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Tank of the month

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September 1999

Tank Picture Side shoot of tank

Webmaster comment: I can only say WOW !!!

Aquarium Size:
     75 Gallon, 48" x 18" x 18", tempered glass
Lights:
     Two 150 Watt halogen shop lights
CO2 system:
     5 lb CO2 cylinder, regulator, solenoid, Buske-Aqualine CO2 reactor, silicone tubing
Filtration:
     Eheim Professional Cannister filter, type 2228
Substrate:
     2-3 mm gravel diameter with Substrate Gold (approx 117 onces) added under 2 3/4 inches gravel.
Average General Hardness:
     6
Average Carbonate Hardness:
     10
Average PH:
     7.0
Water Changes:
     25% weekly
Fertilization:
     3 caps of MiraVit after water change

Original Setup:
     January 1999
I started a dedicated plant tank in January 1999,
and now I am now totally addicted to live plants in an aquarium. After having
success keeping plants alive in my 75 Gallon, I converted my 29 Gallon to a planted
tank as well.

I can not imagine keeping an aquarium anymore, without live plants.
Healthy, live plants add so much to the ecosystem in an aquarium and I have never seen my fish so happy.
I have always loved gardening and this was a natural combination of my two hobbies.
I do not think that a person needs a green thumb though, in order to have healthy, beautiful aquatic plants.
The key to aquatic gardening is understanding the biological needs of plants. Light, CO2, water,
and macro/micro nutrients are necessary for a plant to photosynthesis and grow.
Most common aquarium setups do not have enough light leading to slowly declining plants,
as the plants starve to death. The addition of CO2 is also necessary at high light levels, as the
plants quickly consume the amount of CO2 available in the aquarium.
The faster the growth rate, the more work required of the aquatic gardener, as the
plants can actually use up the macro or micro nutrients available in the aquarium.
I would view the addition of higher lighting and supplemental CO2 fertilization as
the key to my success with aquatic plants. With higher light levels there is a greater c
hoice of plants which will thrive in the aquarium and the addition of CO2 increases the growth rate of the plants.
My tap water is also very alkaline, with a PH of around 7.4.
The CO2 allows me to control my PH, which I usually keep around 7.0.


The plants in my 75 Gallon tank are:
     Ruffled Swords (E. major, E. martii, or E. maior depending on who you read)
     Aponogeton ulvaceus bulb
     Lilaeopsis
     Marsilea crenata
     Didiplis diandra
     Cryptocoryne willisii
     Echinodorus parviflorus 'Tropica'
     Bacopa Cardamine
     Rotala macrandra
     Frill
     Fine leaved
     Water sprite (some variety of Ceratopteris)
     Gymnocoronis spilanthoides
     Dwarf Onion
     Sagittaria subulata
     Vallisneria contortion
     Vallisneria spiralis (corkscrew)
     Mayaca
     Hygrophila polysperma
     Hygrophila rosanervis (sunset hygrophila or H. polysperma 'Rosanervig')
     Java Fern - Tropica or Wiindeløv variety, I'm not sure which


Fish population:
     4 Forktail Rainbows (3 male, 1 female)
     6 Harlequin Rasboras
     1 Gold Nugget Pleco
     1 Red Honey Gourami
     1 Coral Blue Gourami
     1 Blue Ram (male)
     1 Beta (red male)
     Many delta red-tailed guppies
     15 Malaysian Trumpet Snails originally, unknown number now
     4 Crossocheilus siamensis (Siamese Algae Eaters)
     2 Kuhlii Loaches
      2 Clown Loaches
     1 Borneo Sucker Loach
     10 Otocinclus
     1 Dwarf African Frog.


For more information on my aquariums, you can visit my web page at http://www.fortunecity.com/rivendell/sword/3/Aquarium/

Equipment Picture Overview Overview
Overview Overview Flower Sword flower
Sword Flower Top of tank Ulvaceus Flower  


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