Nolan's 40-gallon

[supaoopa]

New layout looks great. GOing to look really good when its grown out.


How do you like the current truVu tank you have? I was thinking of picking one up at Nippon today, but the price is a bit steep. Does it scratch or streak easily?

[Nolan W.]

Originally Posted by supaoopa

How do you like the current truVu tank you have? I was thinking of picking one up at Nippon today, but the price is a bit steep. Does it scratch or streak easily?

Nippon can be a little expensive with tanks and equipment. I got mine from Lucky Ocean. All acrylic tanks will scratch eventually, but if the scratches aren't deep, it will hardly show. I know my tank has a few scratches, but they aren't visible unless you look very closely. I like acrylic tanks because they're a lot lighter than glass and because they insulate better.

Yeah, I know the foreground is very bare right now. The plant I want to use is the small, red variety of Echinodorus tenellus. But I don't have time to buy any. The only place that has it is Albany Aquarium, in the East Bay. If somebody has red E. tenellus or can pick some up for me, I'll buy or trade for H. polysperma.

Originally Posted by Thanks

that driftwood looks very bare. I would cover it with some moss or riccia

I'm interested in Taiwan moss, if anybody has any.

[Marc]

Time for an update!

[Jdinh04]

Yes, time for an update!

[Nolan W.]

No update yet, but I need some help. I want to get some vallisneria for the background, but I don't know which species to get. I want one that would reach the top of the tank. The tank is about 15 inches tall. So I think some val a bit taller than 12 inches would be perfect. Any thoughts? I was thinking either corkscrew or V. natans var. natans.

[Nolan W.]

It's been a while since I've updated. The tank looks a lot different from the last pic. Right now, it's more of a farm/holding tank than an aquascape because of all the plants I've acquired from the generous members of the SFBAAPS. After reading about EI, I've decided to start using it. Currently the tank is under 2.4 wpg, and has high CO2 concentration (about 50 ppm). I reduced to bubble rate just now. Is this dosing schedule okay?:

Day 1 - 50% WC, 1 tsp. K2SO4, 2 mL Fleet Enema
Day 2 - 10 mL Flourish
Day 3 - 1/2 tsp. K2SO4, 1 mL Fleet Enema
Day 4 - Same as Day 2
Day 5 - Same as Day 3
Day 6 - Same as Day 2
Day 7 - Nothing

I'm not adding KNO3 because the nitrate tends to stay around 10 ppm, maybe because I overfeed a little? Do you think I should add a little? I'm not sure if I have a heavy fish load: 15 adult swordtails, around 20 - 30 babies, 4 SAEs, 8 cories. Please help me get this right. I'm a complete newb at EI.

Now, some pictures of the new plants with my new camera!

Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Cuba' (some Alternanthera reineckii "cardinalis" in the bottom-right):


Rotala sp. 'Vietnam':


I really hope the SAEs don't decide the snack on the 'Vietnam,' because it's now my favorite plant! They haven't touched it for two days, is this a good sign?

No full-tank shots for now. As I said, this is currently a holding tank, with no aquascape. Once my dad and uncle takes the extra plants off my hands, I'll fix up the tank and post a full-tank shot.

[Pete City]

I have a 40 breeder, I was told to dilute 1.5 tsp of K2S04 in 250ml of water, I then dose 8ml, it gives me 1.04 of PO4, so I think you may be overdosing on the PO4, but I'm fairly new at dosing the EI method as well.

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by Corydoras85

Just wanted to show everyone how fast hygro can grow, even without CO2:



The algae is finally letting up. Must be the hygro sucking up every nutrient in the tank.

Oops, I made the pic too small. Will take another tomorrow.

*UPDATE* Took another picture.

If you do not use CO2, then be patient, the plants will over take things.
EI recs are mainly for CO2 enriched tanks: for this tank add:

SeaChem Equilibrium 1/4 teaspoon weekly.
KNO3, 1/8 teaspoon weekly 2x a week with high plant biomass
KH2PO4, about a rice grain's worth, once a week

That's it.
Maintain high plant density, watch for any growth or plant changes.
Add ferts if things appear to slow or feed fish more etc.

Since you now use CO2, add SeaChem EQ, 1/2 teaspoon once a week
KNO3: add 1/4 teaspoon 2x a week
KH2PO4: 1/16 teaspoon 2x a week
Traces: add 10mls 2-3x a week.

This is lite on the NO3, food does not have much PO4, nor K+ nor traces.
SF water is very nutrient poor, watch the KH, the GH will be fine at the dosing with the EQ.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Nolan W.]

Thank you for the quick response, Tom. Can I use something other than Seachem EQ? I do have K2SO4 and Epsom salt. I don't have anything containing calcium, though. Should I use CaCO3, or CaCl2? Or something else? Thanks again for your time.

So here's my new schedule:

Day 1 - 50% WC, 1/2 tsp. EQ or alternative, 1/4 tsp. KNO3, 1/16 tsp. KH2PO4
Day 2 - 10 mL Flourish
Day 3 - nothing
Day 4 - 10 mL Flourish
Day 5 - 1/2 tsp. EQ or alternative, 1/4 tsp. KNO3, 1/16 tsp. KH2PO4
Day 6 - 10 mL Flourish
Day 7 - nothing

Does this sound right?

Can anyone ID this plant for me? All I remember is somebody at SFBAAPS telling me that it "looks like bamboo," and grows underwater.

[skabooya]

wow ive never seen that before... it does look like bamboo. kewel.

[Nolan W.]

I think I found out what my "bamboo" is: http://www.victri.net/plants/_commenlinaceae_green.html

[platinumpete]

Wow Nice plants! it was nice to see your tank from beginning to now! I have a lot to learn... Damn! SFBAAPS are that friendly huh? Maybe I should visit them one time.... I emailed them and i'm just waiting for them to respond.

[Nolan W.]

Originally Posted by platinumpete

Wow Nice plants! it was nice to see your tank from beginning to now! I have a lot to learn... Damn! SFBAAPS are that friendly huh? Maybe I should visit them one time.... I emailed them and i'm just waiting for them to respond.

If you don't receive a response, I'm pretty sure you can just pop into one of the meetings. I'm sure you'll love it, and decide to join.

About my tank, I'm going to give the Amazon sword away, either to an SFBAAPS member or Aqua Forest. It's gotten WAY too big for my 40-gallon. The Rotala sp. 'Vietnam' is showing fast, healthy growth, but I'm having some trouble with the Ludwigia sp. 'Cuba.' Word of advice to all swordtail owners: Keep your tank covered at all times! I lost two males due to jumping.

[BSS]

Some great looking new plants. So, how long you gonna make us wait for a full tank shot?!?

[Nolan W.]

Originally Posted by BSS

So, how long you gonna make us wait for a full tank shot?!?

Until I either plant or get rid of everything floating. That Amazon sword is shadowing a lot of the bottom surface area, making that space unplantable for all the high-light plants that I have. The tank looks really messy right now.