devocole

ADA is the way to go.

March 10/16 Nitrate at lowest level Phosphate at lowest level Started to add 2 caps, the indicated amount March 15/16 40% water change with 1 cap of Prime Continue to do 2 caps of flourish excel daily and 2 caps of flourish trace weekly Trimmed apongentons March 16/16 Drip acclimatized 19 cherry barbs Drip acclimatized 1 panda garra March 23/16 Water was looking more green then usual 40% water change with prime Rinsed and cleaned one fluval fx6. Much debris. Will clean the second filter soon. Tank smelled rather fishy once filled. Continue to put 2 caps flourish excel per day. 2 caps of flourish trace once a week. Currently no algae.

I find that Pisces pet emporium in Calgary has the best loose driftwood collection. I've seen a few good pieces at Aquarium Central in Edmonton as well.

Feb 8/16 Was away for a week and fish were fed spectrum 3 times Diatom algae on the glass and sand in the high light areas. Nitrate 5 Phosphate 0 40% water change 1.5 caps of prime Added 4 caps flourish excel Drip acclimatized 8 zebra loaches Drip acclimatized 8 panda garra Drip acclimatized 10 amano shrimp 6 zebra nerite snails. Feb 10/16 Drip acclimatized 2 goby Drip acclimatized 2 mini Mexican crayfish All algae is gone other then sand 2 zebra loaches died getting stuck in the high flow power head. Turned off 1 loach died on introduction Feb 12/16 Drip acclimatized 4 kubotai loaches Drip acclimatized 4 bengal loaches Feb 13/16 Drip acclimatized 3 bamboo shrimp from Big Al’s Have been adding a cap of Flourish when I’m down there. As well as a cap of trace every 4 days or so. Currently Tank is diatom and algae free, i didn’t need to clean the class after the Nerite snails we introduced. For feeding: Spirulina flake, specturm sinking algae wafers, spectrum small and medium size pellets, frozen daphnia, frozen mysis, frozen plankton, frozen combo cube and fruit flies when the cultures are large. Feb 15/16 Added a Aponogeton boivinianus, Feb 16/16 Did 25% water change with 1 cap of prime Continue to add 1 cap of Flourish excel, and flourish trace every couple days. Feb 17/16 Planted unnamed plant from Aquarium central. Long single stems with single leaves, grow quite tall. They described it as a weed. Pulled it all out, didn’t look right. Drip acclimatized 4 male congo tetras from Arnold. Feb 21/16 Added another smaller Aponogeton boivinanus and an anubias. I feel like the planting is done and time to leave and wait for grow out. The marsilea has grown a new leaf so they are alive. Many of the original leaves have dies. I left the lights on for more then 24 hours straight and have a slight bit of green algae on the glass and rocks, but very minor. Feb 23/16 30% water change with 1 cap of prime March 1/16 40% water change with 1 cap of prime Aponogeton grows extremely fast March 4/16 Drip acclimatized 2 Whiptail Catfish Drip acclimatized 3 Otocinclus Drip acclimatized 20 snails: Ramshorn, brown nerite, sun snails, turtle snails March 6/16 Drip acclimatized 2 female goby Drip acclimatized 1 Whiptail Catfish Drip acclimatized 2 sun snails and 15 malaysian trumpet snails Noticed small amount of staghorn algae growing on the aponogeton close to the highest light area in the tank, and good flow area. Continue to dose Flourish excel 1 cap per day. May increase dose to 2 caps. Which is indicated and may slow the staghorn.

