Frank's Planted Tank How-To Mini Novel - The Mini S Returns! New Layout

[Francis Xavier]

We're now officially at day 14. Two weeks since initial planting.

Algae is popping up - but relatively easy to eradicate ones. Some diatoms, a little green algae types: all stuff that gets devoured by shrimp.

Dosing is x1 squirt Brighty K and Green brighty step 1

No water change today: but one will be tomorrow.

A few photos from different angles:



My typical perspective



Angle shots make things look cool.



Classic full shot.

[freph]

Is that surface film I spy or just lighting doing weird tricks on the water surface? Also, what are those white blotches in the front in the soil? I like how you can see the HC growing outwards along the substrate...always a good thing to see. Looking forward to a Mini M of my own hopefully in the near future.

[Francis Xavier]

Originally Posted by freph

Is that surface film I spy or just lighting doing weird tricks on the water surface? Also, what are those white blotches in the front in the soil? I like how you can see the HC growing outwards along the substrate...always a good thing to see. Looking forward to a Mini M of my own hopefully in the near future.

Yes, that is surface film you see. It'll start to level out and appear less and less as the growing matures. Once water changes are at the three day stage ( starting after tomorrow's water change ), I'll end up stirring it up a bit more in between changes.

The white spots is where I was stupid in dosing Penac W - over time it will dissolve completely, but sometimes when you don't dose it appropriately it will catch itself lower in the substrate. Not a problem for anything, just a technique in dosing it.

[Francis Xavier]

Freph,

You made me not be lazy and remove the surface film.

Putting a paper towel over it and then removing it from te aquarium quickly almost instantly removes the film. Takes about 5 seconds.

Alternatively, drain the water at night to the lily pipe out put level and fill before lights come on.

Good call on a habit.

[freph]

Bahaha. I hate surface film myself so I can't let a nice tank like this have that take away from it. Paper towels are little magic tricks for that stuff.

[bluestems]

subscribed, thanks for the post.

[Francis Xavier]

Originally Posted by bluestems

subscribed, thanks for the post.

Great blue.

I'll see what I can do for you for stones and other ADA you were looking for after looking at your thread and your desire for an excellent layout.

[mahko]

Maybe I missed it, but have you added shrimp yet? Or are you planning on adding some?

I cycled my tank with some seeded filter media and my ammonia/nitrite levels are zero as of yesterday. I added some amano shrimp and oto's and they are doing fine. Tested the water again and levels are the same. Was that too soon, or should I pull them and wait another week?

[zchauvin]

No he didn't and your fine... If ammonia and nitrite zero then why worry.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

[mahko]

I wasn't too worried, seeing how the water conditions were good. Looking back at the ADG/ADA how to videos on youtube, shrimp and otos were added after the first week. Seems to be going a slightly different direction than that. Just curious.

[icepotato89]

the nice ADA maintenance stand on a cardboard box made me lol. we need ADA stuff in australia...

[Francis Xavier]

Originally Posted by mahko

Maybe I missed it, but have you added shrimp yet? Or are you planning on adding some?

I cycled my tank with some seeded filter media and my ammonia/nitrite levels are zero as of yesterday. I added some amano shrimp and oto's and they are doing fine. Tested the water again and levels are the same. Was that too soon, or should I pull them and wait another week?

I will add shrimp sooner or later. Probably by the end of the third week. The reason being is this tank hasn't gotten fully cycled. In many tanks, using a substrate like Aqua Soil, it's best to seed with some old media from another tank of similar parameters. However I wanted to start "fresh," on this one. Partly to show the process, partly to improve my own skills in handling issues as they occur.

Originally Posted by mahko

I wasn't too worried, seeing how the water conditions were good. Looking back at the ADG/ADA how to videos on youtube, shrimp and otos were added after the first week. Seems to be going a slightly different direction than that. Just curious.

That aquarium also had tap water used in it: which in Houston is quite high (8.1 or there abouts). Nitrifying bacteria tend to grow quicker in harder water vs. softer water, where their metabolism slows (I just learned that a few days ago, and linked to the article a few pages back). I'm using pure RODI here as I refuse to use tap for a planted tank again.

Originally Posted by icepotato89

the nice ADA maintenance stand on a cardboard box made me lol. we need ADA stuff in australia...

I could slap an ADA sticker on it for ya'

[Francis Xavier]

Quiz for today:

Can you spot everything that was done, why it was done and what my dosing is?

[freph]

Looks to be some kind of bacterial bloom. I assume you did a water change...possibly accidentally disturbed substrate? Not sure. Hairgrass trimmed to open up the left side a bit and keep it in line with the swords. Dosing....I'll have to read some more about the liquid additive I assume.

[Francis Xavier]

You're on a decent track - but no bacteria bloom, I did that to the water intenionally.