Journal 40B MTS Nature Aquarium

[FrankZ]

View attachment 4707View attachment 4708

Alright so I planted both TC of the Crypt Flamingo (clear cup) and Crypt Sindoor (green cup). I keep reading that the TC varieties can struggle to take off so I put them in dedicated “pots” with some fresh Amazonia to give them a good start.

If the Sindoor stays similar in color to what it is now, I think it’s going to be an awesome variety to have. Anyone interested in trying it, I’ve only found it on BucePlant in TC form. It seems to be in its infancy to the market.

I thought sensitive TC plants did not like fresh soil (ammonia)? I can’t figure out TC plants at all, it’s haphazard for me at best.

 

[GreggZ]

Very cool I will watching to see how that Crypt Sindoor does for you. If it looks great and is an easy no brainer in a higher tech tank it would be a winner!

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I thought sensitive TC plants did not like fresh soil (ammonia)?

I think it should be alright since it’s a small amount and it’s not a tank full of fresh AS spiking ammonia tank wide. We’ll see

 

[FrankZ]

I think it should be alright since it’s a small amount and it’s not a tank full of fresh AS spiking ammonia tank wide. We’ll see

Some I look at wrong and they melt. Others, I can flush down the toilet and they are turn out fine.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I think a major factor also has to do with the quality of the TC when you receive it. How long has it been sitting, is it truly sanitary and bacteria/parasite free? If any of this is compromised I can see it going south. My first TC was AR mini, what an idiot it started out okay and failed miserably. I didn’t try again until this scape, all the java fern petite was TC and it has blossomed beautifully. I had Trip mini for a while that was also TC but when I had an imbalance at one point it just degraded so I think that was my fault. I definitely think stem plant cultures are the most finicky and prone to fail as opposed to rhizome/stolon plants

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Not sure why, but I’m just not thrilled with how my light has been exhibiting my reds lately. In an attempt to boost the color rendition, I ordered a strip light that is compatible with my Kasa app which controls the outlet for everything on my tank. There is some room on the border of the light where I can stick them too and I’m hoping it adds that extra boost. In an effort to give my stems the most light possible, I have the light set back to the back of the tank so they receive the full blast. The front portion of the tank is all fern and anubias which is thriving this way. I’ll post some pictures when it arrives to show a difference, if any. @Burr740 Sent me some beautiful stems that are growing great but I can’t seem to get a complimentary shot of them so I’ll wait to see if this extra light can help

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Some I look at wrong and they melt. Others, I can flush down the toilet and they are turn out fine.

On a disgusting note because this made me think of it.

At my previous house I had some issues with backup on the septic overflow, turned out there was a massive root that cracked through and was plugging up the outflow. Thank god it was on the county’s side of responsibility. I digress.

When I had the awful overflow, once it was all cleaned and taken care of, the repeated incidents resulted in some of the best looking grass I’d ever seen, like I implanted sod from Ireland. I should have bottled it and started selling my own organic ferts

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

@Unexpected @Burr740 @FrankZ @GreggZ

 

[Unexpected]

View attachment 4765
@Unexpected @Burr740 @FrankZ @GreggZ

Ah, cheers!

 

[FrankZ]

Can’t wait to see how it turned out.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Post trim and topping. Tank overall is doing okay, I need to do a co2 profile to see if it’s on the low side. I recently got a pH pen and need to calibrate it so I can start testing. I believe the issue is either low co2 or a flow issue as certain plants are growing slowly and less robustly than others. I have a feeling as well that my bushes of Java fern are absorbing so much of the flow and explains why it’s incredibly robust which I love. I finally am winning with a big patch of buce, can’t tell you what variety it is exactly but it’s got a nice blue hue to it within the Java fern. The bacopa and Ludwigia are getting a foothold and working on growing them out. The pogostemon is not in a great spot because it’s growth is extremely slow as it’s directly in the middle behind the Java fern where flow is extremely restricted. I will prob end up moving it to the back where it can get some more flow and really blossom. As long as I can keep whatever in front at a reasonable height then the flow issue shouldn’t be a problem since the bottom half of the plant won’t be seen anyway due to the hardscape. I’d like that thank @FrankZ for his downoi and parawitota that I’ve added to the left side, I’m keeping the triflora to the right where it’s strictly the lotus and some crypts (gecko, albida, brown).

