In a setup like this, have you had any problems with algae? I seem to be a very good algae farmer more than anything else heh heh.

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The nose runs and the feet smell - go figure
Steven

Algae?...nope!once the plants are established ,algae doesnt stand a chance, but that dont mean i dont encounter any algae problem. once in a while my setup do get algae.... application of medication usually would not be the answer, since the algae would keep coming back.
recently i was introduce to this anti algae medication from Ocean free....and its quite effective, one day after application the algae turned white and slowly melt away after 2 to 3 days.

but as i told u in my PM the fight against algae starts from day one u set up your tank.
keep the PH around 6.8 to 7.2. if u have enough Co2 in your tank...the PH shouldnt drop beyond 6.8. if the problem of dropping PH persist ..use a dose of KH buffer.
i made the mistake of using soft water for my plants...and the reward is a tank of algae.

the application of liquid ferts is another major contribution to algae.
in a new setup...give your new plants a chance to grow and establish themselves before u put in any liquid ferts..
the reason is ...u cant be sure which new plant will survive and which will die....if u put in a liquid ferts on the first day of planting ...u are only inviting disaster. suppose the liquid ferts are only used up by the plants that survive, what about the plants that didnt survive? wouldnt the unused ferts is an open invitation for algae to bloom?

check your lights...if u are running on 4 tubes ...let only 3 on for the first week. apply liquid ferts only after u are sure the plants had taken root...usually on the 3rd week. your plants will not die without liquid ferts. give them time to establish their roots ...then blast them with your liquid ferts.
i personally ...am not so keen on liquid ferts, unless theres red plants in my setup...i will use liquid iron ferts , otherwise i would avoid them .

if u do your homework...u will not encounter any algae problem.


one day after application of ocean free anti algae , the algae turned white. this is a test run to see how effective this product is.


my method is ...after the application of anti algae...i use UV lights to make sure the algae are cleared once and for all


this is how it is set up


care must be taken when using UV lights...a timer is a must.

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That algae remover looks good. Does it contain copper to harm shrimp? I used Azoo algae stuff before... my pellia melted when I used it..

i was asked many times by fellow planters....why i seldom go for fern species??
the answer is simply...how long can a person keep planting ferns???....are my skills tested in anyway with ferns?...a plant that refuse to die.
it doesnt matter if a pot of planted exotic fern could cost rm60 to 70, im simply not interested. well...ferns are beatifully addition in any planted setup...but just like the riccia...its simply tie and wait...u cant go wrong.
nowdays i only use fern ...especially broad leaf java fern as a stop gap...as the rest of the plants are growing the fern is use to fill up space and to discourage algae...and once the plants had established , the java fern will be removed...to make way for the growing plants.
just like most planters i started off with stem species....and back in those days before ADA, planting is really a skilled art, u have to be at your very best to get good results
when i fail in getting the desired results with stem species, i moved to ferns. its a moral booster to setup a tank full with lovely ferns...and after some time ...i got bored...hey what else could i do with ferns apart from what im doing now.
when i was confidence my skill had improved thru out the years...i went back to tackle stem species...and this time i came with some in depth knowledge


3 weeks ago i set up 2 planted tanks just for the purpose of departing my knowlegde on stem and red plants...in the following weeks i will explain the progress of each species in detail and photos.
in my method there would be no short cuts..no instant aquascape setup... no plant some species here , plant some species there , send it to ADA to be judged.whats the point of having a setup thats made ready with a week?? any fool could do that. we are here to judge ourselves to see how good are we
in my method ,its all hardwork , and we will start from the basic...from the emerged form right up to a full size submerged species.
here is where your skill is tested...we are planters, not decorators...and patience is one thing u must have.

all the species im about to discuss are cheap species....but dont be fool , they are not as easy as one think. doesnt mean if u have rm60 species u are a sifu...yes u are a sifu...but what kind of a sifu are u if u cant plant a rm2 species?

we start off with Eusteralis Stellata, Rotala Macranda, Ludwigia Acurata, Hemianthus Micranthemoides,Nesaea Crassiscaulis, Amania Senegalensis,Blyxa Japonica, Echinodorus Tenellus and others
most of the plants i have choosen are red species...which will test our skill to the limit. if u could handle the reds ...the majority of known stem plants wouldnt post too much problem for u in the future.


