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First planted tank. ADA Mini-L. 808, HI !!!FILLED 3/25/13!!!

18K views 98 replies 25 participants last post by  gowfan05 
#1 · (Edited)
4/20/13:


3/25/13:


2/23/13:


2/15/13:


2/11/13:


So like the title states, this is my first planted tank. I've been doing reef tanks for the past 5 years, and recently moved to Hawaii. Since there are limits to having a reef tank here, I decided to try a planted tank. I've always wanted to do one, just never got around to it. Found a brand new ADA Mini-L on craigslist and jumped on it. That was two months ago which gives you a little idea on how slow I've been going with this whole build. So far this is what I have:

Equipment:
ADA Mini-L
Finnex Ray II LED Daylight: 7000k Dual LED Strips
Eheim 2213
Atomic CO2 Regulator V3 (ordered)
Atomic CO2 Diffuser - Inline (ordered)
Atomic CO2 Bubble Counter (ordered)

Stand:
DIY ADA Stand
- Rustoleum Ultimate Sunbleach Stain
- Rustoleum Ultimate Satin Finish
DIY Light Suspension Hanging Kit

Tools:
Do!Aqua Pincettes S (ordered)
Do!Aqua Scissors S-Curved (ordered)

Supplements:
Pfertz (N,P,K,M)
Flourish Excel

Hardscape:
Aquasoil New Amazonia (Normal and Powder type)
Ryouh Stones

Plants:
Hemianthus Callitrichoides
Dwarf Hair Grass (waiting for shipment to Aquascapes)

"To get" list:
Hydor ETH 200
CAL AQUA FLUXUS 13mm
CAL AQUA "Nano" Drop Checker
 
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#80 ·
I really like the whole build. I'm a DIYer too, and I like all the little details you've added- for example, the holes in the back of the cabinet for the input/output hoses of the canister filter are in the perfect position. I also like the 90 degree elbows so you don't have messy hoses filling the cabinet.

Great equipment selection- I'm going to get that drop checker and those lily pipes.

The scape looks awesome. Do you have links to your SW journals?
 
#85 ·
Knicolas
When I last did my DSM I cranked the Co2 up like crazy once I filled the tank to reduce the amount of die off during the transition to submerged growth. Maybe your photoperiod; how long do you have your lights on for?? As for dosing, I wouldn't start dosing anything for the first month or two (the aquasoil has a lot of nutrients). When you do decide to dose I did..
Monday - M and N
Tuesday - P and K
Wednesday - Nothing
Thursday - M and N
Friday - P and K
Saturday - Nothing (usually my feeding day)
Sunday - Water Change

This was my routine for a 7.5g tank with a heavy carpet of HC. Hopefully this helps!

Tank is looking good though! Can't wait to see your next update!
-Patrick
 
#86 ·
Thanks for the help. Throughout work today I wondered what was wrong with my tank. I thought maybe I should try dosing NPK+M which what I did as soon as I got home. Wish I would have read your reply first :icon_conf

My photoperiod was went from 12 hours to 8 hours after filling. I currently added another hour so now it's at 9 hours.

How much did you dose of each per day?
 
#88 ·
So these weekly pictures are mostly a way for me to keep track of my growth progress. This is the first week I noticed more die off then growth. So after posting the pictures, I decided to take a closer look at my plants. I found what I believe is the beginning of green cyano. I quickly did a major water change removing the cyano in the process. For now, I'm going to just raise my CO2 and dose some excel. Please chime in if you can help!
 
#89 ·
I can't help with the cyano problem but the hc looks fine to me. High light makes it grow laterally and low light makes it grow up, so it looks like you have sufficient lighting.

The runners pretty much spread, and IMO the hc gets really dense when there's no place to go. Just keep up on the trimming when it does fill in- eventually it becomes an enormous block and can float to the top.
 
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