10 gal on no budget (Algae Free!!!! 4/29/09)

[frogmanjared]

Got another question. How would I go about connecting a co2 bottle to the aeration valve? Should I keep it open all the way, just a little bit? I'm not sure exactly how the air gets in there, so I don't want to do it wrong and hear a BANG, big mess to follow.

[eyebeatbadgers]

Are you talking about a gang valve? What I would do in your situation is hook up the Co2 tube to the inlet of the filter. That way the bubbles would get chopped up by the impeller and spread around the tank. Then, do a separate line for however you're introducing air into the tank, unless I missed something.

[frogmanjared]

Here's a pic of the filter... http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752379 (put mouse over bottom image to see it.

The tube going off to the right attached to the outlet/spray thing, that's where the air comes in. It's got an adjustable knob and the capability of attaching a tube instead of just air. Has anyone used this sort of thing? When I open the valve, the bubbles are pretty small anyways, so I would prefer to do it this way, with less clutter in the tank and making less noise.

The aeration made the bacteria bloom go down! Hopefully tomorrow it will be clear again.

[frogmanjared]

I got my CO2 hooked up a few minutes ago... to test the valve thingy and make sure it doesn't create too much suction and take yeast water into the tank, and to make sure I don't have it closed and have the bottle explode.

The tubing is connected to this "aeration valve" and that black tube enters the out-stream of the filter.




Now all I have to do is wait for the bubbles and finely tune the valve. The plants should be coming later this week. E. tennulus and C. retrospiralis.

I'm planning on growing the plants for a month or two... and go overboard with the CO2 to get maximum growth, since I'm starting with a few plants, when they've multiplied a bit, I'll start adding shrimp. (I added a test shrimp, but he got caught in the area where the filter attaches to the sponge and died ... so I put pantyhose over that area... hopefully its shrimp safe now... but I'm still hesitant to put another in, probably wait until plants come)

[frogmanjared]

This is an absolute horrible picture (I don't know why its purplish and dark maybe because its kinda pink outside and a storm is coming)... but it gives you an idea of what the tank looks like.

[midnightk]

hmmmm have that powerhead. but i dont think itll work really great that way might have off gasing from that turn valve where u control air intake for bubbles. is it not too strong?

run the co2 line to where the coarse filter is. ever thought about a cannister fillter for a main or even a hob ? i like the feel though keep it up!

[frogmanjared]

As the title says, I'm on a budget.. so no new equipment. I managed to slow the flow a little, still strong, but once the micro sword spreads, the shrimp will have nice places to hide from it. There is no lead at the valve, it can't go through it on the other side, tested it to make sure! I put the most pale male RCS in there... he seems to enjoy the flow, he's playing in the tall crypts!

[frogmanjared]

I managed to get a decent pic of the tank today. Sorry for the glare, couldn't get the room dark enough. Now comes the long wait for the plants to fill in. I have to attach another java fern plantlet to the "peak" on the stick, as the last one came loose. Any scaping ideas or other suggestions?

[confuted]

Maybe a much bigger piece of wood?

[luckydud13]

^^^agree

[frogmanjared]

Oh, I've been looking, but the only good pieces that I've found so far have been pine!

[frogmanjared]

I put in another small piece of driftwood, and added 2 of my very red RCS along with the reddest male... here are the before and after pics.



Now I just have to wait and let it all grow in, one of the E tenellus has sent out 4 runners, and I might have to trim the subwassertang from my 5 gal in a few weeks, I'll have to find a large flat rock for the front right corner of the tank.

[zzyzx85]

nice progress. what kind of light are you using?

[frogmanjared]

Thanks, I'm using a 15w T8 light strip, w/8,000k colormax bulb.

[I Ate A Cake]

What plants do you have in there?

It looks nice.