Noobs Ltlb 10

[Ps3Steveo]

This is really coming along, nice work there.

 

[Steve H.]

Pushed all over is what your after!

I know. The longer the bubbles stay in the water column the better.

I guess I just have to get used to the tank looking like a pint of beer....mmmmm beer
Lol!

Oh BTW...I forgot to ask what fts is???

 

[Steve H.]

This is really coming along, nice work there.

Thank you so much Steveo!!! I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of this and building a bit of confidence....but I don't want to get too cocky. Still have a lot to learn.

 

[FishFanatic04]

FTS....Full tank shot

Lol, I'll have to get a video of my tank with pressurized co2. There are no fish in yet so I am running my drop checker Yellow. The tank is almost cloudy there are so many bubbles. I'll prob shut it off for serious photos.

 

[Steve H.]

That is a nice stand you built there. Fits both tanks perfectly. I want to see a picture of it when it is done.

Do you have that DIY c02 system for the small tank?
Could you explain how that system works, if its that cheap I would love to make one for my two main tanks!

Thanks Steve, great job. Learning a lot from following your progress.

Wow! Thanks Termato! When I started this journal it was basically so I could personally chart my progress, and get advice from some of the more experienced members if they happen to peek in and see that I'm going about something wrong.
That fact that someone would be learning from my learning experience never crossed my mind...I'm kind of blown away by that. Thanks!

The DIY co2 is super easy to do, and one of the cheapest things I've purchased so far in this hobby. In fact, it was almost cheaper than the golf ball of flame moss I just got.
8' air line tubing= $3
Check valve= $3
Ceramic diffuser=$6
Yeast= $1
Everything else I had...sugar, jello, rice, silicone. So it only cost me $13 out of pocket. The web and YouTube are littered with video and sites of how to build one. All seem to be the same design.

It's the recipe for the generation of co2 is what has many possibilities. I chose one I found that claims to last up to 4 weeks using jello, rice, and of course sugar. So, I hope my yeastie beastie's like cherry flavor.

This is the thread I found to like, and followed these exactly.

http/www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?245215-DIY-CO2-made-easy&highlight=diy+co2

I just started it so I will update with my findings. Right now the only concern I have is that pH in my tank has always been a consistent 8.2, and since introducing the generator pH is now 7.4. Quite a staggering drop IMO.
But....I haven't gassed the fish yet. With that pH reading it is at the forefront of my mind.


EDIT: I forgot to mention I also purchased the Fiji Water which was $4. Any plastic bottles will do,
But I went out of my way for Fiji because of the more square design of their bottles...easier
Storage and less waste of space as round bottles. I'm kind of weird like that.

 

[Termato]

That is a nice stand you built there. Fits both tanks perfectly. I want to see a picture of it when it is done.

Do you have that DIY c02 system for the small tank?
Could you explain how that system works, if its that cheap I would love to make one for my two main tanks!

Thanks Steve, great job. Learning a lot from following your progress.

Wow! Thanks Termato! When I started this journal it was basically so I could personally chart my progress, and get advice from some of the more experienced members if they happen to peek in and see that I'm going about something wrong.
That fact that someone would be learning from my learning experience never crossed my mind...I'm kind of blown away by that. Thanks!

The DIY co2 is super easy to do, and one of the cheapest things I've purchased so far in this hobby. In fact, it was almost cheaper than the golf ball of flame moss I just got.
8' air line tubing= $3
Check valve= $3
Ceramic diffuser=$6
Yeast= $1
Everything else I had...sugar, jello, rice, silicone. So it only cost me $13 out of pocket. The web and YouTube are littered with video and sites of how to build one. All seem to be the same design.

It's the recipe for the generation of co2 is what has many possibilities. I chose one I found that claims to last up to 4 weeks using jello, rice, and of course sugar. So, I hope my yeastie beastie's like cherry flavor.

I just started it so I will update with my findings. Right now the only concern I have is that pH in my tank has always been a consistent 8.2, and since introducing the generator pH is now 7.4. Quite a staggering drop IMO.
But....I haven't gassed the fish yet. With that pH reading it is at the forefront of my mind.


