Jleem's 40 Gallon Breeder

So this happened in the course of 3 days. Not sure what to do with it. I think it would be neat to try and propagate another bulb, but I don't want the seeds to disperse and take over the tank. I think I recall reading that if you clip the surface runners off, it help the shorter stems grow in more bushy which sounds nice too.

 

I finally just ordered some plants for this tank! Plus, my new light is supposed to be here tomorrow! Can't wait to see how it goes. Wish me luck. Kind of wanting to get some tanks planted before adding more fish. Which really stinks because I've passed some deals up lately, and still finding more.

 

It is simply a surfaceleaf
You can leave it or cut it so energy stays in the lower plant.

 

It is simply a surfaceleaf
You can leave it or cut it so energy stays in the lower plant.

How do I tell when it's sending a surface runners out to grow new seeds?

 

I haven't seen a flower in mine for years, but hundreds of leafs like this.

How do I tell when it's sending a surface runners out to grow new seeds?

 

I even doubt that s the way they propegate (is this English). I see new plants in the substrate so think the bulb divided itself.

 

I even doubt that s the way they propegate (is this English). I see new plants in the substrate so think the bulb divided itself.

That would also lend more credit as to why one would want the roots contained I suppose.

 

It's almost here! Should be here by the time I get home from work. Pretty excited just for a new light.

 

Made pics of mine.

 

I know it's late, but I have to share.

First, I learned that bolivian rams love stuff stirred up on the bottom during a water change just as much as corys do. Lol. That's not the important part though. Just fun.

Second, I got my new light installed after the water change! Here's before and after.

Before- Beamswork DA FSPEC 10,000K



After- Beamswork DA 6500K (white+blue)



I promise I only left algae on the back wall. It shows up a lot more with the warmer new light, but hopefully in time algae won't be as much of a problem. I'm really hoping this light works out......

Third, I have plants ordered from Trins! I didn't go overboard. They didn't have java ferns or I probably would have. I did order 2 amazon swords, 2 vesuvius swords, 2 rosette swords, and some scarlet temple. Can't wait to see how they work out.

Thanks for reading!

 

Love this thread. Just bought a 40 breeder yesterday and am getting a lot of great advice in here so far!

 

Love this thread. Just bought a 40 breeder yesterday and am getting a lot of great advice in here so far!

Well good! I'm glad somebody is getting use from my rambling. Lol. I'll be watching to see what you do with yours.

 

Okay guys, I got my Trins plant order today! Here they are.

2 amazon swords, 2 vesuvius swords, 2 rosette swords, and some scarlet temple.



How should I put them all in this tank?



I'm thinking the amazons in the two back corners, both vesuvius middle back wall, scoot the potted red lotus up, scarlet temple half and half on the side walls, and rosettes maybe front right corner and by the artificial driftwood?

 

Do the rosettes stay smallish? I think something in the middle area or foreground would look good.

 

Do the rosettes stay smallish? I think something in the middle area or foreground would look good.

Yeah, the rosette swords stay shorter. Kind of a dwarf plant. I do want some in the middle, but figured I'd order other plants like anubias or maybe more java ferns or crypts for that.

 

I love anubias, they'd definitely look good there. I really like the red lotus you have. I've never seen those before.

 

So I know it's late, but I have to share. I'm a night owl. I got my plants planted. Well, actually I scrubbed all the algae off the walls, did a small water change, THEN planted plants, repositioned the hardscape, and then realized I forgot to put Osmocote Plus tabs around everything. So I had to redo a little after those were in. Let me know what you guys think?

Before



After



It still needs a lot of work to reach some planted tank standards, but I'm proud of it for today.

Things that immediately get me thinking though....

1. The amazon sword on the left is being blown around by the HOB above it. Will that be okay? I've been thinking about trying an internal filter in that back corner instead.

2. Hoping the scarlet temple keeps some of that gorgeous pink. Planning on getting some Seachem Flourish tabs for pretty much all these plants to add with the Osmocote Plus for an iron boost.

3. Hoping the two vesuvius in the back take off and get some height behind that stupid pot. Which leads me to....

4. Pondering on taking the lotus out of the pot and just planting it straight into the substrate smack in the middle where it is now. My concern is, I read about them taking tanks over unless their roots are contained. Both by strangling other root systems, and by reaching waaaaay out and growing another bulb. Thoughts?

