Late Night with My Tank

[benzjamin13]

I figures it’s been awhile. So I did a slight rescape by adding some Rotala and it ended up giving this weird brown algae. I removed the Rotala and then I had a hair algae outbreak. So it gave my an excuse to buy a Siamese Algale Eater and a Bristlenose Pleco. I happened to find a Blue-Eyed BN. They weren’t making any progress, so I ended up getting more. So there are 5 SAE, 3 Bamboo Shrimp, and a BEBN Pleco. And then finally there’s also a pack (7) Preacox Rainbows and 2 Yo-yo Loaches.

Funny thing about the Yo-yo Loaches was I got one for a snail outbreak. I haven’t seen it in 2-3 weeks and the outbreak seemed to worsen. I thought it was dead, so I got another one. After a week later, I found the original one swimming with the new guy.

Today I wondered why my Crypts hasn’t grown back to its full size (been through a couple melts and they always grow back). Then it dawned on me that my Dwarf Sag has been out of control. I think the Dwarf Sag was out completing the Crypt. So I ended up removing a bunch of Sag and trimmed/replant the S. Repens.

So I just made this long journal and I hoped you followed all the way through.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Tank looks great man! well planted, but still feels very open. nice job

 

[Mitchell The Monster]

Looks like you have decent water agitation, how well do the floating plants live in those conditions? Just wondering because I've been told they need very low water movement and I want them in my tank but i have a lot of flow. Good looking tank!

 

[benzjamin13]

Looks like you have decent water agitation, how well do the floating plants live in those conditions? Just wondering because I've been told they need very low water movement and I want them in my tank but i have a lot of flow. Good looking tank!

I just added a power head a few days ago and those floating plants are extra from another tank that I was planning on removing anyways. They can survive in high flow tanks, but they won’t propagate from my experience.

 

[JK47]

Looks great Ben!

 

[-Oscarmon-]

I'm sure the tanks inhabitants will really enjoy it

 

[Lilyann]

Very nice Journal! Is the taller plant that has ruffled-like edges an Aponogeton? Such a cool plant the way it spirals in growth.
I have had the same issue with my crypts melting back and growing again and so on....
But, I have in my discus tank and think the temperature is just too high for them.

 

[benzjamin13]

Very nice Journal! Is the taller plant that has ruffled-like edges an Aponogeton? Such a cool plant the way it spirals in growth.
I have had the same issue with my crypts melting back and growing again and so on....
But, I have in my discus tank and think the temperature is just too high for them.

My melt usually happens because I forget to reset the timer and the lights and CO2 usually stays on for a long period of time before I figure it out, lol! My last melt happened because I left the lights on for 72 hours.

The tall plants on the side is actually Cryptocoryane Balansae. I really like this plant, but unlike other Crypts, I feel like this plant doesn't propagate as easily and grows relatively slow, even with CO2.

 

[Lilyann]

Oh! Crypt Balansae- I never would have guessed. It's really a great- almost architectural plant. I am going to get some- I think I have seen it at BucePlsant. Thanks for sharing, Ben.