Evolution of a planted tank

[fischkopp]

It is amazing how tanks can develop if we just let them. In November 2006 I had the idea to start a low light tank with lots of wood, that shall be covered by Java Fern.

I filled the tank with several pounds of driftwood, everything screwed to an acrylic backpanel. The wood was initially planted with one pot Narrow Leaf Java Fern, later on I added Java Fern Windelow plantlet to one side of the tank. It took a while, but eventually the growth kicked in and the whole tank looks like a jungle now.

This tank may be the greenest I have now - and the one that gets the least maintenance except for regular water changes. So this is what you get with nothing else than just a bit patience: 

April 2008


August 2007


February 2007

[washefuzzy]

Very very nice. With patience my plants all succumb to algea. sigh!

[charlie]

Wow , good job, this is a great demonstration of what is possible with low light tanks.
what type of lighting are you using & the watts on this tank, what substrate  ( not that it really matters for Java fern)
Regards

[Anja]

Oh, nice. That's very encouraging. Thanks for posting.

[fischkopp]

Thanks for your kind comments!

Lighting is 1x 15W T8 Power Glo, but probably not very powerful anymore as I never changed it since I set the tank up. It is housed in the hood that came with the tank.

The substrate is fine Geosystems gravel - but I cannot really recommend it as it tends to make the water hard. I also mixed in some laterite as I set up the tank, but other plants never really did well under the shade of the wood. There are still some E. tellenus surviving in one corner though, and maybe a tiny crypt somewhere. I also have some Newzealand Grass growing, but it suffered a bit lately.

[Vizerdrix]

VERY nice Robert!  Now maybe if I stop fooling around with MY tank, I can get the plants to fill in a bit more like yours did...

[Anja]

Lighting is 1x 15W T8 Power Glo

Over how many gallons?

[fischkopp]

Thanks Viz. With everything I tried so far I learned that fooling around too much causes more trouble than letting it be for a while

Anja. it is a 20 gal tank, maybe a bit smaller. So its <1 WPG, like impossible to grow anything no, really, dont take the WPG rule to serious, for example putting plants higher up to the lights does wonders.

[jrs]

Is that the narrowleaf or needleleaf java fern?

[fischkopp]

Is that the narrowleaf or needleleaf java fern?

It is Narrow Leaf Java Fern.

[Anja]

That really gives me hope for my tank, which has roughly the same light. I initially lost a couple of crypts and vals, but the others are doing ok, and the moss grows, Java fern and anubias seem to actually be throwing out new leaves. I think I'll change the color of the light when I change the bulb, though. I'm currently using the aqua glo that came with the tank, and am thinking of changing to a full spectrum next time.

I'll hang the picture of your tank up as an inspiration for the next time I doubt I have enough light.