Stem plants such as Cabomba, Hygrophila and Ludwigia, which are normally bought in bunches, should also have the foam and plant weights removed. Strip the lower leaves from the plant and push each individual stem into the gravel covering a few nodes. They are normally planted in groups and should be planted apart so that the leaves of each stem just touch their neighbours.

Once the aquarium is functioning normally and the plants are growing it will be necessary to trim and thin the plants periodically. The faster and taller growing stem plants such as Cabomba, Hygrophila and Ludwigia can be cut or trimmed in two ways. If just the head of the plant is removed leaving a node at the top of the beheaded stem then two new stems will grow from this point. This will lead to the thickening of the group above where the cut was made.

The second method is to remove the bottom section from the plant leaving a node at the base of the head, which can then be replanted. This head should be around 20cm length for best results. This will maintain the group of plants at the same size.

If we take this procedure a step further then even the middle of the plant can be used to produce new plants. The important point to remember is that any part of the plant used should have a node at either end of the stem.

Rooted plants with crowns such as Echinodorus, Vallisneria and Cryptocoryne should be kept in check by removing whole leaves including the stems from just above the crown. For plants with tightly packed strap like leaves such as Vallisneria it may be necessary to lift the plant from the aquarium and trim. The same may be the case for short lawn type plants such as E. tennellus and E. quadricostatus.

Establishing The Aquarium

New aquariums are always less stable, or out of balance when compared to well run-in aquariums. A sure way of minimising any problems including algae that may occur when running in the aquarium is to follow the Aquarium maintenance and start up schedule below.

Aquarium Maintenance And Start Up Schedule

% Water Change Conditioners Fertiliser Water treatments

Day 4 25% Biotap + Aquabio Aquatrace 7 Biotap + Bioextract

Day 7 25% Biotap + Aquabio Aquatrace 7 Biotap + Bioextract

Day 10 Aquabio + Aquatrace 7

Day 14 25% Biotap + Aquabio Aquatrace 7 Biotap + Bioextract

Day 21 Aquabio + Aquatrace 7

Day 28 25% Biotap + Aquabio Aquatrace 7 Biotap + Bioextract

Day 35 Aquatrace 7

Day 42 25% Biotap + Aquabio Aquatrace 7 Biotap + Bioextract

Day 49 Aquatrace 7

Continue 25% water changes at least every two weeks adding Aquatrace 7 each week. Use Biotap when using tap water in particular.

Use Bioextract to suppress algae and keep plant leaves clean and shiny.

In addition to this schedule a bacterial culture may be used to establish the biological filters more quickly, enabling the early introduction of fish without the fluctuating waste levels.

Fish And shrimp Stocking Schedule

First ensure plants have rooted and are producing oxygen.

Day 2-3 Introduce appropriate no. of algae eating fish or shrimp.
- 5-6 per 100 litres. Algae eating Shrimp are particularly good.

Day 10-14 Introduce 5-6 medium or 10-12 small fish for each 100 litres
- Feed only flake food very sparingly every 2-3 days at this stage

Day 21 More fish may be added each week until the aquarium is stocked
- Introduce 5--6 medium fish for each 100 litres as before.