30g planted tank

pledosophy · 06/24/2009, 12:05 PM

I posted this in the nano forum but not everyone visits both. So, here is my 30g system. It's been planted for about a year and a half.

3D-Reef · 06/24/2009, 01:22 PM

Looks very nice!My Wife likes it too!

Mentat · 06/24/2009, 01:23 PM

Very colorful and great looking tank. What maintenance (pruning, additives, etc.) does your macro algae require?

TheH · 06/24/2009, 05:30 PM

Nice, do you have more information in your nano-section thread?

wildmantrav · 06/24/2009, 09:54 PM

Looks great! I ordered some macro for my seahorse tank earlier today.

pledosophy · 06/25/2009, 02:15 AM

Thanks very much. I got a lot of my knowledge and inspiration from this forum, so nice to see people think it's looking well. I really do love it.

Quote:

What maintenance (pruning, additives, etc.) does your macro algae require?

Not much to be honest. I pruin once a month or so. The taxifloria is really the only thing that gets pruined. Green graped showed up 6 months or so ago and every once and awhile I go nutz trying to get it all out. I think I am going to let it grow in the top right corner. See how it does. I'll keep it confined to there though.

I don't use addatives really. Some iron once and awhile, but I don't test for it. I keep the Ca, Mg, and Alk up once and awhile.

I have done 2 waterchanges in a year, both after flatworm exit.

I use the finger method for pruining. I pinch it with my fingers or nails. Not to complex.

I keep my flow up to help keep detritus up an moving.

There is a bit more info in the nano forum. What do you want to know?

psidriven · 06/26/2009, 10:41 PM

what is the blue/purple macro on the bottom right?

pledosophy · 06/27/2009, 12:38 AM

ochotodes

BruceW · 06/27/2009, 08:20 PM

Nice tank!

I sent you a PM.

Bruce

Joe Pusdesris · 06/27/2009, 11:48 PM

No fish?

pledosophy · 06/28/2009, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BruceW
Nice tank!

I sent you a PM.

Bruce

Flattered, and replied.

Quote:

No fish?

I had a seahorse in there, but she died. Now I don't know what I want to do. I have been keeping seahorses for 8 years, but might be time for something new.

I've been reading up on Anglers, Leafish, Pipefish, and Orange Spotted Filefish. I'm sure I'll pick one of those, or maybe a seahorse.

rehype · 06/28/2009, 06:16 PM

This is such a beautiful and unique tank.Congrats.

pledosophy · 06/29/2009, 01:57 AM

Thanks. I think I did it right. A lot of research, and now not a lot of work. If I don't say so myself the tank is really beautiful, but I didn't make the plants, I just watch them

.

Now I just need to pick out which fish goes in there next.

TampaBayReefer · 06/29/2009, 01:21 PM

I have spent the last couple weeks looking into adding plants to my 30g. Where did you get your information about which species to get and how to care for them. Also where did you get your plants from? No LFS in my area sells them, so I have a feeling I'll have to a online vendor.

pledosophy · 07/01/2009, 12:47 AM

Most of the info is on the net. This forum has quite a bit of info.

I started keeping macro algaes in 02', so mostly trial and error. Basically they need some light and will gather the nutrients just from the fish food for the most part IME.

I traded for some species I have, found some at LFS's, bought a piece of lr rubble because there was a red bubble on it, and of course, reefcleaners.org does make things much easier these days.

HTH

luckyfish · 07/03/2009, 03:56 PM

What type of lighting are you running on this tank?

johnmaloney · 07/03/2009, 08:26 PM

wow! tank has come a really long way. very nice, every time I see an update I am amazed. Look into some of those non-reef safe fish no one else can have.

pledosophy · 07/03/2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luckyfish
What type of lighting are you running on this tank?

I used to run a 150w HQI, but I had a little mishap with that bulb so I have been running a 4 bulb 24wT5 fixture for the last 6 months. It works.

pledosophy · 07/03/2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnmaloney
wow! tank has come a really long way. very nice, every time I see an update I am amazed. Look into some of those non-reef safe fish no one else can have.

Much in part to your help, and products.

I ended up picking up a pipefish a couple days ago, looking to get another soon. I think I'm gonna stay with the horses for now. Might do a planted predator tank after we move in a few months. Maybe a 125g ish.

billy1724 · 07/08/2009, 05:16 PM

really nice setup

pledosophy · 07/12/2009, 01:57 AM

Thanks. I love it. It's the easiest tank I have ever owned.

1337TANKHAX · 07/17/2009, 04:14 PM

wow that tank looks great.

SMOOTHIE · 07/21/2009, 03:10 AM

Beautiful tank. Would love a snippet of the ochodotes.
Just read a big article on the spotted or harlequin filefish. Hobbyist got them to eat and thrive on prepared foods by getting some gel based reef foods and pressing them down into an old acro skeleton. Had 2 or 3 he kept in rotation.
Just remembered the mag. May/April Coeal Magazine. If ya can't find it then let me know

TampaBayReefer · 07/21/2009, 04:13 PM

It looks like you have some grape and fern caulerpa. All I hear is horror stories about this macro being in peoples tank. Is it's growth rate a problem for you or are these people complaining because they did not intend to have macro growing in their display?

small alien · 07/22/2009, 08:58 PM

that is a really beautiful tank you have going there. a mated pair of pipes would be awesome. thanks for sharing.

