[Musclecar67]

Original Setup:

Rescape (March):

Rescape (May):

Rescape (November)

 

[FlyingHellFish]

Subbed, nice tank!

What lighting do you have? You said OEM then LED @ 90 watts? Are you just using the 21 LED that came with it? How much bps are you adding?

 

[Musclecar67]

I am using the OEM 21 LED, And a LED Spotlight Rated at 5000k 1100 Lumen and 90 Watts.
Thanks For Commenting!

 

[iRun]

I love your moss wall idea. I might have to rip off your idea! roud:

 

[Musclecar67]

Thanks! I got the back netting from the arts & crafts store (plastic cross-stitch backing) and the front netting from a green loofah.I threaded fishing wire to hold the netting together and tweezered the moss in from the bottom then attached with suction cups.

 

[Musclecar67]

2 Days in I tested my KH and PH.
KH=5
PH= 6.6
Co2= 30-37 ppm.

Im going to test every day to monitor levels. But so far my HC seems to be taking very well. I have an 8hr light schedule and I stop the Co2 1 hour before the lights turn off. The lights turn on 40 min before the Co2. I'm running 3bps.

 

[DTDPlanted]

Awesome, I have the 6 gal edge as well, and this is exactly what I was thinking of doing! nice set up, I even have a betta. How do those tetras get along with the betta?

 

[Musclecar67]

They get along well, though occasionally, the betta fish flairs up to claim his space lol. But the tetras are to fast. my local fish store said to just not have any other fish with big fins as the betta might mistake it for another betta.

 

[Musclecar67]

3rd Day Test

I tested the PH and KH this morning before my Co2 started. My PH = 7.5 and KH = 4. Yesterday I tested the water after running the Co2 for about 4hrs and I measured PH = 6.6 and KH = 5.

I don't know what caused this huge fluctuation? Is it normal for the PH to swing this way? I am still in a decent range, however I am new to the hobby so im trying to gauge what I should expect etc...

Yesterday (PM) I was at 30-37 ppm Co2, Today (AM) 3-4 ppm.

I just rescaped my tank, and I used 50-60 % of the water from my old setup. Including most of the old gravel, plants etc... Perhaps the tank is in a mini cycle? Ive been adding stress zyme weekly.

Any suggestions or thoughts are much appreciated. :icon_bigg

 

[Musclecar67]

I just did a thorough test of my tank and the results are below.

My PH and KH returned to there previous state @ KH=5, PH=6.6, Co2= 37ppm
Ammonia= 0ppm
Nitrite= 0ppm
Nitrate= 5.0ppm

It seems the tank is cycled well, though before I add any more fish I am going to monitor these levels through Friday.

From what I have researched the fluctuations in Co2 and PH I have seen are normal.

Pictures to come soon!

 

[Musclecar67]

Does anyone know what this white cobweb string stuff is? Algae? or Moss growing?

 

[FlyingGiraffes]

How's the atomic diffuser running on your co2 system? I have the exact set up. Just wondering if the working pressure is enough to run it properly.

 

[Musclecar67]

The diffuser works perfectly! It releases a very steady uniform stream, and the output psi stays at 30. I have it set to 1 bubble every 3 seconds for now. To my knowledge most ceramic diffusers need about 30psi. The guys at GLA and Aquatek CA are very helpful and offer top quality products to anyone who is considering a similar setup.

 

[Musclecar67]

Day 4

Water levels seem to be very stable. The plants are doing great asside from the Dwarf Hair-grass which seems to be turning a little brown. Any ideas? Otherwise I am very happy thus-far. The only thing I noticed this whitish web like fuzz/string growing on the moss attached to the driftwood. There is also some on the hair-grass. I am assuming its algae?

I ordered some potassium sulfate from GLA (Dry) to supplement. Hopefully that stops any yellowing or browning in the future.

 

[Musclecar67]

Day 5 PICS & VID, Please Comment!

I did a %50 water change and added the last of my fish. Despite the hair algae that has formed on a the drift wood, It is doing well.

New Fish:
1 Siamese Algae Eater (Good With Hair Algae)
2 Violet (Barbs?) I forget what they call them, anyone know?

New Light/Co2 Period:
1/2 hr before lights Co2 on.
6 hr light interval.
1/2 before lights off = Co2 off.

Still running 1 Co2 bubble every 3 seconds. My KH remains stable and the PH drops by one at night never less than 6.6.

I reduced my light period by 2 hours and increased my water flow to aid with the algae issue. Including less fish food and the water change today I am going to wait and see what happens. My Nitrate was 10ppm last night but has settled down. Everything else is at 0ppm.

Thanks for the comments ! :icon_smil
Check out the PIC'S and the new VIDEO

Video:http://youtu.be/OzJmzE9p1vA

 

[Musclecar67]

Day 7

Any comments or suggestions are welcomed!

Tested Water and added K2SO4 that I received from GLA today. Hair grass has been brown/yellow.

I upped my Co2 to 1 bubble every 2 seconds. Today is the first time I got a 0ppm Nitrate reading. Other than the HG the others seem to be doing well. The HC is growing well, only one patch seemed to dissolve. Hopefully the K2SO4 will aid. I only does 1ml of flourish a week and I plan on dosing the K2SO4 once a week about 1/32 of a teaspoon mixed with tank water to dissolve.

