[The Dude]

So I started out with these as dirted tanks and they thrived, but eventually the dirt began to smell. This was them with dirt


Then I redid the 75g, but it never amounted to much. This was it before I did the rescape.

So Sunday when we got back from TN with 2 very nice pieces of Driftwood I collected I decided to give them some attention. The pieces both float so they are weighted down with rocks which will eventually be removed.

The 75g
Plants
Anubias Barteri
Anubias Nana petit
Ludwigia
Crypt Wendti
Some Monte Carlo
Lots of Java Fern

Fish
3 Bosemani
3 Turqoiuse Rainbow
3 Praecox Rainbow
3 Australian Rainbows
1 Synodontis cat
1 Clown Pleco
1 Pictus Cat
1 Upside Down Cat
7 Serpae
5 Black skirt Tetra
4 Von Rio tetra
2 Bolivian Rams

 

[The Dude]

Both tanks get Glut and DIY CO2. I just added root tabs and started dosing the water column. This is the 46g. It really needs to grow in, but it's in desperate need of a new light fixture that I hope to buy next week.

Plants
Anubias Barteri
HC Japan
Val's
Java Fern
Bolbitis
Dwarf Sag

Fish
1 Dantum Angel
6 Rosy Barb
5 Oto's
5 Cory cats
1 Lyretail Molly
1 albino BN pleco
3 Amano shrimp

 

[The Dude]

I've got a couple spots where I'd like to add some Crypt Parva and some Blyxa.
I'd like the Parva in the front of both tanks. I'd like some Blyxa on the left side of the 75g as well as in the center in front of the big driftwood log.
I'd also like it along the left front of the 46g. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[burr740]

Really like the new wood in the 75.

 

[The Dude]

Really like the new wood in the 75.

It's a great piece. I wish the top wasn't covered with huge stones so you could see the slopes back there. There are like 3 little caves in it. One of my Bolivian Rams claimed one already.

 

[The Dude]

I started up my 20g today. Spent the day making a CFL fixture for it. It turned out pretty well. It's not going to win any beauty contests, but for less than $20 it's putting out 59w of CFL lighting.
I'm looking for some Blyxa to add to all of the tanks.

 

[The Dude]

Not a ton to report. The 20g is running. I trimmed the rotala and Ludwigia in the 75g and moved it to the center. Added a Sword in its place. Also added some. Downoi to the 46g and the 20g. It's emmer see growth so it will have to transition. I've got a bunch of plants coming and more root tabs.
I've got
Blyxa Japonica
Red Rubin Swords
Echinodorus
Some Aponogetons
And a couple others. I figure about a month to see some nice changes. In the meantime, this is the 20g as it stands

 

[The Dude]

I removed the rotala and ludwigia from the right side of the 75 gallon and trimmed the stems and then replanted them in the middle. The right side I added an Amazon Sword that will fill in the area nicely I hope.

I also added some Rotala and Ludwigia to the right rear of the 46 gallon. I also added an Amazon Compacta in the center and some Downoi in the front.

Both still need a good amount of time to grow in

 

[The Dude]

Also a pic of my rimless 11 gallon

Just have some cool guppies and cherry shrimp in here

 

[The Dude]

The 75 gallon is doing well. I've got a Powerhead coming to help disperse Co2 which should make a huge difference. The Monte Carlo is popping up regularly and the stem are growing quickly. The Amazon sword in the right rear is slow, but getting bushy. I'd like some bushy for the front center in front if the Anubia Barteri plants. Maybe Alt Reineckii??


Bump: The 46g is also progressing well. Stem growth is good and the Val's are shooting out runners everywhere. I've got some Downoi doing will in the left front and I'm trying to get a loose ground cover of Hydro Japan around the base of the Anubias Barteri. I also added the Amazon Compactus in the center.
Comments questions and criticisms are always welcome.

 

[The Dude]

This iPhone doesn't take very good pics. They always turn out yellow or washed out. Regardless the tanks have been progressing nicely. Added some star grass to the center of the 75 gallon in front of the Anubias as a foreground. It looks nice. The Amazon Sword in the rear right corner (that you can't see) is growing well and once it fills in should totally change the look of the tank. The Monte Carlo is starting to sprout up too. I'm hooking up an AC50 Powerhead to disperse the CO2 today so that will make a big difference.

The 46 gallon is doing well also. I'm not sure what else I want to add in there to fill it up, but the Downoi in front is really taking off. The fish are also loving it as the Cory's and Rosy Barbs are breeding like crazy.

