Journal of a Mad Scientist: ADA 120-P (56K warning!)

[fresh_lynny]

Maybe I will try a plastic ribbon-like barrier then use some hardscape on top. I have 2 corys and 4 kuhlis so they might make a mess of it, but who knows. It will be interesting but I definitely like the look for sure. Great job, as you well know. I will be checking in on this for sure as you progress~

[SuRje1976]

Thanks Lynn!

I was initially a bit surprised to find that the tank had a fair amount of ammonia two weeks ago, with the established filter and plant mass. It was probably from the Aquasoil. Well, ammonia was decreasing last week, and nitrite this week. Today NH3 tested at less than 0.2ppm (down from a high tested at 2.0 with pH of 5.5), and nitrite at about 0.1ppm (down from 0.3). I noticed the first sign of diatoms, so I decided to acclimate the 9 Oto's over from the 45G:




First the tank got a quick 30% water change, and a double dose of Prime. The Oto's are on a slow drip acclimation - they will be in there for a few hours before they make it into the ADA tank. In my experience, they can be pretty sensitive to changes in water condition. They will not be fed until the diatoms have been eradicated. Wish me (and them) luck!

[kzr750r1]

Hopefully they will focus on the diatoms and not that tasty wood. Looks like a healthy group.

[styxx]

yeah, those boys are big for ottos! what have they been eating?!?!

[unirdna]

Just read through the whole thing.... Man, I love tech savy folks . Consider me subscribed, Sergio!

[danepatrick]

c'mon mike. they're not THAT big! the tank may be nothing more than a 5g or 10 at most. it's sitting on a chair for christ's sake!

[styxx]

Well I know that but they look like tadpoles with those thick little bodies...not like those frail, on the verge of death, ottos you've got! No wonder I have to buy 20 @ a time!!! lol!

[SuRje1976]

Play nice children

Well, I'm about finished with another acclimation. I've got 30+ Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata) in the 5.5 on a drip acclimation for going on 6 hours now.




Tomorrow I will be removing a small stand of Didiplis diandra that's all but melted (left side of the tank) and just expand the stand of Tonina belem that's next to them. I've also got several stems of Ludwigia glandulosa that melting as well. Anyone have any input as to why this is happening with these 2 plants? I'm thinking it's because I'm not running a full photoperiod yet. For kicks:

Water parameters:

KH 2.7
GH 6.7 (will be reduced - slipped a bit with the Equilibrium)
NH3 < 0.2
NO2 < 0.1
NO3 - 20ppm
PO4 - 4ppm
pH = 5.5
CO2 over 30ppm


Anyway, got some Java Fern in, several Anubias barteri "coffeefolia", a few Anubias barteri "nana" and quite a few Anubias barteri "nana petite" (MANY more on the way! I also removed the stand of Limnophila aromatica from the back right and replaced it with a pretty dense stand of Rotala rotunindicafolia . The Rotala on the left hand side got a haircut last night:




Here's a couple of pictures of some nana petite, tied to the tallest driftwood:



.

[fresh_lynny]

Sergio nice job! Grow those petite nana so I can get some rhizome clipping one day! What is your KH normally out of the tap? I heard from many that when they switch over to AS after having hard water, the delta of KH causes some species to go into shock and melt. Perhaps this is happening to you. The Tonina love the chaange to acidic/soft so perhaps that one is less sensitive.

[FelixAvery]

sweet thread sergio! wish i had that much money, know-how and understanding wifery :P
really cool tank!

[SuRje1976]

Thanks Lynn - I've actually got a lot more nana petite on the way! KH from the tap lat time I checked it was just under 2.0. The tank is actually at 2.7. A little unexpected actually, I don't dose anything for KH - maybe the bright sand?

Originally Posted by FelixAvery

and understanding wifery

Felix thank you. One thing though - I hope I haven't given the impression that my wife is understanding of all this! She barely *tolerates* it!

[SuRje1976]

Well, these were taken today, 30 days after planting. The tank needs a bit of maintenance currently, so this is not the best the tank has/will look, but it is how it happens to look today.

I've got to remove some Aquasoil from the sand area as can be seen. The R. rotundifolia needs a trim, and I'd really love for the diatoms to go away already. Well, it's keeping the Otos busy & full for now.

Any suggestions are, as always, appreciated.

[Betowess]

Looking terrific Sergio. I got a kick out of re-reading about acclimating the Otos and just now noticed you used 1/4 RO poly with a John Guest ball valve to do the drip.

And about your wife "tolerating" the hobby. Same here, though I think after many years, mine has started to finally come around. She almost bought me a Discus for a birthday present this year, 'till I got wind.

I see you have some Rams in there! Anyhow, I think this is the best tank on the forum today.

[PeteyPob]

Wow, looks great! Your plants are looking like they love the place

Just out of curiousity, is there a reason why your drop checker is so low?

[unirdna]

I have a suggestion .....remove that $1.29 themometer from your beautiful tank .

Kidding aside, I have my eyes glued to your thread. I'm starting a similar tank soon, and I appreciate every piece of info I can get. I look forward to the day that center piece of wood is smothered in moss.

Let us knwo how you clean up the aquasoil. Amano uses a siphon via a piece of vinyl tubing. The tedium of cleaning up the substrate border is one of the things weighing heavy on my lazy mind. Although I purchased sand and aquasoil, I bought enough aquasoil in case the sand drives me nuts.

Keep the updates coming