tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40075695689591611512011-11-27T15:25:05.382-08:00Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-19165032036872038682010-11-19T09:09:00.000-08:002010-11-20T05:39:57.400-08:00

My planted aquarium today is 10 days old.  I am dosing pressurized Co2, macro and micro since day one, which I did not in previous year. This year I am dosing Gluteraldehyde 2.5% @ 1 ml per gallon from the day 1. This is also ne addition this year. For the first for weeks changing 60% water every 3rd or 4th day like last year. Almost all the plans except Rotala and Java moss I got from a roof

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-77401166276722821212010-11-15T09:04:00.000-08:002010-11-17T07:04:27.955-08:00

Basic arrangement Managed to get a nice driftwood few black stones. Other accessories were available from last year e.g, lights, reflector, fans, Co2 cylinder with solenoid valve and timer. This time apart from laterite,reddish in a polythene packet, which I used last year also, I will use Humus and Humus Plus as manure. Humus, Humus Plus and Laterite Humus Literature Humus Plus Literature

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-80262441965116172062010-06-11T06:31:00.000-07:002010-06-11T06:31:47.772-07:00

Kolkata is going through the severe heat spell. Without the chiller I am not able to keep the temperature below 30 degree Celsius. Room temperature is always above 34 degree Celsius, added with the humidity! Fan is not having much effect due to humidity. Luster of the plants has gone.Looking like desert! Fishes are still there living. Though few died. My plan is to re scape it in a new way

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-92079238794630740872009-10-28T09:02:00.000-07:002009-10-28T09:27:22.306-07:00

Learned many things in this 5 months journey. Cheated by different shopkeepers. It is ok! all in the learning process. May be I have lost few thousand bucks but can help help many fellow hobbyists so that they don't get cheated.After installing the timer and the solenoid valve for Co2; scenario of my tank drastically changed! All the fuzz algae gone! All the hair algae gone! Now I can deduce that

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-85643045468062111042009-10-15T09:14:00.000-07:002009-10-15T09:39:35.652-07:00

Photo of my planted aquarium at 4th MonthLearnt so many things in this short journey of planted aquarium. One thing I realize on the way to your journey. You can learn the basic know how from different forums and books or, articles but your experience is bound to be unique. May be due to your environment, local water quality and of course the care you give.Utility if timer and solenoid valve in

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-59650918632335456212009-09-13T10:22:00.000-07:002009-09-13T11:03:52.760-07:00

Today I removed all the vals. Reasons being they were spreading at odd places. Old leaves were looking ugly and they were floating on the surface. Planted more Bacopas in the back ground. Changed the place of Hygrophilla deformis. Changed 80% of water.But I was shocked to see my HCs and HMs. They were looking so ugly! All kind of dust and white webs entangled in them in a bad way. The only option

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-1087442332831949622009-09-09T07:48:00.000-07:002009-09-09T07:54:33.323-07:00

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-39833677520460990432009-09-07T00:51:00.000-07:002009-09-07T00:56:38.774-07:00

1. Which material is preferable? Glass or Plastic? Please provide the pros and cons of both.Glass will be cheaper and easily available. If you want to spend more can go for moulded one ..aesthetically better2. If I want to have a tank of say 2.5 ft length 1.5 breadth and 2 ft of height, will it be good enough to grow plants?Length and breadth is ok but height better keep @18" or below, otherwise

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-37257725511716263662009-09-05T09:22:00.000-07:002009-09-05T09:37:10.665-07:00

Oh! It is nice to see the new leaves are coming out from Ludwigia inclinata! The original stems are still bent! but many new leaves are coming out. I have no idea what color and form they are going to take finally. Let hope for the best.One of the finest looking plant with exotic color is Ludwigia glandulasa. This is a top view of the plant. They look much better that you can see in this photo.

