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The 240 Gets some TLC

2K views 19 replies 7 participants last post by  Greggz 
#1 ·
Its been almost two years since ive invested much time into my 240, just went super low tech and let the java ferns take over, left CO2 empty out about a year and a half ago and have been doing no fertilizer other than daily heavy flake and algae wafers. It has been quite full but i just ripped out a full trashbag of over a foot tall mega bunches of thin leaf java fern that i have had growing for almost a decade through many different systems and did a large water change/filter clean (i really did not even clean the FX6 in over 9 months!)

I have about 100lbs of Dragon stone that i will be placing into the system over time, i'm planning to do two mounded corner islands with sand in between, probably iwagumi style or large wood overhanging open space in between.

For the time being i am going to loosen up the gravel, plant root ferts throughout and plant full carpet pygmy chain swords (looking for bulk source) and bacopa monnieri/caroliniana in large bunches and add 3-4 tiger lotus bulbs on right side until i can get a full day to take everything out and fully redesign the substrate.

I am getting in a group of 100 cardinal tetras tomorrow to add to my massive fat 3-4yr old set of 16 survivers from initial stocking, alongside 22 XL rummynose, two 8-10' clown loaches, 3 5-6' SAE's, 3 large adult bushynose plecos and two remaining Corydoras. I would love to put in 500 CRS shrimp, but i have to wait till my old timer (8-9 years old) clown loaches expire.

This is where we sit after cleaning all filters, recharging two purigen bags and 40% RO refill. CO2 will get filled tomorrow and get dialed back in.



Stay tuned for updates, as i have vowed to make it wow again.
 
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#2 ·
I think i am dialing in the system now, after rushing into a world of complications.... like always.

Co2 is hooked up and pumping away, i have things dialed in at 4-5 dKH and 6.8 pH, Green drop checker.

I rushed in a 100 lot of cardinal tetras that my fish guy certified as good to go and im pretty sure that collumnaris made it into my system. I lost ~18 of the original 100 new cardinals, ive lost ~4 of my big old fatty cardinals and now two rummynose to White lips and/or white band across the tail. I am not willing to dose system with anything but paragard, but i do run a contant 25 watt UV filter 24/7 on this system, so i just shunted some more flow to the UV and hopefully that will get a grip on it.

I have high Nitrates (~50-60ppm) at this point, but my PO4, K, Fe, Nitrite and ammonia are spot on. I also have a metric S#!T-ton of leaf waste organic debris tied up in the massive java ferns after years of no removal. I just got done draining my third 40% water change, spot addressing this buildup. Im hopeful for 25-30ppm No3 and far less Collumnaris come tomorrow evening, when myu RO system gets done filling the system up (75GPD takes a day to fill 75 gallons!).

Did heavy trimmings of Java fern and replanting the new plants that got torn up in the process. Will look like a new tank in 2 days!

Pics and routine ferts starting Monday!
 
#7 ·
So you may hear how my 3 year old "Loves climbing on sticks" in the above video... well she is balancing on the driftwood I just picked up for a future addition. It will just barely fit, but it will be glorious. This is only two pieces!



The tank is at 5 dKH, 6.6ph, and still 40-50ppm No3.

Ive just purchased another test kit to confirm no3 accuracy, but I have put in about 10-12 grow power tablets quartered into the substrate, while constantly working up/vacuuming out a full years worth of java fern leaf debris.

Traded in some more java for 5 more pots of Pygmy chains, just planted tonight.





Here is a shot down the full 8 feet just after mucking around in there. This clarity is what makes me doubt 50ppm nitrate.



I will probably leave it alone for a full week before 40% WC and another filter clean.


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#8 ·
Tonight's tests indicate 50-70ppm nitrates (damn you API color chart!), 6.5-6.6pH.

Lowered CO2 to check tomorrow PM to hone in on 6.8pH sweet spot.

Relatively little algae so far, plenty of pearling, especially when ray ii kicks on.

Currently I'm running over each side of the system: 2 bulb t5ho 48" (1x planted geissman, 1x pink geissman) 1pm-9pm, finnex ray iiDS 48" 3pm-7pm. The second ray iiDS is off currently.

CO2 is on at 11:30 off at 8:30.

https://youtu.be/ks2Mp6zToPI

I can watch this all day!






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#10 ·
Looking like a good reboot! May I suggest moving anything that will get tall like the stems and lily behind the wood? That'll give the swords lots of room to fill in the front, middle and sides which will emphasize the more powerful wood structures.



Following this one!



