Green Valley 50G, Update - 04/27/12 : CO2 disaster strikes pg3

[green_valley]

Hello everyone,

Finally I have decided to work on High-tech. I think that the best lesson you can achieve by learning "hands-on". Yup, so I jumped in with the new high-tech set up. Here is the Specs:

Tank size: 52 gallon (48x18x14)
Substrate: MGOPS + Red Clay + Osmo, capped off with PFS
Light : Oddysea 3 bulbs T5HO, but use 2 only
Filter : Fluval 203
Heater : Fluval 100w, set to 79F
CO2 system : DIY
Diffuse system : Injected PowerHead
Dosing : undecided


Plants:
Ludwigia sp Red - 4 stems
Acmella repens - 5 stems
Blyxa alternifolia - 5 stems
Syngonanthus sp Belem - 5 stems
Ludwigia inclinata sp Red - 5 stems
Rotala sp Pearl - 6 stems
Rotala sp Thailand - 5 stems
Ludwigia brevipes - 5 stems
Pogostemon yatabeanus - 3 stems
Ludwigia repens X arcuata - 5 stems
Bacopa sp Salzmannii or Bacopa sp Araguaia - 5 stems
Cabomba golden - 3 stems
Heteranthera zosterifolia or Stargrass - 10 stems
Hygrophila sp Bold - 5 stems
Myriophyllum mattogrossense - 5 stems
Limnophila sp Broad - 5 stems
Staurogyne sp Porto Velho - 6 stems
Nechamandra alternifolia - 3 stems


Fauna: UNDECIDED....Helppppp ...haha


Here are the pictures so far:









This the setup last night, that took me from 9pm to 7am. Yup, I didn't sleep.

Below is the tank and stand and canister filter for $50



I was probably going overboard with MGOPS, Plus Red Clay, and Osmo. I just hope that the plants won't mind it:




Capped PSF:


this is why you need some help when you're walking and falling asleep at the same time. I disturbed the PSF, so a little messy, but I wasn't negative at all. And it pays off, because of the dirt, I could actually determine that the filter wasn't strong enough. Powerd head needed.





OMG OMG I LOVE THESE PLANTS. I believed total around 100 plants I planted last night :






If you noticed the picture below, it's actually sunrise Yawn yawn yawn



Well, obviously, I have more plants coming and more space available. There is be Minuta for the foreground. If you have any suggestion, opinion, commnent, please do so. This is a learning experience for me, and everyday I lean something.

[rustbucket]

Nice so far, sub'd. I think in a few months this will be nicely filled in I noticed a few fast growers in your list.
Personally for fauna I would go with congo tetras, but I am biased.
But pick your biggest fish first, when stocking my tank I made the mistake of putting in a bunch of small fish ie neons and that severely limited my selection after, as neons are tasty

[green_valley]

Originally Posted by rustbucket

Nice so far, sub'd. I think in a few months this will be nicely filled in I noticed a few fast growers in your list.
Personally for fauna I would go with congo tetras, but I am biased.
But pick your biggest fish first, when stocking my tank I made the mistake of putting in a bunch of small fish ie neons and that severely limited my selection after, as neons are tasty

Thank you so much for your comments and suggestions. Hmmmmmmm....biggest fish huh? I love oscars.....hahaha, but too big.

[green_valley]

Well, this is the 3rd day of this new setup. I noticed some white fuzzy stuff on the substrate and some of the stems plants. I did a research that it's fungus? I wonder what's causing this.

I have taken pictures, but I am not sure if you can actually see it. Im just hoping it's not algae in 3rd day

[rustbucket]

Just a shot in the dark here, but if you are cycling the tank with flake fish food, then it will turn white and fuzzy when it goes bad.

Either way you can just try siphoning out as much as you can, also make a post in the algae thread someone will know

[green_valley]

Thanks Rust. I did a little research, supposedly it will go away by itself in few days or weeks. No, I am not cycling with fish food. I am probably going to do instant cycling with hardy fish and established filter from my other tank.

I think it's a good idea to post the picture on algae section. Thank you again.

[green_valley]

WOW...WOW....WOW. I am pleased to tell you how I have been enjoying this tank's growth. WOW...WOW....WOW. My 140G is a disappointment, but this tank will balance it out. Check out the pictures below:

12/05/2012:


12/06/2012:
Plants were actually starting to be raising up.


