"Wannabe Dutch" High-Tech 40B

1511 Views 6 Replies 2 Participants Last post by zetvi, May 3, 2014

austin.b

Discussion Starter · Apr 25, 2014 (Edited)

"Wannabe Dutch" High-Tech 40B

Greetings fellow TPT users!

Ive had this tank since the petco $1/Gallon sale almost two years ago. Its only recently been turned into a planted tank, about six solid months now. Before it ever saw any kind of flora, it was a fish only system. Now that Im much more informed about the needs of aquatic plants I decided to start it over half a year ago. I knew at that point I wanted a high tech tank because I wanted to experience the absolute most out of my plants. This is also my first tank with MTS.

The substrate is MTS capped with Caribsea Black TMS. The TMS is very fine to the touch, worth every penny IMO.

Equipment:

-Standard 40 Breeder
-Quad Odyssea T5-HO Light
-Aqueon Pro Heater 200W
-Aquatek Premium CO2 Regulator on 20oz Paintball Tank
-Glass Drop Checker
-Eheim Ecco Pro 2234
-Hagen Elite Mini Filter as CO2 Diffuser

Flora:

-Persicaria sp. Kawagoeanum
-Limnophila Aromatica
-Unknown Rotala
-Ludwigia Red
-Bacopa Caroliniana
-Vallisneria Americana
-Crypt. Bronze Wendtii
-Crypt. Green Wendtii
-Crypt. Nurii 'pahang mutated'
-Blyxa Jamponica
-Ranunculus Inundatus
-Pogostemon Helferi
-Hygrophila sp Tiger
-Staurogyne Repens
-Anubias Nana var 'Petite'

Fauna:

-4 Male Praecox Rainbow's
-4 Guppys
-1 Molly

I have been unsuccessful at trying to locate female P. Rainbows to add to the school. When I do find some, Ill probably fill out the school to maybe 9 total, 4 male and 5 female. The rainbows are somewhat aggressive to each other, however Im pretty sure its because I only have males. Hopefully the aggression will subdue when the females are in.

As for the guppys, they were an impulse buy from my dad who has supported me and this expensive hobby throughout the years. Theres no way I could have made it this far without his help. I must admit, however, they have grown on me!

Right now the tank is looking pretty decent. Im quite happy with the outcome. Who knows, maybe Ill do a complete rescape with a hardscape after another year or so...

Heres are some shots of the tank back when It was first started:
(The tank has come a long way!)

11/21/13

12/15/13

2/07/14

4/22/14

4/26/14

Current FTS:

Stay tuned, and remember to subscribe!

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austin.b

Discussion Starter · #2 · Apr 25, 2014

Who knew guppys could be so hard to photograph correctly! What a task, but a fun one nonetheless!

I had to restrict them to the confines of a floating breeder box to get barely decent shots. Let me know if you guys like the pics!

Praecox Rainbow:

H. Tiger Carpet:

Downoi:

FTS:

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zetvi

· #3 · Apr 29, 2014

Update on this please

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austin.b

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 2, 2014

zetvi said:
Update on this please

Relieved to see someones interested!
But ask and you shall receive

I did a 90% water change on sunday due to EI dosings and algea. I also trimmed all the stems back and simply replanted the tops.

Ive been struggling a bit with BBA in this tank but only on select plants such as the unknown rotala behind the crypts and the downoi. The downoi had it much worse. I had to almost completely drain the tank and mist the downoi with Hydrogen Peroxide. It was actually extremely effective and I believe to have sprayed all the algea. I was pretty surprised to see minimal melting. Feeling super satisfied!

Since all the BBA (hopefully) looks to be eradicated, Ive increased the bubble count on my reg and lowered the output from my filter to slightly reduce the surface agitation. We'll see in a week or two if it comes back!

Enough talking, here are the pics!

roud:

Right Side:

Left Side:

FTS:

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zetvi

· #5 · May 2, 2014

Its sure filling in nicely. Did you take all the fish out when doing the h2o2 with 90% drained? Cus thats what i did. After that treatment, i then added h2o2 to my weekly maintenance routine. I sprayed around the glass/equipments and water surface when the tank is at 50% off. I was happy with the tank as the algae stayed minimum after doing so! You need more red plants for sure!!

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austin.b

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 2, 2014

zetvi said:
Its sure filling in nicely. Did you take all the fish out when doing the h2o2 with 90% drained? Cus thats what i did. After that treatment, i then added h2o2 to my weekly maintenance routine. I sprayed around the glass/equipments and water surface when the tank is at 50% off. I was happy with the tank as the algae stayed minimum after doing so! You need more red plants for sure!!

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Thank you!

Yes, I removed all of them and plopped them into a bucket with a heater and airstone. I left them there for a few hours so I could test the water and make sure I didnt cause a mini cycle or something of that nature. After everything checked out, they were back in.

Thats a good idea! Ill start using h2o2 as a weekly preventative. I usually just use it to spot treat algea on the occasion.

Any suggestions as to what red plants? :icon_smil

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zetvi

· #7 · May 3, 2014

I love AR mini. They are kinda pricy but if you can catch them at petsmart ( tissue version) and be patient with them, ull get a good deal from that. Others would be rotala macranda red, rotala vietnam hopefully i got their names right. And some other that i cant recall, check those plant id dictionary

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