jasonh's 29 gal (56k warning) update 10-27-06

[jasonh]

Ok, I'm changing the way I have my posts organized. I hate making people read through the entire thread just to see the pictures of progression. So, I'm posting all the picture updates in this first post, and then linking to the new post with all of my ramblings. And I'm doing it backwards, just to have the new stuff on top. And I moved my first post into my second post.

10-27-06
BBA recovery, new fish, a trim.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/323453-post46.html


9-5-06
Plants, background added.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post301476


9-3-06
Figures.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post300897



8-25-06
Big changes.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post298011


6-21-06
New Lights
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post276706


4-18-06
Growth. New fish.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post255823


4-01-06
Trim.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post248800


3-15-06
Babies.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post241936

3-04-06
Small changes.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post237770


2-11-06
Big changes. New plants.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post228961


2-06-06
Moved. Fishroom.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post226948


1-12-06
Rocks.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post217500


1-11-06
First Post.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...tml#post217111

[Prettyhead]

I got a tip from my bro on sinking:

Get a nice thin rock, like slate and drill a hole in it. Then use a stainless steel screw (very important so there is no rust) and attach the rock to the bottom of the wood. Viola!

I can't guarantee it causes no problems as I just started my first palnted tank on Sunday. But at least my wood isn't floating.

Any trouble with the cichlids uprooting your plants?

[bigstick120]

You need to add some hiding spots for thoes cichlids. Aren't they beating the crap out of each other? You have some pretty aggressive cichlids in there. That lone peacock or hap may be the first to be beat on. Those fish will get pretty large for a 29 gallon.

Other then that you may want to add some more fast growers to that tank to help with the algae the first few months and some hardscape for the cichlids and it would look much better

Also dont burry the java fern in the substrate it will rot, you need to tie it to a rock or driftwood

[jasonh]

I'm moving my first post into this one for administrative purposes.

Well I finally got around to getting something planted like I've been meaning to for quite some time. Up until now, the tank has just been bare, with some laterite on the bottom, and some pool filter sand on that. No plants, nothing. Just a lonely betta and some sand, and 80w of light (2x philips 6500k, 2x GE 9325k). Finally moved the betta out, put some Africans in a couple weeks ago.

Then I was sad that they didn't have anything to hide in and whatnot, so I picked up just one java fern plant while I was out. OK, obviously not enough. Then came a few bunches of Anacharis and a couple small corkscrew vals. Then I figured "what the heck," and picked up a couple super-huge amazon swords. Yes, I know they're giant, but I do have an empty 125gal sitting on the floor that might be a good home for them in the future. I just started dosing Flourish this week (1/2 capfull 2x a week), and once I realized I had blue-green algea all over the glass, and my water was cloudy white, I figured it was time for some CO2 action. I just made a quick DIY yeast job, and built my own diffuser out of an airstone, some undergravel filter parts, and some filter foam. Works fairly well, from my calculations I'm getting about 23ppm of CO2 right now after a couple days of bubbling. All of a sudden the algae is gone and the water is clear.

I had to trim and replant the Anacharis last night because it's been growing like crazy and shooting off side plants and stuff. I've trimmed the swords, but I'm not sure if I did that one entirely correctly - do you just trim in the middle of the stem, or do you have to cut it off at the bottom? Anyway, the corkscrews are finally picking up, and the java fern is finally dark green instead of a dull green.

Onto the pics then.

The tank:
http://synthetix.org/pics/tank/1-11-05/tank-close.JPG

Left side:
http://synthetix.org/pics/tank/1-11-05/tank-left.JPG

Right side, including my DIY diffuser:
http://synthetix.org/pics/tank/1-11-05/tank-right.JPG

Closeup of the diffuser. I have the outlet from my XP1 pointed somewhat near the opening of the diffuser to create a little turbulence. I still get a big bubble built up once in a while that releases and floats up, but I'm still getting a decent bit of diffusion it seems. I tried pointing the outlet straight at it, but that made the buble collect on the inside of the tube, and I don't know how effective that would be.

http://synthetix.org/pics/tank/1-11-05/c02-diffuser.JPG


That's it for the pics for now. I do have a piece of wood that I collected and want to put in the tank, but I'm trying to get it to sink. It's been soaking for a few days, and I've boiled it once, but still floats, though not nearly as bouyant as it was when I got it. Going to try boiling again tonight. I may have to break down and screw it to a piece of slate or something though

Let me know what you guys think.

Jason

Originally Posted by bigstick120

You need to add some hiding spots for thoes cichlids. Aren't they beating the crap out of each other? You have some pretty aggressive cichlids in there. That lone peacock or hap may be the first to be beat on. Those fish will get pretty large for a 29 gallon.

Other then that you may want to add some more fast growers to that tank to help with the algae the first few months and some hardscape for the cichlids and it would look much better

Also dont burry the java fern in the substrate it will rot, you need to tie it to a rock or driftwood

Ya know, I figured I'd have some agression issues with the cichlids, but I have not seen one bit of it. There is a second peacock in the tank as well. There are actually two of each: snow whites, sunshine peacocks, bumblebees, and wtf ever the orange ones are - I can never remember their name...red zebras or something maybe?

