Aquariums!

[Naicha]

Haha now they're completely in eachothers faces. Attacking the "sides" of the other, chasing the other one around etc. probably need to get one out.

[Lyngs]

Naicha wrote on Sat, 23 June 2012 12:18

Haha now they're completely in eachothers faces. Attacking the "sides" of the other, chasing the other one around etc. probably need to get one out.

Might be a good idea to wait till one of them concedes (tries to hide in a corner), that way you know you have the stronger one. Both can still be either sex.

[Naicha]

Yep.

 

A couple of days ago I lowered the pump speed btw cause the aquarium was very streamy. However it wasnt that effective then so I put it back up. More circulation / more filtering. I suppose the fish can handle alittle water movement. One of the plants its rattling like hell in the wind tho haha. Maybe I'll movei t, its just outside the pump tube.

[Lyngs]

Naicha wrote on Sat, 23 June 2012 12:48

Yep.   A couple of days ago I lowered the pump speed btw cause the aquarium was very streamy. However it wasnt that effective then so I put it back up. More circulation / more filtering. I suppose the fish can handle alittle water movement. One of the plants its rattling like hell in the wind tho haha. Maybe I'll movei t, its just outside the pump tube.

Good circulation is important, especialy during upstart. You did the right thing. Plants dont mind "rattling", they will just adapt by building a larger root system and by sitting in the stream they get the most CO2/nutrients.

[Naicha]

Less talk more picture!

 

All the black spots on the smaller Ram just went gone. It doesn't look happy atm. Just plain white/yellow. The other one is very colory.

 

[Naicha]

And some stats for teh Lyngs nerd.

 

KH: 4

pH: 6,5

Temperature: 27 degrees.

co2: 35 ppm according to this chart: http://www.pny.se/akvarium/co2/co2tabell.php

 

looks pretty good tbh.

[Lyngs]

Naicha wrote on Sat, 23 June 2012 13:21

And some stats for teh Lyngs nerd.   KH: 4 pH: 6,5 Temperature: 27 degrees. co2: 35 ppm according to this chart: http://www.pny.se/akvarium/co2/co2tabell.php   looks pretty good tbh.

Looks very good indeed.

 

thx for teh video. Your tank looks beautiful. Cant identify the sexes unfortunately, but I am no expert any way.

[Naicha]

It's hard, I'll just chill with it. If the smaller one keeps being bullied I'll just return him/her to the store and get another one that's easier to identify.

 

It's going to look really great when the plants get thicker and bigger! The stargrass to the left grows stupidly fast. It's 3 times the height in just a week. Hopefully it'll thicken closer to the bottom aswell.

[Lyngs]

Naicha wrote on Sat, 23 June 2012 13:49

It's going to look really great when the plants get thicker and bigger! The stargrass to the left grows stupidly fast. It's 3 times the height in just a week. Hopefully it'll thicken closer to the bottom aswell.

Relentless pruning ftw!

[Naicha]

Btw, stargrass are stem plants right? Can't I just chop the 3-4 big ones of on the middle, and replant those on the bottom?

[Lyngs]

Naicha wrote on Sat, 23 June 2012 14:20

Btw, stargrass are stem plants right? Can't I just chop the 3-4 big ones of on the middle, and replant those on the bottom?

That is partly what I meant about pruning. replanting the top tho depends on planttype. If it is a grass then no, otherwise most probably yes. Cutting down at the middle will definately stimulate the plants to grow thicker from the bottom.

[Lyngs]

Just looked at the video again. Since the stems form water roots, there should be no problem with the tops "rerooting".

[Naicha]

Currenlty getting the first big algae bloom that usually is to expect in a new tank after a couple of weeks.

 

How much water should I change and how often Lyngs? What do you recommend?

 

Should get something algae eating aswell to do some cleaning but thats a different subject.

[Naicha]

Only have 6 hours of light per day now btw, plants a growing like f***. At least the background ones, the staurogyne is very slow, but thats how it is. The middle ones are also slow it seems tho.

