JG's 2.5G "Dover meadow" (11.26.08 update)

[FelixAvery]

thats looking really nice, thought it was quite big until i realized the heater lol

[MrJG]

Thanks Felix. I'm going to try to find a smaller stealth type heater soon for it if there is such a thing.

A little bit to update on the tank progress. I topped all of the rotala green and colorata and replanted the tops. Left the bottoms there too, with no CO2 its taking a little while for the bottoms to fill back in. I think I'm going to have to trim the tops back again before I bother the rooted originals. Guess its going to take quite a while to get everything to look bushy with the low tech approach.
The dwarf sag is doing really well and I see at least 7-8 new planlets since the initial planting.
My only issue at this point is some GDA or diatoms. Can't really tell, I just clean it off the glass when it gets unsightly. Hopefully I can dial in what kind of excesses are causing the issue sooner or later. I'm only dosing a touch (less than a half mL) of macros/micros at this point every 2-3 days. I think its time to buy a timer for the lights because I'm suspecting that's causing the problem.

I'm going to have to trim the Erio type2 in the 20 soon and I'm thinking of replacing the colorata on the left side with some. The single top that I stuck in a few weeks ago is doing well and its already sprouting another stem at the base so I think there is enough light to support it. Eh?

A few pics:




Aside from the plants "pickle" is doing well. Still no problems with pacing... other than when we visit the tank he begs for food.

I think thats all for now. Thanks to everyone so far for the help and comments.

[tropicalfish]

Originally Posted by MrJG

haha no disrespect meant with the "cheapo" heater comment. It came with my 10G hex so I just assumed that it wasn't the greatest. :P Many apologies.

My 10G hex came with a Visi-Therm Deluxe 50W :P

Is that heater a 50W or 25W?
That tank looks really nice.

[MrJG]

Its been a while since I've been able to post anything about this tank update wise and I had a few moments this evening to snap a few pics... only one turned out decent though.



I've replaced the rotala with some Erio Type 2 clippings from my 20g and they seem to be doing well. I hadn't noticed how much the sand had settled since I first set up the tank until I started this update. Guess its time to add some fresh on top.

Not much has changed with the tank other than that. I'd like to try something else plant wise later in the fall once the temps get lower. I like the dwarf sag in there and its done well but I want to replace the erio with something...
no CO2 in there and only an 8w bulb.

[tropicalfish]

Looks real nice.

What kind of rocks are those?
Have you considered moving your heater to the bottom, so it is hidden?
Are you using the 12" straight-tube bulb that came with the fixture?

[MrJG]

tropical fish: Thanks!

The rocks came from a local landscaping yard... the guy called them river rocks but who knows. They are came from the same batch of rocks that I got for the 20 Gallon.

Not much room to do anything with the heater. If I move it too low it will be on top of the Dwarf Sag and there isn't quite enough room to fit it behind the rock anyway. What the heck to folks do with small tanks as far as heating? I'm sure the plants would do good without but from what I read puffers like it a little warmer (78-79 F).

Aye, thats the plain old 8 watt straight bulb that came with the tank combo when originally purchased.

This tank too is due for some heavy maintenance and re-planting.

[MrJG]

I finally got around to replanting... pulled out all of the Eriocaulon Type 2 and replanted several of the nicest tops to be grown out again. On the right side I transplanted a good amount of Ludwiga Palustris tops that were trimmings from the 10 gallon. Added a fresh layer of sand back to the top...

Its really hard to get a decent pic of this tank for some reason.

[majolo]

I think this is a great tank! Although the heater is a bit, um, noticeable.
Did you ever identify the mystery plant? Is it still in there?

[MrJG]

Yea I hear ya on the heater. I'm trying to find something smaller or less obtrusive.
I ended up taking out the mystery plant... I'm pretty sure it was creeping jenny though.

[Justintoxicated]

I use a 10 watt steal, but its the same size as the 50 watt!

But I have found I only need it in Dec-Jan the light seems to heat my tank enough. Puffers like it warm though, although 2.5 gallons is a bit too small for an adult puffer. I ended up moving Puff Daddy fro 3 gal to 10 gallon, and added a couple friends. He is super happy now I can tell. And he is the only one out of the 3 that swims up to me if i wiggle my finger near the tank.

Those Dp's are pretty smart for fish.

I was just going to add some of that mystery plant to my tank as well. I have a wall of it in my 24 gallon and it looks nice. I don't know what it is either lol.

[MrJG]

So after looking at the heater for a bit and not really being able to find anything smaller thats adjustable temp wise... I just stood it up in the back behind the Ludwiga. I'm going to have to keep a close eye on the water level now because the little line on the heater is only submerged 1/4 of an inch or so. It looks a good bit better having the heater somewhat hidden. I also ended up pushing the filter far left behind the Eriocaulon also.

Everything continues to grow well under the 8w florescent lighting. Erio is getting thick again and the Ludwiga will all be touching the waterline soon. I added a stick that I found around the house... I've had it for quite a while and really just stuck it in there for giggles. It'll probably come out sooner or later.

I learned a huge time saver this week, I think I read it somewhere here re:doing water changes with a standard airline tube. But with the fact that I primarily feed the puffer live snails I figured it wouldn't work out well... I had been manually using planting tweezers to remove the spent shells. After the insides are gone they are surprisingly light and sometimes even float to the top. Well using the standard airline I could pretty much just suck them out of the tank while slowly changing the water. It gave me a ton more time to really get down in there and clean out detritus.

Not much else going on. The puffer is a little piggy and begs for snails every time I approach the tank. And yes justintoxicated 2.5 gallons is just on the fringe of being big enough but I do my best to keep him busy/happy. He seems to be enjoying the tank so far.

Any comments on the tank/layout?

[joetaff]

i like it alot more! you can barley see the heater and the wood looks great

[Fugu]

WoW! Great setup! Looks really good!

[dekstr]

I really like the look of it!

If you pretend there's no water in the tank, the floating plants kind of look like clouds, and the giant heater looks like a giant spaceship or zepellin balloon! And at ground level it looks like a park! Oh wait, you changed the heater position, now it looks like a rocketship.

Two thumbs up!

[MrJG]

Thanks for the comments guys!

dekstr: haha I haven't quite looked at it like that but I see where you're coming from.