Suggestions!! And just wanted to share

[80in55]

Okay, so I just started up this tank, and have had them for a whle with Cichlids in them, but not connected. I now have them connected with the 40 gallon as a sump/refugium. I will be putting water sprite/anachris down in the bottom tank to just fill it up and act as a nitrate removal tool. I have filter floss on both sides of the fuge, one catching the intake, the other is after the fuge to catch anything that may come out. This is how they look so far. Still need to get some plants for the bottom, and a few more to fill in my display! Suggestions and comments welcome!!
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/CHorwarth/DSCN0448.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/CHorwarth/DSCN0444.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/CHorwarth/DSCN0445.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/CHorwarth/DSCN0446.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/CHorwarth/DSCN0447.jpg

[Ed13]

I already pointed out a few species of plants in your other thread so I won't repeat it here.;) If it was my tank, I would play with the arrangement of the big piece of wood. Maybe placing it upright and allowing Java fern or bolbitis to grow on it and plant anubias coffefolia around the base. I think it looks good now if you want to leave it as it is. Since it is only a 55g don't add any more big pieces of wood, but try and find smaller pieces to tie the theme around the big one or a second wood location near where you have the smaller pieces. I would use this smaller pieces to grow ferns in a lower eye point or to create a bridge in design with the big piece. You might also want to leave the smaller pieces of wood bare and allow a foreground plant such as e. tenellus, saggitaria and if you don't mind the bigger E.quadricustatus to grow around it (slightly covering it). I also would move the amazon you have in the middle behind the big piece of wood but in an angle( not right behind it) and allow it to develope to a huge size. I would allow that nice crypt you got to take over the whole left side. To the right I would add a Vallisneria or one of my favorites C. balansae or C retrospiralis and either leave the center with only the foregruond plant reaching the back( creating a concave acquascape) or allow the vallis to reach that area. I would not add any more plants( IF THIS WAS MY TANK) to the display to sort off give the impression of a larger tank!

In your sump, don't bother with anacharis as this is a plant that grows slower than H difformis and in my experience does not do so good with intense light, stick with the hygrophilla family if want to use it as a nutrient export. Blast the fuge with plenty of light and CO2, add potassium and iron frequently and you'll be capable of providing hobbyist and LFS around you with plants

BTW, neons are not the best tankmates for discus!!

[80in55]

BTW, neons are not the best tankmates for discus!!
They are only in there or the cycle. I bought 30 of them at $1 a piece, and I lost a lot,but they did their job, and they even go me those plants by dieing off anyways! Thanks again for the suggestions! I'll definately get some Hygrophelia for my fuge,and will be fertilizing and using a DIY CO2 system that I'm workingon at the moment!

[Spices]

80in55,

That's a beautiful cavern-like driftwood you got there! I really like it! I bet your smaller fish will adore it too!! :)

Depending upon how many discus/fish you will fill in the 55 gallon tank, you may have a space limitation problem (posed). I'm sure you know...discus can grow as large as 10" diameter or better! (I've saw some that large.)

Good luck on your planted tank!! Please post more updates when available.

Thanks. ;)

*Angie*

[lhforbes12]

Personally I don't see how you are going to be able to get enough light on your sump without cooking the plants and fish, there just doesn't appear to be enough room to add the lighting you would need. If it were me I would either put it back to being two tanks or perhaps make the bottom tank the display and the top the refugium. I also think even if you do get light and are able to control the heat that you will be pruning constantly, like everyday, since the sump is not very tall. I do agree with Ed that you have a nice choice of plants in the upper tank, and C. wendtii is one of my favorites.