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| View of the tank on 2nd January, 2016 |
December 13, 2015
Today I planted some Cuba in the foreground of the 2-footer. Brought the pressurised CO2 system from Buro in Jadavpur. It's a manual type valve. I have to turn it on and off. Started the ADA Greengain drops. Buro said add four drops per day for about ten days now. When you trim the plants, follow the same procedure. Basically one drop for every 10 litres. I have a 54 litre tank.
One of the Aqua Zonic lights has started malfunctioning. Will take it to Shyamal tomorrow if he can fix. Need to get 6500K in any case because these are 12000K tubes. The housing looks very smart and sleek but the bulbs can be useless. I wonder how the ballasts are.
Monday December 14, 2015
Couldn't go to work due to a badly upset tummy. But managed to go to Teritty Bazar in the afternoon (I was really feeling sick in the Metro) to get two Osram 24W T5HO tube lights. I got them from Best Electricals for Rs 160 each. I had spoken to the shop in advance. They are very professional. They are also related to Poonam. I am not surprised because all the Belanis in Calcutta are related.
The light is pretty bright. I am very happy with the result. It's written that they are imported. But not mentioned the country of manufacture (at least I couldn't see it). The shopkeeper said they have four-footers that are made in Germany but these are not made in Germany.
One small cautionary note. They don't allow you to board the metro with even a small tube light. Apparently it is not allowed. I have no idea why.
I am planning to get two more of these as back up stock. However, Mr Vijay Belani, the owner, said it is in quite ready supply and I need not stock.
Tuesday December 15, 2015
I have been obsessing about the CO2 mixture. Because I am yet to see the plants pearling. In my previous attempt, the moment I turned the CO2 on (it used to be a DIY yeast based system) the cork-screw vals used to start emitting bubbles. I don't remember the other plants.
Here nothing much is happening as yet. Did some reading up. Apparently pearling is when the bubbles sit on the leaves and not come out in a stream, as it used to happen in my earlier tank. I also learnt that pearling will happen only if the water is completely saturated with oxygen, which is what happens in a heavily planted aquarium and certainly not in mine which has just a few Java ferns, an anubia nana (I hope it is a nana) and some two-day old Cubas.
But I observed some bubble like thing under the leaf of one particular Java. I wasn't too sure if they were bubbles. Lined up neatly. To whet my curiosity I touched them with my fingers and they were soon gone. The plant had actually pearled !!!
I changed the diffuser's position on the aquarium. First I had set it 90 degree to the wall on which the spray bar was kept. Buro told me to place it on the opposite wall. It was mixing pretty well in water there. Next I placed it right under the spray bar. I think the opposite wall was the best place. I will change the place tomorrow.
Wednesday December 16, 2015
My anubias has sprouted a new leaf this morning. It is just a green fat hair (fat by human hair standard) like growth as of now. The first day in fact. I don't know what it is technically called. Green tip? It will gradually grow into a new leaf in a few days. Earlier a new leaf had opened since it came to our house. But I had not noticed the sprout. This time I am going to observe it more closely and report on its progress. I wish I could do a time lapse of its progress. But keeping the camera and stand in one place for a few days is out of question, given that it is right in the middle of the living room. I could perhaps draw circles around the legs of the tripod. But will have to ensure that Bulbuli doesn't sweep that off.
I remember a sweet poem by Tagore on this subject
Kaal chhilo daal khali
Aaj fule jaay bhore
Bol dekhi tui mali
Hoy se kemon kore?
In case you do not know Bengali, it means "even yesterday the branch was empty. Today it's in full bloom. Tell me o gardener, how does this happen?"
Only those who have tried to grow a really slow growing plant will know the joy of seeing a new leaf sprouting out.
I just hope algae don't get greedy too.
An Update On 17th Morning
Last night I discovered some hair like algae on the front glass and a few other places. The roots of the val had quite a few. And they were much darker. I immediately uprooted the val. I think this particular algae has come with the val. I hope the small ones clinging here and there won't bloom. Will scrape them off later tonight. Last night added a bucket of new water into the tank.
Status of the Growing Anubias
The new leaf on the anubias has opened up today. Not quite completely. But very sweetly. As is obvious from the image to the right. But what is perhaps more important than that is, today I learnt how to position the camera during photography of an aquarium. The camera lens and the object must be in one straight line that is perfectly horizontal to the ground so that the line hits the glass at a 90 degree angle. This dramatically changed the sharpness of my images. The large old leaf of the plant is such that it is reflecting a lot of light. I used the polariser. Yet the reflection is quite obvious. But I am happy to learn this new tip and it is really a good tip that I got off the internet.
This evening I also got a pot of tissue cultured alternanthera reineckii mini from Buro in Jadavpur. I intend to plant them just behind the anubias. In a space of about 8/10 inches. Let me see how it pans out. I will do the planting tomorrow. I have meanwhile ordered for a Seachem Flourish liquid and tablet - both.
Friday, 18th December 2015
Today I planted the alternantheras. Just behind the wood holding the anubias and infront of the wood holding the Java ferns. Taking the stems out of the growing media is quite a pain. It's a jelly like something and the roots really cling on to them. Anyway, it's looking really nice in the tank. Earlier during the day I had also got for myself a pair of tweezers. From one of Central Avenue's medical supply stores. The head wasn't flat. But not pin pointed either. I planted a few with the tweezers and a few with my fingers. Both worked fine. I would classify it as easy to plant. Now it remains to be seen how easy or difficult it is to grow.
