Gil's Dirty Tank

gil_ong · 08-21-2011, 11:04 PM

So... after waiting like 5 weeks for my in-laws to leave and then having some time for things to settle down from our trip prior to the in-laws arriving, here it is.

this 36g quarter-round was donated by a friend after i hooked him up with a 60g that another friend was giving away.

here's my 20g right before tearing it down. :sniff sniff:

took more than i expected to clean it up and paint the flat walls.

i was also thrilled that i was able to re-use my light, a simple 20" power compact.

had a little confusion on my part regarding what to get, but i was able to dig up one of wkndracer's thread. whew!

wasn't sure how much dirt to put in, so i just poured in about 1/2 the bag and patted it down a bit..

there are time when i really cannot stand flourite. probably didn't help that i re-used it from the 20g.

can't wait until it clears in about a day. running my two smallish HOBs for now. will set up the Fluval 305 tomorrow evening.

2in10 · 08-21-2011, 11:27 PM

Nice looking scape, the tank really gives a unique view of the plants.

gil_ong · 08-22-2011, 12:13 AM

thanks.

can't wait for the HM to grow in.

kamikazi · 08-22-2011, 12:37 PM

just for future reference. the dirt should be around 1-2 inches deep and the cap 1-2 inches as well.

gil_ong · 08-22-2011, 12:55 PM

ah. thanks, kamikazi.

as you can see from the pic, there are places with more flourite and some places with less. there is at least 2" of dirt everywhere though.

water was still filthy this morning. cleaned out both HOBs and hope to see cleaner water when i get home this evening.

gil_ong · 09-03-2011, 05:30 PM

Yeah. So I accidentally stirred up some of the dirt and the tannins are making themselves known. Actually not a bad look, much softer. Just news to tone it down a bit.

BUT, I also have some funky clear/white fuzzy stuff growing in my driftwood. Removing it is not an option. It is secured to a flat piece of stone that is buried.

any suggestions?

2in10 · 09-03-2011, 06:47 PM

Siphon out with WC after scraping off with tongs.

nemosreef · 09-03-2011, 08:56 PM

What are the plants you have in there? It looks like Rotala Rotundifolia and the other one I am not sure.

gil_ong · 09-19-2011, 12:23 AM

so i think i might be in a bind.

i have 3 red claw shrimp and they have a tendency to dig. in particular, the big daddy red claw shrimp is digging a den under a rock, and is of course pushing out the dirt on top of the flourite.

am i going to have to deal with "tanned" water ad infinitum?

2in10 · 09-19-2011, 12:31 AM

That would be a possibility if they keep digging as they will keep everything stirred up constantly.

gil_ong · 09-19-2011, 12:52 AM

unamused.

2in10 · 09-19-2011, 12:53 AM

Doesn't look like you have a water enthusiast there. Great shot.

gil_ong · 09-20-2011, 08:56 PM

She's much better now, but she really did scream holy murder every time we gave her bath. :-)

gil_ong · 10-06-2011, 01:33 AM

removed the 3 red claw shrimp over the weekend and added 10 juvenile galaxy rasboras to the tank today.

on a diff note, i think my 305 might be putting out too much flow. any harm in dialing it back? does it stress the motor?

Aquatect · 10-16-2011, 02:00 AM

Was your water brown at all? Working on my first dirt tank and its just a brown haze. yours looked white, very confused.

08-21-2011, 11:04 PM	#1
gil_ong Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 228	Gil's Dirty Tank So... after waiting like 5 weeks for my in-laws to leave and then having some time for things to settle down from our trip prior to the in-laws arriving, here it is. this 36g quarter-round was donated by a friend after i hooked him up with a 60g that another friend was giving away. here's my 20g right before tearing it down. :sniff sniff: took more than i expected to clean it up and paint the flat walls. i was also thrilled that i was able to re-use my light, a simple 20" power compact. had a little confusion on my part regarding what to get, but i was able to dig up one of wkndracer's thread. whew! wasn't sure how much dirt to put in, so i just poured in about 1/2 the bag and patted it down a bit.. there are time when i really cannot stand flourite. probably didn't help that i re-used it from the 20g. can't wait until it clears in about a day. running my two smallish HOBs for now. will set up the Fluval 305 tomorrow evening.

08-21-2011, 11:27 PM	#2
2in10 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,585	Nice looking scape, the tank really gives a unique view of the plants. __________________ *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part duex* *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part 1* 8 Gallon Biocube Canon Pimp Club #041

08-22-2011, 12:37 PM	#4
kamikazi Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lincolnton, NC Posts: 2,246	just for future reference. the dirt should be around 1-2 inches deep and the cap 1-2 inches as well. __________________ Frat. of Dirt #3 My YouTube Channel Walstad Bowls Blackwater Paradise Expansus 15 Gal. Office 29 Gal. Blackwater Paradise 40 Gal. Crypt Utopia

09-03-2011, 06:47 PM	#7
2in10 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,585	Siphon out with WC after scraping off with tongs. __________________ *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part duex* *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part 1* 8 Gallon Biocube Canon Pimp Club #041

09-03-2011, 08:56 PM	#8
nemosreef Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (54/100%) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 927	What are the plants you have in there? It looks like Rotala Rotundifolia and the other one I am not sure. __________________ 38gal. Tetras Forest. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1418057 10gal. Jungle Low Tech. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...pdate-6-a.html 10gal. Planted Aquarium, 38gal. Planted Aquarium.

08-22-2011, 12:13 AM	#3
gil_ong Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 228	thanks. can't wait for the HM to grow in.

08-22-2011, 12:55 PM	#5
gil_ong Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 228	ah. thanks, kamikazi. as you can see from the pic, there are places with more flourite and some places with less. there is at least 2" of dirt everywhere though. water was still filthy this morning. cleaned out both HOBs and hope to see cleaner water when i get home this evening.

09-03-2011, 05:30 PM	#6
gil_ong Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 228	Yeah. So I accidentally stirred up some of the dirt and the tannins are making themselves known. Actually not a bad look, much softer. Just news to tone it down a bit. BUT, I also have some funky clear/white fuzzy stuff growing in my driftwood. Removing it is not an option. It is secured to a flat piece of stone that is buried. any suggestions?

09-19-2011, 12:23 AM	#9
gil_ong Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 228	so i think i might be in a bind. i have 3 red claw shrimp and they have a tendency to dig. in particular, the big daddy red claw shrimp is digging a den under a rock, and is of course pushing out the dirt on top of the flourite. am i going to have to deal with "tanned" water ad infinitum?

09-19-2011, 12:31 AM	#10
2in10 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,585	That would be a possibility if they keep digging as they will keep everything stirred up constantly. __________________ *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part duex* *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part 1* 8 Gallon Biocube Canon Pimp Club #041

09-19-2011, 12:52 AM	#11
gil_ong Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 228	unamused.

09-19-2011, 12:53 AM	#12
2in10 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,585	Doesn't look like you have a water enthusiast there. Great shot. __________________ *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part duex* *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part 1* 8 Gallon Biocube Canon Pimp Club #041

09-20-2011, 08:56 PM	#13
gil_ong Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 228	She's much better now, but she really did scream holy murder every time we gave her bath. :-)

10-06-2011, 01:33 AM	#14
gil_ong Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 228	removed the 3 red claw shrimp over the weekend and added 10 juvenile galaxy rasboras to the tank today. on a diff note, i think my 305 might be putting out too much flow. any harm in dialing it back? does it stress the motor?

10-16-2011, 02:00 AM	#15
Aquatect Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 32	Was your water brown at all? Working on my first dirt tank and its just a brown haze. yours looked white, very confused.

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