20 Gal Planted build

[fort384]

I would go with another variety of crypt (something a little bigger than the one on the right side) or look at ludwigia, there are few species that would look nice.

 

[Coleallensmom]

The red is all about higher lighting and low nitrates... maybe the smaller tank has more more nitrate available than the 37?

Actually, it does. I just did full parameter testing on both tanks after my latest rescape on the 37 gal and the nitrate in my 37 gal is way low (around 5ppm) while the nitrate in my 20 gal was about 20ppm. I had assumed the red color would appear once the rotala reached the top of the tank since the 20 gal has higher light then the 37 gal. Good to know about the nitrates!

 

[Coleallensmom]

Ok, picked up some Ludwiga narrowleaf last night at TFP. Asked for two bunches and they gave me four instead since they were small. Nice! Got them home, seperated them, and spread them out in the middle of the tank. Thoughts? Improvement from before?

Close up-

The DBT although not spreading has been doing ok, so I decided it was time to take them out of their pot. Left them in the wool though since my substrate is not very fine. Just shoved the whole thing down in the gravel and made sure it was covered up well. Looks better I think.

 

[Coleallensmom]

Side by side Comparison

 

[itsgracia]

very nice! I like the color popping out there.

 

[fort384]

Welcome to the jungle....

It looks better with each post!

 

[dbeckwit]

nice

looking good!

 

[daileene]

+1 with everyone.....am getting so jealous everytime...LOL! jk

 

[Averageprodigy]

Hey we got some red plants tonight as well!!! Make sure you get something to keep your iron up (flourish has a great one)

Love the tank though thanks for commenting...

 

[Myblondeambitions]

I love how serene it feels! So pretty

 

[Averageprodigy]

Here are some pics

 

[roydooms]

Tank's looking great Alisha! Looks a lot better with the ludwigia.

 

[Coleallensmom]

Thanks, Roy! I have Ludwigia broadleaf in my 37 gal and I thought what the heck...I'll give the narrow leaf a try in this tank. I will be happier once the chain sword has spread it's way across the entire front of the tank; half way there!

 

[Coleallensmom]

Here are some pics

Is that some rotala wallichii in the first pic? Very nice!

 

[roydooms]

Thanks, Roy! I have Ludwigia broadleaf in my 37 gal and I thought what the heck...I'll give the narrow leaf a try in this tank. I will be happier once the chain sword has spread it's way across the entire front of the tank; half way there!

I added 8 ludwigia repens n my tank. I like the narrow leaf ludwigia but they need high lights, right?

Are you just letting the chain sword spread/grow or do you cut the runners and replant them?

 

[Coleallensmom]

Moderate to bright lighting. I'm just letting the chain sword spead willy-nilly at the moment. When the runner is forming you can direct it in the direction you want it to go, but I figured I'd wait until the "baby" plants are a bit bigger before I seperate them from the mother plant. I've been pretty much just letting them do their own thing. As fast as they spread across the left half of the tank, I'm sure it won't be too much longer until they've covered the right side.

 

[Averageprodigy]

Is that some rotala wallichii in the first pic? Very nice!

ahh thank you I was trying to figure out what that is...

 

[ChizerBunoi]

Your tank looks great and you've come a long way from when you first started.

 

[Coleallensmom]

Weekly photo update. Did some minor rearranging and managed to bump the DBT in the process. I had taken them out of their pot when I added the Ludwiga the other day and w/o that to hold them together, they just scattered in the tank. Oy! Maybe I'll have to try them again sometime. Everything else doing well. Had to trim the rotala for the first time..it was growing out of the tank.

 

[Fdsh5]

Looks great

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