Tropica describes the plant as "carpeting". I wonder how they grow. Vertically or sideways? Obviously not through runners. It will be interesting to watch how they behave.
Before planting the alternantheras, I took the driftwood holding the Java ferns to tie one of the Java ferns properly. Initially it wasn't properly tied on one side and it was like the leaning tower of Pisa. But now it's just fine.
Sunday, 20th December 2015
Last night (Saturday) the Seachem Flourish Excel arrived. From Amazon. I dosed the tank with just 5 ml. I will get for myself an injection syringe for precise measurement. One thing that has to be said is, unscrewing the cap is a matter of trial and error. You have to try a million times and be lucky at least once. I had to google the subject and discovered that there are millions like me.
I intend to use it once every other day. It is clearly mentioned in all caps: DO NOT OVERDOSE.
I have also ordered for Flourish substrate tablets. That's coming from eBay. I hope this is not overdosing.
The hairgrass algae on the front wall is becoming a nuisance. I am getting a few black mollies today (on advice from Buro). Sub-adults would be best. They are perpetually hungry. But for me keeping fish deliberately hungry is a tough thing to do. Another issue with keeping mollies is they propagate like crazy and the stainer in the tank has pretty large openings. Let me see what happens. Going to Galiff Street today.
In the afternoon I bought two pots of plants from Ripples. A pot of HM and a pot of cryptocorene wendtii. I have already planted the HM in the left rear corner of the tank. Will plant the crypts tomorrow.
One notable thing happened almost immediately after I planted the HMs. The free floating CO2 bubbles on the top of the tank water vanished. I think the plants are now using the entire supply of CO2. I will have to seek a proper scientific answer to this.
Tuesday, 22nd December 2015
I got my packet of Seachem Flourish substrate tablets. Ten of them. I think I put 3 or 4 of them before planting the crypts. They are well settled now. Let's keep the fingers crossed. I got a total of 9 cryptocorene wendtii. One I planted on the left hand side of the tank. The rest eight got planted on the other side. I am not too sure how they will look once they spread out.
The black mollies are pulling my Cubas out. They look sick and yellow, all right. I have replanted a few. If this experiment with the Cuba does not work, I will get another pot next Sunday and plant. Let me see what happens. If that fails too I will plant Monte Carlos.
Meanwhile, I have increased the bubble count. Right now dosing at 4 bps. On day 1 of HM planting, they pearled almost immediately. Yesterday they did not pearl much with bps at 2. Now that I have set it at 4 bps, they are pearling a little.
Today I took out two buckets of water and poured in 3. As of yesterday I have started blocking off the front glass with a piece of thermocol. I think the hairgrass algae was happening due to the sun light coming in from the opposite window.
Strangely enough, the mollies haven't touched the upper part of the front glass. I guess they aren't sufficiently hungry yet. The flowing strands of hair are gone but still some rather thick green remain on the glass.
Thursday, 24th December 2015
Today i found another shoot coming out of the anubias. Which means I am going to get another leaf. Probably two. I also saw a very tiny flower kind of thing behind on the rhyzome of the plant. I wonder what that is.
The HMs are settling well. The shape and structure of the leaves is changing. After the initial planting, I had found one clump uprooted. I got it to sink on the right hand side of the tank. It is now doing pretty well.
Today I got in touch with the Seachem India distributor. He gave me the phone number of a retailer in Calcutta. Spoke to him about Matrix. He has a shop in Brahmapur. He said his consignment is coming this week. Let me see.
The tips of some of the AR mini are bending backwards. This is happening only to the top two leaves. Many new leaves, incidentally, are coming out. I wonder if the backward bending is okay and I am over reacting. The plants look otherwise healthy. But then a week is too short a period to judge anything. Most aquatic plants go through a lot of transition during the first few weeks when they go from emmersed to immersed form. And these are tissue cultured plants with very healthy roots. So they will take time to show any signs of changing.
Tuesday, 29th December 2015
Did quite a few purchases in the last couple of days. Yesterday bought some driftwood and rock from Buro because they were available. Today bought a JBL heater for the betta from a guy called Rocky Jaiswal in Howrah and a nano tank from Buro where I have already moved the betta. I also bought a cup each of TC hydrocotyle tripartita mini and rotala rotundifolia hi-red.
I am going to plant them tomorrow. The hi-red will go to the right corner of the tank. The hydrocotyle will be for the foreground. I want them to grow up on the front driftwood.
Meanwhile, I have ordered for a bottle each of Flourish Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium and Iron from Vinit Desai in Pune. I paid into his account here. He is supposed to send it to me by tomorrow or day after. Apparently the item has already been shipped.
Thursday, 31st December 2015
Last night I planted the rotala rotundafolia HRA in the rear right hand corner of the aquarium. I got a total of about ten clumps. Getting the plants out of the agar was relatively easy. Perhaps I am becoming an expert at it. Or the roots had not taken a firm root yet. But the plants looked strong enough.
Keeping the clumps rooted into the soil wasn't easy. A few clumps came floating out. But they were promptly pressed back in. They also readily started pearling from the top. Large pearls that looked beautiful. But the ones that came out did not pearl again. I am a little intrigued. Do freshly planted plants pearl more?
The tips of the plants look a little brownish. Otherwise these are green plants. However, I have bought them believing they would grow up to become red.
