Journal Ben's Plant Pharm 2.0

[BenB]

The rare and mysterious Sri Lankan Underwater Agave wonder if you can make tequila with it

I didn't know they were called that. Its perfect. I kept thinking like aloe or some succulent.

If you want to get rid of it, I'll buy it!

Not yet. That was one or the reasons I don't want to get rid of it, it was expensive. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Koan]

I didn't know they were called that

no I made that up. Apparently the name is Resilient Paw-Head

(Eriocaulon cuspidatum) - Botanical Realm

Eriocaulon cuspidatum, commonly known as the Resilient Paw-Head, is a fascinating aquatic perennial that captivates nature lovers and scientists alike. Part

www.botanicalrealm.com

still sounds like there was tequila involved somewhere

 

[BenB]

Seems like every time I get to this point lately, it goes to hell. But for now, the tank is doing pretty good, and the remaining algae is on the run.

To recap, since the last time my tank was doing well, I got some nightmarish algae, see last post, that isn’t a regular aquarium algae but only can be described at Satan's pubes. It’s been a nightmare. As you can see, about all there is left is the bit in front in the Eriocaulons that you just can’t trim and replant like other plants. I’ve tossed most of the plants I couldn't get the algae out of, but Blood Vomit is so difficult to find and the other Erios are also or aren’t cheap. So I’m trying to keep those going.

I wish I could pinpoint and tell you what I did to remedy it, but I did a bunch of things. I went to daily fert dosing, increase my micros, daily hand picking of the algae out of the leaves, added shrimp, and increased my trimming, topping, and replanting. One tip, I use Burr Micros. If you get a precipitation, that’s OK. They’re still fine, but you have to shake it. And I don’t mean a little swish. You have to treat it like it owes you rent, and you haven’t been laid in a month. Go crazy on it.

I still don’t have much of an aquascape yet, but as things improve, I’m working in that direction.

I mean, in the process here, I actually stunted Rotala Blood Red. How? It grows overnight. Can’t believe I stunted it.

I have a new top favorite plant. The Rotala “Mochi”? I got from @Burr740. Most of the nice stems plants you see in back came from him. The Mochi is in the midground on the right side.

 

[Burr740]

Mochi...haha. Youre only off one letter its Rotala macrandra 'Kochi'. Those look good. It stays primarily yellow but can also get red splotches of varying sizr including a strip going through the leaves. Not sure what makes it have more/less of that. Hardy plant in general, loves macros

 

[JayP]

One tip, I use Burr Micros. If you get a precipitation, that’s OK. They’re still fine, but you have to shake it. And I don’t mean a little swish. You have to treat it like it owes you rent, and you haven’t been laid in a month. Go crazy on it.

I've previously asked about this after reading Joe's instructions. It's concerning because I'm moving to this starting with the next tank but I use auto dosers and don't want to worry about shaking up bottles of ferts everyday. Once a week, I can handle.

 

[JayP]

Mochi...haha. Youre only off one letter its Rotala macrandra 'Kochi'. Those look good. It stays primarily yellow but can also get red splotches of varying sizr including a strip going through the leaves. Not sure what makes it have more/less of that. Hardy plant in general, loves macros

Mine get the splotches which is what attracted me to them. Great plant.

 

[BenB]

I've previously asked about this after reading Joe's instructions. It's concerning because I'm moving to this starting with the next tank but I use auto dosers and don't want to worry about shaking up bottles of ferts everyday. Once a week, I can handle.

@Naturescapes_Rocco told me he has switched to Joe's DIY kit because of this. I wonder if you measure out your water first and then added your powder, while stirring, if it would decreases the chances of precip.

Mine get the splotches which is what attracted me to them. Great plant.

I'm not sure I've seen that. That would be cool. I'm on my second or third trimming. The plants are getting very healthy. Maybe it will pop up with mine soon. I'm going to post a pic.

 

[BenB]

A pic of Joe's Kochi

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I've previously asked about this after reading Joe's instructions. It's concerning because I'm moving to this starting with the next tank but I use auto dosers and don't want to worry about shaking up bottles of ferts everyday. Once a week, I can handle.

You can also consider magnetic stirrers that run beforehand. Or, just make your own micros and don't worry about it!

 

[JayP]

You can also consider magnetic stirrers that run beforehand. Or, just make your own micros and don't worry about it!

I really don't want to have to resort to the magnetic stirrers and I already have bags of Joe's macros and micros. I'll figure it out.

 

[BenB]

Trying to work on my photography a bit. Still lots to learn there.
Getting a touch of cyano mostly in the growth tips of plants. The nightmare algae is almost gone except for on a few slow growing things like Erios and Blood Vomit where I can't really aggressively trim it.
It should be in good shape just in time for me to go on vacation in 2 weeks and it all go to hell again.

 

[BenB]

Not much algae left. I need to start figuring out an aquascpe.
I really need to do some trimming. I'm afraid to rock the boat. That's part of what kicked off this latest algae disaster, but I've trimmed with no issues in the past and so has everyone else.

