Moody's Aqua Cube Journal.

[Graeme Edwards]

Yeh, the filters an Aqua-vital hang on filter £7.99 from aquatics-online BARGIN!!
Does the jobs and is just the right size.

Iv put my pesurised Co2 on it over the last couple of days, running at 29ppm tonight so ive turned it down a little.

 

[Themuleous]

The CO2 will probably make a huge difference. If I remember right this tank doesnt have any fish or shrimp in it does it? I would leave the CO2 at 30ish, more if you feel like it (high co2 can help prevent some types of algae) that way the plants have a good supply. And as there are no living things in there, you can get away with high CO2 levels.

Sam

 

[Graeme Edwards]

The tanks got MTS the other day, and red cherry shrimp.
Lost a couple of my red cherrys when i added my DIY Co2, big mistake so back on the presurised now, much better controle, wich we know is needed in such a small tank.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Added some amano shrimp today.

Tonight though found one of my cherry shrimp dead, thats 2 left now, it looks like it was halfway through a shedding i put this post up in the inverts forum ( please read)
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=143026

Now im worreid for my amano shrimp, i just dont know what im doing wrong!!!!!!!

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Ok ive got a couple of queries fro people to bounce thoughts at me.

Iv just checked my water parameters and they are as follows;

PH 7.2
KH 4.5
GH 140ppm
Co2 9ppm
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

So ive come across 3 problems i need help on.

1, Ive started to get thread algae forming on my moss and other plants, i know i need to up my Co2 but theres going to be a problem, i go away for a week and i dont have a solenoid shut off so i dont know how to get around this.

2, Im not sure if im putting enough fertilizer in the cube ive been putting around 2ml of sera liquid fert in about every 4-7 day ( bit vague) do i need to add more along with the Co2??

The Sera fert contains
Errr it doesnt actualy tell my whats in it, it says its free of nitrate and phosphate, it lists all sorts of maganous chloride, magnesium chloride ect ect.

3, As you may of read im having trouble keeping my shrimps alive, ive done some research and all my parameters seem fine for both ammonia and cherry shrimp yet im still losing them, lost one tonight 4 days after going in.
I cant see what im doing wrong.

I use tap water treated with Tetra aqua safe.

If you can help please do, i need it.

Tar muchly.

 

[Qays]

I know shrimp are particularly sensitive to chemicals and medicines in the water, maybe its your fertalizers?

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Really

Thinking about it, it cant be the ferts because the guy i by the fert from keeps loads of shrimps (amano's ) in his planted tanks in the shop and his carry eggs most of the time, so it carnt be.

 

[lljdma06]

I would wait awhile before adding anymore livestock to you tank. The first priority is to get the tank settled. This setup is very difficult. Your CO2 needs to be raised, which you know already. Are you using EI for this tank? Though smaller tanks are different when it comes with light intensity, 9.something WPG is still pretty darn high to not have 30ppm of CO2 and to not be using EI. If Sera fert doesn't contain a source of Nitrogen or Potassium, you are missing two major macronutrients that your tank would benefit from, which may be resulting in an algae bloom.

I'm not sure why your shrimp are dying, but I would venture to theorize that the environment is unstable because of the fluctuating CO2 and lack of system stability. As for not having a solenoid shut-off (like I know what that it ), I can't help you. But if it means that you have no way to monitor CO2 while you're away, then I'd perhaps try a weaker DIY CO2 to tide you over for your absence.

I could, however, be totally wrong. Wait and see what someone else says.

llj

 

[Themuleous]

I have the CO2 on my nano running 24/7 with no ill effects the CO2 is around 45ppm at lights on and drops during the day. So as long as you have it set up to give around 30ppm in the tank it'll be fine being on constantly while you're away. To be honet Ive never been one for using solenoids, yes I can see the benefit and on bigger tanks (I mean huuuuge tanks) it'll probably save you a fortune in CO2 as you'll use very much less but why over complicate the CO2 system, Jimboo would testify that the simpler it is the better and I would agree, its just another thing to go wrong

Sam

 

[George Farmer]

Hi Moody

I love your little tank, it is looking very good and has loads of potential.

As for your problems -

Your algae may be related to macronutient deficiency (you are testing zero NO3 so P and K will likely be low too). So raising CO2 may not work if the plants are being starved.

Nutrafin do a NPK fert I'm sure, I think it's called Plant-Gro. I would use this rather than EI in such a small tank and cost won't be too high either. It contains trace too I believe.

I'm no expert on shrimp. As far as I know they can be added to relatively new setups with no problem - as long as there is enough healthy plant growth that will deal with excess nitrogen-compounds. Many experienced high-tech owners add shrimp (and Otos) to new setups to deal with early algae issues. Although the tank has not "settled" the rampant plant growth more than copes with any toxic build-up.

How slowly did you acclimatise your shrimp? What was the suppliers water chemistry? Were they newly imported to the shop?

24/7 CO2 is generally fine as suggested. Test you pH just after and prior to your photoperiod to ensure pH swing (and CO2 levels) do not fluctuate excessively.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Thanks for all the info,

I shall go for leaving my Co2 on while im away and see how it is when i get back.

So as long as you have it set up to give around 30ppm in the tank it'll be fine being on constantly while you're away.

cheers sam.

Thanks for the compliment gf225 means alot coming from you.
I have a bottle of the nutrafin plant grow so ill definatly give it a go with that.

I'm no expert on shrimp. As far as I know they can be added to relatively new setups with no problem - as long as there is enough healthy plant growth that will deal with excess nitrogen-compounds. Many experienced high-tech owners add shrimp (and Otos) to new setups to deal with early algae issues. Although the tank has not "settled" the rampant plant growth more than copes with any toxic build-up.

Iv heard the same thing thats why i thought they would be fine.

[/quote]How slowly did you acclimatise your shrimp? What was the suppliers water chemistry? Were they newly imported to the shop?

I must admit that i didnt acclimatise the shrimp very well, its hard to float a bag the same size as the cube so it was rushed , i dont know the suppliers water chemistry, i know he uses local water but thats it, i also dont know if they were newly imported.
Advice duely noted.

At the moment i have 1 cherry and 2 amano shrimp, i think they are doing fine, hard to tell when you hardly see them.
Thats another thing is it normal for them to shy away and hide?
I had images of them out constatly grubbing around doing a good job, but i never see them!Is that normal?

 

[Themuleous]

Shame about the shrimp mate, tricky little devils sometimes.

As to them hiding, from what I can tell from my own experience, the more you have the more they are out and about, makes sense really, safety in numbers and all. Ive also noticed that they don't seem to like being out when there are certain types of fish in the tank, not necessarily ones that will eat them but perhaps give their antenna a bit of a nip. The ones in my nano are always out looking for food (17 in that tank), while im my work tank then constantly sit behind the filter, not doing anything (only 5 in that tank). Guess as you've not got any fish it cant be that but the numbers thing could be the reason. That or they are still not 100% settled in.

Sam