Jan 19/2016 Ammonia 0.1 Nitrite 3.3 off the chart Nitrate 110 off the chart Performed test on cycled tank to check accuracy. Nitrite 0 Poured remaining Stability, probably 10 caps Put 12 drops house cleaner ammonia. Thinking about it, probably not necessary as the ADA is leaching ammonia like crazy and that is why the Nitrite and Nitrate is so high. Jan 20/2016 Did 75% water change 3 caps of Prime in Tub Planted another cup of Marselia. Levels after water change: Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate 50-110 mg/l Only leaving FX5s on. Jan 22/2016 Nitrite 33 off the chart Added 4oz Smart Start Jan 24/2016 Did 40% water change with 2 caps of Prime in Tub Planted: Tropica cup Hygrophila araguaia. Anubias cup Cryptocoryne parva. Added 1oz Excel Added 4 caps Smart Start Nitrite 0.3 Nitrate 20 Jan 26/2016 Morning Nitrate 5 lowest on scale Nitrite 0.1 lowest on scale Phosphate 0 Evening Poured the remaining smart start Drip acclimatized 8 congo tetras 1 hour Drip acclimatized 5 amano shrimp 1 hour Accepted very little spectrum fish pellets Spit out spirulina flake A few fed on frozen daphnia They spent the majority of the time in the bottom left front corner Jan 28/16 Ammonia 0.1 Nitrite 0.1 Fish eat fruit flies, daphnia, mysis if not too large Does not eat Spectrum in micro or small pellets Saw an Amano shrimp dead.

Tank Journal Set up started Dec 30/2015 Dec 30/2015 ADA, Sand, Wood added All hardware added and running Water added with prime, and cycle bacteria Both FX6’s have activated carbon, one with 200ml of purigen, excess bio media Temp at 78 degrees Flow is low from the filters with so much media likely need another powerhead Will clean filters at 2 weeks with water change Leave lights off at this stage Jan 1/2016 Ammonia 3.7 Added 2600GPH powerhead Added whisper 10 air pump under FX6 outputs Jan 5/2016 Ammonia 6 Jan 8/2016 Did 50% water change with Prime Jan 12/2016 Ammonia 3 Added recommended amount of Seachem Stability Jan 13/2016 Ammonia 3 Added 2 cups of Smart Start Complete Jan 14/2016 Did 50% water change with Prime Added 1 cup of Smart Start Complete Added 4 caps of Seachem Stability Ammonia 1.2 right after Jan 15/2016 Added 1 cup Smart Start Complete Added a pour of Seachem Stability Added 20 water lettuce,3 java fern, 7 small crypts Ammonia 1.2 Jan 16/2016 Added 1 cup of Smart start Complete Added a small pour of Seachem Stability Added a Tropica cup of Marsalia cut up in 50 or more pieces. First full day of timed light on the tank. From 3 to 11. Jan 17/2016 Ammonia 0.6

Bought two yesterday. 1 cup goes a lot farther then I thought. So I didn't need to use the second. Willing to trade for Cabomba, and other healthy plants. Please let me know. Devon

Did my first 50% water change today. Ammonia was at 6 (ppm i believe) so quite high. The ADA releases it well. Nothing interesting will be going on in there for another month or so. I have been toying with the idea of a purigen reactor, and other types of reactors. I'm starting to think that they will mostly be just an expense that isn't necessary for what I'm doing.

Thank you. I'm starting to look into ways to reduce water changes using reactors etc. We'll see. The ADA is 4 inches at its thickest.

Hi, its been a while since I've done a large fresh water aquarium. I've spent a few years on Terrariums and Salt. This tank is 180 gallons 2 Fluval 36 inch two bulb T5 2 Fluval FX6, 1 Ross mount M2600 2 200 watt, Ehiem heaters 4 Bags ADA Amazonia 2 Bags Carib sea light colored sand Rock collected from a mountain top several years ago in Banff Malaysian wood. Whisper 10 air pump This tank is going to be low tech. Java fern, Anubias, Marsilea, moss, a few stem plants and possibly Cabomba. I enjoy the hardscape so much that I will start planting sparsely. Future Fauna: 10-20 Congo tetras as the display fish 25-100 amano shrimp 10-30 otocinclus 5 bamboo shrimp 10-20 dwarf chain loaches The Outtakes and Power head are on the right side of the tank moving water to the left. Currently the tank is filled. The FX6's have activated carbon and purigen for the first month. Lights are off for the month and currently the NH3 is at 3.7ppm. At 2 weeks I will check the NH3 again and do a 50% water change. At 4 weeks I will check: NH3, NO3 and NO2 do a water change. And consider turning the lights on and adding some plants.

Calgary isn't an issue. What can you do?

Hi. My buddy has a 65 gallon tall salt on his dressor. He is moving and getting married this month. As a wedding present a nice stand would be great. Aquarium illusions has a turnover of more then 5 weeks right now. Do you know of someone or are you someone that can build a stand. Let me know Thankyou Devon

green fire tetra emerald eye rasbora 2 best schooling fish i've seen i keep emeralds

It took 3 days of building. I was in a manic state where i started in the morning when i woke up and ended late at night 3 days in a row. Then tweaking there after.