Saturday, 2nd January 2016
Day before yesterday, that is on Thursday I planted the Hydrocotyle Tripartita Mini. It is a challenge keeping them rooted to the substrate. But that is because I took Chhoton's advice and divided the clump into four and planted them. After a few failed attempts, they float up in no time, I made the clumps smaller. The smallest ones are best rooted, including one that is just a stand alone plant right in the front of the tank. Another clump is doing well in a nook of the bogwood.
I think I have more than what I need. These plants are the best pearlers. They start to pearl as soon as you plant them. No matter how many times they get uprooted the moment you press them back in they start pearling.
Yesterday the year stated on a good note as the Seachem bottles arrived from Vinit Desai. I have started dosing in the following formula.
Friday - N - 0.5 ml
Saturday - P - 1 ml
Sunday - K - 1.5 ml
Monday - Fe - 1 ml
Tuesday - N - 0.5 ml
Wednesday - P - 1 ml
Thursday - K - 0.5 ml & Fe 1 ml
Apart from this I am dosing 2.5 ml of Seachem Flourish every alternate day.
Today I also kicked back to life my good old metal halide light. I just plugged it into a socket and switched it on and it was back to life after some 8/9 years. I do not know what to do with it. I have a grand plan to make a planted tank museum at Metro Park in the days to come. There I can use it :-)
I have also cleaned up the Eheim 2215. I have already spoken to Buro about repairing it. He has promised to do it for me. The injury is nothing major but it certainly needs to be repaired before I can use it. I guess I will take it to him tomorrow.
Sunday, 3rd January 2016
My Java ferns have started producing plantlets !!! I thought they were uneaten algae. But the fact that the black mollies weren't touching them made me curious. I knew that the new plants often come out of the leaves. But didn't know it would happen this fast in my tank. They look like brown beard algae. I think one of them has already turned into a small plantlet. I will wait for a couple of days more because that one is in a tough corner where it is difficult to view. These plantlets grow on the back of the leaves.
I think I will soon have to set up a clippings tank. Because the alternantheras are growing pretty fast. The HMs will start growing soon. So will the tripartitas. I have to find some home for the clippings. I don't think there are too many takers for these.
I have that other 4-footer at Metro Park. I also have the metal halide and the extra Eheim. Let me see how things move.
In the evening went to Buro's shop with Sumit-da. Gave him the Eheim 2215 for repairs. Bought two otocinclus. Immediately after release into the tank the black mollies attacked them and started nipping them. They are not good defenders - these oto's. However, after about five minutes they stopped bothering the newcomers.
Otocincluses are sensitive fish. I hope they survive. They are generally being very restless in the tank. Let me see how successful I get with them. I have half a mind to remove the mollies and get a few shrimps. Let me see how things pan out.
Monday, 4th January 2016
My oto's are doing fine. I was eager to find them alive in the tank after I returned home from work today. And they were found voraciously eating algae. I strictly believe that if a wild creature is "eating and shitting" properly (pardon my language), then it is in fine health. I saw both of them eating rather eagerly. I saw only one poop. It is quite difficult to see an oto poop. So I should think they are doing fine in my tank.
I was a little skeptical given that I thought they were reputed to be super sensitive to water conditions.
I also ordered for a set of lily pipes for the Eheim 2217 from Madras. This is the cheapest I have come across so far. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a damp squib. Let me see how they turn out. Sumit-da gave me the contact.
I have spoken to the seller and also written a mail to him explaining that my set should be of two different sizes. Eheim 2217's inlet pipe is 16 mm and outlet is 12 mm. I hope they send the set accordingly.
Tuesday, 5th January 2016 - Quick Status Update
Java Ferns - I had planted them the first. Not quite planted but tied them on a piece of bogwood. They are doing absolutely fine with light and CO2. Many plantlets have started sprouting from the old leaves. Some new leaves are also growing from the rhyzome. No need to worry about the Java Ferns.
Anubias Nana - There was some sign of yellowing in the leaves. The top leaf seems to be dying. However, new leaves are growing too. Two have already grown in the tank and another is coming out right now. New roots are also coming out. I think the old leaves will die out eventually.
Cuba - I made a big mistake with the Cuba even before planting. I had kept it in the dark for a long time. By the time I planted them they had started melting. A few took decent root. But I had to take them out and replant, as I re-scaped the front with tripartita. The replanted ones aren't doing too well.
Alternanthera - Doing extremely well. Growing reasonably fast. I might need to prune a few of the plants this Sunday. The leaves on top have grown a little too large for my taste.
HM - Standing still. Taking roots. Least worried about them though. Once their root spread is over they will start growing.
Crypt Wendtii - Standing still. A few bottom leaves have yellowed or melted. The internet says this is normal. Perhaps I have planted a few too many of them.
Rotala Hi-Red - They are also standing still and doing nothing. I guess waiting for the roiots to take hold. They look green but with a brownish tinge.
Tripartita Mini - The battle to keep them down seems to have been won. The trick is to make the clumps smaller and mercilessly push them right in. They pearl a lot. They have still not started growing though. But good health is obvious.
Thursday, 7th January 2016 - Four-footer Gone
Today I managed to find a buyer for my four-footer. A guy called Sashi Singh bought it for his expanding black molly family. Sold it for Rs 1800. I shall see if the first aquarium I started my planted tank journey with is suitable. Ibrahim has cleaned it up. Will have to bring it over from Metro Park. If nothing, it can be my clippings storage tank.
Last night I got for myself some christmas moss from Buro for Rs 50. I have kept them in the divided betta tank for now. I have got the bog wood soaked now. It's still floating though. It will, for a few days.
