[RollaPrime]

Big fan of this guy. Really love the pink.

The transition from several stages of green through to several stages of pink is amazing.

 

[MCFC]

The transition from several stages of green through to several stages of pink is amazing.

The picture doesn’t do it justice. And the patterning on the leaves is just gorgeous too. Really a stunning plant to see in person when it’s happy.


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[MCFC]

Dog walk update

I’ve got my RO unit all hooked up but I don’t have the whole system finalized. I can and have been making RO water, but I’m just making it in 40gal trash cans and wheeling them where I want them to go.

I was hoping @Greggz, or anyone really, could help with the last few questions I had.

1. I don’t have my float valve hooked up yet, but when I do and it cuts the water output once the bins are full, do I also need to manually stop the tap water flowing into the RO unit?

2. You said you only turn the heater on in your RO bins shortly before you’re about to use the water. Is it the same for the air and circulation pumps? And do they affect the float valve at all (continually switching on/off)?

3. Any tips/tricks on flushing the system/keeping it clean/extending the lives of the membranes?


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[Greggz]

I was hoping @Greggz, or anyone really, could help with the last few questions I had.

1. I don’t have my float valve hooked up yet, but when I do and it cuts the water output once the bins are full, do I also need to manually stop the tap water flowing into the RO unit?

No. When the float valve is closed, it's like turning off the water at your tap. Pressure is still there to RO unit, just not flowing. Nowhere to go.

2. You said you only turn the heater on in your RO bins shortly before you’re about to use the water. Is it the same for the air and circulation pumps? And do they affect the float valve at all (continually switching on/off)?

I keep the air and circulation pumps going all the time. May not need to, but I like the thought of clean flowing aerated water. Plus mixes in the CaSO4/MgSO4 well. No effect on the float valve.

3. Any tips/tricks on flushing the system/keeping it clean/extending the lives of the membranes?

My system has an auto flush system, so no help there. I put the filter change (6 months) on my calendar so I don't forget, which extends life of RO membrane. But honestly my RO water TDS hardly ever changes, and I probably change the filters too frequently. RO membranes last a long time, 2 years plus.

 

[MCFC]

Finally built a front to the canopy

 

[MCFC]

Check my flow bro

 

[MCFC]

I’ve been thinking about my lighting, PAR, and GSA/GDA lately.

My previous light schedule:
5hrs total - 4hrs for all 6 bulbs

My current schedule:
4hrs total - 3hrs for all 6 bulbs

I think I’ve seen a pretty big reduction in GSA/GDA, but it’s brought up quite a few questions...

It seems like high PAR helps to promote colour, but does it also help growth (beyond a certain threshold)?

Or is growth more tied to the photoperiod, so essentially accumulation of PAR over time?

I know trees have two types of growth, height and width, that have different mechanisms that respond differently to different stimuli. Are aquatic plants similar? By running a high PAR but short photoperiod am I possibly missing out by not stimulating one of the growth systems enough?

I guess in practical terms my questioning comes down to which is “better”?

Low and slow?
A quick blast?
A mix?

I know there are too many factors to give an absolute answer, and the best advice is to try it and see what happens in my tank. But I’m just wondering if anyone has tried adjusting one way vs. the other and seen any noticeable differences?


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[MCFC]

 

[MCFC]

Well my reduced photoperiod has resulted in a noticeable decline in algae. Haven't seen any GSA/GDA on the front glass in over a week and all that brown fuzz is gone. There still seems to be some BGA, or something similar, popping up in the substrate in places. Pretty easy to just spot dose H2O2 and stir the sand, but it would be nice to find the cause.

Finally got around to actually arranging my groupings. I think some things work, others probably not. Way she goes!

 

[MCFC]

The madness that helped produce my layout haha

 

[Immortal1]

The madness that helped produce my layout haha

Just noticed you had a Crinum calamistratum listed - nice. I have had that plant in my tank for a few years now - definitely something a little different.
I like your graph above - probably something I should do as well :grin2:

 

[Quagulator]

The madness that helped produce my layout haha

Let me know if you ever have some trimmings you want to get rid of

If Canada Post ever decides to not be on strike....

That R. Mac. 'mini' has my eye.... wink wink nudge nudge.

 

[tredford]

Let me know if you ever have some trimmings you want to get rid of

If Canada Post ever decides to not be on strike....

