Cats Amazonia

[RossC]

Looks nice looking forward to seeing it grown out

 

[Andy Vox]

5 days of growth.
In the meantime I have built a DIY co2 reactor in Rex Griggs style, basically my external filter out put goes into a 22mm waste pipe, which joins a t with the co2 input on, then I have 4ft of downward 22mm pipe, loaded with bio balls and a piece of rubber tubing inside the very end to prevent the bio balls leaving and to reduce the amount of bubbles coming through. This then returns upward after 2 90degree waste pipe bends and goes int the spray bar in the tank. So far, beyond lime green drop checker with the same co2 rate. I've had to turn it down and I can happily say I've never had any co2 bubbles come thru into the tank not even when I really increased the co2 to unusable levels to check. We're talking 10 bps or more.

I've added 30 cherry shrimp, which surprisingly my glowlight tetras quite like the taste off, what an expensive meal that was, saying that there are a few left including a prego female.

Excuse the iPhone quality camera.

Here are some up to date photos. Only issue is pogo helferi seems to be yellowing and melting, everything else is brill, loads of growth loads of pearling, I'm rather chuffed!

Things on the cards for the next few weeks are:
Black background, black spray bars, glass drop checkers ne for each side to make sure co2 is correct, some pogo stellata for the back right, and then grow grow grow.
Any comments welcomed, particularly thoughts on my failing pogo helferi.

Cheers, Andy.

 

[minnnt]

Really great! The pictures show the story brilliantly. The wood is probably the best piece I have seen used that isn't redmoor etc.

Great scene.

 

[Andy Vox]

Looks nice looking forward to seeing it grown out

Cheers Ross!

Really great! The pictures show the story brilliantly. The wood is probably the best piece I have seen used that isn't redmoor etc. Great scene.

Thanks minnnt, it shows how much you can improve when your using the right tools! Bloody LFS and their none existent planted tank knowledge.
Thank you, I've been looking at some bits of redwood, the problem with me is I can't leave it alone, so I'm already thinking about a new scape. The problem is I look at some of the tanks on here and UKAPS and just think, I need to do better. Maybe I should just have more patients and let things grow. I find something really relaxing about planting endless amounts of carpet and other plants, if only I could make a living out of building scapes. Need to get my other tank going so I can alternate rescapes, although I think that might get me divorce rather than anything else!

 

[stu40]

Nice look so far

Maybe I should just have more patients and let things grow.

Sometimes i find this the hardest thing to do

 

[Andy Vox]

Ok so the new tanks been going for 12 days.
I've had some leaking issues from my Rex Grigg style co2 reactor which has caused some algae issues, green thread mostly because I can't get the co2 level right so last night I ripped it out and changed it for another one I've made, it's made from clear pipe, so I can see exactly what's going on in there. Seems to work much better so I'm pleased with it so far, no leaks that's for sure! The gas seemed to be leaking slowly out the top of my old one. I've upped the bpm but whilst I'm at work it scares me that I'll over do it and gas the fish.
I'll try and get it right but I may need to do a 3 day blackout, the worst areas are within the hc carpet and the java moss on the bogwood, bit gutted because everything was going great. Nevermind.

Day 12 photos:

Couple of my favourite shrimp, red with a bright white line down her back :]
You can see some of the green thread and BBA on that close up, any hints on battling it would be great!

 

[Andy Vox]

I decided to close down this tank and start over based on the knowledge I've gained recently.
New scape on the way.