devocole

Well it is finally here. It has been a long process, I originally ordered an ADA set up but it fell through and got this one made by aquarium illusions. I think the builder did a solid job on the stand and I now prefer the starfire glass to the ADA tanks. It has taken me almost 8 months to accumulate the equipment for this set up as it was very costly but i wanted to get it right the first time. The dimensions are 36*18*18, 50 gallon. Tek lighting T5 HO, 4*39 watts for total of 156. 5lb CO2 diffused with a DIY PVC inline. Calaqua Lab Lilly pipes and drop checker. ADA Amazonia Soil and Power Sand. Inline 200 watt hydor heater. Eheim classic 2215 Right now my issues are: 1. Will 2215 have enough flow for the whole tank and would it be possible to hook up my extra ecco 2232 via a Y connector on the same route. 2. Right now i have legs for my Tek and would prefer a hanging arm. Which involves bending steel or conduit rods, if anyone has experience or confidence send me some advice. 3. And most importantly where to find my hardscape. Right now i'm thinking i would like to make an Iwagumi type scape (rock and foreground plants) but not the typical type. I'd like to try and make something that looks kind of like a real mountain scape. Using dwarf hairgrass for fields, HC for leafy trees, and flame moss for evergreens. So right now i'm trying to find rock that would make good mountains, and once that is done, i'll order a bunch of flame moss off the internet. I have the rest. This journal will most likely be dry for a while.

I'm trying to put photos on from photo bucket. Don't you just click the image code, then paste it onto the page. Its not working for me. Any advice?

Hi there. I always suggest hygrophilla to start. It grows like crazy, and in no time you will be able to propagate it just by cutting the stems and planting them. I've had that variety for a long time and it rarely gets algae issues and can handle any light. It even grew just fine for me under an incandescent bulb. Which come to my next point, healthy plants need fluorescent lighting. Other low light varieties are java fern and anubias which are nice plants but will grow slower. Try not to buy them from a store, they are super expensive. Throw a shout out to members to see if they have some they are willing to spare or sell.

I've blacked it out once before, it seemed to work okay. I usually just use maracyn for a few days and never see the stuff again. I've never had fish deaths. All the other methods are such a pain.

RO is not necessary. Just de-chlorinate it.

I have two 5 gallon nano's. One has Hygrophila, Java fern, Java moss, Anubias nana, and anubias nana petite. The other is a pauladarium with ivy, Java moss, Dwarf hygrophila, pennywort, Java fern, and not so thriving hair grass. One has a hang on aquaclear, the other has a cheapo submersible hagan (12 bucks at Big als). I have fluorite in both with soil underneath( probably not really necessary). Shrimp in both tanks, green and cherry. As for lighting i have incandescent hoods that accommodate two bulbs. I use cheap dollar store fluorescent bulbs at 9 watts, 18W total then, if i could find less wattage i would try them. For these tanks i don't do any CO2, or dosing and they are pretty fabulous. I'll try to start a journal soon or post some updates. With these types of plants it works quite well other then the hair grass, i've got it growing good in high tech systems but not well in this one. But the pennywort is described to be very difficult and requires high light according to tropica, but it is doing just fine and is spreading, just slower growth. So with all that said, and with my experience with small tanks 2 things stand out. 1. Have adequate widespread flow, the little hagan is perfect for a 5 gallon. Without good glow the pennywort rotted and i got BGA, now with good flow its spreading and everything looks great, it also keeps the substrate from looking messy with detritus. 2. Not too much light. I've found that it just invites algae. So use as little as possible, but enough that it works. Hope this helps Devon Good luck.

I can see why he is your favorite. Very attractive fish. Do you have decoration plans or are you going to keep it empty?

Kevin if you get this figured out, i would love to know the details.

thanks guys. Kayens is lookin pretty cheap. Also its just a 10 gallon, any other ideas are welcome.

I'm setting up a tank just for growing out plants that i pick up. It is out of site (open closet). What can i do that will have adequate light to grow anything but still be good and cheap. Cheers

Let me know if you find a solution. Its a hard thing to do, almost impossible.