[Lyngs]

The only thing of concern on those pictures, is the green spot on the substrate. Could be cyano bacteria, also called blue green algae. Relatively common in new setups with high light and ammonia. The only reason you might have (had) ammonia in your tank is lack of bacteria to break it down. Keep a close eye on it and try to suck it out during waterchange. Keep changing around 25-50% once a week.

 

For algae eaters I would reccomend 3-4 Amano shrimp. You wont get any snails/fish that are as effective as these guys.

 

The cottonlike growths on your roots are most probalby either some kind of Filamentous algae or Rhizoclonium. Also common in new setups. Should clear up after a while when the nutrient levels even out. Amano shrimp eat this.

 

In case it grows out of control, you can kill it off by adding Easy Carbo in 2x reccomended daily dosis for a week or two.

[Naicha]

Thank you! I hate shrimp though.

 

I'm going to adopt a small aquarium soon though. 5 zebra fish and a pleco (thats pretty big now. probably 10 cm).

 

So maybe I should just go pick that tank up, and put the pleco in, It should eat alot?

 

I've been thinking of getting those octonilolouious. Can't spell it. small fish that eat algae.

 

http://www.zoopet.com/fiskar/fisk.php?NR=329&SOK=1

 

This one, Couldnt find it in the local fish store though. :<

[Lyngs]

Otocinclus should afaik only eat algae effectively while they are juvenile.

 

Why do you hate shrimp?

[Naicha]

They taste crap (Yes, I know these aren't for eating), and they are ugly and disgusting. ;D

 

A big pleco should eat alot! ;D

[Calyn]

This thread is really tempting me to get an Aquarium again, but convincing ze wife will be hard especially since it's not sure how long we'll stay here or if we move, etc.

 

Keep posting pics!

[Naicha]

Screw that. I know I'm going to move pretty soon and it didn't stop me (I'll probably curse about that later on though )

[Lyngs]

Naicha wrote on Wed, 27 June 2012 18:30

They taste crap (Yes, I know these aren't for eating), and they are ugly and disgusting. ;D   A big pleco should eat alot! ;D

A big pleco is too big for your tank to thrive IMO. It also wont be able to eat the stuff in/on/between your plants. Amano and/or Easy carbo is the most efficient way to combat algae. Easy Carbo is extremely expensive in the long run where as Amano shrimp are dirt cheap and IMO very entertaining when they "dance" around the whole tank during mating.

[Naicha]

Yep, he is too big, but now he lives in a 24 liter, so until I find a caretaker for him, he's way better off in my tank.

[Naicha]

Did lots of pruning now. Or well, took the stem plants in 3 pieces since they were so damn long.

 

Replanted then all back to the bottom, hard as fuckign getting them to stay there without making other stuff float off. But now I think it all sits in the sand...

 

I'll take pictures once the dust clears..

 

EDIT: THe Staurogynes to the right in front of the rock just suddenly started to weather apart and seem to rut away completely. Wonder what happened to them, they were big and bright and growing just a week ago. :/

 

EDIT2: Added picture of it.

 

The moss doesnt seem to grow even closely as fast as it did the first weeks. Even the Staurogyne used to grow quickly, now its standing still. Too few fertilizer? The background plants still grow fast though, maybe they're "hogging" all the nutrition

[Bjerlk_Ferloc]

Naicha wrote on Wed, 27 June 2012 18:24

Thank you! I hate shrimp though.   I'm going to adopt a small aquarium soon though. 5 zebra fish and a pleco (thats pretty big now. probably 10 cm).   So maybe I should just go pick that tank up, and put the pleco in, It should eat alot?   I've been thinking of getting those octonilolouious. Can't spell it. small fish that eat algae.   http://www.zoopet.com/fiskar/fisk.php?NR=329&SOK=1   This one, Couldnt find it in the local fish store though. :<

http://www.zoopet.com/fiskar/fisk.php?NR=270&SOK=1

[Naicha]

They grow so big though Bjerlk! I don't have a big tank

[Lyngs]

