pics I took today

Here are 2 closeups of the Fissidens fontanus
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi167.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu150%2Fjrschem%2F100_0397.jpg&hash=25abb3ba30f58cf2e059bbf162f16ac0acb94e53)
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi167.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu150%2Fjrschem%2F100_0407.jpg&hash=87086f2ae6351a980e208bde43ca969ba2ce875b)

Here is a closeup showing the root and growth patterns of Glosso
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi167.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu150%2Fjrschem%2F100_0399.jpg&hash=81752c819dd999734705b2b3e32a3cea27e3226e)

Here is a downward angle shot of the Moss wall tank
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi167.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu150%2Fjrschem%2F100_0405.jpg&hash=a5ac81ac3a43846041b77f333f13edccb1d370dd)
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: charlie on November 27, 2007, 05:18:53 PM
Thanks for posting , everthing looks healthy .
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: fischkopp on November 27, 2007, 05:29:17 PM
To say it again: VERY nice!

I just saw the pic of your inline reactor. Do you also have one that shows it ready installed and running? Just to confirm my current understanding on how you set it up ...
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: babblefish1960 on November 27, 2007, 05:49:33 PM
I am quite impressed, you clearly are doing some good work there, it is a very lovely looking bunch of green stuff.  I imagine your thumb, though wet is quite green and belies any relation to your avatar whatsoever. ;D
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: jrs on November 27, 2007, 06:08:37 PM
LOL teacher, writer or just fanatical with the english language?
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: jrs on November 27, 2007, 06:15:51 PM
Quote from: fischkopp on November 27, 2007, 05:29:17 PM
To say it again: VERY nice!

I just saw the pic of your inline reactor. Do you also have one that shows it ready installed and running? Just to confirm my current understanding on how you set it up ...

I tried but I cant get a pic of it because of the positioning behind the tank.  It is mounted vertically but at a slight angle (~70-80 degrees).  The input for the CO2 is positioned so that it is at the top not the bottom.
Title: Re: Planted tanks - 56K warning
Post by: fischkopp on November 27, 2007, 06:57:32 PM
Thanx! I think I got it.