Punk's 10 Gallon Reboot

PunknDestroy · 06-05-2013, 09:05 PM

Hello everyone! After some time dealing with my 10 gallon killing everything i put into it I decided it was time to restart it. Originally I had a standard 10 gallon tank that you find at every pet store. Unfortunately when i was scraping algae it cracked due to a pivot point created by a large piece of fluorite under the pane. Ended up running out and picking up a 14" cube tank which i must say I'm very happy with. Enough with my ramblings though.

Technical stuff:
-14" cube (~12 gallons)
-50watt via aqua heater
-aquaclear 20 HOB
-1.5" of Miracle Grow Organic Choice capped with 1.5" of Eco-Complete
-DIY dimmable Cree LED fixture; 15" long with 10 3watt diodes suspended 12" off the surface of the tank. Currently at about 50% output

Living stuff:
-Some glosso
-Water wisteria
-Baby Tears (Micranthemum umbrosum)
-Lace Java fern "windelov"
-Marble radican sword
-Potamogeton gayi
-Italian Leopard val
-OVT's spies that may have survived the initial tank

As of now there are no fish or inverts. I'm looking into what i would like to stock so i'm open to suggestions if anyone has them.

If anyone is interested the hardscape is just a driftwood piece and 3 rocks. Nothing too complicated. It's still a bit cloudy so i'm using a dual sponge filter to try and speed it up. What was supposed to be a single day reboot ended up being a 2 day fiasco since the tank broke

Ideas for future upgrades:
-CO2 system parts are on the way. I'll be doing a DIY paintball system. Until i get everything i need i'll be doing a simple fermentation set up.
-Filter will be upgraded to a canister. Debating on brand still.
-Option of changing out the light source. OVT seems rather convinced that it's the culprit for everything dying in my tank. If at this point nothing lives the light will be come and switched to something else.
-Fert regiment is currently being researched so i have to get that in the next week or so.

Now for some simple pictures:

**OVT** · 06-07-2013, 05:43 AM

I am seeing a lot of blue light in the pictures.
Is the tank cycled?
Too bad about the plants I gave you.

via Droid DNA Tapatalk 2

PunknDestroy · 06-07-2013, 07:37 AM

The HOB was established in the other tank. And of the 10 diodes 4 of them are blue. the other 6 are white (3 6500K and 3 10000K). It is unfortunate. Hopefully i'll do better now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OVT

I am seeing a lot of blue light in the pictures.
Is the tank cycled?
Too bad about the plants I gave you.

via Droid DNA Tapatalk 2

PunknDestroy · 06-11-2013, 09:55 PM

Thought I'd do a quick update!

First water test:
pH-can't tell between 6.8 and 7.0
Ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrite- approx. .5ppm
Nitrate- 10ppm

Quick photo

Not sure if you can tell but some of the val has melted and so has the baby tears. Sword seems happy aside from dropping some leaves. glosso also decided it didnt want to stay down so i have to replant it. canister filter this weekend. current diy co2 is at a steady 3bps. Now i feel like i need more plants

**acitydweller** · 06-11-2013, 11:51 PM

The glosso is saying it's unhappy. Infact, it looks like its being starved.
Try planting glosso by the nodes.

Vals generally arent happy when light and ferts are insufficient. Consider doing a test and using a cheap shop light with a clamp and a 6500k bulb and see how the plants react over a week. you might be surprised.

PunknDestroy · 06-12-2013, 12:41 AM

The glosso is actually growing well, just that it doesn't want to stay put. I would think that the light is sufficient and that the dirt substrate would help. I can't remember what I'm doing off the top of my head but I'll give the shop light a try. What's the best place to find one?

Quote:

Originally Posted by acitydweller

The glosso is saying it's unhappy. Infact, it looks like its being starved.
Try planting glosso by the nodes.

Vals generally arent happy when light and ferts are insufficient. Consider doing a test and using a cheap shop light with a clamp and a 6500k bulb and see how the plants react over a week. you might be surprised.

