"endor" Llj's 36G Low-Light

[ian]

btw it looks great!

what fish and how many do you have in there?

 

[lljdma06]

btw it looks great!

what fish and how many do you have in there?

To do a complete head count is impossible. Many of the Boraras and the Anchor cats are too small and hide, so I'll see the occasional one only.

Platies - I think 8
Rasbora gracilis - 7
Harlequins - 6
Otos - 6
Boraras 4-8 can't tell
Anchor cats - so far, I've only seen one, but I put 6 in there I think.
Crabs - maybe 1-2, again, I cannot find them
Bronze corydoras - 1-2. Again, can't find them all the time.
Ember tetra - 1 refugee. He's doing great.

This tank has always had a problem with corydoras, plecos (except otos), and other catfish, I cannot keep them alive in this tank, try though I do. I have much better luck in more shallow tanks for some reason and got spawning behavior in my 8g. I am not looking to replace lost numbers and am gradually phasing some species out in favor of cyprinids. Cyprinids thrive in it. Go figure. I don't do anything different. I'm also kind of waiting for my platies to live their natural lifespan. They are the last "line-bred" fish that I have. While I like them and am happy that I raised them, everybody else sports natural coloring and I like this better. The platies may go into the 8g when I rescape it. They were in it during 2007/2008. It depends, I may also try ember tetras in the 8g. The one I have has colored up nicely and looks great. He deserves some company.

 

[DAlmond123]

What is the name of this tall crypt? Is it similar to [font="Verdana][url="http/www.bobstropicalplants.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_33&products_id=172"]Cryptocoryne Retrospiralis[/url] or Cryptocoryne Crispatula? [/font]

 

[aaronnorth]

WOW.

That is amazing My style of tank It has grown in loads since I last saw it.

Well done, Aaron

 

[lljdma06]

What is the name of this tall crypt? Is it similar to

It was sold to me as cryptocoryne spiralis.

WOW.

That is amazing My style of tank It has grown in loads since I last saw it.

Well done, Aaron

Thanks, Aaron. Means a lot coming from you.

If I didn't like pearling so much and the more plant options with CO2 tanks, I tell everybody to ditch CO2 and make all tanks this way. It is, by far, the easiest tank I have ever done. Needs a waterchange, or at the very least a top-off right now. I might just do the top-off and see if I can push the tank to two months without a waterchange. With the waterchange will come an update.

 

[aaronnorth]

I too am loving the ease of my tank ATM, I don't have an exact schedule, but I did a water chnage on Christmas eve (got to make sure it is tip top for the guests hehe) and the last was 2 weeks ago. I did initially say every 2 months but I left it too see how it went, and after just over 3 month the filter slowed down considerably so I did a water change while I was at it.

 

[DAlmond123]

What is the name of this tall crypt? Is it similar to

It was sold to me as cryptocoryne spiralis.


Do you know what crypt gets the tallest?

 

[lljdma06]

What is the name of this tall crypt? Is it similar to

It was sold to me as cryptocoryne spiralis.


Do you know what crypt gets the tallest?

I'm not positive, all three species seem to have overlapping heights. I know that my tank is 21" high and on ther tallest leaves, there is about 5-6" of growth along the water's surface, so about 2 feet on C. spiralis if you take into account my sand bed. Plenty tall for most tanks.

llj

 

[DAlmond123]

What is the name of this tall crypt? Is it similar to

It was sold to me as cryptocoryne spiralis.


Do you know what crypt gets the tallest?

I'm not positive, all three species seem to have overlapping heights. I know that my tank is 21" high and on ther tallest leaves, there is about 5-6" of growth along the water's surface, so about 2 feet on C. spiralis if you take into account my sand bed. Plenty tall for most tanks.

llj

What three species?

 

[lljdma06]

What is the name of this tall crypt? Is it similar to

It was sold to me as cryptocoryne spiralis.


Do you know what crypt gets the tallest?

I'm not positive, all three species seem to have overlapping heights. I know that my tank is 21" high and on ther tallest leaves, there is about 5-6" of growth along the water's surface, so about 2 feet on C. spiralis if you take into account my sand bed. Plenty tall for most tanks.

llj

What three species?

The two you mentioned; C. retrospiralis and C. crispatula. And then C. spiralis. That's three.

llj

 

[DAlmond123]

Oh it seems that retrospiralis & spiralis are the same.

 

[lljdma06]

Oh it seems that retrospiralis & spiralis are the same.

I'm sure it is, LFS never know what they are selling.

 

[steelhealr]

Have you ever had he need for..or used...a diatom filter? SH

 

[lljdma06]

Have you ever had he need for..or used...a diatom filter? SH

Hi SH! Welcome to the section of the forum where added Nitrates are good!

To answer your question, no I have not used them personally, though a few here have. One would use diatom filters here for a very stubborn greenwater outbreak.

Two causes for greenwater include ammonia build-up or nutritional and/or CO2 imbalance (low CO2 levels). The ammonia spike is often quite small, not registering on test kits.

Large waterchanges sometimes help. That is what worked for me when I last had it about 5 years ago, but that is not the norm. Usually fixing the nutrient imbalance or raising the CO2 levels works, but takes a little patience. Diatom filters clear it up quickly, but they are expensive. Another method is to do a 3-day blackout followed by a large waterchange.

In James' Planted Tank website, another method is discussed that uses willow branches that are stuck into the substrate until they grow roots. For me, this is another method of ammonia removal as the cut branches soak it up very quickly.

In my opinion, addressing the cause of the outbreak is key, otherwise one is no better off and may possibly get it again in the future. I will usually delve into the nutrient and/or CO2 imbalance.

Sorry for the ramble.

llj

 

[Taybird]

lljdma! Your tank is FABULOUS! I am all about the low-tech, low maintenance tanks. I am so encouraged to see your successes.

Tay