Post by parker002 on Jan 16, 2012 12:36:00 GMT -5
We originally started with one plant and propagated it using the "flower" from the central stalk on the original plant. We've been moving them around since the beginning in an effort to get the largest specimens in the 55G tank but it's starting to seem like a never-ending task.
For whatever reason, the swords in the 55G tank just don't grow like they do in the 14G. Over time, that small plant in the 14G ultimately becomes the largest because the 2 in the 55G tank just don't seem to grow, even with CO2 and supplemental ferts (no root tabs, though).
Now, I've noticed that crypts and Anubias in her tank also grow much larger than they do in my tank. What all 3 of these plants types have in common is that they're rooted in the substrate. My tank has explosive growth in Ludwigia and Wisteria. My java ferns and moss, which absorb nutrients from the water column, look every bit as good as hers and grow just as fast. It's the rooted plants that show the biggest difference.
The biggest difference that I can note between the 2 tanks is the amount of detritus in the 14G tank. My 55G tank is MUCH "cleaner" overall. The amount of mulm in the top layer of her gravel is easily detected by running a magnet along the glass - it stirs up clouds of stuff. My tank has 10% of the mulm in the gravel that hers does.
Ultimately, I'm wondering if all of this has to do with fish load.
Here is the roster for her tank:
My tank has:
She has nearly 1 fish per gallon of tank volume, regardless of fish size. I'm at roughly half that and I have nearly a dozen tiny tetras so my fish load isn't even half what her's is.
What does everybody think? I think I need to go buy about 4 more Colombian tetras!
For whatever reason, the swords in the 55G tank just don't grow like they do in the 14G. Over time, that small plant in the 14G ultimately becomes the largest because the 2 in the 55G tank just don't seem to grow, even with CO2 and supplemental ferts (no root tabs, though).
Now, I've noticed that crypts and Anubias in her tank also grow much larger than they do in my tank. What all 3 of these plants types have in common is that they're rooted in the substrate. My tank has explosive growth in Ludwigia and Wisteria. My java ferns and moss, which absorb nutrients from the water column, look every bit as good as hers and grow just as fast. It's the rooted plants that show the biggest difference.
The biggest difference that I can note between the 2 tanks is the amount of detritus in the 14G tank. My 55G tank is MUCH "cleaner" overall. The amount of mulm in the top layer of her gravel is easily detected by running a magnet along the glass - it stirs up clouds of stuff. My tank has 10% of the mulm in the gravel that hers does.
Ultimately, I'm wondering if all of this has to do with fish load.
Here is the roster for her tank:
- 1 Amazon Sword1 Rose Sword
- 2 Crypt Red Wendtii
- 2 Anubias
- 6-8 Java Fern (3-4" tall)
- small bunch Christmas or Taiwan Moss
- She also has hundreds of snails of 3 different types.
- 3 Killifish (Epiplatys Dageti) each 1.5" long
- 2 small Kuhli loaches
- 1 Yoyo loach 4"
- 2 Cory 1" each
- 3 White Cloud minnows, less than 1" each
- 1 small Oto catfish
My tank has:
- 2 Amazon Swords
- patch of Red Ludwigia about 10" wide and 20" tall (maybe 35 stems total)
- 6-8 stems of Wisteria, 8-12" tall.
- 3 small Anubias
- 20-25 crypts Red Wendtii
- 6-8 Java Ferns 3-4" tall
- 1 Java Fern 6" tall and 6" wide
- 5 Cory, smallest 1" and largest 2.5"
- 2 small Angels, ~ 3" top fin to bottom fin (about same size as white skirt and Colombian tetras)
- 3 small Glofish danios (1" or less)
- 2 upside-down Catfish, one 1.5" and other 3.5"
- 2 false SAE about 4"
- 2 large female Mollies about 3.5"
- 1 male Platy 1"
- 6 Colombian tetras (1.5-2")
- 3 white skirt tetras (1.5-2")
- 1 cardinal tetra (similar in size to Neon)
- 5 glo-lite red tetras (similar in size to Neon)
- 2 Von Rio tetras (small < 1")
- 1 X-ray tetra (small < 1")
- I also have snails but not nearly as many as her.
She has nearly 1 fish per gallon of tank volume, regardless of fish size. I'm at roughly half that and I have nearly a dozen tiny tetras so my fish load isn't even half what her's is.
What does everybody think? I think I need to go buy about 4 more Colombian tetras!
