tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14557805663285364962024-02-20T16:51:01.613-08:00Hi-tech 160 plantedI started this aquarium Jan 16th'08. I will try to create a Takashi Amano style aquascape. Most of the knowledge, on how to run such a set-up, I got from the plant guru Tom Barr, by researching his site and archives over at the always helpful www.barrreport.comDusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-90848215214402051662008-11-20T11:38:00.000-08:002008-11-20T11:45:57.436-08:00Ever changing scape<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwL0TCcK3BCJVHrAAjGB641d0qqoR-4bPYcsq4jcjGXlwfcXtojFZTeyj1b9VLadP8BuMNZyrtsFLZbOTrfujV1ANuz6nxM1KtqIm-0qtO1lok4s9p9Uyz66C402J4enHaPdEsyVATLR0/s1600-h/IMG_2810.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwL0TCcK3BCJVHrAAjGB641d0qqoR-4bPYcsq4jcjGXlwfcXtojFZTeyj1b9VLadP8BuMNZyrtsFLZbOTrfujV1ANuz6nxM1KtqIm-0qtO1lok4s9p9Uyz66C402J4enHaPdEsyVATLR0/s400/IMG_2810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270826936212433314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSgHXxK7j782EJifVG_1E9IpwiepeYrwF0S82RlKF508cW0an4Hd3idEkTCFnea8dJilG76-SEFiRwniRSCRkWpyTMHXQH6pak8L6usLfrJCN7OQ40h2Owj88a50HTfPvODh-9xia5ZA/s1600-h/IMG_2812.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSgHXxK7j782EJifVG_1E9IpwiepeYrwF0S82RlKF508cW0an4Hd3idEkTCFnea8dJilG76-SEFiRwniRSCRkWpyTMHXQH6pak8L6usLfrJCN7OQ40h2Owj88a50HTfPvODh-9xia5ZA/s400/IMG_2812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270826928296481042" border="0" /></a>This tank is still alive :-) Time for an update.<br />The plants are growing like crazy and I am not doing that good job in shaping them to achieve some nice looking scape.<br />I added one new plant Nyphaea Zenkeri Red (left).<br />I also sorted my Duckweed problem by introducing 2 (male) Rosy Barbs which ate it all. Actually what I do now I add a bit of Duckweed from another tank just to improve the Barb's diet ;-)<br />Other than that everything seems to be in order.Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-64958266855728838502008-09-29T11:32:00.000-07:002008-09-29T11:40:22.514-07:00DuckWeed out of nowhere!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy6S-PU0NIXizGPvOrDLp2eetngxfRpS_TWnRiOCJDGOx1rGAvh4QhR49ixZ9DEFHnZTZWQNiF920f6FAo7e8cBWqDAhVvPV32WJIT80HQaZc6TVCSMOQYO5rF-wfO0PFtjNAH5pR9bA/s1600-h/IMG_2415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy6S-PU0NIXizGPvOrDLp2eetngxfRpS_TWnRiOCJDGOx1rGAvh4QhR49ixZ9DEFHnZTZWQNiF920f6FAo7e8cBWqDAhVvPV32WJIT80HQaZc6TVCSMOQYO5rF-wfO0PFtjNAH5pR9bA/s400/IMG_2415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251513853103242354" border="0" /></a><br />Last week when I uncovered the tank I got a SHOCK! 8-()<br />The surface was covered totally with Duckweed!!! I wondered why the tank looked like a Low-light set-up (for a minute I thought some of the lamps where dead)<br />This weed developed after just one week. Not that long ago I added one Lotus Zenkeri and probably one tiny Duckweed slipped into the tank. Enough to take over the whole aquarium!<br />I took a fish net and removed all the Duckweed. There is probably some left.Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-19618726341795236532008-09-29T11:23:00.001-07:002008-09-29T11:31:08.894-07:00These days it looks like this<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdwj5kV7En_KaL564raMX6Q1dksnFcmK0_Uf6pb2tEdjx7r9Q70uXkg8njhKMAZpHarbae91mRAoSkDuDfizLpTYHqYamypgouX38qNtqfoqAZaRF3FmVg4EIQ-9mrPW5ZCKrsOqKI7g/s1600-h/hitech160mature.