First time planting my tank. - Page 2

beaslbob · 06-21-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocPoppi

I was one of those people that did not use any CO2 in my tanks, and yes I had plants that did well enough. Plants do adjust to the water parameters, but without fertilizer and enough co2 they will die or barely survive. If you have very clean substrate the will not get any nutrients unless you dose the tank.
It is VERY easy to make a DYI co2 setup that will make your plants grow and not lose leaves. When I put new plants in my co2 tanks, I have seen maybe one or two leaves die off, (more from root damage) and within a few days new growth forms.
As far as a gravel/substrate change, that can be done easily.
Although I have done many times in the past, it seems I've done something wrong this time....
Yesterday I spent the day redoing my African rift tank. I removed much of the gravel and added new black sand, I also put in a new canister filter. Everything seemed peachy when I turned out the lights for the night, but when I woke up this morning.... Total devastation, almost all the fish were dead...All of the fry seem alive, and the Pleco, along with just a few adults.
All the parameters seem fine... My only guess is some unknown toxin in the water. Gonna spend the day flushing the tank.

Ouch!!!!!!!

Sorry to hear.

FWIW I one time had a similiar thing happen when I cleaned up a marine tank including rinsing the oyster shells I used as filter media. the next morning a fish was dead and all the others amost. Ammonia had risen to pegging the api test kit (8PPM+). I saved most fish by removing them to another tank.

What I think happened in that one case is I used some plastic gloves which contained something that caused the ammonia spike.

I used Prime to lock the ammonia and a week later I rinsed the oyster shells with no gloves. Ammonia dropped down the next day.

Actually you only need that to happen once then I changed and will not use the gloves again.

again sorry for your loss but then it happens to the worse of us like me.

my .02

Fearmancer · 07-02-2011, 01:26 AM

Ok, well after two weeks my tank seems to be doing better. I got my water tested (AMM 0ppm, NitrIte 0ppm, NitrAte 40ppm, Hardness 425ppm, pH buffering 240ppm, ph 8.0). Unfortunately cosmetically my tank has gone to hell as I injured my foot last saturday and have been able to do any maintenance. I have a moderate algae problem that I will need to address. I also added two new additions to my tank, a Farlowella (twig) catfish, and a blue apple (mystery?) snail. I'm hoping that the hardness will not be too much for Twiggy, but I have no idea how to economically control it as my water here is very hard. But I am hoping that the two new additions will keep the algae down, as well as a water change and reduced lighting times (currently 12 hours) as I dial in my timer. My plants still need trimmed badly and my glass needs a good scrubbing.

Fearmancer · 07-02-2011, 01:37 AM

A few pics.

My tank as of today.

Gary, the Blue Apple Snail.

Twiggy, the Farlowella Catfish.

Fearmancer · 07-02-2011, 03:53 PM

Quick update. Twiggy and Gary (the snail) have cleaned my tank better than I could have imagined. Looks like I won't need to blackout. Algae is under control. Trimmed the swords. they look better, also did some rescaping but now it looks empty. Anyone know what to do with the stumps from the trimmed leaves?

Heres a pic.

giddetm · 07-06-2011, 12:47 PM

I really like the saltwater background and decorations!

giddetm · 07-06-2011, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtm2007@yahoo.com

a DIY CO2 kit using an Ocean Spray juice bottle, some sugar, jello, yeast and baking soda, some airline tubing and a glass diffuser or a reactor.

I would like to hear more about this DIY CO2 with Jello and Baking soda ?

07-02-2011, 01:26 AM	#22 (permalink)
Fearmancer Fearmancer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 200 Name: Chuck Location: Lebanon, Ohio Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 96 Times Said "Thanks" 56 Times Was Thanked 23 Times in 22 Posts	Re: First time planting my tank. Ok, well after two weeks my tank seems to be doing better. I got my water tested (AMM 0ppm, NitrIte 0ppm, NitrAte 40ppm, Hardness 425ppm, pH buffering 240ppm, ph 8.0). Unfortunately cosmetically my tank has gone to hell as I injured my foot last saturday and have been able to do any maintenance. I have a moderate algae problem that I will need to address. I also added two new additions to my tank, a Farlowella (twig) catfish, and a blue apple (mystery?) snail. I'm hoping that the hardness will not be too much for Twiggy, but I have no idea how to economically control it as my water here is very hard. But I am hoping that the two new additions will keep the algae down, as well as a water change and reduced lighting times (currently 12 hours) as I dial in my timer. My plants still need trimmed badly and my glass needs a good scrubbing. __________________ 29g Tall FW: Many Swordtails: 1 lemon, 6-8 neon/pineapple, 1 Gold Tuxedo, ? fry; 1 Clown Pleco; 3 Otocinclus Cats, and MTS. Planted: Amazon Swords. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

07-02-2011, 01:37 AM	#23 (permalink)
Fearmancer Fearmancer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 200 Name: Chuck Location: Lebanon, Ohio Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 96 Times Said "Thanks" 56 Times Was Thanked 23 Times in 22 Posts	Re: First time planting my tank. A few pics. My tank as of today. Gary, the Blue Apple Snail. Twiggy, the Farlowella Catfish. __________________ 29g Tall FW: Many Swordtails: 1 lemon, 6-8 neon/pineapple, 1 Gold Tuxedo, ? fry; 1 Clown Pleco; 3 Otocinclus Cats, and MTS. Planted: Amazon Swords. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

07-02-2011, 03:53 PM	#24 (permalink)
Fearmancer Fearmancer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 200 Name: Chuck Location: Lebanon, Ohio Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 96 Times Said "Thanks" 56 Times Was Thanked 23 Times in 22 Posts	Re: First time planting my tank. Quick update. Twiggy and Gary (the snail) have cleaned my tank better than I could have imagined. Looks like I won't need to blackout. Algae is under control. Trimmed the swords. they look better, also did some rescaping but now it looks empty. Anyone know what to do with the stumps from the trimmed leaves? Heres a pic. __________________ 29g Tall FW: Many Swordtails: 1 lemon, 6-8 neon/pineapple, 1 Gold Tuxedo, ? fry; 1 Clown Pleco; 3 Otocinclus Cats, and MTS. Planted: Amazon Swords. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

07-06-2011, 12:47 PM	#25 (permalink)
giddetm giddetm's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 197 Name: Tom Location: North Pekin IL Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 14 Times Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 31 Posts	Re: First time planting my tank. I really like the saltwater background and decorations!

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