[Tex Gal]

Just beautiful.

I was intrigued to read about your algae/CO2 issues. I think we are all just too afraid to crank up the CO2. I began to get algae a while ago and had to replace a regulator. With the new one I thought I had it up but didn't see the algae going away like I thought it should. I ended up with TNTC bps and things calmed down. Like you said drop checker was yellow. Fish, cat fish and shrimp all fine. Still I felt very nervous about the entire thing. I've decided that the drop checker is the place to START. From there you increase. Once you see what the plant like you use the drop checker to keep it there. It goes without saying that you watch your fish. (thought I better say if "for those in Rio Lindo").

Ok so now the ? is - how are you gonna get all your babies out of the tank? You know they breed like rabbits. Once they start you can't stop them.

 

[helgymatt]

Excellent tank! You're right the white pvc is distracting, but if its "home" what do you do Very bold colors and you seem to make the huge number of species in there work just fine in a natural kind of way! I enjoy tanks that seem like the plants are growing how they would naturally. I love the Rotala vietnam...I was about to get some before I learned my SAE's would probably eat it to bits.

Is that some kind of mini rotala front and center?

 

[foofooree]

How beautiful!

 

[BryceM]

I've been ok keeping Rotala sp. 'Vietnam' with SAE's but I fail misserably with Rotla wallachi every time. They've never touched it.

 

[Acuaholic]

Wow that tank looks magnificent.
I am current 1 month into a 210g planted.
I just love your tank and hope my looks at least 1/2 as good I made my own spray bar for the outflow on an fx5 except its up top, and I am not very happy with it, for the first time I vseen someone put a spray bar down by the substrate, Does it work pretty well? which way are the holes positioned? oh an are you selling any of the manzita you pulled out?

P.S.. Did I mention that you tank is stunning LOL

 

[BryceM]

Ah the spraybar...... Well, it seems to work well enough. Since I first set up the tank the flow seems to be significantly reduced - probably a combination of plant growth and gunk buildup along the lines. I've been thinking I need to disassemble the plumbing to clean it out. What really worries me is that there isn't a filter on the closed-loop system other than the inlet strainer. Anything that makes it's way into the loop can get caught inside the spraybar. Except for a complete tear-down, there isn't any way to clean it out.

I built it so that the small holes point upward. The only problem I see with this is that the flow along the front glass is straight down, which tends to deposit debris right at the foreground. In actual practice it seems to work OK, but I'd change things if I did it again. I don't like the big white pipe coming up over the back edge. I can hide it with plants, but it does limit my 'scape a bit.

If I did things over, I'd probably go with a sort of custom reef-ready setup with bulkheads for the closed loop. I'd build a full-length surface skimmer along the back for outflow and build the spraybar so that it tee's up from the bottom or back wall. I'd also set it a bit lower so that it's almost completely covered by the substrate. If I did it with a threaded tee, it would be a simple matter to unscrew the thing to clean it out once in a while. OK, I'd basically need to climb inside the tank to do it, but it would be possible.

 

[foofooree]

Wow, a full length surface skimmer would be insane

 

[Raul-7]

Wow, a full length surface skimmer would be insane

It's already in practice. I think it's called a Calfo overflow after the hobbyist who invented it.

 

[Jessie]

Bryce,

Your tank is still absolutely stunning! Congrats on the fry, too! That Laegenandra just knocks my socks off.

I'll have to keep an eye out on the FS/Trade forum here to see if anyone has any.

Do you find it to be especially challenging/needing any special treatment?

 

[BryceM]

Yeah it needs special treatment. A few days ago I was wishing that the weed-wacker would fit down inside the aquarium. Left alone the plant would engulf the entire tank in only a few weeks. I usually cut off 5 or 6 palm-size leaves per month. It's got to be one of the fastest growing plants I've ever tried.

 

[Tex Gal]

So what did you do with all your 'Moliwe' babies? It seems that the parents are quite adept at sustaining a large survival rate for their young. Then the young grow up and start to breed.... It's a good thing you have a 180g!

 

[BryceM]

The babies are still in there. They're actually not all that big yet - maybe about the size of a neon tetra. Ever since the parents chased them off it's been almost impossible to count them. I know there are at least six or seven - probably more. At this point they're big enough that they're just part of the community. The two parents (maybe it's the same two) are ready to "go again". I expect eggs in the next few days. Their breeding coloration is really quite stunning.

One interesting thing I learned is that this particular species shows a strong preference to breed with their siblings in a natural environment. It's not what you'd expect from an evolutionary point of view but it seems to work for them. In the study, when sibling fish were available they had a 4:1 preference to interbreed.

 

[rekles75]

This was the best 2 and a 1/2 hours I have spent in a while. This was a very informative thread, I really enjoyed it. I do have to say I would really like to get another look at the equiptment used and the setup of the WC system. But other than that very impressive build.

 

[Kaptain Karl]

Outstanding tank, and a well thought through setup. I am on the verge of converting over a 220 reef tank (7 years now) to a planted tank. Mainly because I want to do something new. I picked up one of Amano's books at a LFS and that really planted a desire in my head to do one.

Now that your tank has been setup for awhile, do you look back and say "I would have done this differently"?