EDIT: I forgot to mention I also purchased the Fiji Water which was $4. Any plastic bottles will do,
But I went out of my way for Fiji because of the more square design of their bottles...easier
Storage and less waste of space as round bottles. I'm kind of weird like that.

Oh wow that is completely inexpensive. Did you need a pump? I already have a mini underwater pump but I just didn't see it in your materials list. I may considering doing a nice little set up like this for my tanks as well. Thanks for the information on that.

The first thing I picked up from your thread was covering the top of the lids of the tanks with foil, which I did to both my smaller tanks. The 5 and 10 gallon ones. Here are the pictures of the tops :

And I put some good bulbs on ordinary desk lamps haha. I put them over the tanks and removed the lids. Works great actually. Plants love it. I did this to the 20 and 29 gallon tanks of mine:

The tank looks much different now. I posted some updated videos on my Journal @ www.termato.net

I'm thinking if I run the C02 I can start selling plants they will grow that fast .

Seeing you build you own stands is making me want to push up the date on making a stand for my 29. I currently have it on a very sturdy dresser thing but it is small (about as tall as where your 20 Long is sitting on your stand) and I want it to be taller and easier to look at (Almost as high as where you have the bow front). It's my main tank until we move into a bigger place.

I can't wait to see what you do with the 20 Long and that nice Bow Front!

---

Do you run that C02 all the time? I was just wondering because of the O2 levels.

 

[Steve H.]

Lol!! Ghetto reflectors!! Not the greatest material or light reflection out there, but it's cheap and better than nothing, right???

I added the link to the directions I used for the DIY co2...I must have edited while you were replying. So, go back to my last reply to check it out.

You don't need a pump. The way its set up it is the pressure of the gas build up is what runs it. Starts in the reactor, pushes to the collection bottle, and then into your tank.
Now with that said there is really no way to turn it off. Once the reaction starts there is no stopping it until the yeast consumes all the sugars.
I've looked into this because I had the same concern of overdosing co2. And, honesty I don't have an answer yet. I have been told it is really difficult to over dose a tank with DIY co2.

For piece of mind I put my airstone on a timer. I set the timer to turn on when my lights go off, and then turn off 2 hours before my lights turn on.
The theory being when the lights go out the plants are consuming much less co2, and the agitation from the airstone will 'force' a good amount of co2 out of the water. Then when it turns off 2 hours before the lights come on the co2 has a chance to build up to a level that "hopefully" stays consistent throughout the whole photo period.
Time will tell if this works.

Also, not sure of how much speed the plants will grow. I really have gotten to where I am with ferts and co2 purely to control some algae issues I was having. If they go nuts that will just be an added bonus.

BTW desk lamps.....brilliant!

 

[Termato]

Lol!! Ghetto reflectors!! Not the greatest material or light reflection out there, but it's cheap and better than nothing, right???

I added the link to the directions I used for the DIY co2...I must have edited while you were replying. So, go back to my last reply to check it out.

You don't need a pump. The way its set up it is the pressure of the gas build up is what runs it. Starts in the reactor, pushes to the collection bottle, and then into your tank.
Now with that said there is really no way to turn it off. Once the reaction starts there is no stopping it until the yeast consumes all the sugars.
I've looked into this because I had the same concern of overdosing co2. And, honesty I don't have an answer yet. I have been told it is really difficult to over dose a tank with DIY co2.

For piece of mind I put my airstone on a timer. I set the timer to turn on when my lights go off, and then turn off 2 hours before my lights turn on.
The theory being when the lights go out the plants start producing oxygen, and the agitation from the airstone will 'force' a good amount of co2 out of the water. Then when it turns off 2 hours before the lights come on the co2 has a chance to build up to a level that "hopefully" stays consistent throughout the whole photo period.
Time will tell if this works.


BTW desk lamps.....brilliant!

Yeah the different the little cheap reflectors made was insane. Maybe in the future i may consider getting some better material to further the light exposure

Yeah I saw that link, looks very simple to make. I will have to take an afternoon to dig into it. Thank you, saves me the trouble hahah. I was thinking that is how it would work, makes sense. That really is a good system, then you just make a new concoction when it runs out.