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdwj5kV7En_KaL564raMX6Q1dksnFcmK0_Uf6pb2tEdjx7r9Q70uXkg8njhKMAZpHarbae91mRAoSkDuDfizLpTYHqYamypgouX38qNtqfoqAZaRF3FmVg4EIQ-9mrPW5ZCKrsOqKI7g/s400/hitech160mature.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251510837219917794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhhUKpYKxXkQZDsHq8uhoYwXmsO1IuBLdtWcKsaznSCtcwqtyjcRBIRbEvRwQ6W6h9MwuKDQc5Zrs7X9pm891NzMXYIuPiIOJc1z5SbKBa7IDgKC7hH2tKwWsEVmi9DLTkj0SKPLEMdw/s1600-h/IMG_2370.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhhUKpYKxXkQZDsHq8uhoYwXmsO1IuBLdtWcKsaznSCtcwqtyjcRBIRbEvRwQ6W6h9MwuKDQc5Zrs7X9pm891NzMXYIuPiIOJc1z5SbKBa7IDgKC7hH2tKwWsEVmi9DLTkj0SKPLEMdw/s400/IMG_2370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251510845136731090" border="0" /></a><br />I am very happy with how this scape looks today. Not too wild but still jungle looking.<br />I perform 50% water change every week and clean the external TetraTec EX 700 filter every month.<br />I dose Tropica PlantNutrition+NPK 3x a week (15ml each time) I also dose some extra KH2PO4 once a week since Tropicas fertiliser doesn't contain enough of P in my opinion (see Tropicas declaration on www.tropica.com ).<br />I dose GH-Booster (Noraq GH-Salt) for extra Mg and Ca every week after the wc.<br />Also after the wc I redose with Bicarbonates (1 teaspoon not much)Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-81728185916590763622008-09-29T11:08:00.001-07:002008-09-29T11:23:02.502-07:00Big Time for Update!This tank has changed it self :-) I didn't have much time to maintain it and this is what happens!<br />The Pogostemon helferi pushed out the HC (grew over it + some HC which became too tick floated up).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe5F8iwyxaqVYtV3fz6FSbA_qZH6vpgxz-jluSAxe0-Xw0Tnj2dCvhB5cGjqjMI0mJuIhroW3JdAsUk9pem_wOmp5OD2kSPf7G6PAc3O1NLP9HyF0siNPigy6uggQ-jDhQuK-g7HdF1Q/s1600-h/tank160hi1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe5F8iwyxaqVYtV3fz6FSbA_qZH6vpgxz-jluSAxe0-Xw0Tnj2dCvhB5cGjqjMI0mJuIhroW3JdAsUk9pem_wOmp5OD2kSPf7G6PAc3O1NLP9HyF0siNPigy6uggQ-jDhQuK-g7HdF1Q/s400/tank160hi1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251508068577455458" border="0" /></a>Photo taken after I removed the P. helferi mountain ;-);<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGKnjNkIIyzlXiejdGQXW-j5kvsLrX-ZZglDQWBTL2Aq0EX4VFjdXOcmIaUGqrfl0PwAmUpUnXx4wxANtt07e3z54_hcWKPyhEQVF3jY7rWleHK_1UHyFckCT_qCk9eLVpeQtZjNmvFA/s1600-h/tank160hi2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGKnjNkIIyzlXiejdGQXW-j5kvsLrX-ZZglDQWBTL2Aq0EX4VFjdXOcmIaUGqrfl0PwAmUpUnXx4wxANtt07e3z54_hcWKPyhEQVF3jY7rWleHK_1UHyFckCT_qCk9eLVpeQtZjNmvFA/s400/tank160hi2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251508067573956162" border="0" /></a>Later on I took the Hygro Rosanervig out and planted Hygro difformis instead. I also added a few stems of Alternanthera reinecki (red plant). Acicularis grass and P.helferi became the main foreground plants, accompanied with some Blyxa japonica and a strange carnivorous plant Utricularia sp.