My Plant Journal

[Smalltank3]

2-20-06:The Beginning
Hi everyone! This is the beginning of my plant journal. This is my first ever tank started in October last year. I plan on doing this journal of live plants to look back on all the mistakes I had. I don't want to get started off with Co2 or ferts right away because I want to learn more about plants before doing that stuff. As of right now I have a lilly and aponogeton bulb and java moss. The fish in my tank are as follows:
3 Red Dwarf Gouramis
3 Mickey Mouse Platies
Here are the pictures!

Java Moss on Driftwood

Lilly Bulb

I will update you with any changes and pictures. The updates will probably be a one week update unless something does happen then of course I will update.

[Ramirezi]

I like your Java moss log. How long have you had your lilly bulb in the water? It looks like it is growing algae but no leaves yet.

Photo tip: if you do not have a tripod for you camera use the back of a chair to steady your camera for the long exposure.

[Smalltank3]

Ramirezi: I put it in on 2-19

[Smalltank3]

2-26-06: Female Guppy
I went to Petco today and bought a female guppy. She is too fast I couldnt get a good picture of her but I got this:

[Big Vine]

Nice to hear that your plants seem to be growing. That's a beautiful guppy!

Big Vine

[Smalltank3]

2-27-06:Guppy Gone, Lilly Bulb sprouts
Well I woke up this morning to find that my guppy was all caught up in the java moss dead. She was very beautiful but lasted only overnight The good news is that my lilly bulb sprouted. Here is a pic:

[love_fish]

SHe probsbly died because you didnt acclimate her good enough. Usually if a fish dies that quickly, thats the problem.

[Big Vine]

Sorry your guppy died so soon. Maybe she was in shock from not being acclimated slowly, like love fish suggested.

Big Vine

[Lotus]

If your nitrates are high, that's most likely what caused the guppy to die. While slow increases in nitrates aren't good for fish, a vast change can make a stressful transition from the fish store into a deadly one.

If your Java moss is tied on with thread or fishing line and you left pieces of thread loose, fish can get caught on it and die.

[Swordtail8]

I should warn that fish can swim into an empty snail shell and die as well. My gourami died in a snail shell. Then I clown loach got stuck in one and it didn't come out until I pulled it out of the water and shook him out. Now I have my snail shell sitting in such a way that no fish can get in.

But nonetheless, sometimes some fish are destined to die not long after they are purchased. There is a preliminary period where they are vulnerable. But then after a week or two, a fish will probably then live for a long time. Like my neons and rasboras that seem to last forever.

I am familar with all your plants. Java moss pretty much should be attached to something or it is just messy. Aponogeton bulbs I have dont but not with much success. They tend to stay near the ground but shoot up white flowers. Lotus bulbs are good to get. I have several lotus bulbs that are growing. I have a group of bulbs all on an empty pot so I can move my lotus around but I never put the lotus in the pot until it actually grew into a good sized plant. Once the bulb sprouts you want to ancher the bulb somewhere because if a new sprout moves around too much its growth doesnt take off until it gets anchored somewhere.