aaronnorth
www.ukaps.org
looking much better,
PM a mod to move it to the planted journals for you
PM a mod to move it to the planted journals for you
New Nano Tank
- Thread starter jaoquinz
- Start date
aaronnorth
www.ukaps.org
at the top of the page, click on 'my assistant' and click on the moderating team.
alternativley go to here: http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?
scroll righ tdown to the bottom, and anybody's name that is in blue is a mod, and they will be online.
alternativley go to here: http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?scroll righ tdown to the bottom, and anybody's name that is in blue is a mod, and they will be online.
OK done that aaron!
Quick update for Day 18 when I came home. One dead shrimp. Rest are going ok. Water temperature a little high at borderline 30 degree Celsius. Other shrimp looking lethargic but still eating non stop. Drop checker at a nice green.
Did a 30% water change and removed debris and dead shrimp. Zucchini 80% eaten so replaced it with a fresh piece. Replanted some floating HC plantlets. Put bio rings into the filter media area for more biological filtration. Placed a sponge sock over the filter inlet. Filled up with cooled conditioned water. Filter water outlet flow at 60%. Fed the tetras with some flakes.
Is the high tank temperature detrimental to the otos and shrimps? Having a standup fan blowing over the water's surface and lamps now. Brought the water temp down to 28 degrees celsius.
Sigh.. might have to get some clip on fans now huh? Winter isn't gonna come until another 2 months.
Quick update for Day 18 when I came home. One dead shrimp. Rest are going ok. Water temperature a little high at borderline 30 degree Celsius. Other shrimp looking lethargic but still eating non stop. Drop checker at a nice green.
Did a 30% water change and removed debris and dead shrimp. Zucchini 80% eaten so replaced it with a fresh piece. Replanted some floating HC plantlets. Put bio rings into the filter media area for more biological filtration. Placed a sponge sock over the filter inlet. Filled up with cooled conditioned water. Filter water outlet flow at 60%. Fed the tetras with some flakes.
Is the high tank temperature detrimental to the otos and shrimps? Having a standup fan blowing over the water's surface and lamps now. Brought the water temp down to 28 degrees celsius.
Sigh.. might have to get some clip on fans now huh? Winter isn't gonna come until another 2 months.
aaronnorth
www.ukaps.org
ask in the hardware & DIY section, someone will give you something that you can make a chaep fan to use. I think someone has a link in their sig to a DIY version but i cant remember who lol.
it seems as though i am telling you what to do over the last few posts so sorry!
just trying to get you better answers lol.
it seems as though i am telling you what to do over the last few posts so sorry!
just trying to get you better answers lol.
Not at all aaron! The point of joining this forum is to share and learn, not a narcisistic self-love. I'm learning a lot from your replies, and I'm glad you are willing to tell me your opinions on the problems I raise as I learn myself.
Well looks like everything has to be balanced and more careful in a nano tank. After 2 hours of fan blowing across the water's surface, I checked the temperature and it read 26 degrees Celsius! 4 degrees drop in 2 hours. NOt sure if that is excessive but looks like the fan blowing trick works. Water level a little lower than before so the only downside would be constant topping up of water every 2 days or so.
I'll put one 12V fan clipped on the back of the tank next time I get the chance. Off for a long weekend. Hopefully the tank will be alright when I'm back. Getting a mate to dose the ferts for me. Good thing about ADA ferts is that it's all pumps and drops, so even clueless beginners can do it.
Pic from Day 18. Better one with mate's good camera.
Drop Checker a nice green. All the white floaties are actually CO2 bubble being blown all over the tank. Rearranged the HOB filter media to mimc what George Farmer had in his 3Gtank so flow is much more reduced now. I turn the water flow valve to 100% now. I"m afraid I'm running out of algae for the otos to eat. They restless and swimming around a lot looking for food. Dropped a spirulina tablet in for safe measure.
Zucchini on a stick on the left of the tank. Removed easily to replace with a fresh slice so mate don't have to get his hands wet.
Update for Day 21 when I come back!
I'll put one 12V fan clipped on the back of the tank next time I get the chance. Off for a long weekend. Hopefully the tank will be alright when I'm back. Getting a mate to dose the ferts for me. Good thing about ADA ferts is that it's all pumps and drops, so even clueless beginners can do it.