5. Need more plants!!!!!

More pictures just for fun. Oh, and the fish are loving the change I think. That put with a water change, they're all over the place.

 

So I know it's late, but I have to share. I'm a night owl. I got my plants planted. Well, actually I scrubbed all the algae off the walls, did a small water change, THEN planted plants, repositioned the hardscape, and then realized I forgot to put Osmocote Plus tabs around everything. So I had to redo a little after those were in. Let me know what you guys think?

Before
View attachment 460555

After
View attachment 460556

It still needs a lot of work to reach some planted tank standards, but I'm proud of it for today.

Things that immediately get me thinking though....

1. The amazon sword on the left is being blown around by the HOB above it. Will that be okay? I've been thinking about trying an internal filter in that back corner instead.

2. Hoping the scarlet temple keeps some of that gorgeous pink. Planning on getting some Seachem Flourish tabs for pretty much all these plants to add with the Osmocote Plus for an iron boost.

3. Hoping the two vesuvius in the back take off and get some height behind that stupid pot. Which leads me to....

4. Pondering on taking the lotus out of the pot and just planting it straight into the substrate smack in the middle where it is now. My concern is, I read about them taking tanks over unless their roots are contained. Both by strangling other root systems, and by reaching waaaaay out and growing another bulb. Thoughts?

5. Need more plants!!!!!

More pictures just for fun. Oh, and the fish are loving the change I think. That put with a water change, they're all over the place.
View attachment 460557 View attachment 460558 View attachment 460559 View attachment 460560 View attachment 460561

The tank looks great! let’s see if I can answer your questions.

1. make a baffle out of a water bottle, cut the body off and split it in half them stuff if in the waterfall. but I think it should be fine, amazon swords are really sturdy plants once they take root.

4. It would look good as a centerpiece plant, place it right in the middle. I have never owned a lotus but I'm guessing it’s exactly like a dwarf lily, which i’ve owned. With great light, they go off in a few days. I had one in my 20 gallon take up more than half the tank. It was eventually removed to make room for different plants, let me see if I can find a picture. It did try to send out a runner across the tank, which I uprooted and trashed. The root structure was massive, especially because it was feeding from a few root tabs I added. but it’s really easy to trim. I definitely would take it out of the pot.

 

The tank looks great! let’s see if I can answer your questions.

1. make a baffle out of a water bottle, cut the body off and split it in half them stuff if in the waterfall. but I think it should be fine, amazon swords are really sturdy plants once they take root.

4. It would look good as a centerpiece plant, place it right in the middle. I have never owned a lotus but I'm guessing it’s exactly like a dwarf lily, which i’ve owned. With great light, they go off in a few days. I had one in my 20 gallon take up more than half the tank. It was eventually removed to make room for different plants, let me see if I can find a picture. It did try to send out a runner across the tank, which I uprooted and trashed. The root structure was massive, especially because it was feeding from a few root tabs I added. but it’s really easy to trim. I definitely would take it out of the pot.

Did it ever send out super long roots or runners under the substrate you couldn't see?

 

Did it ever send out super long roots or runners under the substrate you couldn't see?

Well, it was only a 20 tall, so they weren’t super long but when I eventually took out the whole plant there was at least a million roots. I couldn’t actually see any of the roots when it was planted.

 

Well, it was only a 20 tall, so they weren’t super long but when I eventually took out the whole plant there was at least a million roots. I couldn’t actually see any of the roots when it was planted.

Gotcha. That's what I'm afraid of. It growing out and choking the other plant roots......

 

So, funny story.

Last night I watched a couple of my panda corys spawning. I watched the female place 2 eggs, which were quickly eaten. So I learned how quickly that can and will happen. Then, I got the bright idea to try to collect some eggs. Well......those things are NOT easy to get with a medicine dropper. Of the next 4 eggs, I managed to get 1. Yes. One single egg. Lol. Oh well, I don't have an extra airstone and pump to set up a hatchery right now anyway.

 

They're sticky but you can roll them off the glass with your fingers. Some use a plastic credit card.

 

Wow, so much for egg collection
I used a credit card and a net, but still failed to grab them all.

 

They're sticky but you can roll them off the glass with your fingers. Some use a plastic credit card.

I was afraid I'd crush them. I'll try that next time.

