Ray's 12 Gallon Loooooooong Journal | DIY ADA Stand | UG Planted! (3/16)

[sayurasem]

So after my 10 gallon project died 10 Gallon Journal, I decided to start a new chapter. Behold the 12 gallon long!
Its my first rimless tank ever, so hopefully this will turn out to be good.

Tank: Mr. Aqua 12 Gallon Long
Light: Ray2 36" 29W 6500k/6500k LED
Hardscape: 2x Seiryu Stone (15lb)
Photoperiod: 6am - 6pm (12hrs/ day)

Dimension: 12G
Light: 20" Odyssea 2x 18Watts T5HO
Substrate: ~15lb of Fluval Shrimp Stratum
Hardscape: 2x Seiryu Stones ~15lb
Photo Period Hours: 12pm - 10pm (10 hours/ +day)

Comments/ Concerns/ Critics/ Opinions are welcome!

Everyone likes pictures, cheers!

[sayurasem]

So I started planting the HC yesterday by "sprinkle" method. I just sprinkle the HC nice and evenly then I sprinkle more Fluval Stratum to lightly cover/buried some HC, so they looked like "planted" with tweezers.

Photoperiod: 10 Hours (12pm - 10pm)
Light: Oddysea (e-bay) 20" Dual T5HO

Right now I'm still deciding on which light fixture should I get. I'm hoping I can make this tank as high-tech as my pocket can support

Pictures Cheers!

Full Tank Shot


Bird View


Left Side


Right Side


I know I defies the law of iwagumi rock numbers. I only have 2 rocks on 1 side of the tank only. But I want to make a great plain of HC kind of view. I don't know, its just me being weird and having very limited amount of resource.
That's pretty much it right now! Finally I can sleep now lol.

Hope you guys enjoy! I will keep you updated.

[cawolf86]

Looks like a great start - I think your idea seems cool.

[cawolf86]

Just looked over your last thread too. What did you change when your HC started to grow last time? What are you doing different this time?

[diwu13]

What are you going to be doing differently in this tank to avoid algae?

[sayurasem]

Originally Posted by cawolf86

Just looked over your last thread too. What did you change when your HC started to grow last time? What are you doing different this time?

lets see...

I think its because I up my photo period from 10hrs to 14 hours. Plus I put a mix of Seachem Excel, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, and Micros into my Spraying Bottle. But! because of these nutrients, algae started to take over in no time.

Last 10 gallon tank substrate was a combination of 20lb Eco-complete + 8.8lb of Fluval Shrimp Stratum. (eco-complete was inert, and FSS only has little nutrients)
This 12 gallon tank contains about ~15lb of Pure Fluval Shrimp Stratum (I use 1 and 2/3 Bags of Fluval Shrimp Stratum) So hopefully this 15lb of FSS can provide the nutrients needed while dry start.

I learned that High-Light + Long Photo Period + High Fertilizer + High Humidity grows the fastest HC. But! when an algae got you its hard to stop them because of the nutrients and light. Its like driving a car, you go 100 MPH will get you super fast to your destination. But this is when you got into an accident because you just can't stop the car that fast.
Slow and Steady win the race I guess!

Originally Posted by diwu13

What are you going to be doing differently in this tank to avoid algae?

Maybe... just maybe keep the photo period for 10 hours, but I'm so tempted to raise it up to 12 by next week after they acclimate.
And I'm not going to put fertilizers into my spray bottle this time lol. Just plain Tap water. I hope the FSS and Tap water can provide enough nutrients and minerals for the HC.

Plus I'm really watching the water level not to reach the substrate surface.
My substrate is 1 1/2 inch thick. I'm really trying to keep the water line at 1 inch below substrate surface to avoid a blanket of algae on top of my HC.

[dasob85]

nice start. good luck with the hc!

[somewhatshocked]

You'll definitely want to add at least some trace or Flourish to your spray bottle. Fluval Shrimp Stratum doesn't hold much in the form of plant nutrition. But it'll grow plants really well if they're fed. One of my favorite substrates.

Tank is looking nice so far!

[sayurasem]

Originally Posted by dasob85

nice start. good luck with the hc!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

You'll definitely want to add at least some trace or Flourish to your spray bottle. Fluval Shrimp Stratum doesn't hold much in the form of plant nutrition. But it'll grow plants really well if they're fed. One of my favorite substrates.

Tank is looking nice so far!

Thank you for the tips! Yeah I was thinking tap water wouldn't have enough trace elements for the plant. Definately going to finish up my seachem trace then buy a new seachem comprehensive. Because I've read seachem trace is like hard rock water sold in ridiculous price lol. And my paintball co2 is whispering to me already!

[manualfocus]

Looking good so far! Good luck with the HC. I've never had ANY success with the transition, so I hope yours goes well.

[swoof]

I have the 36" Coralife NO fixtrue from Ken's Fish for my 12L, try and get one on the next SCAPE group buy Trace and Flourish Comprehensive are two diff things, Trace is something you want to add to an established filled tank. Comprehensive has more to it.

[Hilde]

Easiest thing to do would be to dose with Seachem Equilibrium.
To keep algae under control I found having a siesta period of 2hrs of lights off helps. Something like this 4hs on/ 2hrs off/ 4hrs on.

[2in10]

Great start

[GMYukonon24s]

Yes it looks like a good start. Has there been more growth?

[sayurasem]

Originally Posted by manualfocus

Looking good so far! Good luck with the HC. I've never had ANY success with the transition, so I hope yours goes well.

Thank you! I hope too. I know I did something right on my previous 10 gallon Project (see signature link). Lets hope this HC can make it too! Ofcourse without the algae hehe.

Originally Posted by swoof

I have the 36" Coralife NO fixtrue from Ken's Fish for my 12L, try and get one on the next SCAPE group buy Trace and Flourish Comprehensive are two diff things, Trace is something you want to add to an established filled tank. Comprehensive has more to it.

Man $48 for coralife fixture sure is a good deal! So how is your tank with this fixture? doing good? Maybe you could share me some picture of your tank with the 36" Coralife fixture on
I really really want to buy this fixture but I heard they are not worth the money for T5NO and bad reflector.

Originally Posted by Hilde

Easiest thing to do would be to dose with Seachem Equilibrium.
To keep algae under control I found having a siesta period of 2hrs of lights off helps. Something like this 4hs on/ 2hrs off/ 4hrs on.

Do I dose this while dry start with my spray bottle or flooded?
That's a good tip! The lights are always off when I go out to school (6am), and only can enjoy 2 hours of light on after I got home from school then lights off

Originally Posted by 2in10

Great start

Thank you!

Originally Posted by GMYukonon24s

Yes it looks like a good start. Has there been more growth?

Yeah indeed. Because the HC I got are "trims" from another person, there are no roots to "plant". That's why I did the sprinkle method. As in right now, there are some new growth of new stems! yay.

**Yesterday (March 31) I bought 2 more HC pot from a local fish store. I planted them at the left side of the tank