jvision

Val, your mistery plant is probably a small sword like I described earlier. It looks like E. tennelus. If it is the pygmy chain sword, keep it in a bright spot, and it'll soon spread and make a nice low carpet. If it is what is refered to as "false tennelus" then it'll spread, too, but will be a bit taller - better for more of a midground placement.

I have Jobe's Fern Spikes under my plants - I know I pulled part of one up the last time I sold one of these. I'll have to check to see if there are any left. I've found that these guys love to have their roots fed, so placing 1/2 a Jobe's Spike (use the ones for ferns) under you plant may help. BTW, the Crypts will LOVE it to!!

:welcome: Gr8Blade!

Yep, HD in Edm has 'em, too - just about bought a 4-pack yesterday!

That's it. It's odd that the Lotus (in my tank, anyway) is the only plant showing this deficiency. It's also odd that you're dosing K more than other macros, and it's a K deficiency that's showing...

Sounds like a type of Echinodorus - or sword. There is an 'E. tennelus' (micro chain sword) that isn't the true tennelus, and grows a bit bigger. If you use lots of light, it still tends to stall short; however, if your 2 wpg or lower, it will get 4"+.

I helped myself to a few plants as Henry was unpacking the shipment. This one was mostly plants, but he did get a few fish sp. in as well. There are a few plants that I haven't seen in Edmonton for a LONG time - some, never! Rare Anubias and Crypts, and a couple of awesome foreground plants that are hard to find in good shape!

Come to think of it... that's where I got all my stock for the 55 gal! I picked up a sweet deal on the 29 gal Geo at a trade show last year. $400 and I brought home 4 discus, 60+ Cardinals, 5 Bolivian Rams, quite a few HEALTHY (It's hard to believe coming from this LFS) plants, plus the Geo tank stuff. I've sold off much of the fish that I got, and have probably broken even. Still have the tank, stand, etc!

Give it a bit of time, and these to comments may compliment each other! I bought a single lotus at the ACE auction in March, I've sold/traded/given about 10 large plants that have grown from this one. I still have 3 or 4 large plants left, and am trying to get them to send out runners again. I like the little red leaves on the new plantlets. I'm hoping that I'll have some Glossostigma to trade out soon. Picked up a few bunches at Natures Corner a couple of weeks ago. If you haven't seen Henry's latest plants shipment, make it a must-go destination! Hopefully, he still has some good stock in!

In my African tanks, I have arogonite mixed in. It's quite cloudy when stirred; and, it usually stays pretty cloudy for a while. The filters eventually pick it all up; but, it takes a couple of weeks for the fish to work all the fine stuff out of the substrate.

I'm with most people here - put your own kit together. These kits are OK... but, after looking at what's included, I'd say the chemical aspect of what is included aren't that great. I like their recommendations for planting. Most companies don't recommend nearly enough to get started. I would add about 20 stem plants, as these will help keep everything steady as the tank breaks in - when you FULLY (I mean, next to no gravel showing) plant a tank at the start, you will never have to worry about cylcling a tank. I agree, the stocking limits are a bit high, but I kept a similar fish load (about 5 less fish) in a 55 with no problems. For the same price, tho, I'd skip the kit and go with something used. Use the money saved to get enough plants to pack the tank - use different plants for different parts of the tank (short plants up front, tall plants in back) so the fish can swim - and get the fish that you want. Getting a pressurized CO2 system would be a VERY good idea, as well. The main things to rember with planted tanks is start off with LOTS of plants - you can cut back when things get established. Also, HAPPY PLANTS = HAPPY FISH. Sorry for the long post - slow day at work.

I'm pretty sure that the Mercury is only in the soft tissues of organizms.

If you're able to get mobile this week(end), and can make your way to the Southside, I'll hook you up!

I'm not sure if the condo board would go for it; though, being a newb at the last general meeting, I got roped into being on the board.... it might pay off come spring time. :shifty: That's Plan B! If I can't get my wife to go along with it, or if the condo board kyboshes my plans... barrel it is! Maybe even with one of those old fashioned water pump fountains! :thumbs:

MP, you can get T8 bulbs that are a bit more efficient. I beleive you can get them in a 24" 30W bulb, and will fit the regular T12 fixture. Most balasts, as long as they're the newer type, will run the T8s fine. Right now, with 2 20W bulbs, you're at 1.3 wpg - so that's a 33 gal? If it's standard, you can upgrade to a 36" bulb, which will give you better coverage, and a higher wpg ratio.

Ok, here's what I would do: Since you aren't adding any macronutrients (other than fish food?), I'd add a bit of KNO3. Not a lot, just enough to get your nitrates to around 5-10ppm. Your tank isn't very heavily planted, so it might take the plants a few days to use up all the macros, but this might help with the PO4 problem. Plants need NPK (+ the micros you're adding), so if there is only P in the water the plants will stop taking it up. If you increase the amount of N & K, the plants will take up the P as well. Also, the peat has colored the water a bit. Not sure how many Watts/gal you're using, but if you're looking for good plant growth, I'd up it to at least 3, if not 4. My 2 ¢

Actually, I am pretty serious about doing some sort of pond next spring. It just won't be as big as yours, nyb440. I'm thinking of using railway ties, stacking them 2 or 3 high, and doing something about 3' x 3' x 18" or so. I'd landscape it with a few outdoor plants, but I also think I'll try putting some of the plants I have in the tank out there. Have also heard of good results of ppl spawning different types of fish in outdoor ponds. Not sure if I'll go the heated route to try this out.... it's tempting. :shifty:

I was kinda making a joke... I live in a townhouse, and my yard is only about 15' x 10'

Looks great! Maybe I'll set one up in my yard next year. Now, I wonder if it'll fit.... :shifty:

Filled?? Do I remember you saying it was a 20lb? What a deal! I'd say it looks like you got yourself a nice early Christmas Present!

Is the substrate the sand you picked up from Sil Industries NW of Edmonton? Do they have the same size in darker colors?

Any pics?

Woah!!!

I used to breed Apistos quite a bit about 6 or 7 years ago. Not once did I take the male out. Tho, a 10 gal was the smalles tank I ever used. Your plan sounds good. If you want to be extra careful next time, use a 15 gal. I had a trio of Triple Red Cacatuoides in there for a while - a few fry even made it past me 'til they reached around 1"! Add a few plants, and it's just like home (ie. the wild) for them.

Just a question... when you rinse your sponges, do you do so in tap water, or old aquarium water? I've heard that tap water is OK; but I've also heard that it's a total no-no. I usually do so in a bucket of tank water.