 

If you ditch the pearl gourami you could have yourself a nice amazon biotope tank! I'd recommend going with phantoms over black skirts and for the other school cardinal tetras. Hatchets are great too for the surface of the tank.

 

If you ditch the pearl gourami you could have yourself a nice amazon biotope tank! I'd recommend going with phantoms over black skirts and for the other school cardinal tetras. Hatchets are great too for the surface of the tank.

I ditched the pearl gourami a long time ago, and already have the black skirt. Thanks for the input though.

 

Oh how old is this post? This is actually my first day on here just checking posts out.

 

Oh how old is this post? This is actually my first day on here just checking posts out.

You're okay. I've done that before too. This thread started a ways back though. Granted, the first several pages were just rambling. The tank was actually set up on page 9. Would love for you to read, follow along, and give opinions though. Oh, and welcome to Fishlore!

 

Thanks and wow odd because this was at the top of the list. How is the tank doing now?

 

Thanks and wow odd because this was at the top of the list. How is the tank doing now?

When a thread gets a new post, it'll show up in the New Posts section at the bottom. So that's probably why. It's doing well though. Trying to decide how to finish my stocking, and got some plants a few days ago. I'm not too good with plants. Just now learning about them and hoping to keep these alive. This is what it looks like now though.

 

When a thread gets a new post, it'll show up in the New Posts section at the bottom. So that's probably why. It's doing well though. Trying to decide how to finish my stocking, and got some plants a few days ago. I'm not too good with plants. Just now learning about them and hoping to keep these alive. This is what it looks like now though.

View attachment 461960

Nice setup and same It's been a struggle finding the right plants for my 120 some survive a lot don't and one is a monster. I'm doing a little experiment in a 16 gallon as a no water change tank. I'm gonna add some fast growing plants in there soon.

 

Nice setup and same It's been a struggle finding the right plants for my 120 some survive a lot don't and one is a monster. I'm doing a little experiment in a 16 gallon as a no water change tank. I'm gonna add some fast growing plants in there soon.

What kind of plants and lighting are you working with?

 

What kind of plants and lighting are you working with?

Just picked this up. As far as plants I have no idea. I want it to be heavily planted. Gonna throw some male guppies and a male betta in. I've been watching a tutotial on doing a no water change tank after seeing this vid I was amazed about the concept!

 

Am I correct in assuming that this is a new little vesuvius sword sprouting off already? Does that mean the plant is doing really well or trying to replicate before it dies?

 

Am I correct in assuming that this is a new little vesuvius sword sprouting off already? Does that mean the plant is doing really well or trying to replicate before it dies?

View attachment 462482

Looking at its color it is doing well to me.

 

Update on the plants.

All the swords seem to be doing well. The vesuvius swords are getting a little yellow, but it's the outer most, non curly leaves. I've heard that a lot of swords melt back a little before taking off. I hope that's it. As far as I can tell, the amazons and rosettes are good.

The scarlet temple is worrying me. I put Osmocote Plus tabs around them as well trying to encourage some strong root growth. I've also dosed Flourish Comprehensive, but only once. I've also done a small dose of Excel, but I'm not going to lie, I don't really know what I'm doing with that stuff. The light (6500K 5000 lumen) is on 4 hours, off 4, on 4, then off 12. Anyway, the scarlet temple has green fuzzy algae it looks like growing on it. What should I do? Here's a picture of each stem.






Should I stop the Flourish for now since I have mostly root feeders, and add more iron rich tabs around everything?

My tiger lotus is looking a little off too.




To cover bases, here's the two vesuvius. It's hard to get a good shot of the second one, but it's got the one obvious new sprout on it, as well as a few other smaller ones.

 

I finally decided to take the tiger lotus out of the pot. Going to take some getting used to, but I don't miss it much. Lol. I went ahead and trimmed off some not so great leaves. It's got a couple more growing in. The corys love it down on their level. Thoughts?





Oh, and I don't think I'll be using Flourish Comprehensive anymore. Every time I try, algae blooms a lot worse. I'm thinking about doing a very big dose of Excel soon. Well, big for me anyway. Still only half of the first initial dose the bottle recommended.

 

So.....been researching better ferts, and ordered a bottle of NilocG Thrive C (all in one liquid fert formulated for low tech tanks), as well as a new fish. Can't wait to get the shipment in.

 

I like it much better out of the pot. Excited to see the new fish!