Santa tank - 59G -

Peekay · February 04, 2012, 04:03:53 PM

Quote from: bizfromqc on February 04, 2012, 01:37:33 PM
That Red Ludwiga is looking pretty sweet, I love the green/red combo, now I want some, thanks

I know, right? It was from Peter, maybe if you're lucky he'll have some more in March! This plant was in truly beautiful condition. He's got something good going on in his tank!

Thanks for all the tips about our gorgeous filter situation. It's under renovation immediately.

Thanks also for all the plants to look up. Anubias have always been on my list for the base of the driftwood area. Just have yet to come across any in this part of town... I should make the trip to LaNiche.

pm · February 04, 2012, 05:33:17 PM

Quote from: jetstream on February 04, 2012, 10:13:43 AM
Reasons that the new growth is more green in color are, either your light intensity is lower or your tank's N value is higher than it was in the original tank that you got the plant from. There are other possible factors too. Nice looking tank and plant!

I doubt you have a higher nitrate level than I do in your tank (I am EI dosing), so it is most definitely light level. The cuttings you got from me were all tops (i.e. closest to the lights), and if I remember correctly, they were almost growing out of the water when I cut them, so light on them was very intense, hence the dark red.

pm · February 04, 2012, 05:35:05 PM

Quote from: Peekay on February 04, 2012, 04:03:53 PM
I know, right? It was from Peter, maybe if you're lucky he'll have some more in March! This plant was in truly beautiful condition. He's got something good going on in his tank!

Wow, thanks for the complement

Peekay · February 05, 2012, 01:19:11 PM

I picked up some Lilaeopsis mauritiana from Errol yesterday, and was completely unprepared for what a pain it was going to be to plant. Oh well, an hour with tweezers is a pretty Zen way to spend a Sunday. Looking forward to seeing how this grows!

IMG_4036 by Peeka2, on Flickr

This is one of my favourite things about plants (aquatic or otherwise).. underdogs! I'm rooting so hard for these teeny little fighters, that were bare stalks. Look! New leaves!

IMG_4030 by Peeka2, on Flickr

DaWolfe · February 05, 2012, 02:30:04 PM

Worth the work ... and this is why we like planted tanks. Hopefully you will not wake up tomorrow morning and find them all floating.

Good JoB!

Peekay · February 05, 2012, 05:29:55 PM

Quote from: DaWolfe on February 05, 2012, 02:30:04 PM
Worth the work ... and this is why we like planted tanks. Hopefully you will not wake up tomorrow morning and find them all floating.

Good JoB!

I hadn't even thought about that possibility!

Nooooo!
__________

We hit Al's this afternoon for the neon tetras that were next on Keith's stocklist. They're sitting in the tank right now, acclimating.

We found a DIY drip acclimatization idea, and we're trying it out! Airline tubing with a tight knot that reduces flow to dripping, tank water in a jug up high, start the siphon. Easy and so effective.

IMG_4037 by Peeka2, on Flickr

IMG_4038 by Peeka2, on Flickr

charlie · February 05, 2012, 05:35:01 PM

Keith must be very happy, he really did make an impression on his visit, quite the young hobbyist, pat your self on the back Brenda.
Errol

Peekay · February 05, 2012, 06:15:39 PM

Quote from: charlie on February 05, 2012, 05:35:01 PM
Keith must be very happy, he really did make an impression on his visit, quite the young hobbyist, pat your self on the back Brenda.
Errol

Thank you Errol.

He loves the neons. And was quite excited to discover 2 more than he'd asked for when we counted them in the tank!

Peekay · February 08, 2012, 08:17:08 AM

Having doubled the number of fish, we're living through an ammonia spike right now. Tested last night at 0.5, so we did a water change.

I am pretty sure we'll be dealing with this all week, while the biofilter catches up. The neons are showing distress on their fins due to those levels.

bizfromqc · February 08, 2012, 11:17:58 AM

How are your otos fairing? We're they the only fish in the tank before you added the Neons? Maybe there was never enough bioload initially to get the cycle going?

charlie · February 08, 2012, 11:33:21 AM

Not sure what water treatment you are using , but some Prime or chloram X will help detoxify the ammonia, better still some good grungy media & viola, sure the good folks in the haven can help out if not i can pull some from one of my cannisters.
Errol

fischkopp · February 08, 2012, 12:07:35 PM

If in doubt or the fish looks unhappy, make a water change.

Peekay · February 08, 2012, 12:14:55 PM

Quote from: bizfromqc on February 08, 2012, 11:17:58 AM
How are your otos fairing? We're they the only fish in the tank before you added the Neons? Maybe there was never enough bioload initially to get the cycle going?

