Converting my 180 to planted tank (pics)

[Triterium]

Just installed the MHs; four 400 watts. 6,500K Iwasaki on left, 10,000K XM on right

 

[Triterium]

Wow, thats cool! Thanks for sharing. Is that a tessalata i see?

 

[Triterium]

Yep, that's Tess sitting in her favorite hole.

 

[Triterium]

Cool, so what plants or algae are you growing now?

 

[Triterium]

Most of the algae and plants are actually hidden by the plants outside the tank. There is caulerpas and seagrass. Hopefully they'll take over soon.

 

[Samala]

Um, Triterium, stop drinking the skimmate, you're developing split personalities!

I thought you would post more shots of the system and list all the cool things that are in it yourself without prompting from us! Its not that we aren't enthralled by it. You should know by now that we're jealous of the mangroves and the Tessie monster.

The sandbed.. its just oolitic, right? No supplementation or ferts or anything?

>Sarah

 

[Samala]

PS: Are you still dosing ethanol and H2O2 into the tank to help clear it?

>Sarah

 

[Triterium]

I dumped in 32 oz of H2O2 a few days ago. My skimmer filled up twice in two days!! No more ethanol for my tank...i have other plans for that.

 

[Triterium]

I'll start posting more pics once i feel my tank is worth looking at. Right now its an aiptasia garden with few plants and algae.
I started this thread so you can help me get them to grow

 

[Samala]

Are you dosing NO3, Fe at all? I would think with the eel in there you wouldnt have a problem with getting enough nutrients.. still, just for reference, I have to ask.

Also.. what plants are you attempting? Caulerpa prolifera? Some Thalassia? Anything else?

>Sarah

 

[Triterium]

I added some "plant fuel" and some iron about a week ago. My chaeto has grown faster than ever. I had a 20 gallon that was completely full; i pulled the algae out and it retained the shape of the tank.

So what should a be dosing? Iron, iodine?

Yeah i bet i have a ton of nitrates. My eels eat a TON! Just tonight i fed the big one three whole squid (big ones; 6" body plus foot-long tentacles). So i bet im fine there...

I have manatee grass growing pretty well and C. prolifera. I have C. racemosa in the mangrove tank too.

Thanks for your help

 

[astrea]

How does one go about dosing nitrate?

 

[graveyardworm]

Here's a thread which may help. You'll also find some more here

 

[Samala]

Hmmm. If you have lots of N, available P (which I'd bet with the eel) and plenty of carbon available as dissolved CO2 or alkalinity, I think a little Fe dosing would be a good thing. Read up in the old threads (theres a few posted in that Forum Favorites stickie) and see if you have qualms/questions.

I wonder about CO2 dosing on such a large tank........

>Sarah

 

[The_Nexis_One]

Looking forward to more pix Trit.

As far as dosing in relation to the Eel(s). I have to dose heavily even with my 23" SFE. He only eats once a week until he's full, and that's no where near enough NO3 for my growth. I'm up to dosing 5-6ppm a day!

John.