Restart of 66 Gallon Planted Tank

[Monte]

Beautiful tank Valarie. I can't wait to see the after picture.

[Peekay]

It has really taken off.

Looking forward to the after pics... I'm always curious how much people actually cut down.

[exv152]

Very nice tank. I think the CO2 is definitely making a positive difference eh? There's no looking back now. I especially like your natural plant layout and gravel. Look forward to seeing this get updated.

[touchofsky]

I will take a picture tomorrow.  I was at the optometrist today, and by the time I got home, the lights were out 

[Monte]

Didn't want to wake up the kids after they went to bed.

I don't blame you.   

[touchofsky]

It was more that I didn't want to crawl under the tank to override the timer 

So, here is a picture just taken today.  The pruning done on Tuesday was:  the ludwigia on the left side cut down by half, moved one clump of hemianthus micranthemoids, moved some blyxia that was totally swamped up to where the HM was, pruned the HM still in the front so that the proserpinaca palustris (mermaid weed) would show, thinned out the hydrocoytle, and pruned and moved a few pieces of alternanthera.  Next week I will tackle the rotala rotundifolia 

[exv152]

Is that a cryp wendtii bronze on the left front of the tank?

[touchofsky]

Most likely.  That plant has been in this tank since 2003  , when it was first started as a planted tank.  It has gone through many challenges, not the least was when the three goldfish spent some time in the tank after being rescued from a rogue garter snake.  The goldfish kept it nibbled right down to the gravel.  When I restarted this tank as a planted tank, the little nubs that were left sprouted and it has come back quite nicely.  Now, that is a tough plant!

[exv152]

Most likely.  That plant has been in this tank since 2003  , when it was first started as a planted tank.  It has gone through many challenges, not the least was when the three goldfish spent some time in the tank after being rescued from a rogue garter snake.  The goldfish kept it nibbled right down to the gravel.  When I restarted this tank as a planted tank, the little nubs that were left sprouted and it has come back quite nicely.  Now, that is a tough plant!

You're lucky, cryps are not always so hardy. I think the key to keeping healthy cryps is consistent water parameters. They don't seem to do as well when the CO2, ferts etc change the parameters drastically. I have pond snails and mts in my tank and they're constantly eating away at the crypt leaves. My compliments on the tank, you done a good job of adding a good variety of plant colours and textures to look at - makes it way more interesting.

[charlie]

Looking good Valerie.
I have been lucky with crypts too when i kept them . they proved to be hardy & never had the common issues with them.
Errol

[touchofsky]

Thanks, both of you  

I have good luck with crypts.  They must like my water, since I don't ever seem to have problems with them melting when transplanted or that kind of thing.  Even my pond snails don't bother them ... I guess I have well behaved ones  

Next week I am going to do some pruning to the rotala.  I ran out of time the other day