[Italionstallion888]

I'm starting a new journal to chronicle my next stage in fish keeping. Purchased a house in feb and had my daughter 5/5/15. Its been a busy year, I neglected the tanks a bit during this time. Tore down my 29g and moved all my equipment to the 55g. High light co2, soon to be replaced with a 90g. My house came with a nice back yard perk that I've been cleaning up for the last month. My old journal is linked in my signature.

My new fish den

Back yard perk

big things coming, I would subscribe

I do encourage participation, if you have questions or a comment, please feel free.

The next post will get into more detail of what went on during the last few months.

 

[andrewss]

WOW that backyard is really really nice!

 

[Italionstallion888]

A glimpse of my morning coffee.

https://youtu.be/mjdKHugYSLA


Its up and running, I have addressed 90% of the leaks I have found. Its holding water and I think what water I do loose is from the waterfall, stream bed, and to many plants wicking water. I need to move the rocks along the stream bed and lift the liner up to keep the water in the stream. Exploring ideas to build up the ground under the liner that will hold. Getting closer. Another weekend of work.

 

[Freemananana]

I'm in for the 90g! I like the pond in the back you have going on.

Heads up on the whole daughter thing, if this is your first, it gets awesome! My daughter is just over a year old and she loves to watch my fish in the tank.

Back on fish tanks. If you don't know what to do with the 55g, you could make it a sump like I did haha.

 

[Italionstallion888]

The pond has a second waterfall, but I believe it had a leak or there is a clog causing the water to pool and overflow the liner. I just spent about an hour fixing the river rock erosion, pulled them out from the middle to build the bank back up. I have a faster moving stream. Still a few parts to pull away. I'm just looking at it as a big fish tank lol.

Not sure on the 55g. I have up to 4 canister filters to run on the 90g if it needs it. Might turn it into an outdoor grow tank under the patio. If I open the curtains I, I can see the tanks and pond together.

When I upgrade to the 90g, the bolivian rams will be split into 2 rubber maids. Temp homes until the tank cycles.

 

[Italionstallion888]

 

[Freemananana]

Every time I see someone with rams, it really makes me want them! I may have to add a pair to my potential stocking in my 75g.

 

[kimchilee]

aww, can i build a little house right next to your pond? i can live there forever! so nice!

 

[bpb]

That's an especially colorful bolivian. Very nice! Makes me want to snatch up a few. Following along. Nice pond out back. Jealous. Put some live bearers/mosquitofish in there?

Congrats on the new baby. I'm right there with you. That's the best way to take a break from your tanks. Almost no choice but to!

 

[Italionstallion888]

Having a daughter has been great. Love this kid. Having so much fun with her.

I have 6 very colorful bolivians in the 55g. I think they are all males though. The 10g may get a pair of breeding blue rams or a colony of shrinp. Have not decided. I'm not sure the pond will get fish this year. It wasn't very well maintained prior to our purchase. Just needs. Little tlc and thinning of plants. I have a lilac bush and my entire rear treeline is honeysuckle trees. 1 red maple, 1 silver maple, 2 elms, 2 walnuts, 1 river birch and 3 Bradford pears on the property.

 

[Italionstallion888]

Last night we got hit with a boat load of rain. Major floods in the area. Last night I learned I need to turn the pond off during flood warning. Otherwise I will be pumping hundreds of gallons of water into the basement lol. I have a drain on the patio. I stacked my bags of pool filter sand around the door and spent 2 hours pushing water into the yard with my push broom. needless to say, I'm having my gutters upgraded tueday lol.

Upgrade for today?

Bye bye 10g, hello 20g long

 

[Islandgaliam]

My dream home! A room full of tanks and a pond out back...and the dog makes it perfect Will you be doing fish in the pond?

 

[Italionstallion888]

The pond will eventually get fish. I need to thin out the lilies in the center. I have some fear they expanded from below the pond liner. My plan is to pull the bulbs, about half and transfer them to the pond on the farm. I need to build up the river bed banks more and then address the 2nd waterfall. After all of that and I know it's all working with minimum water loss. I will drain it and clean out all of the sludge on the bottom. Fish next year for sure. My goal is to get the back yard entered into a water/garden tour here locally. I'm trading plants with my mother in law. I won't know my results for a spring season or 2. We plan on living here for 7-10 years.

 

[Italionstallion888]

V 1.0

 

[Italionstallion888]

Trickle fill. I'm super stoked for this tank. Bringing the mopani back. This tank will house a pair of apistogramma or blue rams.

Plants go in next. Still debating if I want to add natural gravel to some areas of the scape. Mainly infront of the slate stack on the right. Coming out and around from under the mopani.

 

[Italionstallion888]

Few snaps with the phone

Up and running

 

[Italionstallion888]

Day 1 of cycle

Ammonia: 8+ppm

I also decided last night the 20g will get the co2 treatment in the way of a paintball set up. I'm growing anubias, dwarf sag, and stargrass in this tank. Maybe hygro tiger or willow. Low light with a little co2 is the goal. I have a finnex sting ray that can go on the other end if I need more light.

 

[Freemananana]

I think 8 ppm of ammonia is high. I believe I did 4 ppm when I cycled my tank.

Anyway, The paintball setup should work for an aquarium of this size and I'm sure the cost benefits will be great. As for the lighting, I'd suggest some more light for sure. That clip on doesn't look to be the most even and with CO2 you can definitely go above low light values with no worries.

 

[Italionstallion888]

It is high, mainly to kill whatever might be in the substrate, and filter. 3 days of keeping it at 8ppm, then 3 days at 5ppm. By day 9 I should be into nitrates.

I won't be planting any demanding plants. I moved the light to the center of the tank for more even spread.

My main use for the co2 is to fight off algae and kick root growth in on the anubias. It will be low bubble count. Probably equivalent to a diy yeast, just more consistent.

 

[Freemananana]

Are you using bacteria from another tank? I realized I clicked page 2 and thought this was a brand new thread starting on the top of this page. I was going to say the 9 day nitrate cycle is pretty fast!