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-vRNOPsczuCarpfTSYZV2ugzMn9eDkK0bbGzF79qJoMSuA9JggXNvgvuxrgObojmTO77s4YUjpeV4GbILWOWF7oy0l4YrO_2HkXWbjPZJqsXuOh1ry_YKAVbLpSAeTQyaKBHTRf8lwU/s1600-h/IMG_2106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-vRNOPsczuCarpfTSYZV2ugzMn9eDkK0bbGzF79qJoMSuA9JggXNvgvuxrgObojmTO77s4YUjpeV4GbILWOWF7oy0l4YrO_2HkXWbjPZJqsXuOh1ry_YKAVbLpSAeTQyaKBHTRf8lwU/s400/IMG_2106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251508528988945026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfKlz5Aj4pE0LTdHe6CFpW_t3LxpjFLeAr8bx3J8584gPj8mLi5uiZDjqaRaDb5tcLTCtdjkMGx2YHoB6S5EuqUFhjaDoN1DGuSsggQkK5UpMByQ2iBIbLCH8M5L_7ZYwgIp3-u_02jA/s1600-h/IMG_2103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfKlz5Aj4pE0LTdHe6CFpW_t3LxpjFLeAr8bx3J8584gPj8mLi5uiZDjqaRaDb5tcLTCtdjkMGx2YHoB6S5EuqUFhjaDoN1DGuSsggQkK5UpMByQ2iBIbLCH8M5L_7ZYwgIp3-u_02jA/s400/IMG_2103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251508541655933682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWR0JyQ8dPaR-44oVEOw5dt6wk2qHWGPD-DRt_2aqFeornZ_bxTuj0mqJbdUA2QlE_g7LZ5SbYPATSU2vEnDURhvkodCA37MkFTCHdRmou7jMDxc4wRd6BDZqtRwNd0AqQE0QiIeKlhQ/s1600-h/IMG_2102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWR0JyQ8dPaR-44oVEOw5dt6wk2qHWGPD-DRt_2aqFeornZ_bxTuj0mqJbdUA2QlE_g7LZ5SbYPATSU2vEnDURhvkodCA37MkFTCHdRmou7jMDxc4wRd6BDZqtRwNd0AqQE0QiIeKlhQ/s400/IMG_2102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251508545907516562" border="0" /></a>Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-83088746035411744642008-05-05T10:28:00.000-07:002008-12-11T22:21:15.687-08:00What a joke :-()<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06KubbGKrfpnsGWAmxMHYVrd2HfezoKd4cg3iuMRAuxaP1Yw-bZBBa5phGc5Y5pUs-SyMegmOw9AvCDv0lwKhI2bHEntg3WgAwMx48H8SaGJeot5MNpFC6uW14KbTfY4JF4LTmYCO5vU/s1600-h/IMG_1340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06KubbGKrfpnsGWAmxMHYVrd2HfezoKd4cg3iuMRAuxaP1Yw-bZBBa5phGc5Y5pUs-SyMegmOw9AvCDv0lwKhI2bHEntg3WgAwMx48H8SaGJeot5MNpFC6uW14KbTfY4JF4LTmYCO5vU/s400/IMG_1340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196948117368926226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJMN8CG3bGZUAI3oqIEno6-RKdw3ck2rOMiuwZxNG7J0B7H98cheaVSbydopMWs2Iume2Qw7v9C60C0B6ihAdc6QjHOnG5LjXtoiIKfgPI1JYRRSn2FejmxabS8NcOqlPodZ6GS4c42g/s1600-h/IMG_1344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJMN8CG3bGZUAI3oqIEno6-RKdw3ck2rOMiuwZxNG7J0B7H98cheaVSbydopMWs2Iume2Qw7v9C60C0B6ihAdc6QjHOnG5LjXtoiIKfgPI1JYRRSn2FejmxabS8NcOqlPodZ6GS4c42g/s400/IMG_1344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196948121663893538" border="0" /></a><span class="postbody">I had two weeks holidays, and I asked my working colleagues to look after my Hi-tech aquarium while I'm gone. I asked them not to change anything (no extra planting, moving stones around, simply "do not change anything !!!)<br /><br />Today, back from holidays, the first thing I did, I went to check on my Hi-tech, expecting to see algae blooms, but instead I screamed through the shop "What the heck are these doing in my tank!!!!!".<br /><br />Of course I am going to remove those cows ;-)<br /></span>Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-23308034736306882492008-04-27T10:26:00.001-07:002008-12-11T22:21:16.876-08:00Balance is the key<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJD1h33ryddlJB9FWxRKRcnuSSxJ_iLWko_CIkw9JgoSTPtzD_6Y7dIKG66GGbg-encFTzVC3gcaG9nK-UOB4gRGM_Jx7qhPOjdImw5wnNXRCAsyy6QDE64ylKzSa1PFeJQ78DaGoI4Xw/s1600-h/IMG_1042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJD1h33ryddlJB9FWxRKRcnuSSxJ_iLWko_CIkw9JgoSTPtzD_6Y7dIKG66GGbg-encFTzVC3gcaG9nK-UOB4gRGM_Jx7qhPOjdImw5wnNXRCAsyy6QDE64ylKzSa1PFeJQ78DaGoI4Xw/s400/IMG_1042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193979384434322690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0IxC5Eomv-KiQEtpawP7wzdULmks_SCPFYoyMtWRr7fFfMt_QF2swtET7lOID-5cTXj6lt1Mxkp9lGYbAOKVweCcp0xUhy8g1yVFa4FnSyaw4sqWtRFm4SHvt4ISGuXYEqYM0XZIfD4/s1600-h/IMG_1106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0IxC5Eomv-KiQEtpawP7wzdULmks_SCPFYoyMtWRr7fFfMt_QF2swtET7lOID-5cTXj6lt1Mxkp9lGYbAOKVweCcp0xUhy8g1yVFa4FnSyaw4sqWtRFm4SHvt4ISGuXYEqYM0XZIfD4/s400/IMG_1106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193979410204126482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_acRYEfTGwqYaI4FbjvHFO6x60uRPeE8Yaft5UYhzzQniAkRh2tF9Eai5CRdfGONLZbbjnOp31Q5nt6xSVHJVJPsP9qi6yK2qzsTOE-gWtwkmPT7XPtERMukQBr5Mm_Fypd_IZ6W7GFg/s1600-h/IMG_1006_1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_acRYEfTGwqYaI4FbjvHFO6x60uRPeE8Yaft5UYhzzQniAkRh2tF9Eai5CRdfGONLZbbjnOp31Q5nt6xSVHJVJPsP9qi6yK2qzsTOE-gWtwkmPT7XPtERMukQBr5Mm_Fypd_IZ6W7GFg/s400/IMG_1006_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193979414499093794" border="0" /></a>This scape is running smoothly. No algae issues. Fish/inverts thrive and plants are growing without deficiencies. I am dosing NPK+ traces 3x a week. GH-booster once a week. Every week 50-60% water change. The HC is growing tick, so soon should be mowed.<br />SAEs, Otos and Amano shrimps are doing great job in cleaning this system.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUbxV1E9hklhyd-hWkiRg-1SOLJjxtHXdvsQdF6i5NxN4FoA8L9iu1VJHRl78YKlxhY9UbDig9bqI-IPDmsWY2P8hb_epnyRPvjUMxDMIJCk5GTDdJHrPXtCjnCQnD_cDH04o-ujhypk/s1600-h/IMG_1014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUbxV1E9hklhyd-hWkiRg-1SOLJjxtHXdvsQdF6i5NxN4FoA8L9iu1VJHRl78YKlxhY9UbDig9bqI-IPDmsWY2P8hb_epnyRPvjUMxDMIJCk5GTDdJHrPXtCjnCQnD_cDH04o-ujhypk/s400/IMG_1014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193979418794061106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6wetQlcrirAsCt3D6hpLHw5En9V_MHy1rovJmj7MogMTFo6uurRm0NXQWy0X_w_glPIi8SK-wVW5EUIT31MyS-42CoYGTNqTAsJb9mYMDz9BQ7ZVxTaQ7C20GmZUe38sYA4L9jZwC3E/s1600-h/IMG_1111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6wetQlcrirAsCt3D6hpLHw5En9V_MHy1rovJmj7MogMTFo6uurRm0NXQWy0X_w_glPIi8SK-wVW5EUIT31MyS-42CoYGTNqTAsJb9mYMDz9BQ7ZVxTaQ7C20GmZUe38sYA4L9jZwC3E/s400/IMG_1111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193979423089028418" border="0" /></a>Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-64675752079497543042008-04-14T13:10:00.000-07:002008-04-14T13:11:28.242-07:00Video update :-)<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i59.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/Duskob/Aqua%20Videos/hilight160mat.flv" height="331" width="418"></embed>Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-20416754803586450262008-04-09T12:11:00.000-07:002008-12-11T22:21:17.270-08:00The Dynamic Eco-system<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTo8qOqBV_YakLrNcg_H4rlEMTrPx7pEN3HxtMvhvsuHpHN47rEY8z3Vx5LYYEtgPAATc9k65eM2W8BfOkty3Fn_GZM-LXoZjUlV4Rwm_UJbR6Wio2oVSUeprmC3jszT3QQ_NaUzwpysg/s1600-h/IMG_0745.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTo8qOqBV_YakLrNcg_H4rlEMTrPx7pEN3HxtMvhvsuHpHN47rEY8z3Vx5LYYEtgPAATc9k65eM2W8BfOkty3Fn_GZM-LXoZjUlV4Rwm_UJbR6Wio2oVSUeprmC3jszT3QQ_NaUzwpysg/s400/IMG_0745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187325935332314514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5by4yk5SgVnD7ueijvR3UrlFTtnbxnPoKSF1ONxTvJYPYnpTkC8K-szOsN_hu-L9A254FFhWR2Sdl3p7naUKKy7SsMRk4PrdWd9rb0JhlbXsW6jA0U16EqLqRGzuHGaK7xnaAP0JC2U/s1600-h/IMG_0760.