Naicha wrote on Fri, 29 June 2012 18:41

Did lots of pruning now. Or well, took the stem plants in 3 pieces since they were so damn long.   Replanted then all back to the bottom, hard as fuckign getting them to stay there without making other stuff float off. But now I think it all sits in the sand...   I'll take pictures once the dust clears..   EDIT: THe Staurogynes to the right in front of the rock just suddenly started to weather apart and seem to rut away completely. Wonder what happened to them, they were big and bright and growing just a week ago. :/   EDIT2: Added picture of it.   The moss doesnt seem to grow even closely as fast as it did the first weeks. Even the Staurogyne used to grow quickly, now its standing still. Too few fertilizer? The background plants still grow fast though, maybe they're "hogging" all the nutrition

For planting I use a large tweezer that I bought on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/25cm-Tweezer-Pinsettes-Clamper-Curve -Plant-Aquarium-/250328048014?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&ha sh=item3a48b6e18e

 

Makes it a whole lot easier for me, ten thumbs and all.

 

About your plants. What has changed in the last ten to fourteen days? Did you, change your lighting period drasticly, can there have been a drastic decrease in CO2 levels even for a day or two, have you changed your fertilizer dosage or the water circulation?

 

It is hard to tell what is wrong from that picture alone. Could you describe the decay over time. Like did it start by old leaves going yellow from the tip down, holes all over or? Are the background plants closer to the CO2 source or are their lower leaves also affected without you noticing?

[Naicha]

Background plants seem fine as far as I can tell. I didn't change anything that I know of, except that maybe the co2 got "up to speed". Maybe the tank got 2-3 fewer light hours a day. All I can tihnk of, otherwise I havn't touched it. : )

 

If I give it more light hours again though it seems the algae is gonna go bananas?

[Lyngs]

Naicha wrote on Sat, 30 June 2012 09:46

Background plants seem fine as far as I can tell. I didn't change anything that I know of, except that maybe the co2 got "up to speed". Maybe the tank got 2-3 fewer light hours a day. All I can tihnk of, otherwise I havn't touched it. : )   If I give it more light hours again though it seems the algae is gonna go bananas?

 

 

One wild guess could be that the sand is too fine, is packing around the roots and slowly choking the plants. Unless the grain size is less than 0,8mm that is highly unlikely tho. Another less likely guess, is that there is a buildup of ammonia/nitrite.

 

My best guess, and it is a guess, is that they dont get enough light. If that is the only thing that changed and there hasnt been a drastic dip in nutrient/CO2 levels lasting at least one whole day. It can take as little as one day of "starvation" to trigger a decay equal to three weeks growth.

[Naicha]

Lyngs wrote on Sat, 30 June 2012 13:21

Naicha wrote on Sat, 30 June 2012 09:46 Background plants seem fine as far as I can tell. I didn't change anything that I know of, except that maybe the co2 got "up to speed". Maybe the tank got 2-3 fewer light hours a day. All I can tihnk of, otherwise I havn't touched it. : )   If I give it more light hours again though it seems the algae is gonna go bananas?     One wild guess could be that the sand is too fine, is packing around the roots and slowly choking the plants. Unless the grain size is less than 0,8mm that is highly unlikely tho. Another less likely guess, is that there is a buildup of ammonia/nitrite.   My best guess, and it is a guess, is that they dont get enough light. If that is the only thing that changed and there hasnt been a drastic dip in nutrient/CO2 levels lasting at least one whole day. It can take as little as one day of "starvation" to trigger a decay equal to three weeks growth.

 

Yea, so going back to more light hours could help. But that might trigger even more algae atm.

 

Anywho, It's impossible for me to know if the water ran out of fertilizer cause the plants used it all. But that might very well happen? Maybe I should double the doze, 10-15ml twice a week instead of once a week.

 

[Lyngs]

If you only dose once a week, there will be a high fluctuation in nutrient levels. Plants can "sense" how much CO2/nutrients they have available and "plan" ahead according to the current levels. They will always try to grow at maximum capacity. The problem with that is, if there isnt a constant flow of "building blocks", then they go into "survival mode" where they start using older leaves to strengthen their roots or try to grow closer to the surface where there is more light or simply eats itself from the bottom up till the top drifts off to try and settle somewhere more suitable.

 

I dose every day about one hour before the lights go on. every second day is probably ok, but once a week is for large tanks IMO 1000L+. By dosing smaller amounts often rather than one big dose each week, you make sure more/all nutrients go to the plants and not algae.