tenellus will only develop reddish bronze blades after trimmings...if dont trim , they will remain dark green . this photo is taken under full lightings...6,900k x2, 2,900Kx 1, 18000k x1


at sunset, with only the 18000k light running, the colour of the blades looks in deep pinkish colour


this is one of the most diffcult plant i have ever encounter...this species simply refuse to grown in gravel subtrate....they need soil and mud. Guess what species are they?


blyxa planted in close formation...so far so good without any rotting after 2 weeks...i aim to turn this species into Ball Shape , with trimmings and plenty of monster root booster.

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why melted?...OVERDOSE!
its better to underdose than over. many aquarist made the mistake calculating the water volume in their tanks.
lets say u have a 100 liter tank...u DO NOT put medical dosage for 100 liter. 65 liter would be the safe dosage. u need to minus the volume taken over by gravel and others.
if the instruction says 5ml to 25liters....then use 5ml to 50 liters would be a safe bet.

about any harm to shrimps...hahahaha...TAK TAU...i only have cardinals in my tank ...no shrimp.
oh ya...AZOO...accordding to hearsay...Azoo product isnt what they use to be nowdays...how true is that...its only hearsay>

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Setup no 1...in this set up i use the full equipment of Cylinder Co2, cooling units, Uv lights , cannister filteration system and complete lightings. the broad leaf java ferns are place to provide shade for the plants next to it as they turn from emerged to submerged form



Setup no2...this is my old Krib tank...the AI krib died..not surprising..hehehe.
this setup uses DIY co2, a cooler fan, powerhead filteration system and full lightings. here we could make comparison on the different setup with and without full equipments. this is a more established tank at 3 weeks. the plants are almost similar to setup 1...except for the java moss and longkang moss, ...yea the same moss so many claim will not grow


this is Luwigia Acurata emerged form. 6 days after planting. this is suppose to be an easy plant...easy if u plant it singlely or when u got it as a submerged form....not so easy if u plant it in close formation and still at emerge form.


a close up ...in the close formation ...they need at least 3 trimmings before u could see the end result....beautifully fine red/yellowish blades



as u can see both setup are BOTAK....normal for people who know their stuff...give it time ...it wont be botak for long.
better that those who have a fully planted tank ...but BOTAK 3 weeks later...armchair sifus...how boring would we be without them

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Eustrallis Stellata 13 days old as they turn from the emerge form to submerged. the aim is to get the stem grow really thick and fat. only then iron tablets will be added to the base. in this setup i will not trim ..i want it to grow high up.


notice the difference form of leafs between the botom and top. the bottom leafs are still in its emerged form....the thing is the old emerged leafs are still attached to the stems.if any of u have any experience with this plant, u would know ...its diffcult to keep the emerged leafs from rotting after aweek.


setup no 2...newly trimmed. in this setup i will try out the miniture version ...or MIEW


"the longkang will turn brown in a month moss"....what was suppose to die has already died off..leaving those that did survive rooted to this piece of bogwood.

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one of my Favourite plant...Amania Senegalensis. the emerged form comes in thick stem that looks truly ugly with its robust thick leafs. as the emerged form leafs rots away , new submerged leafs will appear. one more trimming will be make this a true beautifull plant.


new submerged leafs...these are not even feed with iron tablets yet.



just love the deep pink colour. they will not turn red. i once tot they would ...force feeding them with iron ferts...only to end up with a bunch of algae. wait till u see them pearling!!!


the moss that refuse to die as predicted....its about time they receive their ferts

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Hi bro Ari...

Good and clear explaination on the plants etc.....Would like to know further abt ur tank set up....

In one of ur tank...the one with rock background and a moss wall...may i know what is those green square plastic sort of like netting for ?? is it to hold the moss while it slowly attach itself to the rock ??

Umm usually what kind of fert would be suitable to keep mosses nice and green......intend to hv a moss only tank but seems unsuccessfully due to always kena algae on the surface.....end up cutting and throw it away....

regards ,
newbie Gary

Thanks for the advice. Tips found here will sure come in handy.

__________________
The nose runs and the feet smell - go figure
Steven