I cant wait for the HC to carpet the tank! :icon_lol:
Here are my test results:

KH=5
PH=6.4
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=0

I hope my plants start to out compete the hair algae and slight brown algae I am seeing. Only time will tell I guess...

 

[FlyingHellFish]

Hey, I have the 6 gallon with the 42 LED lights and I have HC Cuba in mine.

How is your coverage? I had to supplement a desktop along with the 42 LED because the corners were dark/not bright.

Here is what things to look out for, my HC Cuba got blasted with too much light due to my desktop lamp being focus on them. They got yellow/brown and stunned as I was under dosing.

I upped my K2HPO4 for K and Seachem Iron, so if your Cuba gets all yellowish try that. I have heard the first 2 weeks they dose a lot of K and Iron much like ADA Brightly K.

I'm was running 1 bps and high light with low fert which gave me this:

Not to high jack your thread or anything....I hope your HC cuba turns out better than mine.

Q's :
1.What colour is your ph drop checker in the morning?
2.Does your betta never get freaked out by the constant reflection?
3.Does he try to franticly find the opening?
4.Don't you get bubbles from the plants pearling?

 

[Musclecar67]

4/16/12 Slow Growth

Thanks for your comments FlyingHellFish.

I have the stock LED setup, to aid in the lack of light I have an LED spotlight over the tank (Referenced on 1st page) I feel that if anything is the cause its a lack of either a nutrient or Co2. I am running 1bps and I have an atomic diffuser which is placed below the opening and the flow pushes the bubbles down and toward the front over the HC.

I have been trying to rid my tank of hair algae, and brown algae which has mostly grown on the Co2 tubing and suction-cups. I dose with K2so4 twice a week and have upped it to 1/4 teaspoon a dose. I only dose flourish once a week after a water change. After a dose with flourish my hair algae grows like a weed. I am only running 6hrs of light... IDK what to do anymore... its more than frustrating. As a very analytical / scientific person I find it frustrating there are no direct paths to follow given these basic fundamentals of growing plants. This is obviously a lack of something or the plants by their nature would out compete the algae for nutrients. I am considering buying Iron supplement, or even a new light setup. I cant tell if I have my spotlight to high or to low. Here are my pictures:

Tx again!

The picture doesn't do the light justice, its very bright.

Hey, I have the 6 gallon with the 42 LED lights and I have HC Cuba in mine.

How is your coverage? I had to supplement a desktop along with the 42 LED because the corners were dark/not bright.

Here is what things to look out for, my HC Cuba got blasted with too much light due to my desktop lamp being focus on them. They got yellow/brown and stunned as I was under dosing.

I upped my K2HPO4 for K and Seachem Iron, so if your Cuba gets all yellowish try that. I have heard the first 2 weeks they dose a lot of K and Iron much like ADA Brightly K.

I'm was running 1 bps and high light with low fert which gave me this:

Not to high jack your thread or anything....I hope your HC cuba turns out better than mine.

Q's :
1.What colour is your ph drop checker in the morning?
2.Does your betta never get freaked out by the constant reflection?
3.Does he try to franticly find the opening?
4.Don't you get bubbles from the plants pearling?

 

[FlyingHellFish]

I feel your pain, this tank has a lot of limitations due to it's unique design.

I'm trying to figure out what the limiting factor is for HC Cuba, I initially thought it was light but it turns out Cuba can do well in medium light.

Co2 and it's distrubtion is much more important, what colour is your drop checker when the lights goes off? What colour is it when they come on?

I think your HC Cuba is lacking a bit of light, yours is growing kind of leggy, mine was spreading sideways due to high light.

Anyways, I would definitely get some Seachem Iron and add K, it brought my colour back to green.

 

[Musclecar67]

Thanks FlyingHellFish. Yeah its frustrating, but the Edge is so worth it! Even though people make a big fuss with the tank, its easily fixed, my light is 1100 lumen, 5000k, and 90 watts. I might lower the light, but my tank has no dark spots. Especially like you mentioned the light is the least of the HC issues, I know I have to be missing a nutrient. Ill buy some iron supplement, I guess in its early stages the Fe in the substrate isn't easily accessible to the shallow roots.

I do not have a drop checker, I test my KH and PH levels, apparently my Co2 is at 150ppm! Im scared to up the level in fear of killing my fish. Perhaps Ill try 2bps and let them adapt. Im adding a lot of K given the amount of water in the tank. I hate shooting in the dark...

Thanks again!

I feel your pain, this tank has a lot of limitations due to it's unique design.

I'm trying to figure out what the limiting factor is for HC Cuba, I initially thought it was light but it turns out Cuba can do well in medium light.

Co2 and it's distrubtion is much more important, what colour is your drop checker when the lights goes off? What colour is it when they come on?

I think your HC Cuba is lacking a bit of light, yours is growing kind of leggy, mine was spreading sideways due to high light.

Anyways, I would definitely get some Seachem Iron and add K, it brought my colour back to green.