75 Gallon - Coming of age! - Page 3 - Journals

bratyboy2 · 11-01-2009, 09:59 PM

i like the tank nice job

Bunnie1978 · 11-08-2009, 05:20 AM

Thanks, bratyboy!! I'm working hard on it... you know there's always some idea in my head about how it could be better.

Bunnie1978 · 11-08-2009, 05:30 AM

Update on what I have done lately and my current questions/concerns/problems.

First of all, let me say, I've been up since 3am (it's 7:21am now) because I'm sick. I can't breathe well enough to sleep. Yesterday I did a few rearrangings, changed my water flow around a little, and lots of pruning.

Here is what I've got now. There's still some GSA to scrape and some debris floating around, but I was too tired.

I took out the driftwood on the left. It was just not adding anything and was a big obstruction to water flow. When I took it out and cleaned the corner behind it I couldn't believe how dirty it was. I also have a bunch more space to fill, which is good because I have plants coming from aquariumplants.com. Are there any other online retailers of plants that I should be looking at?

A couple critter pics:

I'm hoping this will work towards getting it a little more organized. What do you think???

For fertilization, I found today, that as soon as I put my Flourish Comp in with the water change, the bubbles started showing up on the plants. I'm thinking maybe that is the best indicator of the levels in the water. If my light is great, photosynthesis should be happening right? If no bubbles, add ferts. Is that smart? What do you think?

davemonkey · 11-08-2009, 06:24 AM

Sorry to hear that you are sick. It seems like EVERYONE is sick these days.

Anyway, your plants look great. There are several places to get plants online (including the sale/trade forum here). Aquriumgarden.com is where I used to get plants until I started trading with fellow hobbiests.

I know what you mean about the driftwood, I took ALL of mine out due to the "bulk" of it all. (But I do miss it

)

I would not use bubbling or pearling as an indicator for adding Flourish Comp. Just follow the instructions on the bottle and look for any defficiencies that might indicate the plants need more. Do you use other ferts as well (Flourish Comp is only a micro-nutrient fertilizer....no N, P or K).

Good looking aquascape! Keep up the good work.

-Dave

Bunnie1978 · 11-08-2009, 06:46 AM

Thanks, Dave... I know that I need more than what is recommended on the comp bottle... way more. I have been using Flourish Iron as well. Comp does have N, P2O5, and K2O. The majority of it is K2O, S, and Fe. I'm totally open to something else though!! The Flourish Iron is $9 for an 8.5 oz bottle, and I use it up so quickly - in like a month. Any ideas, references?? I'm cool with mixing or whatever.

Bunnie1978 · 11-08-2009, 06:36 PM

Well, I did alot of reading today on PMDD... I think I'm going to cost it out. If I can afford it, I'll do it. It's got to be cheaper than $10-20 a month!

Bunnie1978 · 11-11-2009, 05:57 PM

So, I got a CO2 tank today, and the regulator had already arived. I got the tank from a fire extinguisher place for $25 and they already had the regular valve for it. They tested it for me too. I got it filled at a welding supply place for $14. So, all together with the new regulator and all hooked up cost about $207. Not bad.... diffusing pretty well I think, but I'm not done tweaking the whole set up. It's coming out in spurts instead of steadily. I think it's because of the brass check valve. Should I keep that? I would really like it to come out steadily. I'm also going to get one of those filter pads for phosphate. Since my bioload is too high, I think that will help balance out the nutrients and starve the algae. I still have massive BGA patches everywhere. Any comments? I'll have pictures soon. I also got a bunch more plants, mostly pink and red ones, plus some HC (WOW is that a pain!) and glosso.

Bunnie1978 · 11-12-2009, 07:25 PM

Orlando at greenleafaquariums.com has all the raw ingredients to make PMDD. How convienent! He also sells a PMDD pre-mix, but it's twice as expensive as making it yourself. That's next on the to-do! Can't wait to see how the new plants do. Here is what I've added:

Heteranthera zosterfolia
Alternanthera reineckii
Echinodorus tenellus
Rotala macrandra v. 'narrow leaf'
Rotala roundifolia
Limnophila hippuroides
Glossostigma elatinoides
Hemianthus callitrichoides
Marsilea quadrifolia

I did take some of it out too. Couple days, once the new plants acclimate, I'll get some pictures. The L. hippuroides look pretty sickly. Some of the stems are ok, but I'm not sure about that one.

Bunnie1978 · 11-16-2009, 04:29 PM

What a week I've had!!

I have to tell you about a few things. I had to treat for BGA with Eurithromyacin. I'm going to start EI dosing, ordered all the stuff and expect it in a day or two. Ordered a python today. No more buckets. With 5 tanks up and running now I should have done that ages and ages ago.

I have a few of the new plants doing really well so far, and one of them that looks like it's melting away. There is a little bit of new growth, so I'm hoping it rebounds ok. It's either the Alternanthera reineckii or the Rotala macrandra v. 'narrow leaf'. Not sure which. Everything is a bit messy right this minute. The BGA is about gone and I'm going to get to work trying to fert correctly so I don't get hit bad again. I guess I was low on nitrates... I wasn't dosing any of that.

I have to tell you about the BUY OF THE CENTURY!!!!

20 gallon tank, Rena XP3 filter, complete CO2 system with a 20lbtank and powerhead, single tube light fixture, stand and a bunch of Kent bottles and food and all that goes with it... Are you ready for this? Eighty dollars. Yes.

OH and inside the tank, dark sand, two plants, decors and TWO BLACK CONVICTS CICHLIDS.

I never had cichlids before. Something new. I love new! I am very adventuresome! Hehe.

Bunnie1978 · 11-18-2009, 08:13 AM

I made some changes to my photoperiod. I'm running the 6700k all day and a noon burst with the 10000k for 4 hours. CO2 on an hour before the lights. I also switched the Rena with the HOB that was on the tank. So, here's an update on my equipment:

Magnum 350 filter, with bio-wheels (should I get rid of those in light of the CO2?)
Rena XP3 filter with spray bar. I'm thinking about joining the output of both into a diy spraybar that runs along the back of the tank, multidirectional. What do you think of that idea?
Pressurized CO2 dispersed with a Penguin 660 powerhead.
4x65w PC light fixture. 10 hours on the 6700k and 4 hour noon burst of the 10000k lights.

I am out of money, so there won't be any new upgrading going on for a while, but I have a list of projects in my head. Some of which won't cost anything. Gotta keep busy right?!