06/24/2009, 12:05 PM	#1
pledosophy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 4,541	30g planted tank I posted this in the nano forum but not everyone visits both. So, here is my 30g system. It's been planted for about a year and a half.

06/24/2009, 01:22 PM	#2
3D-Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Wichita,Ks Posts: 421	Looks very nice!My Wife likes it too! __________________ Life on earth depends on plants-without plants,no life.Alf Jacob Nilsen Current Tank Info: 125 DT,135 grass fuge/sump;29g seahorse tank 70 fuge/sump

06/24/2009, 09:54 PM	#5
wildmantrav Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Waupaca, WI Posts: 11	Looks great! I ordered some macro for my seahorse tank earlier today. __________________ Travis Current Tank Info: 20 gallon seahorse tank, 24 gallon nano, 55 gallon fancy goldfish

06/26/2009, 10:41 PM	#7
psidriven Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Berzerkeley Posts: 490	what is the blue/purple macro on the bottom right? __________________ Trying to learn to read Chinese.

07/08/2009, 05:16 PM	#20
billy1724 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pinellas Park fl Posts: 115	really nice setup __________________ Billy Current Tank Info: 120 gallon 2X250 Metal Halides 14K Pheonix, T5s, 2 6101's, 50g sump refugium, 150lbs Hatian Live Rock, GEO 614 Ca Reactor, EuroReef 135 in sump Skimmer

06/24/2009, 01:23 PM	#3
Mentat Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA USA Posts: 1,168	Very colorful and great looking tank. What maintenance (pruning, additives, etc.) does your macro algae require?

06/24/2009, 05:30 PM	#4
TheH Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,138	Nice, do you have more information in your nano-section thread?

06/27/2009, 12:38 AM	#8
pledosophy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 4,541	ochotodes

06/27/2009, 08:20 PM	#9
BruceW Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Idyllwild,CA Posts: 141	Nice tank! I sent you a PM. Bruce

06/27/2009, 11:48 PM	#10
Joe Pusdesris Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 323	No fish?

06/28/2009, 06:16 PM	#12
rehype Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cranford, New Jersey Posts: 215	This is such a beautiful and unique tank.Congrats.

06/29/2009, 01:57 AM	#13
pledosophy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 4,541	Thanks. I think I did it right. A lot of research, and now not a lot of work. If I don't say so myself the tank is really beautiful, but I didn't make the plants, I just watch them . Now I just need to pick out which fish goes in there next.

06/29/2009, 01:21 PM	#14
TampaBayReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Area Posts: 17	I have spent the last couple weeks looking into adding plants to my 30g. Where did you get your information about which species to get and how to care for them. Also where did you get your plants from? No LFS in my area sells them, so I have a feeling I'll have to a online vendor.

07/01/2009, 12:47 AM	#15
pledosophy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 4,541	Most of the info is on the net. This forum has quite a bit of info. I started keeping macro algaes in 02', so mostly trial and error. Basically they need some light and will gather the nutrients just from the fish food for the most part IME. I traded for some species I have, found some at LFS's, bought a piece of lr rubble because there was a red bubble on it, and of course, reefcleaners.org does make things much easier these days. HTH

07/03/2009, 03:56 PM	#16
luckyfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,058	What type of lighting are you running on this tank?

07/03/2009, 08:26 PM	#17
johnmaloney Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 338	wow! tank has come a really long way. very nice, every time I see an update I am amazed. Look into some of those non-reef safe fish no one else can have.

07/12/2009, 01:57 AM	#21
pledosophy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 4,541	Thanks. I love it. It's the easiest tank I have ever owned.

07/17/2009, 04:14 PM	#22
1337TANKHAX Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Santa Clarita Valley, 91355 Posts: 168	wow that tank looks great.

07/21/2009, 03:10 AM	#23
SMOOTHIE Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Valdosta GA Posts: 484	Beautiful tank. Would love a snippet of the ochodotes. Just read a big article on the spotted or harlequin filefish. Hobbyist got them to eat and thrive on prepared foods by getting some gel based reef foods and pressing them down into an old acro skeleton. Had 2 or 3 he kept in rotation. Just remembered the mag. May/April Coeal Magazine. If ya can't find it then let me know

07/21/2009, 04:13 PM	#24
TampaBayReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Area Posts: 17	It looks like you have some grape and fern caulerpa. All I hear is horror stories about this macro being in peoples tank. Is it's growth rate a problem for you or are these people complaining because they did not intend to have macro growing in their display?

07/22/2009, 08:58 PM	#25
small alien Intergalactic Dragonet Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Carnation, WA Posts: 1,511	that is a really beautiful tank you have going there. a mated pair of pipes would be awesome. thanks for sharing. __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. M/F Orange-spotted Filefish, M/F Leopard Wrasses, M/F Purple Firefish, M/F Naked Clowns, DragonFace Pipe, Rainford's Goby, Banded Pipe, Tailspot blenny, M/F/F Scooters, Pearly Jawfish, Green Banded Gobies.