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5by4yk5SgVnD7ueijvR3UrlFTtnbxnPoKSF1ONxTvJYPYnpTkC8K-szOsN_hu-L9A254FFhWR2Sdl3p7naUKKy7SsMRk4PrdWd9rb0JhlbXsW6jA0U16EqLqRGzuHGaK7xnaAP0JC2U/s400/IMG_0760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187325939627281826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0XEEcAj-sCaZgtukZ35M5LsOqS2jUsHwFCdLVZfcjW9Kura746cmSGsUX7Z43YcaH9N2z-UylbCsg28Pp_lSMYjcEyp_sLAmtDd-UGGwlPHgVFLrOYHLoX6ywTbgOVdJ7NyiXXm8I4w/s1600-h/IMG_0749.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0XEEcAj-sCaZgtukZ35M5LsOqS2jUsHwFCdLVZfcjW9Kura746cmSGsUX7Z43YcaH9N2z-UylbCsg28Pp_lSMYjcEyp_sLAmtDd-UGGwlPHgVFLrOYHLoX6ywTbgOVdJ7NyiXXm8I4w/s400/IMG_0749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187325943922249138" border="0" /></a>I am very happy with this scape so far. HC is growing way too fast, and I trim the Hygro 3 times a week. A few weeks ago I started dosing KNO3, KH2PO4, traces (TMG) and GH-Booster 3 x a week, followed by a weekly 50-60& water change.<br />CO2 levels are stable. No algae problems.<br />I did have problems with green water for a while. I did lots of wc, and changed some of my light tubes that had lots of BLUE spectrum (could cause algae probs), with tubes that have no blue.<br />Actually 2 x T-8's have no blue at all, but 2x T-5's have a bit.<br />Still, this did help a lot and water seem to be looking much better now.Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-16776144341951029822008-03-12T14:12:00.001-07:002008-12-11T22:21:17.591-08:00Maturing Hi-light scape<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZzFef1piCGg2F3h4bu4NgJklBZs5VQWwOb7exdt85Bgvjp7l72qHWUKW9ussamDlKTi3jsOim0hp2celZjre6Rf1RxYHtscfL7x-LO387WGpUDOHp-LCU8pNpsScoCUP_64l-JEamm4/s1600-h/IMG_0477.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZzFef1piCGg2F3h4bu4NgJklBZs5VQWwOb7exdt85Bgvjp7l72qHWUKW9ussamDlKTi3jsOim0hp2celZjre6Rf1RxYHtscfL7x-LO387WGpUDOHp-LCU8pNpsScoCUP_64l-JEamm4/s400/IMG_0477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176966411796015986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuARKz4kqvBrazv2-eUqspGoXQAu93PbiN1gZFsvS-vHgT-6Fpi66DS6tHCInySJpEYx92FzcZmifpxUn3Q8AAffReXn0u1Wc5-8b_MqnugJamBl1KP55CAW7K6uUyMh-1Y1TsZsOvhoE/s1600-h/IMG_0477+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuARKz4kqvBrazv2-eUqspGoXQAu93PbiN1gZFsvS-vHgT-6Fpi66DS6tHCInySJpEYx92FzcZmifpxUn3Q8AAffReXn0u1Wc5-8b_MqnugJamBl1KP55CAW7K6uUyMh-1Y1TsZsOvhoE/s400/IMG_0477+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176966411796016002" border="0" /></a>The HC is spreading very well. I am maintaining steady CO2 levels. CO2 starts 1 hour before light switch on, and goes off half an hour before they switch off. Using drop checker for CO2 levels (from Aquatic Nature).<br />I did notice some Fuzz algae on leaves and glass, so I added 4 Siamese Algae Eaters, and already after a day, algae seems to disappear ;-)<br />I started dosing Tropica liquid fertiliser with N&P 5ml today, and will dose it 2-3 times a week, followed by a weekly 50% water change.<br />After each water change I dose half a tea spoon of GH-Booster for extra Mg and Ca.<br />Note; I noticed Hemianthus calitrichoides getting yellowish leaves and after dosing GH-Booster they seem to be doing great again.<br />Tap water here in Lomma Sweden is very soft, with GH of 3.3 dGH, so dosing extra Mg and Ca is necessary IMO.Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-38727390108393350432008-03-10T13:45:00.001-07:002008-12-11T22:21:17.759-08:00Late update, sorry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRm7cX5uXOLrcSL_SeimVYLE14H2QgqirYia18nTIrUB4hviupDXl2afaCBblQTQlZCW_2nXfYrj_6BFGylXM1vUtRNtH6ykIOoWNH6UsoW4US2aOFlSg4u6iWVO-bi_LFdKaQvlxAfx0/s1600-h/IMG_0246.