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RESGuy · 01-23-2007, 01:02 AM

January 22, 2007 8:00 PM
Introduction:
Okay, I have decided to start a journal on the 5.5 gallon RCS tank I am setting up

I hope this to be a learning experience for me and maybe some other members as well

I have a 5.5 gallon tank. It has Bronze Gravel as a substrate. I am growing an Aponogeton Bulb which I purchased at Wal-Mart, for about $3 for 5 bulbs. It also has a few rocks of different variety. It has a 15 watt light from All-Glass. Some leaves that I got from my front yard (not Oak). And it has a Rena 200 air pump with an airstone at the moment. And 5 feeder guppies and 1 guppy fry.

Aponogeton Bulbs: I did not put the bulbs into the 5.5 gallon tank straight away as I did not have it set-up yet. I had it in a flower vase that was thoroughly cleaned and placed into my 55 gallon turtle tank. I put some gravel on the bottom of the vase and then threw the bulbs in it. I then placed a net on the top of the vase to keep my turtle out. I used a piece of that red net mesh in which they sell oranges in which I cut with a kitchen scissor. I then covered the top with that and held it on with two rubber bands. I did not fill it with water. Instead, when I placed the vase into the tank it filled itself with water

After about a 2 days, 2 of the bulbs developed a cover of some white stuff (sorry no idea what it is). I thought this meant the bulbs were developing roots or something. But to my surprise after about a week one of the bulbs which was not cover in this 'white stuff' sprouted a very tiny green sprout. I was so happy and excited that I had my first ever aquatic plant growing. You can imagine in the next few days how my excitement grew as the 'tiny sprout' became bigger and longer and other leaves developed. It is now about 2 inches tall with other small sprouts. The other 4 bulbs have shown no signs that they are going to sprout and I think they never will. They are already in the 5.5 gallon tank with the 15 watt light I mentioned earlier. I might return them to the address on the back of the package I bought them in if they don't grow by next month.

Feeder Guppies: I went to a local PetSupermarket and purchased 10 feeder guppies for $0.99 to feed my RES turtle. To my utter delight I actually received about $3 worth (30 guppies)! So I put these in with my turtle and he ate about 20 in like 2 days! I then started catching them with a small net I have and placing them into the 5.5 gallon after I set it up. I had 7 in the 5.5 gallon tank and 1 guppy fry but 2 died (probably due to the new tank). So I know have 5 guppies+1 fry in the tank with the Aponogeton Bulbs. These guppies are only there until I receive my RCS.

Maintenance Equipment: I currently have a Rena 200 air pump in the tank which I removed from the 55 gallon tank (turtle doesn't need it). It si for up to 30 gallon tanks so it makes a bit of a strong current. This is only temporary though until I receive my new air pump for up to 10 gallons. I ordered a Hagen Air Pump Elite 800 for up to 10 gallon tanks for $3.49 and an Oxygen Plus Bio-Filter 3 for up to 15 gallon tanks for $5.99. I bought these at DrFoster & Smith and paid $9.99 for shipping for a total of $19.47. It says I should receive this within 7 business days. I was wondering if someone could tell me the dimensions of an Oxygen Plus Bio-Filter 3, because I want to make sure it'll fit in my 5.5 gallon tank.

Elite 800 Statistics: Minimum air output 1,500 cc/min. Pressure 2.5 psi. Up to 10 g.
I am going to order 10 (with a few extras) RCS (1 pregnant female) with a bit of Java Moss for $22. But I will first have to run the filter in the tank for a while. So it could be up to 2 weeks before I actually get the RCS.
I will be sure to get some pictures of the tank that I took yesterday on here, but right now I have to go eat. So I'll update tommorrow. I hope you guys enjoyed my first entry.

01-23-2007, 01:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
RESGuy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 887	RESGuy's RCS Journal January 22, 2007 8:00 PM Introduction: Okay, I have decided to start a journal on the 5.5 gallon RCS tank I am setting up I hope this to be a learning experience for me and maybe some other members as well I have a 5.5 gallon tank. It has Bronze Gravel as a substrate. I am growing an Aponogeton Bulb which I purchased at Wal-Mart, for about $3 for 5 bulbs. It also has a few rocks of different variety. It has a 15 watt light from All-Glass. Some leaves that I got from my front yard (not Oak). And it has a Rena 200 air pump with an airstone at the moment. And 5 feeder guppies and 1 guppy fry. Aponogeton Bulbs: I did not put the bulbs into the 5.5 gallon tank straight away as I did not have it set-up yet. I had it in a flower vase that was thoroughly cleaned and placed into my 55 gallon turtle tank. I put some gravel on the bottom of the vase and then threw the bulbs in it. I then placed a net on the top of the vase to keep my turtle out. I used a piece of that red net mesh in which they sell oranges in which I cut with a kitchen scissor. I then covered the top with that and held it on with two rubber bands. I did not fill it with water. Instead, when I placed the vase into the tank it filled itself with water After about a 2 days, 2 of the bulbs developed a cover of some white stuff (sorry no idea what it is). I thought this meant the bulbs were developing roots or something. But to my surprise after about a week one of the bulbs which was not cover in this 'white stuff' sprouted a very tiny green sprout. I was so happy and excited that I had my first ever aquatic plant growing. You can imagine in the next few days how my excitement grew as the 'tiny sprout' became bigger and longer and other leaves developed. It is now about 2 inches tall with other small sprouts. The other 4 bulbs have shown no signs that they are going to sprout and I think they never will. They are already in the 5.5 gallon tank with the 15 watt light I mentioned earlier. I might return them to the address on the back of the package I bought them in if they don't grow by next month. Feeder Guppies: I went to a local PetSupermarket and purchased 10 feeder guppies for $0.99 to feed my RES turtle. To my utter delight I actually received about $3 worth (30 guppies)! So I put these in with my turtle and he ate about 20 in like 2 days! I then started catching them with a small net I have and placing them into the 5.5 gallon after I set it up. I had 7 in the 5.5 gallon tank and 1 guppy fry but 2 died (probably due to the new tank). So I know have 5 guppies+1 fry in the tank with the Aponogeton Bulbs. These guppies are only there until I receive my RCS. Maintenance Equipment: I currently have a Rena 200 air pump in the tank which I removed from the 55 gallon tank (turtle doesn't need it). It si for up to 30 gallon tanks so it makes a bit of a strong current. This is only temporary though until I receive my new air pump for up to 10 gallons. I ordered a Hagen Air Pump Elite 800 for up to 10 gallon tanks for $3.49 and an Oxygen Plus Bio-Filter 3 for up to 15 gallon tanks for $5.99. I bought these at DrFoster & Smith and paid $9.99 for shipping for a total of $19.47. It says I should receive this within 7 business days. I was wondering if someone could tell me the dimensions of an Oxygen Plus Bio-Filter 3, because I want to make sure it'll fit in my 5.5 gallon tank. Elite 800 Statistics: Minimum air output 1,500 cc/min. Pressure 2.5 psi. Up to 10 g. I am going to order 10 (with a few extras) RCS (1 pregnant female) with a bit of Java Moss for $22. But I will first have to run the filter in the tank for a while. So it could be up to 2 weeks before I actually get the RCS. I will be sure to get some pictures of the tank that I took yesterday on here, but right now I have to go eat. So I'll update tommorrow. I hope you guys enjoyed my first entry. Last edited by RESGuy; 02-06-2007 at 11:49 PM.