PunknDestroy · 06-12-2013, 10:13 PM

So i removed the stones and much of the decaying organic matter after a water change. I ran another series of water tests after the change and the best came back nearly identical to what i got yesterday. Might the age of the test kit affect the accuracy? The kit is well over 18 months old, should i invest in a new one?

06-05-2013, 09:05 PM	#1
PunknDestroy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 200	Punk's 10 Gallon Reboot Hello everyone! After some time dealing with my 10 gallon killing everything i put into it I decided it was time to restart it. Originally I had a standard 10 gallon tank that you find at every pet store. Unfortunately when i was scraping algae it cracked due to a pivot point created by a large piece of fluorite under the pane. Ended up running out and picking up a 14" cube tank which i must say I'm very happy with. Enough with my ramblings though. Technical stuff: -14" cube (~12 gallons) -50watt via aqua heater -aquaclear 20 HOB -1.5" of Miracle Grow Organic Choice capped with 1.5" of Eco-Complete -DIY dimmable Cree LED fixture; 15" long with 10 3watt diodes suspended 12" off the surface of the tank. Currently at about 50% output Living stuff: -Some glosso -Water wisteria -Baby Tears (Micranthemum umbrosum) -Lace Java fern "windelov" -Marble radican sword -Potamogeton gayi -Italian Leopard val -OVT's spies that may have survived the initial tank As of now there are no fish or inverts. I'm looking into what i would like to stock so i'm open to suggestions if anyone has them. If anyone is interested the hardscape is just a driftwood piece and 3 rocks. Nothing too complicated. It's still a bit cloudy so i'm using a dual sponge filter to try and speed it up. What was supposed to be a single day reboot ended up being a 2 day fiasco since the tank broke Ideas for future upgrades: -CO2 system parts are on the way. I'll be doing a DIY paintball system. Until i get everything i need i'll be doing a simple fermentation set up. -Filter will be upgraded to a canister. Debating on brand still. -Option of changing out the light source. OVT seems rather convinced that it's the culprit for everything dying in my tank. If at this point nothing lives the light will be come and switched to something else. -Fert regiment is currently being researched so i have to get that in the next week or so. Now for some simple pictures:

06-07-2013, 05:43 AM	#2
OVT Carpe Diem (View User Tanks) PTrader: (123/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: SF East Bay Area Posts: 2,670	I am seeing a lot of blue light in the pictures. Is the tank cycled? Too bad about the plants I gave you. via Droid DNA Tapatalk 2 __________________ Courtesy Integrity * Perseverance * Indominable Spirit * and Self Control* Tenets of TKD

06-11-2013, 11:51 PM	#5
acitydweller ओं मणिपद्मे हूं (View User Tanks) PTrader: (150/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New York, NY Posts: 6,314	The glosso is saying it's unhappy. Infact, it looks like its being starved. Try planting glosso by the nodes. Vals generally arent happy when light and ferts are insufficient. Consider doing a test and using a cheap shop light with a clamp and a 6500k bulb and see how the plants react over a week. you might be surprised. __________________ Namaste ओं मणिपद्मे हूं My life extends far beyond the limitations of me Keeper of the LIST

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06-11-2013, 09:55 PM	#4
PunknDestroy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 200	Thought I'd do a quick update! First water test: pH-can't tell between 6.8 and 7.0 Ammonia- 0ppm Nitrite- approx. .5ppm Nitrate- 10ppm Quick photo Not sure if you can tell but some of the val has melted and so has the baby tears. Sword seems happy aside from dropping some leaves. glosso also decided it didnt want to stay down so i have to replant it. canister filter this weekend. current diy co2 is at a steady 3bps. Now i feel like i need more plants

06-12-2013, 10:13 PM	#7
PunknDestroy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 200	So i removed the stones and much of the decaying organic matter after a water change. I ran another series of water tests after the change and the best came back nearly identical to what i got yesterday. Might the age of the test kit affect the accuracy? The kit is well over 18 months old, should i invest in a new one?