Lastly the 20 gallon is also doing well and the Downoi is doing well in there.

 

[The Dude]

What do you guys think about replacing the Anubias on the left side of the 75 gallon with Alt Reineckii Cardinalis??

 

[The Dude]

So I added a Aqua Clear 50 Powerhead to the 75 gallon and have 3 two liter bottles of DIY CO2 pumping through it.
I also ordered a Ray 2 for my 46 gallon as well as another AC70 filter.
I removed the Anubias on the left side of the 75g and planted Stargrass. I'm going to pick up some Alt Reineckii when I get some time. Also the Downoi in the 46 gallon is doing very well.
Lastly I'm thinking Emperor Tetras and Dwarf Cories for the 20g. Pics to follow.

 

[The Dude]

Recent Pic of the 20 gallon. It's thriving. I've got 12 Glowlight Tetras. 5 Neons (only lost 1), 3 False Julii Cory's, and one Salt and Pepper Cory. I've got maybe 20 Red Cherry Shrimp in there.
Plants
Stargrass
Anubias Bartari
Alternanthera Reineckii
Anubias Azfelli
Amazon Compacta
Hydrocotyle Japan carpet
Crypt Wendtii
Rotala
Java Fern
Also running 2 Penguin 200's.

 

[The Dude]

The 46 gallon is also doing well. I've got the Dantum Angel, Lyretail Molly
4 Bronze Cory's and one albino Cory. Also 5 oto's, 4 huge Amano Shrimp, albino BN Pleco, 5 Rosy Barbs and maybe 100 Red Cherry Shrimp
Plants are
Vals
Downoi on the left
Java Fern
Bolbitus
Amazon Compacta
Anubias Barteri
Hydrocotyle Japan carpet on right side
Rotala

 

[burr740]

...to the 75 gallon and have 3 two liter bottles of DIY CO2 pumping through it.

You changing out one a week or what? I had three 2Ls for a while on my 75, staggered a week apart. Recently switched to running four 3Ls, paired up, changing two every week. It's made a big difference with very little added work. Always curious how other people are are doing it.

 

[The Dude]

You changing out one a week or what? I had three 2Ls for a while on my 75, staggered a week apart. Recently switched to running four 3Ls, paired up, changing two every week. It's made a big difference with very little added work. Always curious how other people are are doing it.

I change all three every week. I use 1 tsp of yeast so I get pretty high C02 production for one week. My tank looks like a shakin up soda bottle all the time with the Powerhead blasting it across the tank.
My 75 gallon is taking a little longer. It's really not going to look right until the Amazon Sword fills up the back right corner. I'll get some pics of it up soon

 

[burr740]

Gotcha. You should get pretty good production and consistent rate with that routine.

Are you diffusing exclusively through a powerhead? Reason I ask because there is a mod you can do to greatly increase the chop. I did it on mine and the size of the mist bubbles went down by half and drop checker turned a couple shades lighter.

 

[The Dude]

Gotcha. You should get pretty good production and consistent rate with that routine.

Are you diffusing exclusively through a powerhead? Reason I ask because there is a mod you can do to greatly increase the chop. I did it on mine and the size of the mist bubbles went down by half and drop checker turned a couple shades lighter.

Ya all of it is through a single AC 50. The water looks like seltzer water. I'm thinking of adding a second Powerhead and doing two 2 liter bottles per. What is the mod? I just have the tubes with just a chopstick in each going into the powerhead

 

[burr740]

Yeah mine is through a Maxi-jet 1200. Ive been meaning to try a chopstick, just need to get around to finding one. I take a piece of regular cotton ball, wad it up into a little ball, and pack it tightly in the end of the line. It makes for some pretty fine bubbles before the p-head has to do it's thing.

The mod is to the propeller. Take it out, and use a pair of fingernail clippers to cut each blade, longways, right down the middle. Then spread them out, away from each other. So that looking down from the top it'll now look like a V shape.

There's a youtube vid somewhere that shows it being done. I think Hoppy posted it, but I cant seem to find it atm.

Here's a rough illustration (paint is not my forte, lol)

The idea is it greatly increases the chopping capability. You end up with twice as many, smaller blades. Like I said earlier it really made a big difference when I did mine. Before, sprite water effect could be seen from 6-8 feet away, now you have to get right up close to notice it. Also made my drop checker go lighter so I know it improved diffusion. There is no noticeable effect on the flow rate either, although I suspect it had to drop a little.