Getting Frustrated...and Hello! - Page 6 - New to Planted Aquariums

C.Anderson · 05-14-2008, 08:04 AM

Perhaps they are still cycling and I'm just not aware? I know my big tank here, with mostly new substrate (I'll admit, of the decorations I did use, they all came from the 130gal) has tested 0 ammonia from the start (I test that daily for the first few weeks just in case), which has been almost a full week now. Nitrites and Nitrates all show within range on my charts as well? I utilized two fully loaded existing filters the guy I bought the 300gal was using, plus the FX5 which had been supporting all my fish on the 130gal. It has been a few years since I've kept fish (maybe I'm making a mistake and not realizing it?), and when I first started back I made some silly mistakes with stocking etc, but the tank was already established when I bought it (the filter media was already supporting a large amount of fish), and I did reuse approximately 50gal of the water from the existing tank. However, I did also completely change the substrate when I bought the 130gal tank...

One thing I didn't mention is that I do intend a 30-50% water change daily for the first few weeks on the 13gal tank regardless. I've never kept so many small fish at once, and I know smaller tanks tend to be harder than larger tanks to keep stable anyhow =/. Maybe that's why my bigger tanks have 'cycled' without me realizing it? On the 130gal I ended up doing a water change what seemed every other day (just to be safe, plus I was fighting the discoloration of that Mopani!), and I've been having issues with one of these Rena XP3's leaking constantly on the 300gal so it's been in a constant state of being topped off lol. All I know is that I'm testing religiously, and the numbers are showing ok?

Maybe 'mild' cycling would be a better word? It's probably just my relative inexperience talking in the long run though lol. =)

On the multiple tank/filter thing....I would like to do that, and intend to if it's a realistic goal. This little tank has it's own setup which I'll use for now though (until I can research how exactly to go about linking the others safely...I still need to make/order them). I'm researching trying to use this 405 on all three tanks (overkill I know, but I have it and am stuck with it so...). I'd keep things setup with valves in the piping so that in an emergency I could utilize a small internal filter when an issue arose with one tank or another. The main reason I wanted to 'link' them is that filtering options for the tiny tanks is something I'll need to learn about, and I already have this brand new 405 lol. Seriously makes me wish the front opening on this stand was larger. I'd rather have one 29-55gal tank with internal dividers than 3 tanks that add up to the same volume =/.

Cris

C.Anderson · 05-14-2008, 02:41 PM

Couple new tank pictures. Ignore the cheesy layout of the plants in the 300gal as they sit lol. I just need a place to keep them until the new driftwood comes in and I can start building a real aquascape!

Now it's just a matter of waiting for my fish/plant/driftwood orders to come in so I can get started!

Cris

BryceM · 05-14-2008, 03:05 PM

To avoid new-tank algae issues I'd recommend starting with an enormous quantity of fast-growing species. Based on what you already have, I'd recommend about 20 times this many plants.

Obviously this isn't strictly necessary, but it sure goes a long way to startup success.

C.Anderson · 05-14-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guaiac_boy

To avoid new-tank algae issues I'd recommend starting with an enormous quantity of fast-growing species. Based on what you already have, I'd recommend about 20 times this many plants.

Obviously this isn't strictly necessary, but it sure goes a long way to startup success.

Do you just slowly weed them out after a certain amount of time goes by? I'm hoping 'minimal' light and relatively quickly growing plants will do what I need. Hoping is the key word lol. Guess we'll have to see how it goes.

I do plan on possibly quadrupling (probably more, depends on how the actual wood shapes up!) the number of plants in the tank. I'm also thinking of some kind of ground cover over certain areas of the tank as well. Petite nana's or maybe glosso? I'm on the lookout for some kind of short, 'grassy' plant as well for a mid ground. I've come to the determination that I don't have 'three separate 100gal tanks' to decorate...I've got SIX separate 50gal tanks I'm dealing with. Having both sides viewable means my 'backdrop' is the middle of the tank lol. Gusss I could have picked an easier one to start with =).

Anyhow, keep the advice coming. I'm trying to take it all in and working on each part piece by piece as I can!

Cris

BryceM · 05-14-2008, 06:45 PM

Oh baby. If you plant glosso in that thing you'd better get some SCUBA gear. You'll be living at the bottom trying to keep it all trimmed. Petite nana would be fabulous but finding enough to get the job done will be most difficult, not to mention expensive. There are a few smaller species of crypts that would work nicely too - low maintenence and relatively easy to keep.

Blyxa japonica would be a nice foreground/midground grassy type plant. It requires thinning & trimming every 2 or 3 months usually. Some Eliocharis species are good too.

Tex Gal · 05-14-2008, 07:18 PM

Another good foreground type plant is dwarf chain sword. It spread quickly and is easy to grow. It's much cheaper than nana petite, doesn't require trimming like blyxa. It's a similar look to blyxa. It will have to be thinned occasionally as it spreads by runners.

With a tank that big, one of the things I think you need to remember is scale. IE. HC in that large of a tank would just get lost. It would give you a green mat, but all the detail is too small for such a huge tank. Course that's just my humble opinion. I think it's better to have achieve the look of the green WHILE enjoying the details. With bigger tanks you need bigger details. Does that make sense.

