5 gal hex

2896 Views 19 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Jorge_Burrito, Dec 1, 2010

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · Nov 21, 2010

Hi all,
I recently started a 5 gal marineland hex tank and its gotten off to a good start with a few bumps along the way. I have black Tahiti moon sand in there with like 5 or 6 plants and, at first, the plants did ok, when I say ok its because I had the standard incandescent light it came with but I upgraded to an 11 watt compact florescent which is much better. I started out with cabomba, frill, moneywort, Anubis, and scarlet temple (Petsmart) and before I got the new light in there the plants of course started to die. The Anubis and fern were doing fine along with the moneywort but I couldn't say the same about the others, I've had to pick off dead bits every day and I'm getting tired of it, today I'll probably take them out and toss them. Now, before I set up my aquarium, I talked to a friend who is very a experienced aquarist and he turned me on to the idea of sand because he said with a densely planted tank there's no need to vacuum the sand. Great! I thought to myself, that's easy. Upon reading more about this online, I found you have to churn the sand to release dead pockets trapped in there that could kill my fish after a while. I talked to another friend about this and he said as long as you have rooting plants you shouldn't have to churn the sand at all. I tested the water after a few weeks of having fish and it said high ammonia and nitrites so I did a water change and it got a little cloudy but I waited and did another and its gotten much better. Any advice about the churning though?

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WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #2 · Nov 21, 2010

I also heard about adding club soda into the water is good for the plants as well. Is there any truth in this? I want to just have my tank full of Java fern/moss and anubias growing in there I never should've put the frill, cabomba, or scarlet temple in there under my conditions. One other question, what are those little sprite things called I would want to get some of those if they would do well.

Hyzer

· #3 · Nov 21, 2010

I had sand in my 5 gallon hex and never churned it or anything. The tank has since be taken down, but this thread brought back some memories. Hope you don't mind me posting a pic on your thread. Sand + 5 gal hex= no problem. Lets see some pictures of your tank!

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Hyzer

· #4 · Nov 21, 2010

Never heard of adding club soda...because its carbonated? I wouldn't do it unless someone reputable says otherwise.

what are those little sprite things called I would want to get some of those if they would do well.

Water sprite? There are a few different types.

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 21, 2010

Wow yours looks amazing how do I get my plants to do as well as yours? I'll try to get a pic up in a bit. But the water sprites, would they do alright with my tank? I have panda tetras orange flame Von Rio tetras a Cory some kuhli loaches and ghost shrimp as well. Did you have anything special set up with your hex?

Hyzer

· #6 · Nov 21, 2010

The best way to grow healthy plants is to understand that the amount of light provided determines the amount of nutrients (carbon + fertilizers) needed. You might think about a small DIY CO2 setup. It's a great way to start.

This tank was neglected quite a bit. Very little if any nutrients added. I dosed a bit of an Excel-like solution every few weeks, but I would recommend going with DIY CO2 over something like Excel to start out. Because it was covered, I barely even needed to refill due to evaporation.

Reading your posts again, it sounds like you are talking about some sort of aquatic creature... am I correct? If you are talking about the aquatic plant, I have water sprite floating in the top left of that picture. It helped tone down the light intensity of that 10w spiral cf a bit.

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 21, 2010

Here it is, still a little cloudy but I'm working on that.
(Also: pic taken with my phone so its not very good)
the cabomba is turning a little brown and same with the moneywort, i've trimmed the hell out of the frill so its got some long stalks that lead up to the leaves, I just need to throw them out unless anyone thinks they can be saved D:

you can see one of the pandas at the top and a ghost shrimp at the bottom if you look close enough

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WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 21, 2010

Hyzer said:
The best way to grow healthy plants is to understand that the amount of light provided determines the amount of nutrients (carbon + fertilizers) needed. You might think about a small DIY CO2 setup. It's a great way to start.

it sounds like you are talking about some sort of aquatic creature... am I correct?

ok I will look up a DIY co2 setup but no what I really meant was like water sprouts not sprite lol. Any advice on the DIY co2 setup?

I have a medium base cf if that makes any difference, not a spiral oh and its 10 not 11 watts lol typo.

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 21, 2010

I was looking at a DIY co2 reactor setup and it said a gatorade bottle would be fine for like 10-30 gal tanks, could I use something smaller like a water bottle for my 5? I dont have very much space is the reason I ask.

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 21, 2010

So from what I've told you about what I have, would there be any room for a few otocinclus to help eat some algae? I wanted to get another cory so mine isnt lonely and a few mystery snails as well but I dont want to overload my tank.

tetrabettaguy97

· #11 · Nov 21, 2010

Your tank looks good, but the ammonia and nitrite spike sounds like the effects of an uncycled tank. Did you adjust the water parameters before putting in any flora or fauna? How long was the tank in the nitrogen cycle for?

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 22, 2010

It got it going with a friends filter and he actually gave me some extra safestart he had and I watched it for about a week or so, I know it wasnt very smart but I got 2 pandas and a cory after the week with a few plants. It got a little cloudy like the second day after and, unfortunately, I did a water change soon after I noticed which I found out wasn't very smart. It's been a couple weeks and the bio wheel is gettin grimey and my fish are doing good still.

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 22, 2010

yar I figured out why my water is cloudy, I tested my levels again today and everything is fine (ammonia is a bit high but not bad at all), but I changed the filter and did a water change at the same time D:
still getting the hang of things I guess.

wendyjo

· #14 · Nov 22, 2010

Any readable ammonia is too high if you have fish in the tank. Oh and you should not be changing your filter.

DANIELSON

· #15 · Nov 22, 2010

I would definately wait til you have some signs of algea before introducing the otto. And you wont need more than two in a tank that size. I had 2 in my 20G long tank. It does sound like the tank hasnt fully cycled yet keep a close eye on the panda corys they are pretty sensitive to large swings in parameters.

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 22, 2010

wendyjo said:
Any readable ammonia is too high if you have fish in the tank. Oh and you should not be changing your filter.

aye the strip was barely changing color, and I realized that I shouldnt have changed the filter, I guess I worded the last post a little weird.

tetrabettaguy97

· #17 · Nov 22, 2010

She means that the bacteria in the filter is important to cycle the tank and since it looks like your's is still on the last leg of cycling, kepeing the good bacteria is important.

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 22, 2010

aye I realized this mistake of mine after it was too late D:

WalterMelons

Discussion Starter · #19 · Nov 24, 2010

The top of my filter is covered in brown stuff, is that a good thing or should I wipe it off? It seems as if makes the water flow over the filter instead of through it but I could be wrong. I can get a pic of it if that would help.

Jorge_Burrito

· #20 · Dec 1, 2010

WalterMelons said:
The top of my filter is covered in brown stuff, is that a good thing or should I wipe it off? It seems as if makes the water flow over the filter instead of through it but I could be wrong. I can get a pic of it if that would help.

You can wash it off, but do so by swirling it is some dechlorinated water so you don't kill the bacteria on the filter. The water you remove during a water change works well for this.

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