[Dennis Oates]

Hello,

Found your site this morning and am really excited. I have been reading aquarium sites for about a month now a was getting a headache (and about to give up) from all of the technical stuff.

Anyway, about a month ago I set up a little 6 G "Bookshelf" aquarium in my office at work. The current set up is:

2.5" coarse sand, unfortunately no soil
60% of the sand covered with beach rocks
about 1/2 cup shagnum moss in a nylon sock
7 plants purchased at LFS, 4 of which are actually growing (slowly)
some duck weed but not multiplying very fast
a bunch of pond snails
15 watts flourescent Plant Light on for 10 hours a day, no day light
heated to 80 degrees
small filter hanging on the back, I have piped the suction to create flow through the tank
I don't feed anything.


I have been monintoring pH, Ammonia and Nitrites for about 2 weeks now.

pH has been around 6.8-6.9
Ammonia about 0.2 PPM
Nitrites about 0.1

This morning however, Ammonia jumped to around 1.5 PPM. The water is clear but I see a slight "skin" on the surface and an occasional small bubble rising from the sand. The snails are also acting a little weird - they float to the surface more often than normal and then walk back down.
Any ideas what would cause the Ammonia spike? Should I do a significant water change now or just let it sit till Monday?

My intention for this tank is to house a male Betta but want to get the chemistry under control first.

Thanks for a Great Forum

Dennis

 

[mistergreen]

A partial water change every day until ammonia is 0.

 

[Lionsfan]

I always do a partial every day when setting up a new aquarium. My partial is around 50%.
Scott

 

[Dennis Oates]

Thanks for the responses

I went ahead and did a 50% water change. I won't be back until Mon or Tues so can't do it every day.

I don't understand what is causing the ammonia spike. The only inhabitants are about 20 very small pond snails, I keep the decaying plant material cut back and never feed and the tank is about a month old with some plants in it. Shouldn't I have some good bacteria by now?

Now I am thinking about taking the tank apart and adding soil for substrate.

Thanks Again

Dennis

 

[Lionsfan]

My guess would be a dead snail somewhere?

 

[Tex Gal]

I'm wondering if the beach rocks is creating pockets of gas under your substrate. You should have the rocks going all the way down to the glass. If you do that it can't become stagnant under there.

80% is pretty hot. Do you need it that hot?

I imagine your peat might be decomposing somewhat and maybe what is creating the ammonia spike. Was the ammonia and nitrite down to zero before? Also maybe the plants you have that are planted in the gravel are rotting under the surface and you don't know it.

I also wonder about your nutrients. If your duckweed isn't even growing then obviously something is missing. I see your light is pretty low. You need Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium as macro nutrients (NPK) for plants to grow. To that you add micro nutrients (calcium magnesium, iron, etc). Next is a carbon source. In low light tanks it can be the air being stirred up in your tank. Lastly you need light. When all of these things work together you have a cycled tank that grows plants. You can use plant tabs for your nutrients. The plants look nice and help to maintain water quality.

Your lighting sounds very low. I am amazed that you are growing any plants with that little of watts per gallon. Do you have it in a window? You need to have at least 1.5 wpg to grow plants -or you can have less but make sure it's in a window with sun.

Water changes are always the first thing you do when you see something out of wack. Vaccum your gravel to get any trapped gas out. Dilute the pollute....

Long term suggestions:
1. Get rocks to bottom of tank
2. Make sure you have enough light
3. Get some plant tabs.
4. Make sure the plants you have are low light.

 

[DataGuru]

I would break it down and use topsoil capped by small gravel. That way you don't have to worry so much about the substrate going anaerobic.
http://thegab.org/Articles/WalstadTank.html

 

[Dennis Oates]

Thanks Tex Gal and Data Guru

Tex Gal - I have now read your entire 10 gal thread. Lots of info and your tanks are beautiful

Data Guru - I found your ammonia toxicity spread sheet through Tex Gal's thread. Very helpful. If I had seen that I would have been less worried about the ammonia spike. My water change raised the pH and probably increased the level of toxic ammonia. I hope the peat brings the pH down.

I have bought all of my plants at the local big box pet store where they are not labeled, if they are not accurately and the staff has not been very knowledgeable so the fact that any are growing at all is a miracle to me. Because this is at my office plant shipping is a hassle and because I am not there everyday shipping to my house may not make sense. I am looking for a supplier in San Francisco. Any suggestions?

I keep it at 80 degrees because I have read that is what Bettas like. I don't have one yet, I had hoped to get one this coming week but probably not given the water chemistry.

I think that the only thing that is keeping me from taking it down and replanting using soil is the fact that it is at the office and it would be more hassle than doing it at home. Wish I had found this site a month ago.

Thanks Again

 

[Tex Gal]

Thanks for the kind words about my tanks. I enjoy them. I'm getting some Amano shrimp today to eat that hair algae I've been fighting in my 10g tank.

I had tanks with inert gravel for years and years. I was able to grow many types of plants. I just used root tabs. They worked great. Since your tank is at the office it might do fine with them. You don't really want tons of maintenance in that tank. My daughter has her betta in a gravel tank with Java ferns of different types. It works great!

When you get a chance post a px. We'd love to see your tank.

 

[musrusticus]

I believe these people are in San Fran:
http://www.aquariumfish.net/home.htm

I have not gotten plants from them, but have gotten fish from them (1 angel, 1 malawian, 3 female guppies), and all were in great condition when they arrived and have been very happy and healthy ever since.
I definitely would give them my recommendation (for what it's worth). I'm not sure if they have a walk-in location or not, but it's worth a look.