The otos are fine. I have never found them as sensitive as the www makes them sound.

We also had 7 bloodfin tetras in the tank before the neons; they are roughly double the size of a neon.

We did definitely start with a cycle, ammonia went to zero after adding used filter media from a friend. But doubling waste production overnight is absolutely going to start another cycle where bacterial colonies have to catch up... you can get the same effect by accidentally killing/removing half your biofiltration! I expected it, yet still a pain, and sorry for our fishies to have to live through it!

Testing at .25 this morning. Still not ideal, but not so dangerous. phewf.

Charlie, thanks for the offer! I think I can keep this in check with testing and water changes, and ride it out. I'll let you know if it becomes desperate!

Picture: the best I could do at freezing the action..

IMG_4043 by Peeka2, on Flickr

Peekay · February 13, 2012, 08:08:12 AM

The Santa tank chugs along...

Added:
1. Marsilea quadrifolia and staurogyne repens. Thanks Fishkopff, and thanks for the tour. So cool.
2. Found the fluval prefilter foam everyone uses, put it on. Thinking of picking up a few more, slicing them up the back and covering the whole tube.
3. Changed to Prime water conditioner
4. Trying out the Seachem Ammonia Alert tester thing, after a small ammonia panic due to tests showing more ammonia AFTER changing water.
5. Tied moss to some of the wood.

Learned some things about Neon Tetras that I didn't know:
1. They swim funny all day if you feed on the surface and they gulp air.
2. They are susceptible to the mysterious and deadly neon tetra disease. Had to cull one that was showing early signs. Fingers crossed for the rest to stay healthy.

Project list:
Tank cover. We've lost some jumpers, and I'm not ok with that! Looking for a slick way to do it, to preserve the rimless look.. or alternatively, may build a full canopy, because it's nicer to look at the tank from sitting level when the light isn't blasting you in the eyeballs.

touchofsky · February 13, 2012, 09:37:04 AM

I am glad things are progressing. Keep in mind that Prime shows false ammonia levels with regular test kits. You probably know this since you mentioned changing to Ammonia Alert.

charlie · February 13, 2012, 10:06:34 AM

Nice choice of plants.
Sorry to hear of the jumpers , it`s one of the cons of open top, you can consider a glass top to keep the clean look with some clips from Aquainspiration, bets to have 2 sets & use 2 panels
The con is, the glass would need cleaning & cost, Don`t consider Plexi , it will sag
http://www.aquainspiration.com/productdetail.asp?PIN=OS&PNAME=AI&PSIZE=lidh

The other is the DIY mesh screen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CzorCknWQ
Errol

touchofsky · February 13, 2012, 10:11:38 AM

Those clips are neat, Errol. I hadn't seen those before. I don't have any rimless tanks, but it is nice to know that if I do in the future, I could use a glass top, since I am concerned about humidity.

daworldisblack · February 13, 2012, 12:36:23 PM

Quote from: Peekay on February 13, 2012, 08:08:12 AM
The Santa tank chugs along...

Added:
1. Marsilea quadrifolia and staurogyne repens. Thanks Fishkopff, and thanks for the tour. So cool.
2. Found the fluval prefilter foam everyone uses, put it on. Thinking of picking up a few more, slicing them up the back and covering the whole tube.
3. Changed to Prime water conditioner
4. Trying out the Seachem Ammonia Alert tester thing, after a small ammonia panic due to tests showing more ammonia AFTER changing water.
5. Tied moss to some of the wood.

Learned some things about Neon Tetras that I didn't know:
1. They swim funny all day if you feed on the surface and they gulp air.
2. They are susceptible to the mysterious and deadly neon tetra disease. Had to cull one that was showing early signs. Fingers crossed for the rest to stay healthy.

Project list:
Tank cover. We've lost some jumpers, and I'm not ok with that! Looking for a slick way to do it, to preserve the rimless look.. or alternatively, may build a full canopy, because it's nicer to look at the tank from sitting level when the light isn't blasting you in the eyeballs.

I got the tour too not too long ago! Pretty crazy in there

Good plant choices! Should be awesome once its all established! I think its time for a FTS no?

bizfromqc · February 13, 2012, 01:29:06 PM

Quote from: daworldisblack on February 13, 2012, 12:36:23 PM
I got the tour too not too long ago! Pretty crazy in there Good plant choices! Should be awesome once its all established! I think its time for a FTS no?

It's always time for an FTS

Peekay · February 17, 2012, 12:05:06 PM

The photography meeting cannot come soon enough. I stink at this picture thing! $:-\$

February Full Frontal!

Feb 14 by Peeka2, on Flickr