Yesterday Buro repaired my Eheim 2215 canister. He has done a neat job. Asked me to watch it out for a few days initially. I don't think it will leak. He has done a great job. But of course, the pressure that is generated inside a filter is pretty high. But I still have confidence in him that it will not fail.
Ibrahim has also cleaned my other four-footer. But he said apparently it has a crack at the bottom, though it is not a leaking one.
My anubias has thrown up a new leaf but it is all yellow except for the middle which is green. I dosed a little extra potassium today. Let me see how it behaves.
The tripartitas have started sending out runners. I am super excited. I also tried the mechanical compaction method that the Tropica website talks about. The very fine cobwebish roots settle in when you press them gently. The plants are looking more compact and much better.
But I think I am going to have to keep a strict watch on their growth. I spoke to Buro about a pair of scissors. He said they should be in any time now.
Friday, 8th January 2016 - Fresh Purchases
Today got a few items from Buro. A bag of ADA Amazonia 9 lit, 2 litres of Bio Rio and a net bag, a glass lily pipe for the outlet and a water column additive that is supposed to keep the water sparkling clear and improve oxygenation.
Will set up the lily pipe and bio rio tomorrow.
Saturday, 9th January 2016 - Added Bio Rio & Lily Pipe
Added the Bio Rio and the lily pipe into the Eheim 2217 and removed the carbon pad. The bio rio is taking the space of two of the blue sponge filters. Had two mini accidents in the process. But managed somehow with some water flow on the floor and once on the wall and a little bruised forehead for Monisha. One of the basic requirements for successfully running an Eheim filter is the support of your wife. Monisha cleaned up the mess without a grumble.
The tank became a little cloudy after the addition of Bio Rio. I am hoping it will go down. The lily pipe is not holding straight. But one great thing - I have been able to let the filter run at full flow without any problem to the plants. The mollies are a little rattled by the extra flow rate of the water. Let me see how they adjust in a couple of days. If they find it difficult I will turn the force down.
I have also changed the position of the CO2 diffuser.
Update at 12 mid night
Fixing the lily pipe to the aquarium's wall is not easy because of its shape. I should have kept a little more slack on the pipe. But this is a learning process for me.
Sunday, 10th January, 2016
It's morning 11 and the turbidity of the water is still not completely gone. It is still not 100 per cent sparkling clean water as I had before. Last night before going to sleep I had turned the CO2 bubbling rate to about 1 bps. This morning I saw a lot of pearling still on the leaves of the Rotalas and Java ferns and of course the tripartitas.
Wednesday, 13th January, 2016
The tripartitas have started to take off in the tank. I am really impressed by their growth rate. They are sending out runners in all directions. I think I am going to have trouble controlling their growth. But as someone on the KAC forum said, this growth will stop once summer sets in.
I have also stepped up the Seachem dosage by 10x. Let me see what happens. Most international forums are of the opinion that Seachem's dosage recommendations are on the lower side. Also, a hi-tech planted tank's dosage requirements are much higher because the plants are growing much faster here. Nutrient supply must keep pace with the available light and CO2.
Thursday, 14th January, 2016
Today I got two rhizomes of Anubias minima from Nature's Gift in Bangalore. Good healthy plants. Obviously grown emersed. But strong large green leaves. Well packed. It worked out a little costly, but I was basically testing their service for future. They seem dependable.
Friday, 15th January, 2016
A total low down on the aquarium as on date
Today I planted some Cuba in the foreground of the 2-footer. Brought the pressurised CO2 system from Buro in Jadavpur. It's a manual type valve. I have to turn it on and off. Started the ADA Greengain drops. Buro said add four drops per day for about ten days now. When you trim the plants, follow the same procedure. Basically one drop for every 10 litres. I have a 54 litre tank.
One of the Aqua Zonic lights has started malfunctioning. Will take it to Shyamal tomorrow if he can fix. Need to get 6500K in any case because these are 12000K tubes. The housing looks very smart and sleek but the bulbs can be useless. I wonder how the ballasts are.
Monday December 14, 2015
Couldn't go to work due to a badly upset tummy. But managed to go to Teritty Bazar in the afternoon (I was really feeling sick in the Metro) to get two Osram 24W T5HO tube lights. I got them from Best Electricals for Rs 160 each. I had spoken to the shop in advance. They are very professional. They are also related to Poonam. I am not surprised because all the Belanis in Calcutta are related.
The light is pretty bright. I am very happy with the result. It's written that they are imported. But not mentioned the country of manufacture (at least I couldn't see it). The shopkeeper said they have four-footers that are made in Germany but these are not made in Germany.
One small cautionary note. They don't allow you to board the metro with even a small tube light. Apparently it is not allowed. I have no idea why.
I am planning to get two more of these as back up stock. However, Mr Vijay Belani, the owner, said it is in quite ready supply and I need not stock.
Tuesday December 15, 2015
I have been obsessing about the CO2 mixture. Because I am yet to see the plants pearling. In my previous attempt, the moment I turned the CO2 on (it used to be a DIY yeast based system) the cork-screw vals used to start emitting bubbles. I don't remember the other plants.
Here nothing much is happening as yet. Did some reading up. Apparently pearling is when the bubbles sit on the leaves and not come out in a stream, as it used to happen in my earlier tank. I also learnt that pearling will happen only if the water is completely saturated with oxygen, which is what happens in a heavily planted aquarium and certainly not in mine which has just a few Java ferns, an anubia nana (I hope it is a nana) and some two-day old Cubas.