The TC of crypt Sindoor melted away unfortunately, not sure what pissed it off. The flamingo is still kicking, no visual change yet but it’s not melting so that must be a good sign. I’d like to give the Sindoor another go in the future, but I have yet to find any pics of it online other than the TC cup it comes in.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Oh and I got this as a gift, I’ve been eyeing it as a solution to mid week cleanings to address detritus etc.

I’m hoping it’ll be a simple way to make the weekly maintenance a little bit easier and less labor intensive.

 

[FrankZ]

Looking great! I’m really like the buce in the fern

Is a that a bacopa in the back with the blush leaves?

I’ve really love @Yugang reactor more and more. My CO2 has never been this stable and hands off for so long. Felt like I was tweaking it every 3-4 days. Now I haven’t touched it besides cleaning and calibrating my pH probe just because.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Looking great! I’m really like the buce in the fern

Is a that a bacopa in the back with the blush leaves?

I’ve really love @Yugang reactor more and more. My CO2 has never been this stable and hands off for so long. Felt like I was tweaking it every 3-4 days. Now I haven’t touched it besides cleaning and calibrating my pH probe just because.

Thanks! Yes it’s bacopa colorata I got from Burr, it’s really lovely when it gets a lot of light, that’s a pretty dim example of it since the lights weren’t on for too long when I took this picture.

Yes my cerges is doing alright but I will eventually try the Yugang style once I can determine my pH values, it’s the only thing that’s been barring me making one, and laziness

 

[FrankZ]

Yes my cerges is doing alright but I will eventually try the Yugang style once I can determine my pH values, it’s the only thing that’s been barring me making one, and laziness

I was lazy too but once I got it done I was kicking myself for not doing it sooner.

 

[FrankZ]

Looking great! I’m really like the buce in the fern

Is a that a bacopa in the back with the blush leaves?

I’ve really love @Yugang reactor more and more. My CO2 has never been this stable and hands off for so long. Felt like I was tweaking it every 3-4 days. Now I haven’t touched it besides cleaning and calibrating my pH probe just because.

Just to clarify. I don’t use the pH probe for anything but monitoring, it doesn’t control the CO2 at all. I have it and cannot bring myself to run the tank without it. It makes me feel better having it, kind of like my security blanky

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Whelp, the Anubias is quite happy, disregard the GSA on some leaves . Throwing up flowers, don’t think I’ve had that happen before.

 

[FrankZ]

That’s awesome. Be cool if you could get some seeds

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Did my maintenance last night and this morning. Added some Ludwigia glandulosa diamond as well today from GLA. Not sure if diamond is it’s own variant of glandulosa or if they are the same, anyone know? The bacopa and Ludwigia Ovalis pink @Burr740 sent me are doing fantastic and I shifted some plants around to high light their colors. I added the glandulosa to add some deeper red to the middle, as there is strong concentration of pink and not enough red. I ended up losing a good portion of my Rubin due to my own mistake a few maintenance sessions ago and what I have bundled in the right front is what I have left. Letting it get a foothold and I’ll find a new spot for it. I’m also really enjoying the crypt albida costata, it’s putting out some beautiful pink leaves with some green down the center. I ended up thinning out some of the Java fern petite because it’s really been exploding and was starting to interfere with the small mound of buce I tucked in there. I noticed it wasn’t putting out any new leaves and some had actually started to melt so I figured the fern was blocking its flow and some light.

In discussion with @FrankZ , I’ve determined that the driftwood piece to the left is a little too large for this scape as it blocks the view of the stems in the back and requires them to get some significant height in order to see their colors. While I enjoy the 40B dimensions, it’s lacking in height for the look I’m going for with this scape. I think in the future I may consider a larger cube since the island layout is one of my favorites to scape. Anyway, still enjoying it, considering getting some more fish as I lost a couple boesmani here and there for unknown reasons. I currently have 4 males and three females. I still have my three neons and am considering getting more, which I know is self torture based on my experience with them in the past. I’m also considering more peacock gudgeons as they add a different element and behavior to the shoal of fish. I may also consider grabbing some more Amanos but some larger stock, I’ve heard the bigger sized ones hold their own pretty well and I’m hoping less likely to take a trip down the overflow.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Oh and the TC flamingo is still going, albeit slowly. The spot it’s in the light isn’t as strong so I may move it back a little bit to see if that improves it’s growth. It’s anchored down and the roots are developing so that’s a positive