ADA Mini M and DBP Dual Tank Desk-Filling In

[Couesfanatic]

I'm going through a bad diatom new tank syndrome issue right now. Diatoms are hitting me good, but the two spots of BGA are gone now. Besides that I'm just patiently waiting for the UG to transition to submersed. It is starting to grow a bit. The danio jumped. Going to put in a single otto to help with the diatoms.

Still throwing around ideas for fish. I'm thinking Scarlet Badis, Emerald Dwarf Rasbora or Bumblebee goby. I want a fish with some personality and brains. I'd go for the badis but i'm not sure I want to deal with feeding. I do have frozen bloodworms though.

[Ben.]

Any updates? The oto must be full now

[Couesfanatic]

A lot has happened. The UG started to transition and grow pretty good. Then I went on vacation for 9 days. I left a family member in charge and it didn't turn out so well. The UG had lots of diatoms on it and was dying off. I'm not sure what it was that it was wanting. Every day I was finding more and more pieces on top of the water. That gold old fast so I tore the ultra sensitive UG out. I realized that I didn't take enough pics, but here are the two I did have when it was starting to go well. Sorry about the cup, these are the only pics I have. And the glass needed scraped badly also.





So now the tank is the same minus the UG. It looks pretty bare. I have been growing some Eleocharis Belem emersed so I threw a few pieces in to see if they would transition well. I'd really like to get a belem carpet in this tank, especially with no trimming. I also like the grassy, wild look of it. It grows well for me emersed, hopefully it does good in the tank. I'm also throwing around ideas of blyxa in the back or a super bright stem like rotala butterfly. This is a photo from manini on here, when he was selling it on here.



Currently I have a bumblebee goby in there, an otto and one fire red male. Still looking for a scarlet badis locally. Its too hot to risk shipping right now. Yes, Ben my female jumped ship along with my amanos while I was on vacation. I need to get another female from you. Not sure what caused that, something went wrong, maybe too much co2. My drop checker was running bright yellow all day long. My fish would be spinning circles in the evening barely hanging on. I recently turned down the co2 a bit and now its yellow/green at the beginning of the photoperiod and bright yellow at the end of the photoperiod. As you can see in the pics, I'm getting some GDA, not sure how to deal with that.

Oh and my other gripe. My water is still going yellow fast from the aquasoil. Its clear after a waterchange but within a day its back to the yellow tint. I can tell that it takes longer to turn yellow each week after waterchanges.

Any advise on the GDA? I think I will try the wait it out for 10-20 day thing, if it keeps coming back. Anyone had success with E. Belem? I will post udated pics tomorrow.

[Couesfanatic]

Originally Posted by Ben.

The oto must be full now

Yes Mr. Oto is doing great.

[Couesfanatic]

Sometimes a clean, blank slate is nice:



Along with a little Eleocharis Belem and some dirty lily pipes. The belem started to grow right away when I put it in submersed. I wonder if this plant is going to transition at all. I'm still contemplating blyxa or some rotala in the back.

[Ben.]

Any inhabitants in there?

[Couesfanatic]

1 Oto
1 Bumblebee Goby
1 Fire Red Male

[Ben.]

you going to the meeting on the 24th?

If you want I'll give you a female for some Ug? my emersed isn't doing well..

[Couesfanatic]

I won't be there. I can drop by sometime if you want. I'm in that area almost every day. Sounds like a good deal to me.

I don't know why your ug is struggling, thats weird.

[Ben.]

I think it's just because I bought it submersed and I tried switching it over, and I moved it several times. Your UG is emersed right? Do you have emersed belem as well?

No more UG for the Mini M?

[Dollface]

Sucks that your UG conked out like that, it was probably the diatoms that did it in. UG is pretty light/co2 hungry ime.

Get some belem in there stat, it'll look awesome.

[Couesfanatic]

Dollface, thanks. I think you are right. Hopefully the belem will carpet for me. The little bit I have right now is growing well.

Ben,
No more submersed UG for me. I just want to grow a carpet. This is my first time with pressurized and I want to grow something well. I do have emersed Belem also. Not much of it though. My UG is emersed.

[Ben.]

belem carpet will be awesome, I'll pm you so I don't spam your thread.

Simplicity does look good.

[bsk]

Originally Posted by Dollface

Sucks that your UG conked out like that, it was probably the diatoms that did it in. UG is pretty light/co2 hungry ime.

Get some belem in there stat, it'll look awesome.

Hey Dollface I know you are the UG Expert but I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. I've been growing the UG that I purchased from you with just a 13w otto pc light and no co2 in my 3 gallon tank. Personally I find the only thing UG really likes/needs is cold water. If your water temp gets too warm it starts to melt. Just my observation take it for what its worth........nothing....lol

Couesfanatic I do think you'll be happier with the Belem. UG is beautiful but a pain to maintain and I find no matter what I do it always uproots it self and requires re-planting.

Good luck with the new scape!

[TLE041]

Yep, UG will always uproot and replanting is next to impossible. I've found this out the hard way and had to rip out my entire carpet. It's a beautiful plant initially, but not intended for long-term (no one on the internet has managed to for more than a couple of months). I think the shine has about worn off this plant.

Belem or HC will look great in this.