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRm7cX5uXOLrcSL_SeimVYLE14H2QgqirYia18nTIrUB4hviupDXl2afaCBblQTQlZCW_2nXfYrj_6BFGylXM1vUtRNtH6ykIOoWNH6UsoW4US2aOFlSg4u6iWVO-bi_LFdKaQvlxAfx0/s400/IMG_0246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176219426788928098" border="0" /></a>This tank is maturing nicely. The HC is spreading without any dificulties. CO2 is maintained via Drop Checker (4-5 bps).<br />TetraTec EX700 external filter and Koralia Nano 900 l/h for surface agitation.<br />Water change 50% every week. Re-dosing KNO3, KH2PO4 and GH-Booster once a week (at the moment).<br />I am not adding any traces yet since I saturated the substrate when emerged with lost of liquid Tropica Plant Nutrition.<br />I actually ran into a Hair Algae problem after I started the submersed set-up. All the added fertiliser probably entered the water column and I also dosed 15ml of Tropica fert extra on day one. I only had very low plants like HC, Hair Grass and Pogostemon helferi so no way they could outcompete the algae with fert over dose and hi lights.<br />I did huge wc every day (80%) for about 10 days, to re-set the system. I also planted tall plants to help with nutrient uptake. Everything seems to be in order now.<br />Plants; Hemianthus calitrichoides Cuba, Hair Grass, Pogostemon helferi, Bluxa japonica, Cryptocoryne balansae, Hygrophyla Rosanervig.<br />Fauna; Rasbora hengeli, Amano shrimps, Otocinclus.Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1455780566328536496.post-46776522757099911642008-01-26T04:41:00.000-08:002008-12-11T22:21:18.301-08:00And thats how it started...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9zv8h06gQsVnzd9hJODwPLQ4TAndfRyj9EMNNFztdnku1IOrV1fMI8UrIbPQLw4RXmCXzCa9BmsFs8A8Dsnf3xmj-VKRREZpBxPl3h5puEn_fZMwymkIqZQEhnVaNef_qPM-baOTyIs/s1600-h/Image009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9zv8h06gQsVnzd9hJODwPLQ4TAndfRyj9EMNNFztdnku1IOrV1fMI8UrIbPQLw4RXmCXzCa9BmsFs8A8Dsnf3xmj-VKRREZpBxPl3h5puEn_fZMwymkIqZQEhnVaNef_qPM-baOTyIs/s400/Image009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159764886199398706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSQ-8BOa97AeMBEvStiJnscd6cvMrxLAdb-VmuYVKxCbo-JEuCJSF3FERobdcWC9o5kOxMGSA8TBtJuvbQ2w5odMUkqpj6E2Nng3jkzB4r5w36wCfYUzFH6o1WFpn4vGGtf0xH6_aCU0/s1600-h/Image010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSQ-8BOa97AeMBEvStiJnscd6cvMrxLAdb-VmuYVKxCbo-JEuCJSF3FERobdcWC9o5kOxMGSA8TBtJuvbQ2w5odMUkqpj6E2Nng3jkzB4r5w36wCfYUzFH6o1WFpn4vGGtf0xH6_aCU0/s400/Image010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159764890494366018" border="0" /></a>Photos taken on day 1<br />I decided to use Hemianthus callitrichoides "Cuba"(HC) as the foreground plant, and I used Tom Barr's HC emerged planting method.<br />For detailed description <a href="http://www.barrreport.com/articles/3361-new-methoid-make-nice-rug-hc-before-you-add-water-2.html">CLICK HERE</a>, please.<br />I will wait 3-4 weeks before adding water and some more background plants. So far everything looks good.<br />This aquarium came with 2x30 watts T-8 tubes. I added 2 more, 2x39 watt T-5s (Glomat 2)<br />I will have a bout 0.86 watt per liter = Hi light (9 hours per day).Dusko Bojic aka Che Guebuddhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04415724704813498090noreply@blogger.com