But I observed some bubble like thing under the leaf of one particular Java. I wasn't too sure if they were bubbles. Lined up neatly. To whet my curiosity I touched them with my fingers and they were soon gone. The plant had actually pearled !!!
I changed the diffuser's position on the aquarium. First I had set it 90 degree to the wall on which the spray bar was kept. Buro told me to place it on the opposite wall. It was mixing pretty well in water there. Next I placed it right under the spray bar. I think the opposite wall was the best place. I will change the place tomorrow.
Wednesday December 16, 2015
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| Pic taken on December 16, 2015 |
I remember a sweet poem by Tagore on this subject
Kaal chhilo daal khali
Aaj fule jaay bhore
Bol dekhi tui mali
Hoy se kemon kore?
In case you do not know Bengali, it means "even yesterday the branch was empty. Today it's in full bloom. Tell me o gardener, how does this happen?"
Only those who have tried to grow a really slow growing plant will know the joy of seeing a new leaf sprouting out.
I just hope algae don't get greedy too.
An Update On 17th Morning
Last night I discovered some hair like algae on the front glass and a few other places. The roots of the val had quite a few. And they were much darker. I immediately uprooted the val. I think this particular algae has come with the val. I hope the small ones clinging here and there won't bloom. Will scrape them off later tonight. Last night added a bucket of new water into the tank.
Status of the Growing Anubias
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| Pic Taken on December 17, 2015 |
This evening I also got a pot of tissue cultured alternanthera reineckii mini from Buro in Jadavpur. I intend to plant them just behind the anubias. In a space of about 8/10 inches. Let me see how it pans out. I will do the planting tomorrow. I have meanwhile ordered for a Seachem Flourish liquid and tablet - both.
Friday, 18th December 2015
Tropica describes the plant as "carpeting". I wonder how they grow. Vertically or sideways? Obviously not through runners. It will be interesting to watch how they behave.
Before planting the alternantheras, I took the driftwood holding the Java ferns to tie one of the Java ferns properly. Initially it wasn't properly tied on one side and it was like the leaning tower of Pisa. But now it's just fine.
Sunday, 20th December 2015
I intend to use it once every other day. It is clearly mentioned in all caps: DO NOT OVERDOSE.
I have also ordered for Flourish substrate tablets. That's coming from eBay. I hope this is not overdosing.
The hairgrass algae on the front wall is becoming a nuisance. I am getting a few black mollies today (on advice from Buro). Sub-adults would be best. They are perpetually hungry. But for me keeping fish deliberately hungry is a tough thing to do. Another issue with keeping mollies is they propagate like crazy and the stainer in the tank has pretty large openings. Let me see what happens. Going to Galiff Street today.
In the afternoon I bought two pots of plants from Ripples. A pot of HM and a pot of cryptocorene wendtii. I have already planted the HM in the left rear corner of the tank. Will plant the crypts tomorrow.
One notable thing happened almost immediately after I planted the HMs. The free floating CO2 bubbles on the top of the tank water vanished. I think the plants are now using the entire supply of CO2. I will have to seek a proper scientific answer to this.
Tuesday, 22nd December 2015
I got my packet of Seachem Flourish substrate tablets. Ten of them. I think I put 3 or 4 of them before planting the crypts. They are well settled now. Let's keep the fingers crossed. I got a total of 9 cryptocorene wendtii. One I planted on the left hand side of the tank. The rest eight got planted on the other side. I am not too sure how they will look once they spread out.
The black mollies are pulling my Cubas out. They look sick and yellow, all right. I have replanted a few. If this experiment with the Cuba does not work, I will get another pot next Sunday and plant. Let me see what happens. If that fails too I will plant Monte Carlos.
Today I took out two buckets of water and poured in 3. As of yesterday I have started blocking off the front glass with a piece of thermocol. I think the hairgrass algae was happening due to the sun light coming in from the opposite window.
Strangely enough, the mollies haven't touched the upper part of the front glass. I guess they aren't sufficiently hungry yet. The flowing strands of hair are gone but still some rather thick green remain on the glass.
Thursday, 24th December 2015
Today i found another shoot coming out of the anubias. Which means I am going to get another leaf. Probably two. I also saw a very tiny flower kind of thing behind on the rhyzome of the plant. I wonder what that is.
The HMs are settling well. The shape and structure of the leaves is changing. After the initial planting, I had found one clump uprooted. I got it to sink on the right hand side of the tank. It is now doing pretty well.
Today I got in touch with the Seachem India distributor. He gave me the phone number of a retailer in Calcutta. Spoke to him about Matrix. He has a shop in Brahmapur. He said his consignment is coming this week. Let me see.
The tips of some of the AR mini are bending backwards. This is happening only to the top two leaves. Many new leaves, incidentally, are coming out. I wonder if the backward bending is okay and I am over reacting. The plants look otherwise healthy. But then a week is too short a period to judge anything. Most aquatic plants go through a lot of transition during the first few weeks when they go from emmersed to immersed form. And these are tissue cultured plants with very healthy roots. So they will take time to show any signs of changing.
Tuesday, 29th December 2015
I am going to plant them tomorrow. The hi-red will go to the right corner of the tank. The hydrocotyle will be for the foreground. I want them to grow up on the front driftwood.
Meanwhile, I have ordered for a bottle each of Flourish Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium and Iron from Vinit Desai in Pune. I paid into his account here. He is supposed to send it to me by tomorrow or day after. Apparently the item has already been shipped.
