Miss My's 1st Iwagumi Journal: Mr. Aqua 12 Gallon Long *LAST UPDATED MAY. 1st*

[MsNemoShrimp]

FTS as of May. 1st

Please feel free to comment, make suggestions, or ask questions

FTS as of Apr. 1st
FTS as of Mar. 1st
FTS as of Feb. 1st
FTS as of Dec. 1st
FTS as of Nov. 1st

Hardscape:
Tank: Mr. Aqua 12 Gallon Long Rimless (36"x8"x9")
Substrate: 15lbs of Eco-Complete (bottom layer) + 8lbs of Fluval Shrimp Stratum (top layer) + River/White sand + 12 Osmocote Plus Root Tabs
Light: 2x Clip-On Finnex 13W "Mini Spiral" CFL (Rated at 60W)
Filtration: 2x 501 Zoomed Canister Filters w/ Premium Carbon-Ammonia Neutralizing Blend, BioMedia & 100ml of Purigen
CO2 Pressurized CO2 w/ mini glass diffuser
Fertilizers: RootMedic oneSTEP (Started Feb. 1, 2012) & SeaChem Flourish Iron/Nitrogen/Phosphate (Started Apr. 1, 2012)
Misc: 4 Seiryu stones, eBay Drop checker, Wal-mart thermometer, PetSmart Glass cleaner, eBay Bubble counter.

Flora:
Emersed Growth- From 8.1.2011 to 10.1.2011
HC (Dwarf Baby Tears - Hemianthus callitrichoides 'cuba')
Mini Pellia/Coral Moss (Riccardia chamedryfolia)
Submersed - Since 10.1.2011
Downoi (Pogostemon helferi)
Weeping Moss (Vesicularia ferriei)
Blyxa Japonica (Blyxa japonica)
Süßwassertang (Monosolenium tenerum)
Hygrophila Pinnatifida (Hygrophila pinnatifida)
Erio Aquaticum (Eriocaulon)

Fauna:
2 Micro/Chili Rasboras (Boraras brigittae)
3 Otocinclus (Otocinclus macrospilus)
5 Horned Nerites (Clithon corona)
10 Snowballs + Offsprings (Neocaridina cf. zhangjiajiensis var. white)

Special Thanks To: OverStock, H4n & PC1 for your generous RAOK's for this tank! (click on their names to see what I got from them)

Some very useful threads that got me to where I am today I would love to share:
Am I Ready For Crystal Red Shrimps?
Best substrate to grow HC, UG & Belem emersed?
"New Tank Algae Syndrome" and how to prevent it?
API Test Kits for Successful CRS and Bee Shrimp rearing?
How to preserve Spinach, Lettuce and Greens for Shrimps?
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) & It's importance in Shrimp Rearing
12G Long Mr. Aqua w/ 26W Compact Florescent Lighting - Too little or too much?
Calling out to ALL CRS keepers regarding pH, gH/kH, TDS, Water Temperatures & Changes

Updates: (click on any of the *UPDATE* below and it will take you to that exact post)

*UPDATE* Oct. 5:
50% H20 Change
Added 1 Blue Pearl, 4 Yellow Shrimp, 10 RCS (ALL shrimps females only), 5 Horned Nerites & 7 White Cloud after a 50% H20 change.

*UPDATE* Nov. 1:
50% H20 Change
Added 3 Seiryu stones (smaller than the ones before) & an Indian Almond Leaf (catappa) cut into pieces.
Removed Male Platinum Endler, Riccia Fluitans & Glosso.

*UPDATE* Dec. 1:
Added 120mm DIY Cooling Fan. Ultra quite yet very effective.
Removed DHG (Dwarf Hairgrass - Eleocharis parvula), 1 Tiger Nerite (Nerita natalensis) & Hydor Pico Evolution 200 Mini Pump.
Deaths 2 Orange Eye Blue Tigers & 3 Crystal Red Shrimps.

*UPDATE* Feb. 1:
50% H20 Change
Added 3 Otocinclus & started dosing Root Medic oneSTEP Solution.
Removed Micro Sword, Tropica 49 & Orange Eye Blue Tigers.