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-10050149050710093962009-08-30T06:33:00.001-07:002009-09-04T10:31:19.346-07:00

Ultimately got some exotic plants........Sourced from KA friends Avik and Abhirup. They were kind to share their stuff they ordered Rocky.Now I had to change my scape. What I noticed, due to heavy growth of so many plants, many plants are not getting sufficient lights. Aponogetons are floating here and there on the surface and are growing like mad. base of the crowded plants are dirty! I have to

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-40433064701553076212009-08-18T08:05:00.000-07:002009-08-21T08:46:49.447-07:00

Close up shot of the center of the tankMy journey till today was thrilling. My 30 Gallon planted tank is 3 weeks old. Frankly speaking I was hesitant about investing much money in this. But after looking at its beauty I cannot but decide to invest the basic things which is needed for this beautiful live show piece.Beautiful live show pieceI bought a Co2 cylinder, a must if you are serious about

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-1961321012271820212009-08-09T07:49:00.000-07:002009-08-09T11:01:10.283-07:00

Two weeks have passed. So far, so good!I have crystal clear water, Luxurious green growth of plants, no algae, Fishes are happy and so am I. DiY Co2 woked fine for 2 long weeks and I started a new bottle on day 14; which is also working fine.I added few Guppies to my tank, as I didn't find any good fish in LFS. Guppies are not good for a tank. Though they are colorful and don't disturb others;

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-8278602192761295822009-08-05T10:57:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:04:35.714-07:00

Everything is running fine, More than my expectation. Getting help fromall my friends of Kolkata Aquarium club.The changes noticeable are luxurious growth and greenness of the tank.Some faunas are added mainly for the cycling process. Four Harquelin Rasbora and 3 Pink Zebra Danios; given by Amitava. Two HR s jumped out of the tank and died! Today addded few Gupies.added a black background. That

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-61113790633797901082009-07-29T09:12:00.001-07:002009-07-29T09:21:19.048-07:00

The day 4 of my cute jungleThe tank is looking more lively. All the plants are longer. Some of them grown more than 8 inches!Continuous bubbling from the plants. Pearling looking so beautiful on the leaves.New leaves are forming.

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-28925516819177581382009-07-29T08:31:00.001-07:002009-07-29T09:06:33.504-07:00

Was searching in the internet for easy way of changing water in the aquarium. In all the sites the same method like siphoning out the water and bucket etc was described. To me these are very messy procedure and time consuming too.I thought of a very quick and non messy procedure of changing water of the tank. I need to change 25% of water at least once a week and even more. This procedure should

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-36938479416802555222009-07-27T07:29:00.000-07:002009-07-27T07:45:57.424-07:00

Today the second day of my planted world. Everything is going beyond my expectation. DiYCo2 is working fine. Water is crystal clear. Nice movement of is seen on the leaves; as if a soft breeze is blowing over them. The whole tank is lush green.The few surprises was there for me when I returned from my work. All the plants are taller in length in just one day. some of them grown about 3"! See this

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-25811165461087861592009-07-26T07:15:00.001-07:002009-07-26T07:47:14.440-07:00

Today was THE DAY for planting my first planted aquarium. Went to Galiff street to collect the plants from there. With the help of Abhirup, Avik, amd Mithun my first bunch of plants was bought.I am so thankful to Avik, Abhirup, Jayottam, Anindya - They accompanied me at my home to help my planting.The beautiful driftwoods were presented to me by Supriyo. Those have changed the whole look of the

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-79859934746505117212009-07-24T09:52:00.000-07:002009-07-26T07:49:03.251-07:00

After gathering information and considering the availability of space I will get @ my home; the tanl size came 36” L* 15” W* 15” H. According to the veterans the size is perfect for beginner.The points I was told to have the proper substrate, lighting @ 3 watt/gallon with good reflector, Co2 injection, and cooling of the water. Water has to be kept below 28 degree Celsius. The current trend and

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-74447963040380118562009-07-17T23:57:00.001-07:002009-07-18T00:06:04.688-07:00

Friends, these are the surgical instruments, which can be used for the aquarium use. Price is really affordable! We can change design if we need to. The length of these are seven and a half inch. I will bring these tomorrow to Galiff and discuss further.

