75G Planted For Beginners. Haha.

[Jen]

I have my xp2 spray pointing left to right, right at the surface, pointing only slightly down. My intake is at the far right. I have a little powerhead on the right pointing left and slightly upwards, about halfway down the tank. My only dead spot it just under the output, where my val is. I added a bubbler there for no particular reason. I'm semi tempted to create my own spray bar with a few holes pointing down just to see how that would work, but I don't want the val to be pushed down. The flow is on max, but I only have harlequins and Kribs, and they all seem to enjoy the 2 levels of flow. I know that doesn't exactly help you out, but just another configuration option.

Has anyone tried vertically mounting the spray bar? would that make too much of a whirlpool?

 

[FishFanatic04]

Thanks, the suggestions are great. I was clueless on what to try. I am going to mess with it a little more today and then leave it alone for awhile and see if any algae pops up anywhere!

 

[Biulu]

Has anyone tried vertically mounting the spray bar? would that make too much of a whirlpool?

I would not do that as I would be afraid my substrate gets blown everywhere!

 

[FishFanatic04]

Will the glass lid mess with my lighting? I'm worried the kuhli's will Escape! with out it?

 

[Jen]

They can hinder a bit, but if you make sure to keep it clean, then it's not really enough to notice. I try to wipe off any algae buildup and hard water stains every water change.

 

[FishFanatic04]

 

[FishFanatic04]

Well, it's a sad day. I finally have my dream tank running, properly cycled. And I lost an Apisto last night, and one of the bristlenoses's might be following. I suspect an oxygen problem, my test results are just where they should be. I am injecting pressurized co2, and the last few days I kept moving the spray bar around. The last time I must not have set it rippling the water enough? I don't know what else could have happened. But since it was 2 of the bottom dwellers, I think a lack of oxygen is a good guess. I have the spray bar breaking the water surface and I'm leaving off the co2 until it looks sorted out. Will the plants be ok for a day? I haven't quite found the right bubble rate yet anyway.

 

[Biulu]

Awww, I am sorry to hear that! I hope you get it sorted out soon. Don't worry about the plants; they will be more than fine for some days without CO2.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I'm frustrated. My water is testing right on and I did a huge water change to remove some ferts, co2, nitrates, to see if it helps the BN. He is so pale. The rasboras are schooling and the angels are flitting around, no clamped fins. I would have thought the apisto death was just a random event, but the BN is so pale. I can't think of a good cause other then oxygen. We will see how he is by tomorrow. I'm leaving off the lights and co2 today.

Just adding, when the BN is stuck on the wood he is not clamped up. I wonder if that at least is a good sign.

 

[Biulu]

Another possibility is food. Have you been able to get enough food to the bottom? My angels are pigs and sometimes I wonder how the rasboras survive as I think they only get minimal amounts of food!

For the plec veggies are also important. Are you feeding them algae wafers, spirulina flakes or even some blanched cucumber or squash? The latter are considered treats for plecs so maybe you can cheer him up with that.

 

[FishFanatic04]

All of the above as far as food goes. I pop a veggie in a few times a week overnight{for my clown in the 46g and now in the 75 too, but i give them algae or veggie wafers daily. I've been careful to make sure enough food hits the bottom since the apisto's are there along with the kuhli's who will soon be upped to about 20.

It's enough to drive me too just have a harem of bettas. They never die no matter what mistakes you make

I'm so high strung all the time, fish keeping is supposed to be relaxing Thanks for the suggestions as always.

 

[Biulu]

It's enough to drive me too just have a harem of bettas. They never die no matter what mistakes you make

Don't say that! In 2 months' time I lost my 5 female bettas due to hardcore violence. In the first instance, only fins were nipped and I was quickly able to isolate the culprit. The second time it was too late; 2 dead upon arrival, 2 seriously wounded that died within a few days of the incident, and the last one, the initial instigator that took on a female that was stronger than she was, was left without fins that didn't grow back anymore and she just died on me as well. Sofar for sororities and bettas never dying, huh?!

 

[FishFanatic04]

Oh geez. Where did you get those nasty b****s? That's terrible!

I should stop getting so discouraged, I guess.

I moved the pale bristlenose to a hospital tank, so I can watch him closer. One of the angelfish was hovering at the surface, so I also moved her to my 10g with the platy. The platy is only in the QT tank, until it's ok to put her in the 46g. So there's a little musical fish going on.

The good news: The remaining Angel is really swimming nicely. It was held back by the other one, since they were sticking together.

 

[Biulu]

How big are your angels? Could it be that you have a pair since they were sticking together the whole time?

 

[FishFanatic04]

They are tiny. 1.5 inches or so. The other one is making me nervous, it's in the qt still not swimming much.