*UPDATE* Mar. 1:
30% H20 Change
Added Hygrophila pinnatifida, 1 Otocinclus & 2 Micro/Chili Rasboras.
Removed ALL of the M. Minuta & Christmas moss tree (temporarily for about 1 month).

*UPDATE* Apr. 1:
10% H20 Change
Added Weeping Moss Tree, Emersed HC, 10 Snowball Shrimps, an additional Zoomed 501 Filter and started dosing SeaChem Flourish Iron/Nitrogen/Phosphate.

*UPDATE* May. 1:
10% H20 Change
Added SS Mesh Prefilters

On 7/30/2011 (Tank + Light + Mat):




To prevent a cluster of pictures, I have spreaded out the pictures on different posts.
(Click on any of the dates below and it will take you to that exact post)

On 8/1/2011 (Day 1 - 20) Let it begin w/ HC!

On 9/9/2011 (Day 21 - 40) Spread HC out, add treated Seriyu Stones, M. Minuta, HM, Tropica 049, DHG and Micro Sword

On 9/19/2011 (Day 41 - 50) Added HygroSunset, Mini Pellia, Glosso and more DHG

On 9/30/2011 (Day 60) Just before filling up the tank. Added White sand on top of the original River sand):







On 10/1/2011 @ 1:00AM (Right after filling the tank. No CO2 or Filtration added yet. Water is VERY clear.):

Oct. 1 "First Day" Parameters:
* TDS: 95ppm
* Chlorine: 0
* Ammonia: 0.25ppm
* Alkalinity: 80ppm
* Nitrate/Nitrite: 10 / 0
* Temp: 70-75F
* pH: 6-7
* kH: 3 / gH: 4
* Lights on 8 hours per day (9:30AM-11:30AM) (2PM-5PM) & (10PM-12AM)
* CO2 is on 24/7 (1-4 bps)
* No fertilizer dosing



On 10/1/2011 @ 10:00AM (Morning after. Ran filtration and CO2 overnight.):



On 11/1/2011 @ 10:00AM (Exactly 1 month later after flooding the tank):

Nov. 1 "One Month" Parameters:
* TDS: 72ppm
* Chlorine: 0
* Ammonia: 0
* Nitrate/Nitrite: 0 / 0
* Temp: 69-75F
* pH: 6-6.5
* kH: 2.5 / gH: 6
* Lights on 8 hours per day (10:00AM-12:30AM) (3:00PM-5:30PM) & (8:30PM-11:30PM)
* CO2 is ON - most of the time - (0.5-1 bps)
* Still no fertilizer dosing

[vespers_]

need more pictures!

that thumbnail looks really good!

[2in10]

Looks good but it is hard to tell since it only a thumbnail shot.

[MsNemoShrimp]

On 8/1/2011 (Day 1) Let it begin w/ HC!):




On 8/20/2011 (Day 20):

[GitMoe]

I like that scape. You've created good depth front to back in a tank that is actually pretty narrow proportionally. I also like the LEDs you have behind it. Maybe use a piece of sanded (frosted) plexi to more evenly diffuse the backlight... Great tank. Great patience.

[micr0]

looking good! I've been considering the 12g for my next tank. Am I right to assume you'll be adding shrimp?

[jkan0228]

Totally subscribed to this one.

[MsNemoShrimp]

On 9/9/2011 (Day 40 - Spread HC out, add treated Seriyu Stones, M. Minuta, HM, Tropica 049, DHG and Micro Sword):

[2in10]

Beautiful job setting it up, looks very sweet.

[MsNemoShrimp]

On 9/19/2011 (Day 50 - Added HygroSunset, Mini Pellia, Glosso and more DHG):






Question: Should I keep the Christmas moss tree?

A.) Yes
B.) Yes, but get a better looking driftwood piece for a tree.
C.) No. Looks better w/o one.
D.) _______________ (write your own advice).

Thanks : )

[mwuf15]

B.) Yes, but get a better looking driftwood piece for a tree.

[MsNemoShrimp]

So that is 1 for B and I certainly agree : )

[jkan0228]

Make that 2 for B.

[MsNemoShrimp]

Told my bf back home to take it out. Will take a pixs of it when I head back home to SD tomorrow : )

[beedee]

i like it, i like it alaaaaawt!