Pic from Day 18. Better one with mate's good camera.
Drop Checker a nice green. All the white floaties are actually CO2 bubble being blown all over the tank. Rearranged the HOB filter media to mimc what George Farmer had in his 3Gtank so flow is much more reduced now. I turn the water flow valve to 100% now. I"m afraid I'm running out of algae for the otos to eat. They restless and swimming around a lot looking for food. Dropped a spirulina tablet in for safe measure.
Zucchini on a stick on the left of the tank. Removed easily to replace with a fresh slice so mate don't have to get his hands wet.
Update for Day 21 when I come back!
Ok back on day 21!
Came home from the weekend trip and found another dead shrimp. Rather 1/8 of one. It was being cannibalised by its mates. Talk about cleanup shrimps.
Water was clear, drop checker green. Moss looks so much greener, a darker healthier hue. Some small bits have escaped from the string and attached itself among the hairgrass and seemed to have growned in just 3 days. Scary. I should really pick them bits up before they turn into a wee huh?
Hairgrass has sent out runners above the substrate. Thinking if I should put some soil on top of these visible runners? Or leave them be?
A bit disappointed with the progress of the HC. A lot of tiny plantlets but still hasn't carpetted. A lot of people get a carpet within a month but its already been 21 ays and still sparse patches. Too little planted in the beginning?
Noticed that the substrate in the front of the tank has adjusted into a gentle sine curve. Probably from the otos moving around at the bottom. IS this better or should I flatten it out? Comments please.
New piece of zucchini on a stick and food in the tank. All the residents welcomes this with relish.
Pics from day 21.
So whats next?
Came home from the weekend trip and found another dead shrimp. Rather 1/8 of one. It was being cannibalised by its mates. Talk about cleanup shrimps.
Water was clear, drop checker green. Moss looks so much greener, a darker healthier hue. Some small bits have escaped from the string and attached itself among the hairgrass and seemed to have growned in just 3 days. Scary. I should really pick them bits up before they turn into a wee huh?
Hairgrass has sent out runners above the substrate. Thinking if I should put some soil on top of these visible runners? Or leave them be?
A bit disappointed with the progress of the HC. A lot of tiny plantlets but still hasn't carpetted. A lot of people get a carpet within a month but its already been 21 ays and still sparse patches. Too little planted in the beginning?
Noticed that the substrate in the front of the tank has adjusted into a gentle sine curve. Probably from the otos moving around at the bottom. IS this better or should I flatten it out? Comments please.
New piece of zucchini on a stick and food in the tank. All the residents welcomes this with relish.
Pics from day 21.
So whats next?
Day 22. 30% WC. Active tetras. No dead shrimp today. Fat oto bellies so looking optimistic. Have to monitor for another 3 weeks for them to pass them test.
HG sending runners unwanted areas already! So I cut some plastic from soda bottles and shaped it with a lighter then dug it into the substrate to create a boundary line between the HC and the HG. Hopefully that would make things easier to maintain in the future.
No visible algae (might be the otos doing their thing), water is clear, drop checker still green. Its been 3 weeks, so took out the floating plants.
HG was growing like mad so had to trim it down. Juncus repens growing new bushy habit already. Trimming does promote new growth! Moss is perking up and growing up and outwards so looking nice. Anubias is just looking healthy, otos clear up the leaves from algae. HC looks the same. It's staying down flat on the ground though ie. no leggy growth. But no discernable change, or its growth have been painfully slow. Could this be the symptom of too much light (as demonstrated in sam's emersed trials) ?? Somebody please advice.
HG sending runners unwanted areas already! So I cut some plastic from soda bottles and shaped it with a lighter then dug it into the substrate to create a boundary line between the HC and the HG. Hopefully that would make things easier to maintain in the future.
No visible algae (might be the otos doing their thing), water is clear, drop checker still green. Its been 3 weeks, so took out the floating plants.