I know you said the bubbles where going - I really think they are distracting. The plants are much prettier than the big bubble lines. You eye goes right to the bubbles. Just a thought...

C.Anderson · 05-14-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guaiac_boy

Oh baby. If you plant glosso in that thing you'd better get some SCUBA gear. You'll be living at the bottom trying to keep it all trimmed. Petite nana would be fabulous but finding enough to get the job done will be most difficult, not to mention expensive. There are a few smaller species of crypts that would work nicely too - low maintenence and relatively easy to keep.

Blyxa japonica would be a nice foreground/midground grassy type plant. It requires thinning & trimming every 2 or 3 months usually. Some Eliocharis species are good too.

I just picked up two pieces of Petite nana from Fordtrannyman on this site (along with a bunch of other pieces) for a great price. How long does it take to cultivate? I mean, if I grew it in the guppy tank to take advantage of the ability to provide it more light and nutrients? Guess I'll find out soon enough lol.

So, the plants I have now include:
7 stems Asian Ambulia
2 Petite Nana
1 Anubis Nana
1 Tropic Sunset
1 LARGE Apon Ulvaceus (thanks again Tex Gal!!)
4 or so bunches of Baby Tears
2 bunches of a similar plant that is supposed to be the same, just stays smaller
5 bunches of some Val or other from Petco
1 Water Wisteria
2 Green Ludwigia
1 Water Primrose
2 Onion Plants
5 Milifoil (growing like weeds btw, along with the onions)

And to think...this isn't even a dent in what I need to do justice for this driftwood =).

On a final note, here's a picture of the 13gal tank setup almost complete. All that's left is to make a sliding front fact to block the top 4" of opening so the tank is perfectly framed.

After that it's time to order/build the two smaller tanks, and look into filtering for them. Maybe a drop in filter would be the best bet for now. Can't wait till my Endler's come. I've also got Cherry shrimp, and a couple of cool colored snails coming to add as well. Going to be fun =).

Cris

Oh, just for fun here's the best aquatic photo I've ever taken in my life lol (helped that the subject is as lazy as they come!!). My new Sailfin Pleco on the center piece Mopani, hiding behind a Milifoil.

Fun!

C.Anderson · 05-14-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex Gal

Another good foreground type plant is dwarf chain sword. It spread quickly and is easy to grow. It's much cheaper than nana petite, doesn't require trimming like blyxa. It's a similar look to blyxa. It will have to be thinned occasionally as it spreads by runners.

With a tank that big, one of the things I think you need to remember is scale. IE. HC in that large of a tank would just get lost. It would give you a green mat, but all the detail is too small for such a huge tank. Course that's just my humble opinion. I think it's better to have achieve the look of the green WHILE enjoying the details. With bigger tanks you need bigger details. Does that make sense.

I know you said the bubbles where going - I really think they are distracting. The plants are much prettier than the big bubble lines. You eye goes right to the bubbles. Just a thought...

Makes total sense...that's one reason I switched to larger driftwood. It will help bring everything else into scale. It's also why I'm going to use a lot of smaller schooling fish, rather than try to go with just 'larger fish'. The schoolers 'appear' as one entity to the eye, but are far more active and mobile. 20-30 Neons, Endler's...up to maybe 10 Boesmani Rainbows...then the large, ultra active, silver reflective Columbian Sharks to act as a foil for the more colorful littler fish.

On the plants...keep naming all you can that you think will fit lol! I'm making a small library to source from little by little =). The dwarf chain one was a good suggestion...maybe I'll mix it with the petite nana for a nice effect...sort of like this:

I like that look a good bit...particularly with the angular and exotic driftwood making the whole thing flow! Also, instead of the big bubbles out of a bubble wand...I thought about hiding these all over (plus I'll be prepared for Co2 if I ever go that route!):

You get the benefit of some oxygenation (if your plants don't cover it), and the look of teeny tiny bubbles that float upwards so slowly it looks like they're running through molasses =). I can't get the kind of small bubble curtain I wanted originally with my substrate the way it is...instead they're HUGE. Turning the pressure down does no good...the wands have to be too deep in the soilmaster select because of how light it is. Sooo....the bubbles are nixed! Plus I think two nice spray bars, and the kinds of plants I'll have will still give me a lot of motion and activity as you said.

Cris

C.Anderson · 05-15-2008, 03:45 PM

A HUGE thanks again to Tex Gal...I'm quite surprised how impressive this plant is, and what it did for the tank all by itself. The picture doesn't really do it justice. Once I got it situated and spread it out freely it just sort of took over that side of the tank. There's a lot of motion involved as well, it's very dynamic.

And the full tank:

Now I just hope I can keep it alive with only middling light, and no huge doses of fertilizer or C02.

Man I really can't wait to get my driftwood and other plants in!

Cris

C.Anderson · 05-16-2008, 07:47 PM

Wow Tex Gal...this Apon Ulvaceus grows like mad!!! When I planted it the flowers were literally 1/2" long. Today, right now (appx 29hrs later) the flowers are almost 4" long. On top of that, I've got almost 5 new shoots that I assume will be leaves coming out, and 3 of the previous shoots are now unfolding into new leaves and have grown appx. 2" in length. One thing though, I'll definitely need brighter light lol, if I want any plants beneath it anyhow!

Thanks again =).

Cris