I did hear you mention the surface skimming and closed loop - I have both on my tank now, with a sump. I had heard the possibility of an overflow/sump setup gassing out too much CO2? THe level in my overflow is high, so there is no "waterfall efect", and the exit pvc in the sump is very large diameter to gradually slow the flow as it exits. Hopefully this will help?

As for lighting - tank currently has 3 250 watt HQI's running (tank is 29" deep). Overkill for a planted tank? THinking of some T-5 fixtures instead?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

PS As a professional pilot, I am deeply jealous of your P-51 ride! Its on my "bucket list".

 

[BryceM]

Thanks for all the comments everyone.

As far as equipment goes, there are a few things I'm perfectly happy with. The canopy, lighting, Hydor heaters, Eheim classic canister filters and the pH controller are all working exactly as planned. I'd probably go with a 40W instead of a 15W UV system - not for algae but to better combat fish parasites. I picked up some sort of bug with some wild-caught rams.

The RO unit and 105g reservoir also turned out to be the right choice for my particular situation. The size of aquarium is perfect for what I want. I don't really see the advantage of going bigger except for maybe in a large industrial or commercial setting.

If I did it again, I'd put the closed-loop pump on the other side of the wall to cut down on noise. I'd also move the drain and fill valves to a position where I could reach them without climbing inside the cabinet. I might consider going with a reef-ready setup with bulkheads to hide some of the piping, but there are potential issues with that too.

K. Karl,

250W x 3 HQI isn't ridiculous provided your CO2 and fertilizing plan is SPOT ON. I'd probalby only run that for 4 or 5 hours per day though. Use a few small bulbs for regular viewing beyond that and you'll be ok. Cover the sump and leave only a small opening to allow pressure to equalize and you'll be ok there too.

 

[ingg]

Boy I wish I knew how you did that to Meeboldii. I know of no one that grows it like it grows in your tank.

 

[Phil Edwards]

Karl,

I'll second what Bryce has said. I'm running a 2x 250w HQI on my 90g right now and the tank's doing REALLY well. Better, in fact, than my tank with PC lighting and ADA substrate. My photoperiod's 5 hours a day and I've only got two spots where there's noticable algae and I blame that on low photosynthesis due to under-supplimenting potassium and magnesium (it's good for teeth, bones, and chlorophyll production!). You'll definitely need to be on top of your nitrogen and phosphorus dosing though, there's a lot of potential for big algae problems if things get out of whack.

On the topic of sumps, I've run both open and closed/sealed sumps on my planted tanks and haven't found there to be much difference between the two. One of my early efforts at high tech tanks used a little plastic trash bin filled with lava rock that was put inside a 20 long. If there was going to be any offgassing that would definitely have had it. Things grew really well in that tank, better than some of my later attempts. In the end CO2's cheap but filters aren't. If you've got a sump already plumbed into your system keep it. It'll take many many many years (we're talking a decade or more) to go through enough CO2 to match the added cost of buying canisters big enough to handle a 220.

Regards,
Phil

 

[Kaptain Karl]

Thanks for the input guys. I have a friend with a reef tank who wants my HQI setup. I may be trading for his 72" Aquatinics Constellation T5 fixture. Up to 14 39w bulbs. The nice thing I would like about this fixture is the ability to really mix and match bulbs to get perfect lighting. It also has the capability to turn on two banks of lights at a time, so I could step up/down the lighting intensity during the photoperiod. I think with the HQI, I don't have near that kind of control. Plus, with the HQI (and me being kind of new to planted aquaria) things could get out of whack fast if I'm NOT spot on with everything else. What do you think?


Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the build thread.

 

[adechazal]

Bryce your aquarium is beautiful! Would you mind posting an update on your current fertilizer routine? If it's the same as your last post on the subject just say so and I'll dig it up. I have an Oceanic reef ready (dual overflows) 180g (60"x29"x20) freshwater planted w/EcoComplete that has been up for 1.5 years and it's doing pretty well but I would love to get it to the next step. Trouble is mine's built into the livingroom wall so it has to look at least ok ALL the time since everyone sees it.

If you're open to a PM or even a phone call some time let me know. There seem to be relatively few folks out there running 180+g planted aquaria. BTW I am also using EcoComplete and have a mix of well water and R/O so admittedly I'd like to follow your lead.
-Aaron

 

[BryceM]

adechazal,

Sure, send me a PM anytime. How about posting some photos of your setup and 'scape? For the record, I'm currently doing this:

20% waterchange 3x/week. With each waterchange I use 100% RO water and add:

CaCl2 - 1/4 tsp
CaSO4 - 1.5 tsp
MgSO4 - 1 tsp
NaHCO3 - 1.5 tsp
K2SO4 - 1/2 tsp

I mix the above dry goods into airtight small bags about once per month. The recipe changes every few months depending on KH, Ca:Mg ratios, etc.

With each WC I also add 1.6 ppm NO3 via a KNO3 solution and 0.6 ppm of PO4 via a KH2PO4 solution.

On the other days (3/week), I add 60ml of Tropica Master Grow (or whatever they call it now) and 30ml of Flourish Iron.