With my main tank of 250 litres, I've opted for a South American theme. I haven't tried to create any particular biotope as such, just selected fish and plants that are generically from South America.

I've selected small species of fish to enable a wider variety within the tank, and to allow a higher population (and they're cheap!). I currently have Ancistrus, Otocinclus, Corydoras, Angels, Keyholes, Hockey-Sticks, and Guppies.

[At Day 3]

All of my wood stumps were selected to provide cover for the catfish. In the three years I've had this tank running, I've had five species breed. There's been a few occasions when the population has peaked above 100.

My plants include Amazon Swords, Sagittaria, Cabomba, Stargrass, Bacopa, and Alternanthera. The red of the Alternanthera provides a nice contrast, but red plants really need a lot of light to do well. And because red growth is slow, they tend to suffer from Algae.

[At 1 Month]

I run three quad-phospher tubes, and apply yeast generated CO2 via a bubble maze. I'm still hunting for a cheap liquid fertiliser. As a rule my plants are out of control, but the fish love it! And I get a buzz out of sighting a fish I haven't seen for a couple of weeks.

[At 1 Year]

Some more pics on my MSN Space (press the 'www' button below).
Enjoy!

it is nice to see the progression of a tanks developement like this.

it also makes me think that u realy need to do a good trim back as u have said urself. the last pic looks great but the more recent pics u have posted on the forum show that ur tank is just a tiny teeny eany wee bit over grown

Well, it's half presentable again. Perhaps I'll wip off a pic in the morning, to show how it's turned out. ....one morning later...



The stump just left of center, is covered in Algae. That's not a problem. But left of that again, and up a bit, you can see the same algae, completely covering a red leaved plant. That's a bugger. And that's why I've been heading to increase my lighting, to get those red plants fired up. In the far right corner is a Rotala sp. It grows well enough to keep ahead of the Algae, but it's Indian origins clash with my S.American theme.

The Amazon Swords generally fair ok, although as shown here, they're heavily pruned. When I pruned earlier in the week, most clumps were at an even hieght. You can see some of the Cabomba, already grown 3 or 4 inches in that time, up to the serface. This elongated growth, another symptom of low light.

Nice progression! I like the overgrown green look myself. I can't wait to have a planted tank like that. Because of your description and others that I've read about the requirements of red plants, I'm going to stick with a small variety of green plants, preferably on the tough side. Java fern was one on my list, I think? I used to have a list of plants that would be compatible with my fish, but I have no idea where it got to.

I still hope to get a Red Plant that will cope in my tank. I think once you've seen that dash of color in the Tank, there's no going back!

If I had a shot from between '1 month', and '1 year', you'd see exactly what I mean. The '1 month' pic, is not quite there...

out of curiousity, any idea what type of algae it is?

if the pic is the newly trimmed tank, it is looking great. lots better than the over grown look.

i've said the following before but one more time, lol, i'd strongly recommend u get ph and kh test kits and use the readings to work out ur co2 levels. if they are low, then raising them might be the easiest way of dealing with the algae problem plus it would also help a lot when it comes to growing 'red' plants.

if the co2 is lower than 10 or 15ppm then u might try making a version of the co2 diffuser i posted. it'd probably be a good bit more efficient than ur current bubble maze.

for mizpriz, sturdy plants i'd suggest include java fern, java moss, amazon swords, crypts, annubias and hygrophilia. it is a good idea to use a fert tablet buried in the substrate below each sword and crypt as this will provide them most of the iron and nutrients they will want.

Yeah Yeah - Quit yer bloody nagging! I'm going out this morning, get some food, get a Kh kit! What do you say over there? "Hoot's Mon!" (got that off 'the Goodies')

pH I have, as well as Ni, Na, Am, and Fe.

Algae? I have a Topic in the Plants / Algae section. Can't be buggered giving you a link right now... I'm actually wondering if I took that pic before, or after I cleaned the glass.

You mention Fertilizer Tablets. I've been searching high and low for a cheap alternative. The Aquarium sold one's are too pricey. And it seems, most Gardening joints no longer stock Tablets, or Spikes. Just Pellets and Powder. I went to the Hydroponics shop, but it seems I know more about Fertilizer (and Lighting) than he does! You mention 'Aquarium', and I think they freak, and their mind close's down. Perhaps I should have said I was growing Weed in my Attic! Might have got what I needed.

back to the thread topic, more or less

i found ludwigia repens to be quite a sturdy plant that grows pale green leaves initialy but turns really deep red with enough light. by the looks of things and what u've said u certainly have enough lights to make it go a nice deep red.

it can grow quite quickly and does need to be pruned back. the more its pruned the bushier it gets. i liked it initialy but ended up favouring a purely green look.

in the following pic, u can see it to the left of the middle and mostly towards the back and top of the tank. it doesnt look very red in the pic but does go a much deeper red than it appears here.

Excellant! That's the 'cross-breed' you've got there. (L.repens is actually green, with a more normal roundish leaf shape). I'll look out for it, apparently it's a quick grower, and not as hungry for light. I'll bet you a set of Hen's Teeth, that it's not easy to find here! Thank's for pointing that one out.

I think that plant of mine, drowning in Algae, is actually Ludwigia glandulosa. It's quite a striking plant when it's not wearing it's fur coat!

(oh, and I think this Topic is 'SA Community Aquarium'...)