This is a 44 gallon corner. The background is carved out of styrofoam. Painted with grout, then quickcrete to seal. Rock is epoxied onto it. Clay and soil mix smeared for texture. There is tubing plumbed into the background for the canister filter which moves the stream water from left to right. THere is also an external fogger plumbed and hidden in the background. When its on it spreads over the stream water and stays there due to the affinity with the water. There is a large hide underground with an entrance in the back corner of the tank. I have a heat pad stuck to the outside left wall. With a thermostat for the winter. Right now it is off. I sealed the water away from the rest with a waterproofing plastic that is siliconed in place. Right now in the stream are 6 white cloud minnows, which are beside themselves happy as their natural habitat is cool running streams in the mountains of asia. My plan from the beginning was a rough green tree snake. The humidity is currently too high. I will have to run a computer fan to decrease the stagnant humid air if i continue with this plan. I can foresee many water top ups during the week if this is the case. Maybe red eye tree frogs. Thanks Devon

Buddy is dealing with Rod. Glad its working out for you guys. Maybe you can order my piece for me.

That company pisses me off. First piece i ordered came in good time. Second piece i ordered 6 weeks ago. Every week apologies and excuses for not shipping. Now the company will not get back to me and my project is on hold. The pieces have a lot of character. But my costumer service is experience has been horrible. I'm really surprised to see you got a shipment. I'm confused.

Thank you all for your responses. I have found a guy in the US that bought it bulk and is selling it in smaller portions on Ebay the title is "1/4" Wide Clear Polypropylene Mesh For Tank Screen Tops." It looks really sharp and i'm getting 2* 22*40 pieces with shipping for $30.00 US. I will post a pic once it is in use. Devon

the driftwood store online has the best selection, great prices, and easy shipping. But right now they are experiencing management issues and they still haven't shipped my most recent order that was 4 weeks ago.

I'm looking for 1/4 inch or so clear plastic mesh. It is sometimes sold a bird netting. The only stuff i've been able to find in the city is black. Does anyone have a roll of this, or know where to get it. I now have rainbow fish and don't want them jumping out of my topless tank. Right now a huge net is just draped over the top.

Jerry. In my opinion. They are a good concept but poorly developed. The light they come with is less then adequate unless you want a non planted tank with dark gloomy area's in the corners. Even with the lights redone DIY style i still think that most are lacking. Also yes you would need to put a heater in. And cleaning the unwanted calcium deposits in the difficult areas would not be fun or easy.

Thanks I originally wanted something like glass catfish (5) or hatchet fish(5) but realize they are not good options for that size of tank. I wanted something different, and eery feeling. Like 5 glass catfish schooling in the middle. But they are far to large and finicky of a fish to do it. The hatchet fish jump, and i'm planning on leaving a small part of the tank open at the top to feed and such, they would find a way out for sure. This tank is 6.6 gallons. 24*24*4 inches. I have been thinking killis but don't know where to start really. The furcata rainbows are a good choice as well, that is something to think about. Celestial danios have also crossed my mind. Neons would be a good choice but i have had them before, and also spite them due to their popularity. They also get sick easy. I'm busy in my life right now and will probably not get around to fish for 3 weeks or so. Which is good since the tank needs to cycle and the plants that don't like their new conditions die.

I will let it run for a couple weeks and think about what kind of fish.

Hi Jay. Just my 2 cents. I have a high tech system with pressurized CO2 and 3 watts per gallon of high output fluorescent. I attempted the EI method and found it overdosed the system too much, caused fish stress, algae blooms and unclear water. I stopped doing it, just dosing Nitrate on occasion. And my tank is more healthy, clear, and stable now. I now do not agree with EI and the overdose. I will just dose according to algae. And understanding that with my low fish load i need some nitrate. Phosphate seemed to stress the fish and cause algae.

Don't know if this is what you have in mind, but it comes to mine. Having something like tiger vals in the corners growing up and then curling toward the centre of the tank at the surface. Would have a presence without taking up space for the discus to swim.