My Nothing Tank

[mommabear1007]

This started out as a back up/QT/hospital tank for what was once believed to be a sick angel. I don't think it's sick tho, I'm not sure that it ever was. Please don't scold me for keeping an angel in a 10 gall. It's only about a year old and this is a temporary home.

I call this my nothing tank because I do nothing to it. No fertilizer, no co2, no water changes. I top it off when it needs it, but otherwise, nothing. It has a desk lamp over it, i believe it's a 24 watt cfl 5600k that's on about 5 hours a day. It was about 4-5 inches over the surface of the water, i've raised it up as high as i can which is probably closer to 8-10 inches above the surface now. It gets some (very little) indirect sunlight. There are five fish, one angel and four neon tetras.

I've filled it with trimmings (limnophilia, hydrocoytle, and ludwiga - not sure exactly which species) from my 29 gall that does have co2 and ferts. I tied the hydrocoytle to pieces of thread superglued around river rocks for DIY plant weights to make the carpet effect.

The plants seem ok in the 10 gallon, but when i added some plants and moved some around yesterday, I noticed they don't have much of a root system. I believe they have grown some, tho. I also noticed BGA beginning to form on some of the limnophilia and DW.

The BGA i had in the 29 gallon awhile ago before I added the 2nd filter, before I used ferts, before i had co2, was so bad I had to tear down and start over. But I want to keep this tank low tech.

I've read low nitrates, poor water circulation, and imbalance of light and nutrients will encourage BGA. Do you think that little desk lamp is too much light for no ferts and no co2? This seems kind of impossible but I raised it anyway. I have some liquid ferts, flourish comp and leaf zone. Would just once a week be sufficient? Should I worry about macros? I also have some HOB filters lying around I will add for extra circulation.

Any other thoughts?

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by mommabear1007

This started out as a back up/QT/hospital tank.

I also noticed BGA beginning to form on some of the limnophilia and DW.

I have some liquid ferts, flourish comp and leaf zone. Would just once a week be sufficient?

Any other thoughts?

Not bad!!

Try a siesta period of 3hrs on your light time. Something like 4hrs on/ 3hrs off/ 4hrs on. It helps build up the Co2 in the tank - Diane Walsted. Since I have done that I don't have algae problems. Also might think of getting some Seachem excel.

You have easy plants thus 1x a week is fine.

[mommabear1007]

thanks! thats good to know about the siesta period. problem is i'm really only home (and awake) for about five hours a day during the week so i'm not sure how easily i could pull that off, but i can certainly try some type of variation of that. i did add the HOB filter and started dosing the leaf zone, just to use it up. I have some excel but I'm using it in the 29 to spot teat BBA. I'll see what it does and take it home if i need too, just didn't want to mess with this one every day.

We got a new kitten and I've been noticing it drinking the fish water. Could this hurt the kitty or the fish?? I have a lid but it blocks out most of the light so I don't use it but I could at least during the day when the light isn't on or at night when i'm not there to keep the kitty away.

[GMYukonon24s]

Nice looking tank

[theshadybird]

I think your kitty (and the fish) will be fine, my two cats at home regularly use the 20 gal as a water dish, haha. I only think it will be harmful to your kitten if you are medicating the tank for some reason, in which case I would definitely suggest keeping some form of lid on the tank. Great tank though!

[Kathyy]

Get a timer for the light, that simple. 5 hours may be fine for the BGA but limiting the plants a bit. I would dose the tank once a week with the Leaf Zone and try out Hilde's method for a few weeks.

Pretty and restful tank. Limnophilia left alone is very pretty.

[mommabear1007]

Originally Posted by GMYukonon24s

Nice looking tank

thank you!

Originally Posted by theshadybird

I think your kitty (and the fish) will be fine, my two cats at home regularly use the 20 gal as a water dish, haha. I only think it will be harmful to your kitten if you are medicating the tank for some reason, in which case I would definitely suggest keeping some form of lid on the tank. Great tank though!

huge relief, thanks!

Originally Posted by Kathyy

Get a timer for the light, that simple. 5 hours may be fine for the BGA but limiting the plants a bit. I would dose the tank once a week with the Leaf Zone and try out Hilde's method for a few weeks.

Pretty and restful tank. Limnophilia left alone is very pretty.

the light is on a timer. a cheap timer that will turn it on and off but not several times a day like the more expensive ones will. is that what you meant? i tried to google hilde's method and couldn't find anything relevant. can you suggest a link or something more specific to search? and thanks!

i appreciate all of the compliments. seems like when i'm not trying very hard it turns out better than when i am trying.

[theshadybird]

The timer I use for my Betta boy's light is a Brinks analog timer, which you can set for different times of the day (his is on from 9-noon, and 4-10), and I got it for only about $4 at Walmart. Here it is at Home Depot for a little bit more.

[mommabear1007]

Originally Posted by theshadybird

The timer I use for my Betta boy's light is a Brinks analog timer, which you can set for different times of the day (his is on from 9-noon, and 4-10), and I got it for only about $4 at Walmart. Here it is at Home Depot for a little bit more.

seems do-able, thanks!