Where do you suppose this guy came from. Found him in my filter. I'm not overly surprised that its there, my tank is like a jungle with drift wood, plants and fish from everywhere and everyone. But i've had the tank running for 2 months now and this is the first time i've seen it. At first i thought it was a deformed shrimp. I put it back in the tank because it looked too small to do any harm, mabe 1cm long. This is what it looks like: http://www.narbeck.org/Bugs/Bug%20Gallery/...elfly_larva.jpg Anybody found one of these in a tank before?

I had green water for weeks. Figured it was due to poor filtration. Put a canister filter on and no more green water.

You can buy cement coloring, i've used in doing concrete work, it comes as a powder and you mix in into the cement, it will also work for the background. My only concern for you is that it may not be easy to buy in small amounts. Inquire to specialty cement/concrete stores. Regards Devon

Yup i've got it too. Although still in the preliminary stages as compared to most of you (still small tanks). Started out with a 1 gallon beta and a 3 gallon eclipse planted. Took those down and got a 6 gallon planted, then 2-5 gallons planted. And i just can't stop. I'm having a 50 gallon custom made right now. I only live in an apartment so i'm going to ditch the TV and stand and put that in its place. oops, and i forgot about the 30 gallon that i bought in the meantime to play with until my 50 comes. I think i have a problem.

At the winter formal with my best buddy. Devon

I'm not going to pretend that i know anything about cichlids. But rams are not too big, very colorful and from what i know, breed easily. Maybe a pair in a 10 gallon.

What is the lighting, filtration, substrate, flora, fauna, do you dose anything?

My Place stinks today too. Its because i removed some Blue green algae. It is very stinky stuff. Might be something to look out for.

So it sounds like algae is here to stay then to a certain extent. I should do an experiment and be very diligent; dose and WC on a very fixed schedule and see if that helps. Its just soo hard to keep up. As for BN and siamese algae eaters. I don't like plecos (sorry) and my tanks at the moment are too small, when i get my 50 gallon i want small fish as well, no larger then 3 inches. As for algicide and peroxide, i imagine they would work but i don't want to add that with fish in the tank. Baos i might contact you about plant rinses with peroxide before adding to a tank. Certain scapes i don't mind the algae, it fits in, but in others that i have it just does not look good.

Alright its been 8 months or so since i've been in the hobby. And i've never really been algae free. People comment on how clean my tanks look etc, but that is because i keep them that way. So my question is, has anyone experienced being algae free for an extended period of time? Say 4 months straight etc? And if so what is your formula. Slowly but surely i'm learning the ropes, too much light, too little flow etc, but i need to learn more. Thanks Devon

Hi guys, thanks for the comments. As for filtration it has an aquaclear mini. Its well concealed behind the "wood wall." JVision, when you say aged aquarium water. Does that mean using water that has been left out for some time in a bucket etc, or from another tank? Could you fill me in on the details of that. As for fish, i'm still a bit stuck. You guys seem to like both ideas. As for Killifish, i imagine they would get more use out of the aquascape as they would explore etc. In my experience Rasboras/Tetras just like to hang out in open water. But that was my original purpose for this tank, having the lush background with open space in the front for rasboras. As for Corys. I had pigmys once and they just hid all the time, not what i want for this one. I figure next time i got to Natures or ALs, it will just come to me. I never have a problem spending money once if get there. Devon

This new 5 gallon is 3 weeks old. It looks far better in person, its hard to show depth in the pictures with this one. It is essentially a drift wood background with java fern, java moss, anubias nana, and anubias nana petite tied into it. Growing in the very back is hygrophila. Also the glass of the tank is very scratched. Substrate is an inch of partially mineralized soil and black fluorite. Hope you like it. Also I have not been able to decide what kind of fish to put in. So far i'm thinking either a pigy rasbora species, or a nice killifish couple. Hit me with some ideas.

From what i've read and heard. Otocinclus is the only true algae eaters. It eats algae by trade. They are small and gentle and do a good job.

looks great boom. Where did you get the rocks.