29 g - Fast Freddie.. Rescaping 7/11

[vtkid]

nice... If i had any true low tech plants I would hook you up, but sadly i do not.

[monkeyruler90]

aww, tearing the tank down? that sucks. but im sure the 15g is gonna look great. good luck man!

[fastfreddie]

Well right now the 29 will house all of my fish until the new 15 stabilizes, BUT,

I set up the 15 tonight! I've got anubias nana petite, anubias nana (little bit), java fern trident, and needle leaf (I think), on the way. Should be here before the weekend. I'll have some crypts as well. I'm really excited. I'll start a journal as soon as I get the plants in.

Hardscape so far is some small pieces of what looks like slate, compliments of the Steak n Shake parking lot near my house. I tested it with vinegar, but not muriatic acid. Hopefully it will be okay.

[hydrophyte]

Can't wait to see some pictures. 15-gallons have a very nice shape for aquascaping. That stone ought to be OK so long as it was in a spot where cars wouldn't have parked on top of or near or near it.

[fastfreddie]

Originally Posted by hydrophyte

Can't wait to see some pictures. 15-gallons have a very nice shape for aquascaping. That stone ought to be OK so long as it was in a spot where cars wouldn't have parked on top of or near or near it.

Thanks hydrophyte! It was actually in a flower bed surrounding the building, so there shouldn't be any car oil, but I did find a piece of chewing gum down there... gross. You're right about the 15 gallon. I have it in the same place I had a ten gallon and it looks huge! Hydrophyte, if you check back in here, I may turn the 29 gallon into a riparium if I have the funds. Do you think alternanthera reinecki that is currently growing submersed would grow vertically out of the water if placed in one of your large baskets?

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by fastfreddie

Most recent pic as of 7/11/09:
1x65 Watt CF strip light

Wow!! I am so tempted to retry Diy Co2, but I hated the smell of yeast and can't afford pressurized Co2.

Is the 1x65 Watt CF strip light the one I saw on your tank that is shorter than the tank?

[Chrisinator]

Beatiful Angel!

[fastfreddie]

Originally Posted by Hilde

Wow!! I am so tempted to retry Diy Co2, but I hated the smell of yeast and can't afford pressurized Co2.

Is the 1x65 Watt CF strip light the one I saw on your tank that is shorter than the tank?

No I was just using the shorter fixture when I needed a new bulb in the 30" fixture. This is the 30" Coralife 1x65W CF:

[Hilde]

What happened to the Red Temple plant?

[rhytemaker]

Nice man. That alternanthera looks familiar. lol

[fastfreddie]

Originally Posted by rhytemaker

Nice man. That alternanthera looks familiar. lol

Haha. Too bad I let mine go to waste. I shipped some of it to a TPT member, and the tank slowly died on me. My CF bulb is WAY overdue for a swap, and the seasons changed so sunlight came into the tank for a few hours a day, and BOOM! Algae. I only run the light for an hour a day now to feed, and there are two pieces of wood, and a pathetic amazon sword in the tank now.

Baby is due April 5th so I better make some purchases now if I plan to give ths tank another shot.

Should I replant or go for the dreaded scuba diver/ treasure chest bubble toys? I don't know.... maybe even a "no fishing" sign. What do you guys think?

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by fastfreddie

Baby is due April 5th so I better make some purchases now if I plan to give ths tank another shot.

Should I replant or go for the dreaded scuba diver/ treasure chest bubble toys? I don't know.... maybe even a "no fishing" sign. What do you guys think?

What the scuba dog? Is to be a humorus tank sceme? Oliver Knot did some.

[sewingalot]

I think the Fredster is being facetious.

[fastfreddie]

Yep mostly kidding! I think I'm going to get the tank back in action again with some easy non-demanding plants.
Echinodorus Bleheri, Hygrophila Polysperma "green" and Hygro poly sunset, pennywort, and some mosses. I might try some Anubias Barteri too.... never had that one before.

I think I may need to add some additional filter flow as well. The XP1 just didn't seem to be providing enough circulation when I last had the tank planted. I cut some black acrylic for the background and the side of the tank facing ambient light from my foyer windows. It looks pretty good and it should help with the algae issue.

My only concern is fertilization. I've never used anything but EI method(because I hate testing and guesswork), but I won't be able to swing the weekly WC's on this and my 15g each week with a baby in the house. I may have to keep the baby by myself on a lot of weeknights, so time will be tight. I guess that means either purchasing a test kit and dosing as needed, or swapping to MTS and going for a lower tech tank. Any suggestions?

I guess I should start updating on the baby too...
Gender: unknown (wanted the surprise for #1)
Names: undecided but we may stick with my name for a boy since I am Fred IV. Why not go for V?
Nursery: Painted yellow, crib is white (and assembled!), no dresser or other furn. yet.
Bedding: (see pic below)
Due April 5th as I said, so he or she could come anytime now.

Here's the baby bedding from Pottery Barn website(this is not my house):


Thanks for the help guys!

[Hilde]

I have found that if you stick with Ferns and mosses you only have to dose Potassium sulfate and Excel 1x a week.