Thursday, 31st December 2015
Last night I planted the rotala rotundafolia HRA in the rear right hand corner of the aquarium. I got a total of about ten clumps. Getting the plants out of the agar was relatively easy. Perhaps I am becoming an expert at it. Or the roots had not taken a firm root yet. But the plants looked strong enough.
Keeping the clumps rooted into the soil wasn't easy. A few clumps came floating out. But they were promptly pressed back in. They also readily started pearling from the top. Large pearls that looked beautiful. But the ones that came out did not pearl again. I am a little intrigued. Do freshly planted plants pearl more?
The tips of the plants look a little brownish. Otherwise these are green plants. However, I have bought them believing they would grow up to become red.
Saturday, 2nd January 2016
Day before yesterday, that is on Thursday I planted the Hydrocotyle Tripartita Mini. It is a challenge keeping them rooted to the substrate. But that is because I took Chhoton's advice and divided the clump into four and planted them. After a few failed attempts, they float up in no time, I made the clumps smaller. The smallest ones are best rooted, including one that is just a stand alone plant right in the front of the tank. Another clump is doing well in a nook of the bogwood.
I think I have more than what I need. These plants are the best pearlers. They start to pearl as soon as you plant them. No matter how many times they get uprooted the moment you press them back in they start pearling.
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| My arsenal of ferts |
Friday - N - 0.5 ml
Saturday - P - 1 ml
Sunday - K - 1.5 ml
Monday - Fe - 1 ml
Tuesday - N - 0.5 ml
Wednesday - P - 1 ml
Thursday - K - 0.5 ml & Fe 1 ml
Apart from this I am dosing 2.5 ml of Seachem Flourish every alternate day.
Today I also kicked back to life my good old metal halide light. I just plugged it into a socket and switched it on and it was back to life after some 8/9 years. I do not know what to do with it. I have a grand plan to make a planted tank museum at Metro Park in the days to come. There I can use it :-)
I have also cleaned up the Eheim 2215. I have already spoken to Buro about repairing it. He has promised to do it for me. The injury is nothing major but it certainly needs to be repaired before I can use it. I guess I will take it to him tomorrow.
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| This is what the tank looks like after planting the hydrocotyle tripartita. Pic taken on 1st January, 2016 |
Sunday, 3rd January 2016
My Java ferns have started producing plantlets !!! I thought they were uneaten algae. But the fact that the black mollies weren't touching them made me curious. I knew that the new plants often come out of the leaves. But didn't know it would happen this fast in my tank. They look like brown beard algae. I think one of them has already turned into a small plantlet. I will wait for a couple of days more because that one is in a tough corner where it is difficult to view. These plantlets grow on the back of the leaves.
I think I will soon have to set up a clippings tank. Because the alternantheras are growing pretty fast. The HMs will start growing soon. So will the tripartitas. I have to find some home for the clippings. I don't think there are too many takers for these.
I have that other 4-footer at Metro Park. I also have the metal halide and the extra Eheim. Let me see how things move.
In the evening went to Buro's shop with Sumit-da. Gave him the Eheim 2215 for repairs. Bought two otocinclus. Immediately after release into the tank the black mollies attacked them and started nipping them. They are not good defenders - these oto's. However, after about five minutes they stopped bothering the newcomers.
Otocincluses are sensitive fish. I hope they survive. They are generally being very restless in the tank. Let me see how successful I get with them. I have half a mind to remove the mollies and get a few shrimps. Let me see how things pan out.
Monday, 4th January 2016
My oto's are doing fine. I was eager to find them alive in the tank after I returned home from work today. And they were found voraciously eating algae. I strictly believe that if a wild creature is "eating and shitting" properly (pardon my language), then it is in fine health. I saw both of them eating rather eagerly. I saw only one poop. It is quite difficult to see an oto poop. So I should think they are doing fine in my tank.
I was a little skeptical given that I thought they were reputed to be super sensitive to water conditions.
I also ordered for a set of lily pipes for the Eheim 2217 from Madras. This is the cheapest I have come across so far. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a damp squib. Let me see how they turn out. Sumit-da gave me the contact.
I have spoken to the seller and also written a mail to him explaining that my set should be of two different sizes. Eheim 2217's inlet pipe is 16 mm and outlet is 12 mm. I hope they send the set accordingly.
Tuesday, 5th January 2016 - Quick Status Update
Java Ferns - I had planted them the first. Not quite planted but tied them on a piece of bogwood. They are doing absolutely fine with light and CO2. Many plantlets have started sprouting from the old leaves. Some new leaves are also growing from the rhyzome. No need to worry about the Java Ferns.
Anubias Nana - There was some sign of yellowing in the leaves. The top leaf seems to be dying. However, new leaves are growing too. Two have already grown in the tank and another is coming out right now. New roots are also coming out. I think the old leaves will die out eventually.
Cuba - I made a big mistake with the Cuba even before planting. I had kept it in the dark for a long time. By the time I planted them they had started melting. A few took decent root. But I had to take them out and replant, as I re-scaped the front with tripartita. The replanted ones aren't doing too well.
Alternanthera - Doing extremely well. Growing reasonably fast. I might need to prune a few of the plants this Sunday. The leaves on top have grown a little too large for my taste.
HM - Standing still. Taking roots. Least worried about them though. Once their root spread is over they will start growing.
Crypt Wendtii - Standing still. A few bottom leaves have yellowed or melted. The internet says this is normal. Perhaps I have planted a few too many of them.