HG was growing like mad so had to trim it down. Juncus repens growing new bushy habit already. Trimming does promote new growth! Moss is perking up and growing up and outwards so looking nice. Anubias is just looking healthy, otos clear up the leaves from algae. HC looks the same. It's staying down flat on the ground though ie. no leggy growth. But no discernable change, or its growth have been painfully slow. Could this be the symptom of too much light (as demonstrated in sam's emersed trials) ?? Somebody please advice.
Themuleous
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After your very kind words on my journal, I had to write something on yours I'm glad I was able to inspire you.
First of, the HC. I do find it a tricky plant, that likes lots of CO2 and nutrients, especially NO3, so make sure you're adding plenty of KNO3 when dosing (good water flow is also important as it helps get the nutrients in the water get to the plant leaves). My nano gets 40ppm NO3 and 4pp PO4 every two days after I've done a water change. I also find that HC under T5 light takes ages to adapt before it starts to grow, but it usually does start to grow. I don't have any data to back it up other than my own experience, but under T5 lighting I find HC has smaller leaves and longer stems between each leaf set, this makes it look 'thin' to start with but given time it carpets and this 'fills in' any gaps. Do you get any pearling in the tank?
I also think HC really does better in a mature tank i.e. one thats been running for several months first. Don't ask me why but whenever I use it in new setups, I tend to loose the first batch with it not until the second or even third planting of new stock that is really starts to take hold.
What are the bulbs you have in the lighting? I wouldn't say 22w even over a 3G is to much per se but it might be too intense. I believe Tom Barr has talked about having to much light over a tank, and the plants effectively say 'I cant handle this much energy' and basically shut up shop and dont grow. This would seem to back up my theory about too much light over my nano which seems to grow HC either by using 1 tube just above the water or two tubes that are raised up quite high above the tank (I assume this reduces the intensity of the T5 light I'm using).
Whatever is wrong be persistent. I know how disheartening it can be, but the HC isn't dead after three weeks and that says a lot about the tank, it might still be adapting to the new light and/or tank conditions. Also try and keep CO2 stable and at a decent level.
As a final note, I like the scape the mosses should look cool once they get going. You might find that once the scape develops the anubias dont fit into the scape but time will answer that.
You've given yourself the best chance of success by getting decent equipment (in particular the ADA AS) and doing plenty of research before hand so just stick with it, its a clique but its a 'leaver curve' this hobby.
Hope that helps
Sam
I'm glad I was able to inspire you.First of, the HC. I do find it a tricky plant, that likes lots of CO2 and nutrients, especially NO3, so make sure you're adding plenty of KNO3 when dosing (good water flow is also important as it helps get the nutrients in the water get to the plant leaves). My nano gets 40ppm NO3 and 4pp PO4 every two days after I've done a water change. I also find that HC under T5 light takes ages to adapt before it starts to grow, but it usually does start to grow. I don't have any data to back it up other than my own experience, but under T5 lighting I find HC has smaller leaves and longer stems between each leaf set, this makes it look 'thin' to start with but given time it carpets and this 'fills in' any gaps. Do you get any pearling in the tank?
I also think HC really does better in a mature tank i.e. one thats been running for several months first. Don't ask me why but whenever I use it in new setups, I tend to loose the first batch with it not until the second or even third planting of new stock that is really starts to take hold.
What are the bulbs you have in the lighting? I wouldn't say 22w even over a 3G is to much per se but it might be too intense. I believe Tom Barr has talked about having to much light over a tank, and the plants effectively say 'I cant handle this much energy' and basically shut up shop and dont grow. This would seem to back up my theory about too much light over my nano which seems to grow HC either by using 1 tube just above the water or two tubes that are raised up quite high above the tank (I assume this reduces the intensity of the T5 light I'm using).
Whatever is wrong be persistent. I know how disheartening it can be, but the HC isn't dead after three weeks and that says a lot about the tank, it might still be adapting to the new light and/or tank conditions. Also try and keep CO2 stable and at a decent level.
As a final note, I like the scape
the mosses should look cool once they get going. You might find that once the scape develops the anubias dont fit into the scape but time will answer that. You've given yourself the best chance of success by getting decent equipment (in particular the ADA AS) and doing plenty of research before hand
so just stick with it, its a clique but its a 'leaver curve' this hobby.Hope that helps
Sam
Hi Sam,
Thanks for dropping by! I'm honoured!
