Lara's 50 gallon "Valse"----oops: updated wrong thread.

[Amazonfish]

This tank is labeled as 50 gallons, but in reality, it's about 47 gallons. This is the same tank as my previous "Amazonfish's 47 gallon low tech". Except that...it's going high tech now

Here are the planned tank specifications:

Tank
47 gallons, 48x12.5x18.5

Lighting
3x54 watts T5HO (Catalina fixture)--I'm using two of the bulbs

CO2
10lb cylinder
Sumo regulator, swagelok needle valve
diffusion method: mini elite underwater filter
bubble rate: according to the mini elite, about 4 bps. According to the glass bubble counter, about 10 bps. Who's right?

Substrate
sand. It's working quite well

Fertilization
Root tabs
EI dosing

Flora
I'll update this category later :-)

Fauna
3 otos (should get more)
40 CRS/CBS

Questions
1. Take a look at the pic of my CO2 supplies. Aside from a diffusion method and drop checker, am I missing anything?

No pics of the tank yet, but here's my CO2 stuff:


sorry about that 2nd pic--I didn't realize how blurry it came out.

Thanks for looking!

[F22]

go for a pair of apisto, they do not breed harems

[JennaH]

congrats on the co2! what about a bubble counter..

[Amazonfish]

For some reason, I thought apistos were harem breeders. Well, that makes it easier for me, because aquabid usually sells them in pairs

oh....bubble counter. Yes, I do need one of those, too! where would a bubble counter fit on this set up? I'm technologically stunted, and this counts as technology for me.

[F22]

yea, they breed pairs, geophagus will breed harem

[Amazonfish]

That's even stranger! I thought geophagus were pairing!! I have 6 Geophagus 'Tapajos Orange Head' in my largest tank, but they're not old enough to breed yet. They're a very social cichlid, but I always thought they were pairing cichlids. Are you sure it's not the other way around?

Also, I answered my own question about the bubble counter. I saw that green leaf aquariums has inline bubble counters, so I'll be getting one of those.

[F22]

i had geophagus balzini in my tank and one male and 4 females babies all the time...

[Amazonfish]

That's a different genus though. Yours aren't Geophagus, they're Gymnogeophagus balzanii.

[F22]

geophagus are the same way

[F22]

i forgot the other species i had in the store, but we had a sick harem breeding going on.... if i recall the name i'll post it

[Amazonfish]

It's been awhile since I posted anything about this tank, but that's because I never got around to a real rescape with wood and rocks. I'm happy with this tank as a collectoritis tank for now

I just did a huge trim two days ago, and I want to track the growth starting from now. From now on, I'll always post a 'before' and 'after' pic when I trim.

Here's one pic I got during the trim. I had NO IDEA that there was this much L. arcuata. I sold some of it and kept about 3/4 of what I had. It's one of my favorite plants!



I trimmed most of it, but it took 4 HOURS! I left that right back corner for another day. I need to figure out what I want to put there. Here's the tank after the trim:


Comments and criticisms welcome

[hbosman]

What are you using for substrate? Is it sand? Did you put anything underneath it? Where in Virginia are you?

[Amazonfish]

Nothin' but sand! So many people say it won't work, but I've always used sand in my 5 tanks and I haven't ever had an issue with anaerobic pockets and my plants grow amazingly well. I keep the substrate a maximum depth of 2-3" toward the back of the tank and 1-2" at the front.

I live in Norfolk, but I grew up in Ashburn :-)

[hbosman]

Originally Posted by Amazonfish

Nothin' but sand! So many people say it won't work, but I've always used sand in my 5 tanks and I haven't ever had an issue with anaerobic pockets and my plants grow amazingly well. I keep the substrate a maximum depth of 2-3" toward the back of the tank and 1-2" at the front.

I live in Norfolk, but I grew up in Ashburn :-)

I've always been tempted to try sand. I like the look of it. I'm thinking of putting sand in the front of the tank and pushing the flourite to the back. That way I can see if glosso and Blyxa Japonica will grow in it successfully.

Near the ocean, I envy you.

[Amazonfish]

I don't get time to enjoy it though . I've been to the beach only once since I moved here last August, and even then, it was only to walk on the boardwalk!!

I don't think you'll have any problems growing blyxa in the sand. You see mine? That's after selling off 18 stems of it last week! I started with just a few stems in November!! It's a wonderful plant I think the root tabs help.