Rotala Hi-Red - They are also standing still and doing nothing. I guess waiting for the roiots to take hold. They look green but with a brownish tinge.
Tripartita Mini - The battle to keep them down seems to have been won. The trick is to make the clumps smaller and mercilessly push them right in. They pearl a lot. They have still not started growing though. But good health is obvious.
Thursday, 7th January 2016 - Four-footer Gone
Today I managed to find a buyer for my four-footer. A guy called Sashi Singh bought it for his expanding black molly family. Sold it for Rs 1800. I shall see if the first aquarium I started my planted tank journey with is suitable. Ibrahim has cleaned it up. Will have to bring it over from Metro Park. If nothing, it can be my clippings storage tank.
Last night I got for myself some christmas moss from Buro for Rs 50. I have kept them in the divided betta tank for now. I have got the bog wood soaked now. It's still floating though. It will, for a few days.
Yesterday Buro repaired my Eheim 2215 canister. He has done a neat job. Asked me to watch it out for a few days initially. I don't think it will leak. He has done a great job. But of course, the pressure that is generated inside a filter is pretty high. But I still have confidence in him that it will not fail.
Ibrahim has also cleaned my other four-footer. But he said apparently it has a crack at the bottom, though it is not a leaking one.
My anubias has thrown up a new leaf but it is all yellow except for the middle which is green. I dosed a little extra potassium today. Let me see how it behaves.
The tripartitas have started sending out runners. I am super excited. I also tried the mechanical compaction method that the Tropica website talks about. The very fine cobwebish roots settle in when you press them gently. The plants are looking more compact and much better.
But I think I am going to have to keep a strict watch on their growth. I spoke to Buro about a pair of scissors. He said they should be in any time now.
Friday, 8th January 2016 - Fresh Purchases
Will set up the lily pipe and bio rio tomorrow.
Saturday, 9th January 2016 - Added Bio Rio & Lily Pipe
Added the Bio Rio and the lily pipe into the Eheim 2217 and removed the carbon pad. The bio rio is taking the space of two of the blue sponge filters. Had two mini accidents in the process. But managed somehow with some water flow on the floor and once on the wall and a little bruised forehead for Monisha. One of the basic requirements for successfully running an Eheim filter is the support of your wife. Monisha cleaned up the mess without a grumble.
The tank became a little cloudy after the addition of Bio Rio. I am hoping it will go down. The lily pipe is not holding straight. But one great thing - I have been able to let the filter run at full flow without any problem to the plants. The mollies are a little rattled by the extra flow rate of the water. Let me see how they adjust in a couple of days. If they find it difficult I will turn the force down.
I have also changed the position of the CO2 diffuser.
Update at 12 mid night
- The turbidity created by Bio Rio is yet to fully go but it's certainly clearing up
- The CO2 diffusion is way better now. Earlier only the tripartitas would pearl. Now everything is pearling, especially the hi-red rotalas.
- Stepped down the bubble rate from 2.5 bps to1 bps. Let me see how the bubbling goes on.
- The mollies have settled down.
Fixing the lily pipe to the aquarium's wall is not easy because of its shape. I should have kept a little more slack on the pipe. But this is a learning process for me.
Sunday, 10th January, 2016
It's morning 11 and the turbidity of the water is still not completely gone. It is still not 100 per cent sparkling clean water as I had before. Last night before going to sleep I had turned the CO2 bubbling rate to about 1 bps. This morning I saw a lot of pearling still on the leaves of the Rotalas and Java ferns and of course the tripartitas.
Wednesday, 13th January, 2016
The tripartitas have started to take off in the tank. I am really impressed by their growth rate. They are sending out runners in all directions. I think I am going to have trouble controlling their growth. But as someone on the KAC forum said, this growth will stop once summer sets in.
I have also stepped up the Seachem dosage by 10x. Let me see what happens. Most international forums are of the opinion that Seachem's dosage recommendations are on the lower side. Also, a hi-tech planted tank's dosage requirements are much higher because the plants are growing much faster here. Nutrient supply must keep pace with the available light and CO2.
Thursday, 14th January, 2016
Today I got two rhizomes of Anubias minima from Nature's Gift in Bangalore. Good healthy plants. Obviously grown emersed. But strong large green leaves. Well packed. It worked out a little costly, but I was basically testing their service for future. They seem dependable.
Friday, 15th January, 2016
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| The aquarium on 15th January, 2016 |
Age of the tank: A little more than a month. Set up a week or so before 13th December, 2015
Fauna: Four black mollies and 2 Otocinclus
Plant Details: As on date hydrocotyle tripartita mini, very small clumps of Cuba, Cryptocorene Wendtii, HM, Rotala rotundofilia Hi-Red, Alternanthera reinicki Mini, Anubias nana, Jave fern
Light: 2 Osram T5HO 6500K on Aqua Zonic fixture
CO2: Pressurised. Manual.
Filtration: Eheim Classic 2217 with 2 litres of Bio Rio
Description: All the plants are doing well except the Cubas. Some black brush algae is observed. First on the edge of the anubias which went with manual scraping by finger. Next on Cuba and some on HM. Photo period was reduced to six hours yesterday. CO2 bps has been increased to 2.25 per second. Flourish Excel dosing was stopped for a few days (which could be a reason). Have restarted with 10 ml tonight. Lot of green algae on the front glass which is unattended by the Oto.