The algae is pretty much cleaned up now thanks to my pleco, and the addition of CO2 and ferts. I think I just had too much light for too long for what I had in there and not using any co2/ferts.

I'll definately get that java fern tied to the driftwood once I get it to sink and put it in the tank, along with more fern and probably some moss or something.

Prettyhead: I've heard of that slate trick as well. I'm really wanting to avoid that though, so I can change the way the driftwood lays as I see fit - it has a few ways it could go in, and you never know, I do tend to change my mind often

As for them uprooting plants, they haven't. They've dug a massive crater next to the swords, but nothings gone floating (yet). I also haven't seen any signs of them eating the plants either (I know they don't eat the fern, but not sure about the others).

Thanks,

Jason

[krazykidd86]

I'm used to seeing these photo albumns threads with heavy plant load. It's very calming despite the lack of plants (not a bad thing). Very cool looking tank. I think it would be quite different (maybe ugly, but maybe not) to see a tank full of anachris like you've started in the corner. Just a tip: wipe the glass before take photos

I like your tank, very nice, and great start! Can't wait to see this and your 125 gallon get started.

Keep it Poppin!

the KIDD

[jasonh]

Originally Posted by krazykidd86

Just a tip: wipe the glass before take photos

Hah, yeah I didn't even notice it was dirty till I looked at the pics on the computer.

Thanks for the comments.

[ShortFin]

You should replace your C02 blue (Silicon) tubing with the clear ones (vinyl).

I've read that the C02 will breakdown your blue airstone. Perhaps a white one would be better?

[jasonh]

Originally Posted by ShortFin

You should replace your C02 blue (Silicon) tubing with the clear ones (vinyl).

I've read that the C02 will breakdown your blue airstone. Perhaps a white one would be better?

Everything else I've read is to not use the standard airline tubing and get some specifically for CO2, or at least use silicone. As for the airstone, we'll see how it performs. I really probably don't even need it.

[jasonh]

Ok, so I decided that my piece of wood probably won't work out. It still floats, turns the water dark brown, and it starting to kinda fall apart. I'm sure given enough time it could be decent, but oh well. I found some rocks at the same time I got the wood, so I tested them with some muriatic acid and threw them in the tank (yes, I washed them off after testing). I just did this so it's a bit cloudy, and pay no attention to the reflection on the left - my tv is way brighter than I thought it was.

http://synthetix.org/pics/tank/1-12-05/newscape.jpg

[ShortFin]

Originally Posted by jasonh

Everything else I've read is to not use the standard airline tubing and get some specifically for CO2, or at least use silicone.

Silicone is the worst. Check out post# 3 by Hypancistrus.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...ght=c02+tubing

[Prettyhead]

The rocks are a nice addition. It gives it some more depth. Looks like it is coming along nicely.

[jasonh]

Originally Posted by Prettyhead

The rocks are a nice addition. It gives it some more depth. Looks like it is coming along nicely.

Thanks. One of my snow whites has claimed the area under the rock to the right of the big one. I made a little cave with those rocks, but that fish went and dug out a lot of sand under it to make a nice cave for itself.

I'm actually kind of disappointed. When I had nothing in the tank, and even when there were just a few plants, the fish were not agressive at all. Now that the rocks are in the tank, they're chasing each other around (no fin/scale damage that I can see) a lot, and they've suddenly decided that they don't like me having those corkscrew vals in the tank - they keep pulling them up while I'm at work.

I'm also not quite sure what's going on with my plants right now. The anacharis are still growing like weeds, but the tips of some leaves are turning brown, and I'm getting roots shooting out of the side of the plants near the top. I'm starting to think that maybe filter sand + laterite might not be as good as something like eco-complete would be - which is disappointing, because I'm going to need a little over 200lbs of eco in my 125 ($$$), whereas 200lbs of filter sand is like $40. A couple of my swords' leaves are starting to curl, and I'm not really getting any new growth on the parts I trimmed.

Java fern looks good though. I need to get some fishing line or some decent way to attach it to the rocks though, right now I just have it kind of sandwiched between two rocks to hold it there.

I'm glad I'm using this tank as a way to get myself used to things before I jump into the 125. The 125 won't be ready for quite some time anyway, as I have to build a stand and canopy, buy lights, substrate, pressurized co2, filtration (thinking of a DIY canister or a sump for that) - all costing a lot of money and time. Plus, I'm moving at the end of this month (kinda just came up) so yeah, things will be a mess for a while.

[A Hill]

looks like a GREAT tank. dont be worried about your anacharis thats natural. the white roots are called aireal roots and they send them down to get more nutreients from teh water collum and the substrate. the leaves turning brown is also pretty common. tank looks great! and your fish are known to be agressive thats why most people where surprised when u had them in the tank!

lookin good!

-=- fish newb-=-

[bigstick120]

The fish are just getting setteled in, aggression will only get worse. You tank is a little small for that many aggressive cichlids. They are also rough on some plants, java fern and anubias work pretty well, some however just dont stand a chance

[Prettyhead]

I was surprised that you hadn't had aggression before with so many cichlids. Maybe you could add a few more rocks so they can all have their own territories.

Good luck with the move. I hope I never have to move again....