Planted 40g Aquarium Journal

[Rocky998]

This is the tank with no water in it... I'll add pics of it with water once the glare isn't as bad
View attachment 318227

And ALLL the plants I bought, I bought from @connorlindeman! Really quick shipping and all the plants arrived safely

 

[Rocky998]

I expect a small die off from most of the plants cause they were grown emersed, but they should come back. I'll just keep trimming off any stuff that starts to die until it regrows all of their aquatic leaves

 

[Rocky998]

I'm re-thinking 15 corydoras... Looking at the space I have, I may only do 10... Idk... What do you guys think?

 

[Rocky998]

Oh yah! And here's the tank! A bit cloudy but that's alright... Should clear up in a bit

 

[Rocky998]

Here it is this morning. There is a bit of tannins and I'm liking it!
Still want to take some rocks out or rearrange a few of the rocks to give more open sand space for the corydoras...

Also, @Byron (sorry for the tag), should I go with only 10 corydoras or should I stick with 15? K feel like I may not have enough space for 15 but that could just be me overthinking

 

[Byron]

Also, @Byron (sorry for the tag), should I go with only 10 corydoras or should I stick with 15? K feel like I may not have enough space for 15 but that could just be me overthinking

I would not do fewer than 15 in this tank. I had 40 in my 40g tank, plus 30 upper fish.

 

[Rocky998]

I would not do fewer than 15 in this tank. I had 40 in my 40g tank, plus 30 upper fish.

Woah!!! You don't even know how happy I am to hear you say that!!

Thank you so much for all your advice!

 

[Geoffrey]

I think it looks great! The wood placement is fantastic.

 

[Rocky998]

My ammonia is a bit high at 0.25 but it's not harmful at all I think cause the api aqua essentials makes it so it's not harmful but it still comes up on the test...
My nitrites are 0 and my nitrAtes are surprisingly 0 as well... Out of the tap it's between 5-10ppm which is making me think the plants are already helping lol

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

You've done a great job with this, I wouldn't mess with the layout, there's plenty of space for the corydoras and they'll appreciate the little nooks and crevices

 

[Byron]

Ammonia at so low a level as 0.25 should not be problematical, and may be due to chloramine added to their source water. Have you checked this? Chloramine is a bond of chlorine and ammonia, and supposedly stronger to do its purpose (kill bacteria in your drinking water), and many have noted 0.25 ammonia for a day or two after a water change.

Once the plants are growing, you will not see nitrite at all. Ammonia neither, except as noted above. Nitrate in your source water will likely be present, but with the plants and water changes and not overfeeding you should not be adding to the nitrates so that is OK.

 

[Rocky998]

You've done a great job with this, I wouldn't mess with the layout, there's plenty of space for the corydoras and they'll appreciate the little nooks and crevices

Thank you so much!!!
The reason why I wanted to change it up s but was cause in the front, once the crypts all grow in... The corydoras won't really be visible and they also won't have any place to really dig in the sand and "sift". There won't be any open sandy areas for them...
Just want to make sure they have options.

Ammonia at so low a level as 0.25 should not be problematical, and may be due to chloramine added to their source water. Have you checked this? Chloramine is a bond of chlorine and ammonia, and supposedly stronger to do its purpose (kill bacteria in your drinking water), and many have noted 0.25 ammonia for a day or two after a water change.

Yes, my water has chloramines. I have API aqua essentials for it, so it should be good.

Once the plants are growing, you will not see nitrite at all. Ammonia neither, except as noted above. Nitrate in your source water will likely be present, but with the plants and water changes and not overfeeding you should not be adding to the nitrates so that is OK.

Awesome!! Thank you!
My nitrIte and nitrAte is 0 already which is awesome. Normally my nitrAte is 5-10ppm.
I'm doing a water change tomorrow on both my tanks (Wednesdays are my WC day). I'm going to keep doing water changes on the 40g every OTHER day.

 

[Byron]

Yes, my water has chloramines. I have API aqua essentials for it, so it should be good.