View attachment 1000067554.mp4

 

[BenB]

I’ve beaten most of the algae. Still some here and there, but that’s every tank. Even the tanks in the ADA Gallery have a little bit of algae.

Recap

• Had tons of gloppy hair algae that almost destroyed my tank. Tom Barr thought it was possibly Pithophora
• Then had cyano out the ass that killed a lot of what the Pithophora didn’t.
• Things started turning around, but then I went on vacation.

Where I am

• I’m really happy with everything at the moment. However, in the last 2 years, high satisfaction usually foreshadowed an algae explosion. Hopefully not this time. I just want to chill right now, work on my scape, and enjoy the ride.
• My trim job needs work, but everything is growing like crazy. The R macrandra was stunted by the last vacation disruption. Letting it grow back out before topping and replanting.
• I bought the micro kit from Joe and started making my own micros. I want to say my growth has exploded since starting, but hasn’t been very long. So, it’s more TBD
• Lost my Blood Vomit to the algae. I’m so frustrated because I’ve never been able to grow it before, it was doing great, and I had a ton of it. Then the algae…. It’s hard to replace as well.
• I’m pretty proud. I brought the Pogo erectus and Pogo helferi back literally from numbs with just a couple leaves. There are better helferi in the back you can’t see.

Where I’m going

• This tank will be a year old in about a month. The Controlsoil is long since depleted. Also, I have a 2-week vacation in Sept. A Chihiros dosing system is on its way to get me through the vacation, but I’m debating breaking it all down just before. It’s time for a reset anyway. We’ll see.
• I love Erio quinquangulare. I almost lost it to the algae. I have one sprig left that’s starting to make a rebound. It’s the only reason I am horsing CO2 in at > 50ppm. I’ve been reflecting much lately about tossing it and enjoying much easier and cheaper levels of CO2.
• I’m also debating switching to an Oase thermo cannister filter. My hangup is that I’ve done this before and the CO2 is never dissolved enough by the time it comes out that my tank didn’t look like champagne. I don’t like the look. Not sure how compatible a surface skimmer is on intake pipes with shrimp. No, I don’t want to go to something like a Yugang. Too much trouble for a small tank…. for me at least.
• I have some APT Feast ready for a new set up. I’d like to think I know what I’m doing now and will master the algae, but after the last year or two, part of me has algae PTSD and wants to stick with what’s working for now. I’m not sure I can handle another algae explosion any time soon.

Current dosing

• 50% water change weekly with 15ppm NO3, 8ppm PO4, and 2x micro dose afterwards
• Daily 3ppm NO3, 1.5ppm PO4, 2.5ppm K, and 1x micro dose
• CaCl 25ppm, MgSo4 10ppm, K2SO4 29ppm dosed after wc
• CO2 ~50ppm+
• Light: Chihiros WRGB II Pro at 124 PAR

After Vacation


Today


Vacation Pic
I've been to Iceland 3 times, but I've never been anywhere tropical until now.

 

[Koan]

Not sure how compatible a surface skimmer is on intake pipes with shrimp.

Outflow pipe skimmer + bit of 30ppi sponge crammed in

Journal Post in thread 'Trying to make a high-end aquascape from scratch'

Jun 19, 2026

Maybe I just need an actual lily pipe

New one from Jardli, not actually too unattractive

• Koan

• 
• 

 

[BenB]

Outflow pipe skimmer + bit of 30ppi sponge crammed in

Interesting design. I've only seen the ones on the intakes. So it wouldn't get the stray leaves out of your tank, but that's OK since I mostly use them to keep the scum off the surface of the water. Would I even need a sponge in this? If a shrimp got in it, seems it would just shoot it back into the water.

 

[Koan]

Would I even need a sponge in this? If a shrimp got in it

It may depend a little on the diameter, but without the foam on my 12 mm set ramshorn snails crawl in after leaf bits and stick like a cork

 

[Noahspapa]

Thank you for this input. I just ordered one.

 

[BenB]

Amazing how much everything has grow in just a few days. I have to get some trimming done, but I haven't had the time.

I've had an explosion of snails. I'm not sure what has changed. My pH is still < 6. Should be acidic enough to melt the shells. I have zillions of babies. I'm not sure what to do.

I originally decided to take these pics because I'm so happy with how my Erios are doing. The quinquangulare is getting back going slowly. Ive found they lose roots easily if you move them too much. Until they put out a few new ones, they struggle to grow.

 

[BenB]

This week's moment of brilliance.....

I mentioned in my last post the only reason I was keeping my CO2 at 50ppm+ was because I love E quinquangulare, and was trying to nurse back to health the last bit that hadn’t been killed by algae. Well yesterday I did a big trim and water change. The quinquangulare got sucked up by my Python, but I was able to get it out. I set it on my light to put it back in the tank when I was done. I found its dead dried husk on the light this morning.

So time to drop the CO2 down to something more reasonable, but I’m hoping the low pH will kill the snails first. I’m not sure what’s going on. In the past they haven’t lasted long, but lately they’ve been flourishing.

Anyway, enjoy a pic of my E Truncatum with an Amano Shrimp.

 

[JayP]

I often catch myself before setting plants on my light. It's too hot even for a couple minutes.