12/08/2012:
Plants were really erected straight up.
Also, I switch from DIY CO2 via Powerhead, to reactor. Foreground was added with Minuta.













12/10/2012:
Water test showed some ammonia and nitrite. New Canister filter added plus purigen to help eliminate tannin.






12/12/2012:
More Growth






12/13/2012:
Water test showed, more ammonia and nitrite.


12/15/2012:
No more DIY CO2 system. Replaced by CO2 Reg plus Reactor. . Huge cylinder indeed. The bigger the better right?


12/17/2012:
Amonia spike made me insane, it just won't go down as fast. That's right, I am impatient. I know some people don't like to speed up the process, but I do. I poured the old sponge to this tank for instant cycle.


12/18/2012:
Added more plants. I had been looking for this Purple Cabomba, I love it.




12/19/2012:
Water test showed , pH 7, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 40


12/22/2012:
First water change. Added 40 Neon and 9 Rummynoses.


12/23/2012:
Fish were happy Of course, they love the moon










12/24/2012:
Christmas Eve video
http://s1183.photobucket.com/albums/...t=IMG_1037.mp4

12/28/2012:
Enjoy.










That's it ladies and gentlemen. I love this tank, and I know they might look scattered for now. I am trying to let them grow as tall as possible, then we'll design it then.

Any questions, suggestions, opinions are WELCOME

Thank you.

[150EH]

Nice buy on the tank setup for $50, it looks bigger than 50 gallons. It looks like the plants are doing well and did good in that substrate mix, I don't know how you keep that sand clean and my tank could use daily vacuuming with Flourite so sand must be a real pain.

What was the pump you used for your water change, that is a little different but looks like a good idea.

[jkan0228]

Wow fantastic growth right there! My tank was like that a few months ago... Until I took out my algae eaters and algae got the best of it....

[green_valley]

Originally Posted by 150EH

Nice buy on the tank setup for $50, it looks bigger than 50 gallons. It looks like the plants are doing well and did good in that substrate mix, I don't know how you keep that sand clean and my tank could use daily vacuuming with Flourite so sand must be a real pain.

What was the pump you used for your water change, that is a little different but looks like a good idea.

Thanks 150. It was a steal indeed. It's just long, so it seems bigger. As for the cleaning, I haven't done any cleaning, but so far, the water reading is within the parameter needed. May be corry and SAE help???

As far as the pump, it's one of those pond pump from HD. It's fairly handy, and WC took me less than 10 minutes.

[green_valley]

Originally Posted by jkan0228

Wow fantastic growth right there! My tank was like that a few months ago... Until I took out my algae eaters and algae got the best of it....

Thanks Jkan. Honestly, I just added SAE yesterday. In my opinion, I don't need them. I know that I see some algae for the second week, after that, I don't see much at all. The worst was GSA, but it's no big deal, they're actually gone by now.

[chad320]

Sweet. I ordered that purple cabomba and mine is straight green Im glad to see someone is doing it right

[jkan0228]

The best algae eaters are amanos. The bigger they get the more they eat.

[green_valley]

Originally Posted by jkan0228

The best algae eaters are amanos. The bigger they get the more they eat.

jkan, I would agree with you, but seriously SAE is insanely amazing. They won't stop working and FAST.

Originally Posted by chad320

Sweet. I ordered that purple cabomba and mine is straight green Im glad to see someone is doing it right

Chad, how long was your Purple cabomba tuned green? So far, I see a little green, but it says purple pretty much. But I really wanna try to dose iron. I heard it help?????

[jkan0228]

Originally Posted by green_valley

jkan, I would agree with you, but seriously SAE is insanely amazing. They won't stop working and FAST.



Chad, how long was your Purple cabomba tuned green? So far, I see a little green, but it says purple pretty much. But I really wanna try to dose iron. I heard it help?????

SAE's get all fat and lazy once they get older..... Just make sure algae is their main diet. Lol they grow super fast too! Added two before my trip to Taiwan and when I came back 9 days later, there's been a significant difference in size!

With iron, for me atleast I've noticed that my plants get alot redder after I dosed more.