Well right now I'm dosing just K and Kent Botanica Grow. NOt sure how much NO3 I have in the Kent solution though. Would I need a specialised NO3 fert?
Right now I'm using power compacts that are rated 6500K, 2 11w lights as per aaron's advice. This helped tremendously with the juncus repens and HG, they are growing like mad! But the HC just seems... lazy, for lack of a better word.
I'm just wondering if temperature has anything to do with it. Right now the tank reads at 30 degress celsius, so everytime I come home I turn the fan on to drop it down to 27C. I dun leave it on all day because sometimes I get home really late and I fear that the water level might get too low and make the HOB splash too hard into the water uprooting the HC and disrupting the substrate. I would be investing in a small PC fan soon that turns on with the lights.
How about I turn one of the lights off and drop it down to 11W again? Or would that be a redundant exetrcise?
Lastly, thank you for all the advice and compliments. Means a lot.
Thanks for dropping by! I'm honoured!
Well right now I'm dosing just K and Kent Botanica Grow. NOt sure how much NO3 I have in the Kent solution though. Would I need a specialised NO3 fert?
Right now I'm using power compacts that are rated 6500K, 2 11w lights as per aaron's advice. This helped tremendously with the juncus repens and HG, they are growing like mad! But the HC just seems... lazy, for lack of a better word.
I'm just wondering if temperature has anything to do with it. Right now the tank reads at 30 degress celsius, so everytime I come home I turn the fan on to drop it down to 27C. I dun leave it on all day because sometimes I get home really late and I fear that the water level might get too low and make the HOB splash too hard into the water uprooting the HC and disrupting the substrate. I would be investing in a small PC fan soon that turns on with the lights.
How about I turn one of the lights off and drop it down to 11W again? Or would that be a redundant exetrcise?
Lastly, thank you for all the advice and compliments. Means a lot.
Themuleous
Fish Connoisseur
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2006
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Humm, well Ive just had a look and Kent Botanica Grow is N and P free. Right lets start at the beginning. Have you read the estimative index article? In a nut shell, the old rule of nutrient = algae is out. We now dose all nutrients, including P and N to excess levels.
I think your HC trouble might be nutrient related, even with the ADA AS. We buy NO3 as a power and mix it with some water and add that to the tank in a set dose.
I take it you are in the US?
Lighting sounds good Id leave it at 22w
Wouldn't think the temp would be a problem
More to come once we get these answers
Sam
I think your HC trouble might be nutrient related, even with the ADA AS. We buy NO3 as a power and mix it with some water and add that to the tank in a set dose.
I take it you are in the US?
Lighting sounds good
Id leave it at 22wWouldn't think the temp would be a problem
More to come once we get these answers
Sam
Truck
UKAPS
hes in hong kong
Hi!
Hmm so it's nutrient related. Maybe I should go get a fert that contains everything then? I read that Flourish can be detrimental for the shrimps. Should I just go ADA full spectrum (one of those bright ones for plants that need hi light, opposite of ADA BRIGHTY SHADE) ferts to give the HC what they might be missing?
Yes Truck is right I'm in Hong Kong. As such ADA or TPN or Flourish are about the same price, TPN being the most pricey.
AS for the EI approach yes I've read it and scrutinise it. In the end I decided to go for the ADA bottles because I am usually away from home for a short period of time and I can get my flatmate to help out with the dosing of the ferts with justa squirt. As such, would getting one of those full specturm ferts be the answer?
Thanks again!
Hmm so it's nutrient related. Maybe I should go get a fert that contains everything then? I read that Flourish can be detrimental for the shrimps. Should I just go ADA full spectrum (one of those bright ones for plants that need hi light, opposite of ADA BRIGHTY SHADE) ferts to give the HC what they might be missing?
Yes Truck is right I'm in Hong Kong. As such ADA or TPN or Flourish are about the same price, TPN being the most pricey.
AS for the EI approach yes I've read it and scrutinise it. In the end I decided to go for the ADA bottles because I am usually away from home for a short period of time and I can get my flatmate to help out with the dosing of the ferts with justa squirt. As such, would getting one of those full specturm ferts be the answer?
Thanks again!
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