CRS Spec Journal

[MABJ]

Hey all, thanks for reading another of my journals. This tank has come a long way, and I'd like to preface the whole story of this tank with a full tank shot that I'll keep pretty current.



------- The journey from the beginning.

I've been saving this for a weekend project, and a lot of my business just cleared up, so I can finally get to this!

I've recently started an 18" long 2.5 gal tank and it has sucked up my time and resources, but it is set up and has fauna in it now. But now this tank will be my focus for a while!

So if you don't know the dimensions of a Fluval Spec, it is almost awkwardly tall.

Roughly 10" tall, 6" deep and 7" across. Something like that.

I'll have some rocks to work with

And some driftwood


And of course the tank, which will be a clean slate. No plants, removing this gravel and cleaning the tank up.


Basically I'll be working with a cycled this:


Finally, I hope to keep nerites, ramshorns and only CRS in this tank.

[MABJ]

OK! So after a miserable time cleaning the tank out, I rinsed it out and cleaned some scum off the glass.

I took out all the snails I could find, had a hard lesson about what springtails are and trashed all the gravel.

I replaced everything, so it will probably take some time to build my old BB and the tank goodies up for the shrimp.

Let me know if anybody has suggestions! The tank just got flooded and I applied some moss.

I'd love some plant suggestions.






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[MABJ]

I added some moss and flooded it. Hopefully it'll all take off, cycle quick and I'll get all the micro fauna that are so good for shrimp




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[MABJ]

Had to leave the lights off today unfortunately. But I did get some H. Formosa I'm excited about. I think I'm going to put 4 in here.. I may need to take my time before I get the CRS and just go with some rillis or something of the sort until I'm 100% confident this is ready.


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[MABJ]

Update:

Well I haven't done much, but I know the good stuff is growing! Some of my moss has made progress, but I'm havin issues keeping my Anubias Petite down.

I have noticed the oddest thing... Seems some seeds or something escaped my cleaning. I've got some interesting plants growing emerged well and submerged decent. Can anybody ID them?



The second is hard to see, but there are 4. 2 in and 2 out. All are growing on wood.

Also, I want to put some of my Least Killifish in here but I'm not sure if the flow is too much. Thoughts anybody?

Current FTS



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[MABJ]

I'd love some responses on this! The Moss is starting to grow out, and it has a CPO in it temporarily.

Let me know what you all think of the scape.


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[Basil]

Anything new with this Spec?

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by Basil

Anything new with this Spec?

Heyya! Just waiting for some feedback. There's not much interest in this spec I guess.


It is playing host to a naughty male crayfish that hurt its female partner.

Thanks for commenting

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[mr2]

Highly recommend the flual 13w pc lap for your spec if you can score one cheap. As you know I went saltwater with mine recently but prior to that it was my desk tank and when I got one it made a big difference, it really brightens up the flaura and fauna.

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by mr2

Highly recommend the flual 13w pc lap for your spec if you can score one cheap. As you know I went saltwater with mine recently but prior to that it was my desk tank and when I got one it made a big difference, it really brightens up the flaura and fauna.

Really!!! I was looking for some discussion on this... I thought it might be TOO much light.. 13W on a 2g? Sounds like merit for Co2


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[MABJ]

I've got a resident crayfish in here, which is keeping me from bringing other tankmates in it, as I'm sure he'll harass them. He's kinda mean! He looks at me when I come around, but when I try to net him, he's gone. >_<

I tried to net him because I'm going to put CRS in here, as the title presumes, but he's preventing that.

I will say I had to move this tank from college to home for a month, and it proves to be a very easy tank to move, whereas long tanks are a PITA to move.

[DoubleT]

Love the driftwood! What kind of rock is in the tank? Can't wait to see it with some shrimp.

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by DoubleT

Love the driftwood! What kind of rock is in the tank? Can't wait to see it with some shrimp.

Oh thanks so much!

This is sandstone by bartohog. I need to reposition the top piece a little. Actually, let me do that. This thread deserves a FTS update.

[MABJ]

Alright. So the moss has filled in a little, and I put a little nylon to reduce the flow by a bit, so I can put some struggling fry or shrimp in here to stretch and heal.

Other than that, I've been letting things happen. Feeding hen necessary!

FTS:



And my temporary ruler of this tank (LOL):




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[mr2]

Cool crayfish maybe you should just leave him in there! As for the fluval 13w light, it's rally not too much light IME, although it certainly could warrant co2 or at least excel. A better idea to reduce the flow would be to put a small hole in the tube leading from the pump to the outflow piece, right near the top, maybe 3/16", not bigger. The other benefit of doing it that way is that you can put your heater back there if you do. Otherwise if you put the heater there it won't work correctly because it heats up that small space quickly and then shuts off right away leaving the rest of the tank cold. Another thing about specs.... They all leak eventually alt least a little bit so next time you redo the tank I'd re silicone it. Also the foam filter doesn't work as well as plain old filter floss jammed in the back compartment, I use accrurel brand floss with great results. What ever happened to the plant growing out of the driftwood?