[jsigone]

This is my first tank, recieved it free from my friend's nabor that had it sitting outside for the past 5-6 months or so. Came complete but not all good. It's a Jebo R362, seems to be made/sold in Australia.

The goods
Tank dims, 95 liter (25.xx gallons) 24.4" W x 15.15 D Bowfront x 17.7" high
looks like this but in light brown bamboo color.
http://stores.ebay.com.au/PUPPY-POW...S_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ168140QQftidZ2QQtZkm
Bubble machine worked (only electronic part that worked:icon_mrgr )


The bad:
Stand was rotten from the rain
The nice canister filter leaked .8gallons per hr so it got kicked to the trash (live in upstairs apartment and flooding would NOT be cool)
light was shorted and fried
plastics light cover has rust/burn marks on it that I can't get out.
heater was fried

Replacements:
20/29G wide Stand from wally world
100watt heater
Tekra Intank whisper 40i filter (i ahve 2 cats and they will play with anything and everything so I wanted the tank as flush to the wall as possible)
Digital intank Temp gauge (cat proof)
Homedepot light with coralife 18" bulb

No homework impulse buys:
25lbs of large red/blk gravel
plastic banzai tree
2 large 15" plastic plants (before I knew about live plants:icon_conf )
wanted live plants but still no HW so i got those petco plant tubes
--1 white ribbon (found out it not made for submerged)
--2 almazon sword (not enough lighting for it)
--2 "tropical ferns (no clue on this one)

I got my water testing kit and seems I have hard water, my Ph is around 7.5-7.6. I got the stuff to lower it, but the next day it went back up. I have 4 neons in there right now, one died the first night. I'm going to test the water again after work.

So my questions:
Do I need to get ride of all my gravel and put sand/fert in there for good growth?
I plan to upgrade to a compact 55w system, is that enough lighting?
Can I get some low light plants for now til my new lights come in?
Will adding more plants now w/o better lighting lower the Ph? Or do I need to do some water changes with drinking water to lower the Ph

I'll post pics of the tank after work.

 

[Rex Grigg]

Before you take another step read my Guide. Pay close attention to the water chemistry section.

There is no need to lower the pH by the use of acids.

 

[jsigone]

good reading!!

should I wait to get the soil and stuff until my light comes in?

 

[jsigone]

The start

with some plastics

plastics mixed some petso tubed plants

Yesturday I added a bag of Eco-Complete mixed with the gravel I had in there. Also took out the remaining plastics I had in there. The fiancee insisted I leave the towers in there (she paid for them)

Inmabitants:
4 Neons
5 blk neons
6 Black Phantom

 

[awrieger]

I personally don't believe that larger size gravel is good for two reasons. First it collects large amounts of decaying mulm and gunk between it so it needs constant cleaning, and second the plants' roots don't take hold in it well enough, especially when you have to disturb them by cleaning it so often.

I recommend switching to all Ecomplete if it's possible. It's better anyway as it's porous and holds nutrients for the plants where the gravel can't.

 

[jsigone]

think I should switch to all Eco even though there are no plant in the front where the gravel is?

 

[jsigone]

well here's an update, running DIY Co2 for the past few months with very little upkeep, just some water changes every now and then. I just added some java moss to my driftwood and planted some to the soil as well. The swords in the front and back are the same lil ones I bought long time back from Petco in thos tubes. Amazed how they have grown.

My blues

My side take I had some tetras in there, but moved them to the big tank and added a pair of bumble bee goby. The java fern was only a few leafs when I got it, this is a low tech tank. Added some java moss in there to see if it grows faster in that tank or the other.

 

[dekstr]

Wow! What a transformation!

Keep up the great work!

As for java moss growth, they grow pretty much at a steady rate. It takes them a few weeks to a month to get acclimatized to different tank water and parameters, so growth will slow for the first while, then you will see results.

 

[Matthew_Machine]

That tank looks SOOO much better. Really good change. I'm glad the fiancee (wife now?) went for it.

 

[jsigone]

yah funny looking at the old pics, Thanks for the complements

Whats the best way to get rid of the small snails I have in the HEX tank.

 

[Matthew_Machine]

Whats the best way to get rid of the small snails I have in the HEX tank.

Ignoring them. Seriously.

There's a bunch of "solutions" to getting snails out, but IMO they're not without risk. Just smash as many as you can, clean your gravel well and don't overfeed. They'll reduce in numbers in time.

 

[dekstr]

Snails are beneficial when their population are kept in check.

Usually excessive snail population in a short time indicates overfeeding.
Try cutting back on feeding amounts and you will see less snails.

Another way is to just net out as many as you can.

Some people put a piece of lettuce or cucumber on the bottom. Snails pile on top, and then you just remove the vegetable slice.

Loaches and puffers are known to be prolific snail eaters.

Otherwise, snails are almost impossible to remove 100%. It's best to just keep enough in check, as they are very good detritus/algae eaters. A good clean-up crew.

 

[jsigone]

BTW a while back I found out the previous owner rigged in a $10 home depot 15w in the hood, then it went out so upgrade to the Coralife Aqualight dual 65watt. I mostly run just one of the bulbs and both for a few hours ever now and then to hope I don't have an alge outbreak and it never has which is nice.

 

[jsigone]

Snails are beneficial when their population are kept in check.

Usually excessive snail population in a short time indicates overfeeding.
Try cutting back on feeding amounts and you will see less snails.

Another way is to just net out as many as you can.

Some people put a piece of lettuce or cucumber on the bottom. Snails pile on top, and then you just remove the vegetable slice.

Loaches and puffers are known to be prolific snail eaters.

Otherwise, snails are almost impossible to remove 100%. It's best to just keep enough in check, as they are very good detritus/algae eaters. A good clean-up crew.

today is the first day with the bumble bee goby's, they don't seem to like the snail and keep knocking them off the glass and they are floating to the top surface for easy netting. This might be easier then I though:icon_smil