aclockworkorange;4827600; said:
Not dosing anything regularly. Tank may get 2-3 threads of Flourish in 2 months. Honestly saw no improvement with regular addition bi-weekly w/ water changes - actually saw a bit more hair algea, if anything, it limited the beard.
The larger tank responds overnight (as you'd expect with the lack of nutrients).
I'm honestly not sure I want/need the CO2 compared to the cost / effort. Algea is still relatively manageable - not show tank worthy, by any means.
After cutting off all of my Corkscrew Val 5 days ago, I'm seeing 2-3+ inches in new growth across the tank vertically, and new runners across the bottom. I'll have to thin it out again soon.
Some observations...
- The anacharis is critical. By reducing it's mass by ~80% I saw a spike in bba. Before removals, the green hair is 95/5 to the bba. Stem plants ftw. It's a sponge that seems to keep the whole tank in line.
- Pennywort is not a submersed plant. (for me, at least) I had 8+ healthy stalks melting off slowly. The first one that broke the surface Exploded. (Very efficient for a $2 petsmart buy now that I know how to tend it) I now have a 4" thick wall at the back of the tank anchored to the filter pad. Great roots for fry. They're all 2+ inches above the water, some wrapping around the light tubes like seedlings.
- Corkscrew is apparently tasty. I saw a Dempsey trying to eat it earlier.
My pleco loves the fresh shoots. (It doesn't get to expand anymore 
) Pretty sure the convicts in the other tank would destroy it. It's a hardy plant, but breaks off somewhat easily to clutter the surface if you have home-decorating fish - This is going from a ~78F Nutrient rich 4+wpg tank to a ~82F 1.45wpg hollow tank with no transition for comparison. In 4 months, I easily have 30+ established plants from runners from 2 parent bunches.So far, considering I've never been able to grow an aquatic plant, it's working. ^_^
Pictures are awful, my appologies.
The algea on the front glass is killing the focus on the phone's camera. Can't see it from 8ft out with the eyes.Blurry pictures -
1 - Top down FTS. Algea sabotages the focus.
2 - You can see the many corkscrew runners.
3 - Black Neon Tetra waiting for food. Suprisingly, don't bother fry for me.
4 - Worst algea in the tank. That's it.... Cross view from the left side through the Anacharis. It's 3" wide and dies sharply for crystal clear water. (Once you're past the algea, it's open water. To clean it - 2-3 minutes with a toothbrush, and pinch off the dead ends below the main growth) The Anacharis grows through it and stretches out regularly. 2-3 days in a low light tank nukes the hair algea that sticks after pulling it off.
I'll try and clean up the front glass / tank to get a better shot in the next few days. In the mean time the fish are fat and happy, cold beverages for all. ^_^
Sorry for the novel guys. I think I started an hour ago while trying to figure out if I could open a screw top bottle with an eye socket.
(answer is still no. Damn you Vinnie Jones... -_- )