Regards,

Phil


Glad you like it so far!

I tend to keep those stems cut low and dense, rather than taller, or I absolutely would keep them behind the wood. I only have the two bacopas right now, and the hygrophylia.

I'm hoping to fill all of the open area with tenellius over time.


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#12 ·
Today a few goodies arrived, and the aquarium gets another big change up.

First thing is that the salifert No3 kit arrived, and I have confirmed between the two test kits 25-30ppm AFTER the 70% WC.
I'm definitely not adding any No3, at this point, but I will monitor every other day to make sure I'm not spiking before WC next Sunday.

Second goodie arrived....a Powerhead! I had a little debate going over in equipment subforum between Jeboa pp8 and pp15 controllable powerheads, and I decided to go with the pp15, because 8 feet right???

Well here's the video, taken on LOWEST constant setting. (I have since switched to running the flow directly against back wall, much better for the front swimming fish and plants)

https://youtu.be/-eL3dyFa9K8

It will be good to be able to crank up before a WC/ Filter clean, but a pp8 would definitely have been a better choice. The GPH is highly under-reported on available literature. More like 1200 gph at lowest setting

That said, I am super happy with the amount of crap that this pump stirs up and keeps in suspension now that was just sitting everywhere before. The smallest fish are not having a tough time swimming and the visual full 8' circulation has to be better for the system.

Now to watch for how the new surface flow affects CO2!


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#13 ·
Update time!

The one two punch of new fish carrying pestilence and kicking up all the old leaf debris/overfertilization from root tabs lead to an outbreak of ich tankwide. Saddest part is that I lost one of our two 9 year old clown loaches. The other seems to be holding on, but only time will tell.

Treating now nightly with 60% dose of Seachem Paraguard, got a new UV bulb installed for best function, and I finally have no ammonia, No3 under 30ppm.

If this does not clear in 2 weeks I'll do heat to 86F.

Plants seem to be loving the new flow from the strong powerhead, but the new O2 content must be offgassing quite a lot of CO2. I used to get almost no pH swing at all, but now I go from 7.2-3 before CO2 starts all the way down to 6.7pH at End of days addition. I have to start it 2 hours before lights on to get enough in for light cycle too.

Too much change at once, but all the levels are good and I would expect fish to be healthy in about a week.

Pics later.


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#14 ·
The system is well balanced now, with no nitrites and nitrates >30ppm, PO4 1ppm, high circulation and CO2 in optimal ranges during light.

Even with the temp ramped to 81 the plants all seem to be rooting quite well, none of the stems are releasing any more.

The fish illness is still there, losing about 3-5 small fish per day, and medicating daily with Seachem Paraguard, but there are secondary evidence infections of fungal and bacterial nature on quite a few fish. I am not willing to put any more medication in the tank, so UV, Paraguard and high quality system water is I hope enough to save the bulk of the remaining ~100 fish. I do see about 20 that seem to be clear of all symptoms at this time.

Even as an industry specialist, getting complacent with an established system that hasn't had any issues for years will wake you up to your error when skipping quarantine/upsetting the system too much.


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#16 ·
Things are firing on all cylinders finally. Whole tank is pearling daily, algae is in check, all testable parameters are good, circulation is excellent.

Waiting a few weeks for dwarf chain swords to fill in before transplanting them to the rest of gravel and complete the carpet. The large plants already have 4 runners each that are rooting now.

None of the surviving fish have any symptoms of any parasites or secondary infections, and I am going to wait a full month until I add any new fish, and then probably a group of 8-10 sidthamunki loaches. After that another stocking of cardinal tetras, treated with Paragard dip this time!

Here is an updated video.

https://youtu.be/JN5z0qHvcBM


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#18 ·
Tonight I scoured the Pygmy chains for new runners and found ~25 new plantlets.

These were all cut and transplanted across the front of aquarium for the beginning of phase two on the carpet: propagation! Added 1 feet tab split between the whole 1.5' length. Will have to keep an eye on nitrates over next week.

Looks like I will get at least this many every two weeks if parameters stay in check. I think that a full carpet in 3 months may be doable with luck!



 
#19 ·
Things are starting to fill in!

Chemistry and ferts are spot on and massive pearling during most of light cycle.

Keeping myself sane by not going into the tank for replants/trim/scape once a week with maintenance. Spreading and planting new Pygmy chain runners every two weeks. Realistic carpet in two months time.

Will be getting 100 more cardinals in a month, as the system is issue free for a full month already.

Enjoy and stay tuned!





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