K.j.'s 10g Journal

[K.J.]

Well, today my mom and I had to take the fish out and do a complete scrubdown. Every little leave got either pulled off or clean. I think the anubias came out best. We also did a new layout that took actually all the wood out, so now there's less of a focal point. Hopefully the focal point will be the mountain, once we can get out hands on some val at the aquarium shop and get that cryptocoryne and ludwigia going. I'm also picking up a background today. Pictures was photoshopped to make it softer. but not much, ay?

The platy looks pregnant (not from that picture) so I might be able to bait my mom into letting me cycle a fry tank... I said I didn't want to keep the fry, but my mum said if I keep this tank good then I'll get at least a 30G for my birthday so stocking doesn't look so dim and now I've fallen in love with the little platies. I think if I do get the fry tank it'll just be one of my spare 2.5 gallons with some sand and a couple of simple plants like java ferns and moss or wisteria. Lots of fry paradise. And a sponge filter, hopefully DIY.

 

[K.J.]

I just realized I'm missing a drop checker. I'm so P'O it's not even funny. I have no idea why, I just am. I'm about ready to just let this tank go, it's getting on my nerves. How much do drop checkers cost?

 

[Themuleous]

I got mine from aquaticmagic on ebay, but dont pay the 'buy it now' price make him an offer, I paid half what he was asking. Takes a few days to get to you thou.

Sam

 

[K.J.]

Whats the average price?

 

[Themuleous]

Git mine for 7quid I think

 

[K.J.]

Hm. That's 13$ dollars for me. I could pay that, but I'm not sure my mom will let me.
Would it be unsafe to go without until June-ish?

 

[K.J.]

I'm still waiting for you to answer, Themoleous.
Tank wise, it's not doing to great. Horrible diatoms and the crypts are looking bad. I'm dosing with some EA (not EI!) fertilizer and the nutrafin bottle. The ludwigia appreciate the extra light and are getting much better, but I don't know how long I'm supposed to expect these diatoms to last?

 

[Neo8223]

Not sure about your answer, however you live in Washington! I'm sure theres millions of pick-up trucks down your road and i'm sure you have a bucked and a sponge... Get where i'm going with this My parents never bought me anything (tight-asses) and therefore i had to buy everything myself. I used to cut ppls lawns, paint their fences, clean their cars, walk their dogs... OK DONT DO THAT, its HASSLE! Thats how i got the money. Show to your parents that you are eager to earn some hard earned honest money and they will respect that and reward you with for that.

If all else fails, pm me

 

[K.J.]

I do.. unfortunately, I have fairly strict parents and my allowance consists of weekly dishes, bedmaking, lawn mowing, car cleaning, laundry taking down, and the such for only 7$.... It's not too much of a budget that bothers me now, I have over 100$ in my pocket now but the fact that they won't let me spend it "just for fish."

 

[DevUK]

Why not make a drop checker? Use a small plastic mineral water bottle, put 2 holes in the lid and force your air line in to both, making sure you leave on side longer than the other, then put enough water in to cover the end of the long tube and voila, drop checker Its not pretty, but it saves you $$

Check the DIY CO2 thread for pics and info

 

[SuperColey1]

You wil find it almost impossible to overdose with 1 Nutrafin kit, so you should be fairly safe.

With the Nutrafins a dropchecker is usually so that you can see if it is giving you enough ppm.

Andy

 

[K.J.]

I don't see how that can be a drop checker? But then again, I can't really understand the concept of drop checkers period. What am I supposed to do if it DOESN'T give enough co2? The plants really don't look all that excellent.

 

[DevUK]

basically, the CO2 is being pushed through the tubing. Having the tubing split and one end under water and the other end not allows you to see a bubble of CO2 come out of the nutrafin canister. Because the drop checker is air tight the CO2 is pushed out of the drop checker and into the second tube, and off to your nutrafin ladder.

To be honest, with the nutrafin kit you probably don't need the drop checker. I only use one because I bought it second hand and it came with one You could always count the bubbles as they enter the ladder anyway.

Oh, so you know, counting the bubbles is a way of telling how much CO2 is going into the aquarium to help you work out the ppm (parts per million). This and testing PH and KH, and looking the results up on a chart (see sticky posts in planted forum).

Hope that makes sense

 

[K.J.]

Are you sure you aren't thinking of a canister (not sure what to call them?) Right now I have about one bubble ever 2-3 seconds....

 

[DevUK]

I don't see how that can be a drop checker? But then again, I can't really understand the concept of drop checkers period. What am I supposed to do if it DOESN'T give enough co2? The plants really don't look all that excellent.

How long have you had your CO2 going for? Also, how many bubbles do you see travelling up the ladder at any one time? I found that the nutrafin packets didn't seem to produce a lot of CO2, but I didn't really give it a good chance. I set up a DIY mix in a 2ltr coke bottle last night and thats going like crazy

It should take a week or 2 to notice much difference I'm told...