That R. Mac. 'mini' has my eye.... wink wink nudge nudge.

Random side-question, but figured I would ask since we have a couple Canadians here in this thread :


Have either of you seen Cryptocoryne "Pink Panther" or "Pink Flamingo" for sale in Canada? Looks pretty awesome and would like to try it, but haven't found a source...

 

[Quagulator]

Random side-question, but figured I would ask since we have a couple Canadians here in this thread :


Have either of you seen Cryptocoryne "Pink Panther" or "Pink Flamingo" for sale in Canada? Looks pretty awesome and would like to try it, but haven't found a source...

My undulata red came close... But no pink flamingo... I haven't seen any around either.

 

[MCFC]

Just noticed you had a Crinum calamistratum listed - nice. I have had that plant in my tank for a few years now - definitely something a little different.

I'm a fan, but I don't think I'm using it to its full effect. Probably doesn't help that I keep trimming the leaves because they get covered in BBA haha...

Let me know if you ever have some trimmings you want to get rid of

If Canada Post ever decides to not be on strike....

That R. Mac. 'mini' has my eye.... wink wink nudge nudge.

Canada Post being on strike certainly complicates things. Once the tank really gets going I'll grab some heatpacks and fire up a ROAK or two

Random side-question, but figured I would ask since we have a couple Canadians here in this thread :


Have either of you seen Cryptocoryne "Pink Panther" or "Pink Flamingo" for sale in Canada? Looks pretty awesome and would like to try it, but haven't found a source...

I see that SKA Shrimps in Calgary has "Pink Flamingo" listed, but he's been sold out every time I've looked in the last few years. I just picked up some C. petchii 'Pink' and some C. wendtii 'Florida Sunset'. The petchii 'Pink' looks really nice. Not quite the pink of flamingo though...

(Looks more pink in person)

 

[tredford]

I see that SKA Shrimps in Calgary has "Pink Flamingo" listed, but he's been sold out every time I've looked in the last few years. I just picked up some C. petchii 'Pink' and some C. wendtii 'Florida Sunset'. The petchii 'Pink' looks really nice. Not quite the pink of flamingo though...

Perfect, thanks for that, I'll check that out!

 

[kaldurak]

How difficult is it (time wise) to get a package from the US to CA? Because the Pink Flamingo is doing very well in my tank and I would much rather mail off trimmings in Fall's in the future instead of round filing or donating to the fish store.

 

[MCFC]

How difficult is it (time wise) to get a package from the US to CA? Because the Pink Flamingo is doing very well in my tank and I would much rather mail off trimmings in Fall's in the future instead of round filing or donating to the fish store.

Everyone I've talked to says it's not worth the time and money to send plants across the border with the proper paperwork. It's probably worth a little investigation on my part by now. There are quite a few "rare" plants in the US that are literally impossible to find up here.

 

[Quagulator]

I would be interested in gaining access to the US plant market....

I don't care about long shipping times, It's just finding someone who is willing to 1) follow the laws (if there is any?!?!) or 2) risk breaking any laws by not claiming living organisms are being shipped across borders...

 

[slipfinger]

Everyone I've talked to says it's not worth the time and money to send plants across the border with the proper paperwork. It's probably worth a little investigation on my part by now. There are quite a few "rare" plants in the US that are literally impossible to find up here.

I would be interested in gaining access to the US plant market....

I don't care about long shipping times, It's just finding someone who is willing to 1) follow the laws (if there is any?!?!) or 2) risk breaking any laws by not claiming living organisms are being shipped across borders...

Trust me I've investigated the process and it is not worth the time and money to ship a few plants. First off you have to find a hobbyist that is willing to take the steps to secure a Phytosanitary Certificate, which usually means they have to drive to the closest Ag office in their district to obtain, which cost money. Then you have to pay for shipping, over night or even two day priority is not cheap, I believe it could be upwards of $30, 40 even $50 usd depending on where its coming from and where its going. Then the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on our end has to inspect the package, which also cost $15 I believe. Who knows how long all this will take, all said and done you can be out of pocket a good amount of coin and end up with some dead plants.

Of course the above is if you are doing everything on the up and up.

Soon enough some of these rare plants may not be literally impossible to find in Canada, well Burlington anyway! wink wink