Saturday, 16th January, 2016
I had increased the flow of the filter a little. That increased turbulence in the water, particularly at the far end where the HMs are. Today I find the HMs are more or less clear of BBA. The Cubas have some BBA left. But it is clearly not increasing. Mollies are attacking BBA on Cuba.
Today I got two more Otos from Buro and a bottle of Flourish Trace. I think there is scope for 2 more Otos in the tank. The Otos don't eat the hard, old and established algae. The glass is getting quite coated with green algae despite their relentless eating. The mollies are also busy all the time. Yet the amount of green algae is a lot. I mean not yet ungainly sight but the Otos will not go unfed, for sure.
Sunday, 17th January, 2016 - First Major Pruning
Today I did my first major pruning for the tank. I snipped the tripartitas in a few places where they were tresspassing into the Cuba or crypt territory. The new growth on the runners come out pretty easily off the substrate. It is not a major issue. However, these new growths hardly have any leaves on them. I have given the clippings to Sumit-da. Let me see how they do in his tank.
I also clipped the top of a few of the fast growing AR Mini. The growth was really robust. I wish I could clip a few more but there the growth is just a little more than what I want. So if I clip them now, they will be really small plants and may not survive if planted somewhere else. So I shall clip them next Sunday. I gave the clips to Sumit-da. A total of 5 stems.
There was just one stem of Rotala Rotundifilia Hi-Red that I had to cut. Because it had grown up ahead of its friends. I wonder if Sumit-da will find any use for it.
I pruned the HMs pretty much like a barber. Just chopped them off. Some stems are large. Some are rather small. I have kept them floating in a mug. If there is no taker I will have to throw them away.
After pruning I dosed 5 drops of the ADA whatever.
Added A Bog Wood With Christmas Moss
In the afternoon/evening I added a bog wood on the right hand backside to add some balance to the tank's overall design. The wood has some Christmas moss attached to it in strategic locations. Let me see how well they grow in my tank.
Saturday, 16th January, 2016
I had increased the flow of the filter a little. That increased turbulence in the water, particularly at the far end where the HMs are. Today I find the HMs are more or less clear of BBA. The Cubas have some BBA left. But it is clearly not increasing. Mollies are attacking BBA on Cuba.
Today I got two more Otos from Buro and a bottle of Flourish Trace. I think there is scope for 2 more Otos in the tank. The Otos don't eat the hard, old and established algae. The glass is getting quite coated with green algae despite their relentless eating. The mollies are also busy all the time. Yet the amount of green algae is a lot. I mean not yet ungainly sight but the Otos will not go unfed, for sure.
Sunday, 17th January, 2016 - First Major Pruning
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| Tank before pruning |
Today I did my first major pruning for the tank. I snipped the tripartitas in a few places where they were tresspassing into the Cuba or crypt territory. The new growth on the runners come out pretty easily off the substrate. It is not a major issue. However, these new growths hardly have any leaves on them. I have given the clippings to Sumit-da. Let me see how they do in his tank.
I also clipped the top of a few of the fast growing AR Mini. The growth was really robust. I wish I could clip a few more but there the growth is just a little more than what I want. So if I clip them now, they will be really small plants and may not survive if planted somewhere else. So I shall clip them next Sunday. I gave the clips to Sumit-da. A total of 5 stems.
There was just one stem of Rotala Rotundifilia Hi-Red that I had to cut. Because it had grown up ahead of its friends. I wonder if Sumit-da will find any use for it.
I pruned the HMs pretty much like a barber. Just chopped them off. Some stems are large. Some are rather small. I have kept them floating in a mug. If there is no taker I will have to throw them away.
After pruning I dosed 5 drops of the ADA whatever.
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| Tank just after pruning |
In the afternoon/evening I added a bog wood on the right hand backside to add some balance to the tank's overall design. The wood has some Christmas moss attached to it in strategic locations. Let me see how well they grow in my tank.
In the betta tank attached the two anubias minima to another old bog wood. The water there is a little warm. I wonder how they will grow there.
Monday January 18, 2016
After coming back home from office I found the turbidity in the water had increased a bit. I thought it was perhaps due to the new driftwood. Changed a bucket and a half of water, which is perhaps more than 50 per cent. The water has cleared up significantly.
I seem to be getting better of BBA. I have increased the flow of water and dosing 10 ml of Flourish Excel every day. But the wall towards Ma's room is getting coated in Green Spot Algae. I think it is due to the window in the distance. Currently the black cloth with which I cover the tank during day cannot cover that wall. Must get a longer piece of cloth specifically for the tank. Using Monisha's black dupatta for now.
Sunday January 24, 2016
Pruned the HMs, tripartitas and AR Minis. Kept them all in a mug. Will give the tripartitas to Sumit-da. Have put up an ad on KAC for the other clippings, if anyone is interested. The growth in these three plants is phenomenal. The RR Hi-red is growing but not as fast as these three to be sure. Even the anubias is growing pretty fast. But I have still not been able to get a green leaf at the sprouting stage. They are still yellowish and turn green only after a week or so. Have increased the dosing of K and Ph. A new leaf is coming out now. Let me see how it fares.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week bought a two meter black cloth from Kalighat market for Rs 100. I keep the tank covered in it during the day. The green spot algae has already come under control in about three days. Therefore it can be safely said that diffused sunlight, coming through a smoked glass twenty feet away can cause green spot algae. Probably the nutrient in the water is also responsible, in the sense if it was just tap water it would probably not get the algae so soon. But it is really amazing how powerful sunlight is.
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