Llj's Ada Tank "refugees From Endor"

[lljdma06]

Will have to check on the moss in the bucket. Hopefully it's ok. I think it'll be fine.

Liz

 

[lljdma06]

Did a top-off yesterday and cleaned out the filters. Lots of salvinia was impeding the flow and clogging the filters and powerheads, so a lot of that got removed. Moss wall has taken a back seat right now, as the tank will fair better, I think, senza moss wall for my month stay in NYC. I moved the moss from the dark bucket and put it in my betta tanks. Thank goodness, it's fine. Does great free-floating, so I'm not worried. At least it's out of the bucket and gets light exposure.

I haven't dosed this tank in over a month. Still only seeing some green spot on the glass, but really not a big deal. Easy to just wipe away. It's probably due to the salvinia blocking flow and me being lazy with the maintenance and perhaps the reduction in plantmass from being without a moss wall. I'll give it a proper clean and large waterchange before I head to NYC and it'll be spotless again. The crypts will enjoy the fresh water. While I'm away, family will be doing topoffs and feeding the fish every couple of days.

The crypts and sags are just stunning and the Madagascar continues to grow. I'm very happy with this tank. The next scape I'll try will be filterless and only run on powerheads. I'm, infact, considering doing an experiment and just removing the filters for this scape and only running powerheads. Adding two more Rio 50s, maybe. Treating it like a Marine. Similar to a LR with circulation setup. The plants, like the LR become an effective filter. Will invest in Amazonia in the future too. I like it. After about a month of leeching and doing some weird things, it's proving to be very nice. Scape is approaching it's 5th month and I think it can be maintained nicely in the future or until I get bored. Will perhaps post some pictures later.

Any thoughts on my crazy plans?

Liz

 

[ian]

will be interesting, with the light and no media to get rid of the ammonia (i know the plants will do their best), I think you'll experience more algae growth. You can try and prove me wrong though! Get some pics up.

 

[lljdma06]

will be interesting, with the light and no media to get rid of the ammonia (i know the plants will do their best), I think you'll experience more algae growth. You can try and prove me wrong though! Get some pics up.

Wouldn't be the first time...

 

[PDSimon]

You and Ian should sabotage your own tanks, then we can all see our mods try and get rid of the algae

 

[lljdma06]

You and Ian should sabotage your own tanks, then we can all see our mods try and get rid of the algae

Oh, ye of little faith...

Honestly, I think once the moss wall returns & the tank is heavily maintained by keeping it very clean, I don't think algae will be much of an issue, even without a filter. I just really use sponges for media. Nothing fancy or any extra additives. It''s more fir circulation. If I don't cleanthe tank, the filter clogging actually creates more problems & can store decaying plant matter, which isn't good. The plant mass is high enough that I think it's totally possible. Won't be a Walstad style tank, as crypts don't like this in my area.

Please, somebody chime in and say I'm nuts...

Liz

 

[lljdma06]

Saturday, the 30th, I did a 60% waterchange and gave my sister instructions on how to do top-offs if the water level gets too low. I also moved my two female bettas to the tank. Let's see what happens. I think the tank will be fine.

The moss is in with the male bettas, free-floating. Should do pretty well. Nice filtered light, not too hot, and plenty of betta poop to soak up.

There are a couple of planted tank events in NYC, so I'll be attending those. Mark Denaro from anubias design is speaking at the Long Island Aquarium Society's meeting May 20.

Liz

 

[lljdma06]

Hi, I'm back from NYC. Journals are warts and all, I always say. Left the tank for a month with only top-offs done by my sister.

As you can see the water level is a might low. Sister didn't do quite as many top-offs as she was supposed to do. Lost a fish to jumping, so my sister let the salvinia grow and grow with the logic that it would discourage jumping. Actually pretty logical, but not what I told her to do. The filter also needs rinsing, but otherwise the tank faired quite well. I'm eager to do a large clean and get that moss wall back up. My Madagascar is still alive which makes me very happy.

Liz

 

[seffieuk]

Just read the whole journel and loved it - have you got any more videos?

My tank runs without a filter, just relying on the plants, must admit to now having some algae, but my yellow long finned bristle nose loves me for it

Seffie x

 

[lljdma06]

Thank you. I may have more video lying around, but I'm not sure. Was surprised with how little algae I have in the tank, especially with regard to how dirty it is. Mother and sister overfed the fish considerably. I, on the other hand, keep my fish healthy, but lean. I've gone a full week without feeding, especially when I know there are micro organsisms in the tank. Over the weekend, I'll be removing wood, doing a heavy trim and putting up the moss wall again. Then after a period of stability, I'll remove the filters, purchase two more Rio 50s and only use the powerheads. Actually, watching marine systems sort of inspired me. You guys do circulation (powerheads, etc) and live rock as the filter in nanos, if I'm not mistaken. This is just circulation and the plants fill the role of the liverock.

Liz

 

[seffieuk]

You guys do circulation (powerheads, etc) and live rock as the filter in nanos, if I'm not mistaken. This is just circulation and the plants fill the role of the liverock.

Liz

Indeed, that was my thoughts as well, so when the internal gave up its fight for life, I removed it. I have my lights on far too long, so am cutting that down after reading your journel

 

[lljdma06]

That may address your algae issue successfully.

I'm also just getting old and lazy in the hobby and powerheads are Soooo much easier to clean than filters. I may only need one more Rio. Depends, I'll buy two, they're not really expensive.

Liz

 

[ian]

looking very grown in!

The water looks green though???

 

[lljdma06]

Already checked, was wondering about that too. It's not green, but tea-colored. Wood tannins. Happens when it goes a month without waterchanges. Does look green in the pix, though.

Can't believe you binned all that HC, Ian... LOLOL

 

[StandbySetting]

I love the tannin stained water, it looks really good.