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-20657478709116539252009-07-12T09:51:00.000-07:002009-07-12T10:30:56.458-07:00

Scientific name:Anubias barteri var. barteriCommon name: Broadleaved anubiasOrigin: West AfricaThis common Anubias species is an adaptable and robust plant that can be used in a number of ways in the aquarium. The main root, or rhizome, must be placed above the substrate, preferably attached to rock or bogwood, otherwise it may break down and die. As long as water is available to the root, the

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-23035170521572390252009-07-12T09:15:00.002-07:002009-07-12T09:43:47.699-07:00

Anubias plants are a highly robust, undemanding, and adaptable group that can be used in a number of ways in the aquarium. The plants come from various river and stream areas in Africa and are usually found on the edges of waterways and in marsh conditions. They have an adapted rhizome and roots that will attach to solid objects, such as wood or rocks, so substrate conditions are unimportant.

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-13087602659296440832009-07-12T08:35:00.001-07:002009-07-12T08:48:23.614-07:00

Environment Required• Substrate: Plain washed gravel• Lighting: Not critical• pH value: 6.8-7.5• Hardness: Not critical• Temperature: 15-22 degree C (59-70°F)Height: Up to 30cm (12in).Distribution: Eastern Asia.Characteristics: A slow-growing plant with handsome dark green spiky leaves in fan-shaped clumps. The roots are very tough and wiry.Aquarium use: This moisture-loving plant is suitable for

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-66784586364896095662009-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:002009-07-12T07:58:39.388-07:00

When you are furnishing and planting an aquarium - a pursuit appropriately known as 'aquascaping' - your first considerations must centre around the position of the tank in the room and its size and accessibility.Viewpoint and siteMost aquariums are viewed from the front and sides only, with the back against a wall. As a variation on this theme, the tank can be let into a wall or partition, with

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-25355350240040773212009-07-11T23:20:00.000-07:002009-07-11T23:33:28.824-07:00

Enjoyed the first day with you (Members of Kolkata Aquarium Club) at Galiff street today on July 12th 2009. You guys know so much about this Aqua stuff. I am impressed really. I will take you help in all steps of my new set up of planted aquarium.Here are the photos of the Galiff street today. I don't know the names of any of them.You please give the details if required

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-87349830432702451002009-07-10T23:10:00.000-07:002009-07-10T23:16:29.677-07:00

Pea gravel The most common form of aquarium gravel is called pea gravel, due to its smooth, rounded appearance. Pea gravel is available in a number of different grades, although only the smaller grades should be used as a main substrate. Although pea gravel is generally inert, it does contain some rock types that may affect the hardness of the water. Aquatic plants will not benefit much from pea

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-5971526752861162002009-07-10T22:27:00.001-07:002009-07-10T22:34:46.821-07:00

Several different substrates are available for the aquarium, and making the right choices can be a little tricky. It is possible to have a reasonably good planting substrate using just one medium, although combining a number of substrates will usually produce much better results. When mixing substrates, bear in mind that each one should have a place and a function. Assessing substrates on the

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-27472437397742076902009-07-10T09:25:00.000-07:002009-07-10T10:41:44.950-07:00

In an average aquarium, the substrate is likely to be a fairly straightforward affair, usually a simple covering of pea gravel. Plants use the substrate not only as a place to root, but also as a source of nutrients and, in some cases, a medium through which to reproduce. The root systems of aquatic plants vary between species, but all are highly evolved to work effectively in a given natural

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007569568959161151.post-81875552236685391632009-07-10T09:13:00.000-07:002009-07-10T09:16:02.830-07:00

In the rivers and streams in which many aquatic plants grow, the substrates vary depending on the environmental and geological conditions of the river system and the local area. Aquatic plants are often found in sandy, muddy, or gravel beds. An important point to bear in mind is that in virtually all natural areas the substrate is usually warmer than the surrounding environment. This happens

Sparshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789645996591211927noreply@blogger.com0