Did you mean that the plants will take in the O2 during the night?

Yeah that makes sense with the air stone idea, the plants will also grow the most in the first few hours of light because of all the extra c02 in the water (so I have read). Have you tried it without the air stone at all?

HAHA thanks, it looks great on the 20 gallon because the lamp sits right on the lip. On the 29 though it looks kind of ugly, I had to make this....box (which I covered the inside with tin foil HAHA)...to channel the light into the tank because the light was 3 inches above the lid so the light escaped throughout the room. Works well but its ugly. This is another reason I want to make a stand, then I can make a custom lid! hahaha

I will say this, the desk lamps have more than double my light output and my plants LOVE it! Now they just need C02 hahaha

 

[Steve H.]

Update:

1 week after adding DIY co2. I have not gassed the fish. I was running an airstone at night just for piece of mind, but have since stopped that. I only run it from time to time to break up this film that is developing on the surface of the water.

I have been EI dosing ferts for 2 weeks....coming on three, and also dosing Excel daily.
This seemed to help my algae problems in the beginning, but it is coming back and I think it might be a bit stronger.
Right now bba is on the rise, and gsa is only on the crypt spiralis. I guess even dosing Excel in combination with DIY co2 I am still getting fluctuating co2 levels during the photo period.

I'm going to have to try and figure that out.

But growth results are excellent.

Is that dwarf sag on the rebound I see?

 

[Biulu]

Wow Steve, well done! I like it very much. The stand is also great; it doesn't show from the picture but do you have sufficient 'working' space above the 20 gallon long? This is one of the things I learned when making a rack; in the beginning tanks were too close which made it very cumbersome to do maintenance.

 

[Termato]

Yeah I was warned by another aquarist that the use of C20 can incourage BBA.

They use chemicals to get rid of it.

Just out of curiosity, how long do you run your lights on for each day?

Plants are looking great, same with the tank! btw, if you change the white balance on the camera you can get that blue tint out and get it more of the real color. I have the same problem when taking pics of my 10 gallon.

I can't wait to set up my C02!

 

[Steve H.]

Thanks Biulu! Yes you are right...not going to lie there is only about 5" of work space above the tank. Enough to get my hand in and out.

In order to fix this flaw I'm going to buy a drawer kit from Home Depot, and attach it to a platform shelf to sit the tank on. I only need it to pull out about 6-8" to do maintenance. Hopefully I can find something to hold the weight.

Then I can attach a lighting system directly to the stand under the top shelf.

Still a work in progress.

 

[Steve H.]

@ Termato...

I just found out I can't kill the bba because its actually fungus!
Just thought it was bba...doh!

My lighting period is a straight 6 hours. This has helped keep the majority of my algae problems under control.

Thanks for the camera tip...I can't seem to get it dialed in because the light in the tank always washes everything out.

 

[Biulu]

Thanks Biulu! Yes you are right...not going to lie there is only about 5" of work space above the tank. Enough to get my hand in and out.

In order to fix this flaw I'm going to buy a drawer kit from Home Depot, and attach it to a platform shelf to sit the tank on. I only need it to pull out about 6-8" to do maintenance. Hopefully I can find something to hold the weight.

Then I can attach a lighting system directly to the stand under the top shelf.

Still a work in progress.

That sounds like a good idea! What about installing the same system that they use in cabinets that hold televisions? You know, you can also draw them forward out of the cabinet but only partially.

 

[Termato]

@ Termato...

I just found out I can't kill the bba because its actually fungus!
Just thought it was bba...doh!

My lighting period is a straight 6 hours. This has helped keep the majority of my algae problems under control.

Thanks for the camera tip...I can't seem to get it dialed in because the light in the tank always washes everything out.

No Problem, I'm working on taking better pictures myself.

Fungus OH NO! That's no good! I had that on some Driftwood I found and put in my tank once. I got rid of it though.

For the washed out you could try topping off your tank before taking pictures/videos. This is because that small spaces lets en-diffused light through which screws with the contrast and white balance. I get the same effect on my tanks and also if I have my custom hoods open and the glare shines at the camera.