[lilhelper]

I got this tank about 1 1/2 months ago from albany aquarium in berkeley.
So far, I am pretty satisfied with the tank.
I put 4 cherry barbs, and 1 corydora catfish in there. 1 cherry barb and the cory died within 2 days. My fault for entrusting petsmart for my fish. I guess I was just desperate for something swimming.

The tank is experiencing some algae, most of the algae on the anubias is from my friends tank, and so far the newest leaf that the anubias has has yet to develop any algae.

I have a Penguin Biowheel 330 as the filter for this tank and I have yet to get a heater, been broke for a while. Thats life!
The substrate is plan old pea gravel, nothing fancy at all.

I will continue to update this journal as I go along.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[FrostyNYC]

The algae on the anubias looks pretty bad, and it looks like staghorn or BBA. I would give the plant a bleach dip. Anubias are very hardy and it should handle the bleach dip fine.

Other than that, looks like a nice start.

 

[lilhelper]

OK, how long should the anubias be in the bleach for. No more than 45secs to 1 minute?

 

[JennaH]

1 part bleach to 19 parts water. 2 to 3 minute soak, rinse thoroughly.

 

[lilhelper]

Alright thank you. I haven't been able to do it since it was suggested because I have had so much work.

 

[lilhelper]

Alright, Scratch everything above. I decided the tank above just wasn't working for my tastes. So I visited Phil and Agy at Ocean Aquarium in San Francisco right after I dropped my GF at SF international airport to go back to hiroshima =(.
Nonetheless, the trip today brought my spirits up and something to look forward to.
Dropped 45 bucks there and had a good conversation with agy. Decided not to get some fish.

I did a completely new rescape, with new gravel. Didn't bother to put anything special for the substrate. It will be my lowtech tank for me to enjoy.

 

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Alright, Scratch everything above. I decided the tank above just wasn't working for my tastes. So I visited Phil and Agy at Ocean Aquarium in San Francisco right after I dropped my GF at SF international airport to go back to hiroshima =(.
Nonetheless, the trip today brought my spirits up and something to look forward to.
Dropped 45 bucks there and had a good conversation with agy. Decided not to get some fish.

I did a completely new rescape, with new gravel. Didn't bother to put anything special for the substrate. It will be my lowtech tank for me to enjoy.

I went there yesterday as well...what time were you there?

And I think the new rescape looks great

 

[lilhelper]

I went there yesterday as well...what time were you there?

And I think the new rescape looks great

11-12:30 afternoon.
When were you there?

 

[Centromochlus]

The new layout looks great. :thumbsup:

 

[ZooTycoonMaster]

11-12:30 afternoon.
When were you there?

Oh, I was there at around 6:red_mouth

 

[lilhelper]

There is now a small discus inhabiting the tank because as soon as I put the discus in my 55g, all of the angels showed extreme aggression to it. So the discus is lone in the 10g, I think it may be too small but Its going to have to stay there. I got a heater for the tank too. I really wish I didn't have to put the discus in the tank, but I have no choice.... =(

 

[lilhelper]

I would like to get my DIY co2 up and running after work. would one 2 liter soda bottle suffice for the needs of this 10 gallon?

 

[JennaH]

yea a 2 liter should be fine. how are you diffusing it?

 

[lilhelper]

yea a 2 liter should be fine. how are you diffusing it?

I have some ideas how to diffuse it but space is a factor and I am not sure what is the best method...
Any suggestions?

BTW, here is the discus in the tank.

 

[Honky Magoo]

Very pretty. I like the new 'scaping better than the old for sure! What kind of light it that you have over it? Looks cool.

 

[lilhelper]

Very pretty. I like the new 'scaping better than the old for sure! What kind of light it that you have over it? Looks cool.

I took apart a reading lamp that was also Compact Florescent, and I am using that for the light. It is more than enough light to suffice.

 

[Green024]

Some people with HOB filters like with what you have, will rig up a way so that the c02 gets sucked up the intake of the filter, and gets sent back through the output.
I tried this method, but the noise of my filter with co2 bubbles was too annoying for me.

Some people just use a normal diffuser of some kind. ceramic, wood, yada yada

Now i use this method on my 10g and 30g for the time being.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...2-reactor.html

Once you have your Yeast Recipe (http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/09/...intensity.html) dialed in, this method works like a charm. The downfalls to this method is that it is not always a consistent rate of co2. The co2 that is created form the yeast recipe slowly dies off over the coarse of 2 weeks or so. Also its a little more high maintenance compared to a pressurized setup.

If you do it this way, don't forget to add a bubble counter in between your co2 reactor and your check valve to the aquarium. It collects most of the residue that the yeast reactor puts off, you most likely don't want that stuff in your tank. And remember, if you have one bad seal in this whole system, it will not work.

 

[lilhelper]

Some people with HOB filters like with what you have, will rig up a way so that the c02 gets sucked up the intake of the filter, and gets sent back through the output.
I tried this method, but the noise of my filter with co2 bubbles was too annoying for me.

Some people just use a normal diffuser of some kind. ceramic, wood, yada yada

Now i use this method on my 10g and 30g for the time being.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...2-reactor.html

Once you have your Yeast Recipe (http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/09/...intensity.html) dialed in, this method works like a charm. The downfalls to this method is that it is not always a consistent rate of co2. The co2 that is created form the yeast recipe slowly dies off over the coarse of 2 weeks or so. Also its a little more high maintenance compared to a pressurized setup.

If you do it this way, don't forget to add a bubble counter in between your co2 reactor and your check valve to the aquarium. It collects most of the residue that the yeast reactor puts off, you most likely don't want that stuff in your tank. And remember, if you have one bad seal in this whole system, it will not work.

Thank you for the input.
I will get the Hagen filter ASAP.
I was looking for a good diffuser...

 

[lilhelper]

Very pretty. I like the new 'scaping better than the old for sure! What kind of light it that you have over it? Looks cool.

I have a Quad Tube Compact Flourescent reading light. It's around 40 watts, and I believe I got it from Biglots for less than 20 dollars. Very efficient and puts out a lot of light. I took apart the light and make it to where it will fit over the tank nicely.

 

[lilhelper]

The new layout looks great. :thumbsup:

I bed to differ, your layout looks absolutely amazing.