JEden8's 27 Gallon Cube

[Lichard]

Nice tank and unique hardscape. I think it'll really start to look great once the back gets filled in.

Are you running any c02 yet or have a fert regime? Your plants seem to be doing pretty well so far

[JEden8]

Originally Posted by Lichard

Nice tank and unique hardscape. I think it'll really start to look great once the back gets filled in.

Are you running any c02 yet or have a fert regime? Your plants seem to be doing pretty well so far

Thanks! I agree with ya. I finally figured out how to plant behind the rocks as I failed to leave enough room to plant. So I grabbed some bendable weights and wrapped them around a couple of stems each and dropped them down. Their root structure should reach out into the substrate, or at least I hope they do! HAHA

I am not running pressurized C02. As of right now I'm using Excel 3x a week and a modified EI fertilizer dosing. I was thinking about going pressurized but I think I am just being impatient with the growth. Maybe someday...we shall see. Thanks again!

[spidernids]

I just bought the 27G cube as well. Did you do anything with the light? I was thinking of getting a Ray2 DD 18" LED in addition to the DoubleBright. Also, where did you get the rocks from?

[JEden8]

Originally Posted by spidernids

I just bought the 27G cube as well. Did you do anything with the light? I was thinking of getting a Ray2 DD 18" LED in addition to the DoubleBright. Also, where did you get the rocks from?

Congrats! I ended up keeping the light. All of my plants have been growing really well. I am keeping low light plants though as well. It will depend on the plant choices. I would give the fixture provided a shot for a month or two and see how it does with your plants. Who knows, it may end up being overkill like mine would. If you are going for a low light low tech setup then you'll be fine with that light. I purchased the rocks from a local landscape supply store. Just soak them and scrub them well and it should get most of the dirt and debris off of them. Good luck! Can't wait to see some pics of your setup!

[JEden8]

Quick phone shot of feeding time!

[JEden8]

Had some free time this morning so I snapped a few new pics of the tank. Everything seems to be growing in well.

[JEden8]

Been a while since I last updated and had some free time. I added some brazillian pennywort due to some gsa forming on my anubias. The spots are only forming where the light is the strongest so I wanted to cut it back a little bit. I still am thinking about moving or completely removing the java moss but don't know where to move it to or if I just want to pull it out. Any ideas? Here's some updated tank shots.

[spidernids]

Looks nice. Lots of RCS. Did you use tap water or RO? I am not having any luck keeping RCS in my tank.

[JEden8]

Originally Posted by spidernids

Looks nice. Lots of RCS. Did you use tap water or RO? I am not having any luck keeping RCS in my tank.

Thanks! I'm not the biggest fan of the Cabomba in there but don't know what else to use to fill it in back there. I use tap water and prime and then aerate the water for about 15 minutes before I add it to the tank. What are you using in yours and what are the water parameters coming from your tap?

[spidernids]

Tap water and prime

Tap water has low gh and high kh and ph.

Tank specs:
Gh = 75
Kh = 180+
Ph = 8.4

[JEden8]

Originally Posted by spidernids

Tap water and prime

Tap water has low gh and high kh and ph.

Tank specs:
Gh = 75
Kh = 180+
Ph = 8.4

Here's my untreated tap water levels:

PH: 7.6
Nitrate: 0-5.0 ppm
Ammonia: 1.0-2.0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
GH: 196.9 ppm
KH: 71.6 ppm

It possibly could be your PH. I've never dealt with cherries in anything over 8. Now I could be wrong on that because I don't consider myself a cherry shrimp expert but have had good luck with what I've been doing. I also haven't tested my water in that tank since I set it up back in May. If it is the PH you could use a 50/50 mix of distilled water and pre-conditioned tap water.

How quickly are they dying when you put them in?

[spidernids]

I thought about doing a water change with di over a month time frame. I bought 20. I think I have a hand full left. They started dying the first night. It wasn't all at once.

[JEden8]

Originally Posted by spidernids

I thought about doing a water change with di over a month time frame. I bought 20. I think I have a hand full left. They started dying the first night. It wasn't all at once.

That would work. I'd still use some tap water or some additives to help restore some of the nutrients that are not in there just to play it safe.

[spidernids]

Originally Posted by JEden8

That would work. I'd still use some tap water or some additives to help restore some of the nutrients that are not in there just to play it safe.

Thanks. I bought some more from the lfs. They cost more, but seems to do better.

[JEden8]

Originally Posted by spidernids

Thanks. I bought some more from the lfs. They cost more, but seems to do better.

Glad to hear you are having better luck with them!