[Gilles]

Update;

It has been 1.5 weeks since i replanted my tank. I had a lot of trouble with dirt floating in the tank but i forgot (e.g. intentionally) to add filter cloth to my sump. Just to see what it did. So now i added the cloth and it is entirely clean. I also ordered a couple of bags of Seachem's Purigen, since it is known to clean water very very good. I have absolutely NO experience with Seachem's products, since they are very very hard to come by here in the Netherlands.

Well.. I measured the parameters today. I am free of the algue, but a new infestation is coming. I measured 5ppm NO3 and >2ppm PO4 which is obviously way to much. The funny/wierd thing is though, that i don't get BGA in return, i get thread/hair algue (e.g. the kind of algue you'd expect when you overdose on nitrates).

Anyway; i am not going to tell you what (in my opinion) is to be improved on this scape, i would love to hear your storys on that. And yes, i know.. My windows are very dirty.

And even though i think this scape can be a lot better, i still wanted to show it to you since i honestly think that you should also show your "lesser" scapes.

These plants are doing a little bit bad right now, but i still would like to show it.

Any criticism is welcome.. i can take it

 

[supersmirky]

Gilles, it's great to see someone who had a tank looking so awesome before has the same problems every once in a while like some of us!

Seriously though, the scape is not that bad. It will look much better once it grows in more and we will be better able to see how it will really look.

The tank just has a wild look vs a planned out looking scape.

 

[zdam20]

Awesome tank journal! Thanks for posting.

 

[Luc]

Goeiesmorregens Gilles,

I noticed that you changed quite a lot in your plumbing.
One in particular is that you're using an internal pump again, not the CV-circulation pump.
Any reason or is that to be read icw your comment that you would change your Bio-Filter setup some time to come?

Just wondering....I'm quite happy with 2 pumps that I have in the sump right now but might in a later stage change that to external and get more filtration.

 

[Gilles]

@Luc; yes i bought myself a new sump a year ago. Although i am very happy with it, i am thinking on starting a new tank, but this is still in the planning.

I measured my water the other day and got the following results:
KH: 4
PH: 6.8
Temp: 28 degrees Celcius (approx. 82.4 Fahrenheit)
NO3: 5
PO4: 2>

So i decided to add some nitrates, to balance the tank. Especially the macrandra is showing the added nitrates. Below you a few photos.

5 days before monday:

Monday (2 days after nitrate addition)

As you can see i still have some algue, but time is on my side

The high temperature is caused by my lightning. I have no heater in my tank. To lower the temperature, i added 2 computer fans which blow over my water. The temperature has since dropped to 25 degrees which equals 77 fahrenheit. Which is a much better temperature for the Rotala Macrandra.

 

[Luc]

Hair-algea it seems, they are not the worst to get.
You could take out the plants, dip them in an algea-killing solution and then rinse before putting them back.
If it really gets over the top with my plants, then I simply take them out, put the leaves (not the roots) in the solution and leave them there for a good 30-60 minutes.
At the same time, I take out all the substrate, rinse/wash it, and fill up the tank again.
Once back in the tank, I put in Fertilizer-capsules and within a week, plants are back up to speed.

I've found that the best way of cleaning up, getting rid of dead leaves and roots, as well as stimulating growth of new leaves.

 

[Luc]

Tank looks great btw, as usual, but forgot to mention it.

 

[Gilles]

Patience is a virtue The new leaves which show up are algue free, i'll post an update after i get some new plants tomorrow.

p.s. it seems that my avatar is not updating as it should; here is the latest data

 

[BenBOMB]

I just went through the whole log and it's an amazing tank that has came a long greatly.

If I had the money I would most certainly do iths.

 

[Luc]

Gilles, how is your shrimp-farm coming along?

 

[Gilles]

Pretty good, but i am moving the entire thing up to my attic. I was one of the people who bought at PlanetInverts and basically got screwed for 350$. They promised me they will pay it back before the 1st of june. Lets wait for that ;0

 

[pminister]

All I can say is WOW ! This is some next level, different dimension setup. Fun to go through the step by step as well. I guess patience does pay itself off, for those who wait.

Tank looks killer ! Keep it up. Can't wait for more updates.

 

[Gilles]

Something tells me my tank is not doing well

So i did a water change of 40%, dimmed my lights to 40% (instead of the maximum level of 80%) and cleaned my filter.

 

[BenBOMB]

Looks like your having a hairalgae problem like me ha

Not to fun.

 

[Luc]

Gilles, said it before:
1. Get an algea-killing solution, put it in a bucket with water.
2. Take out the plants, cut them back as much as possible and then soak them in the solution for 30 minutes. (I only soak the algea-covered part, not the roots.
3. Take out and wash the gravel.
4. Wash the plants in clean water after you've taken them out of the algea-killer solution.
5. Put everything back into your tank.
6. Let it grow out again with minimum light required for your plants and be easy on the CO2 and ferts...

It's a days work, but worked for me in the past....

Good luck with getting it under control. Looking forward to your next post.

Cheers,
Luc
Thailand.

 

[wearsbunnyslippers]

sorry gilles...

flourish excel worked for me...

i cant believe how many set backs you are having with this tank! i feel your pain

good luck, see you on aquaplant exchange...

 

[Gilles]

Guys i want to "master" the art of aquascaping, that also means finding the balance in my tank. Therefore i also post the "lesser" days of my tank since i feel this is also part of the process in learning. I do not want to use chemical sollutions although i AM going to use H2O2 just to make sure it is not "roetalg" (dutch term) which is actually a bacteria. Soon some updates

@wearsbunnyslippers: I love your avatar! You should have Bunny "plakkies"

 

[Luc]

Hello Gilles,
How's progress on the battle?
I understand your non-use of chemicals, it's a last resort to me as well, and long time since without any trouble.
What I certainly would do is cut back on the light. Clean out the algea manual, then replant and start with a 1 W/G.
Will be curious to see updates, good luck with it.

Cheers,
Luc

 

[Gilles]

Well luc, i think i am almost finished with this algue battle;

When i came back from vacation;

Trimming started, but look at my roots!

[/QUOTE]

After trimming:

Few days later:

 

[Luc]

Hello Gilles,

Looks amazing again, the way it's supposed to be.
Enjoyed a holiday and getting a nice tank after you get back...wow.

Roots sure look perfect. That's one healthy bunch you show there.
So that means that your project comes to an end and you can finally give us some clues on the electronics/hardware if I'm not mistaken?...

Never mind those Dutch, no matter where they are, they keep pushing...lol