There is nothing to worry about because the plants and/or nitrifying bacteria will easily take up this ammonia probably within 24 hours. The API Aqua essential may or may not be beneficial. Their website has this:

AQUA ESSENTIAL water conditioner instantly removes toxic ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels in freshwater, saltwater and planted aquariums. Toxic ammonia continually released by fish through their gills, urine and solid waste. Uneaten food and decaying organic matter also add ammonia. Small amounts of ammonia stress fish; large amounts of ammonia will kill fish. This unique formula binds with ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate rendering them non-toxic and allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them.​

They do not say if this is permanent or temporary, but I would assume temporary. They came out with this product to rival Seachem's Prime. Prime has chemicals in it that are not beneficial and I would never use it. I've no idea if the API works the same, but I would assume so. I cannot see any chemical permanently "binding" nitrogen compounds, but I'm not a chemist. The more important question though, is does this "binding" affect the plants' ability to uptake the ammonia/ammonium? Prime does, hence I will not use it. Use nature, it is safer than adding chemicals.

The API Tap Water Conditioner is probably the best conditioner we have, and it is the most highly concentrated without all this additional stuff.

 

[Rocky998]

There is nothing to worry about because the plants and/or nitrifying bacteria will easily take up this ammonia probably within 24 hours. The API Aqua essential may or may not be beneficial. Their website has this:

AQUA ESSENTIAL water conditioner instantly removes toxic ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels in freshwater, saltwater and planted aquariums. Toxic ammonia continually released by fish through their gills, urine and solid waste. Uneaten food and decaying organic matter also add ammonia. Small amounts of ammonia stress fish; large amounts of ammonia will kill fish. This unique formula binds with ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate rendering them non-toxic and allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them.​

They do not say if this is permanent or temporary, but I would assume temporary. They came out with this product to rival Seachem's Prime. Prime has chemicals in it that are not beneficial and I would never use it. I've no idea if the API works the same, but I would assume so. I cannot see any chemical permanently "binding" nitrogen compounds, but I'm not a chemist. The more important question though, is does this "binding" affect the plants' ability to uptake the ammonia/ammonium? Prime does, hence I will not use it. Use nature, it is safer than adding chemicals.

The API Tap Water Conditioner is probably the best conditioner we have, and it is the most highly concentrated without all this additional stuff.

Actually a member (I forget who) showed a study that said API's version is better and that they DO release the chemical compound of their stuff while seachem does not...
I've been using aqua essentials for this whole time and there have been no health issues at all with my fish. Even raised fry in it.
So I personally don't think there is anything bad with it.
It's been said before that normal dechlorinator doesn't work on chloramines and that you need something else for that. That's where aqua essentials comes in.
Trust me, I don't like adding in chemical mixes either, but you have to do it if you have to do it...

 

[Byron]

It's been said before that normal dechlorinator doesn't work on chloramines and that you need something else for that.

This is certainly false, if one is talking about the majority of conditioners. I do not know of any that do not handle both chlorine and chloramine. It will say on the label in any case.

I've been using aqua essentials for this whole time and there have been no health issues at all with my fish.

I would suggest that meither you nor any of us can possibly say this unless we are biologists and perform a necropsy on dead fish to find the cause of death. The early stages of a "problem" are usually internal, not external, and the fish may well continue to swim, eat and spawn. This does not mean it is healthy, or as healthy as it reasonably can be.

We know that soft water fish kept in hard water develop blockage of the kidneys relative to the level of calcium, but there is absolutely no external indication until the fish dies. We know that nitrate slowly weakens fish, making them more susceptible to disease issues than they would otherwise be, but there is no external sign of this until it becomes very severe.

The physiology of a fish is unique among animals bcause of their very close connection to their aquatic environment which is greater than that of any terrestrial animal to air. Chemicals in the water do affect them most of the time, seen or not. I know not everyone will agree, and I don't care, but my approach for the past decade-plus has been to add as few additives/substances/chemicals as possible, only what is needed for the welfare of the fish and minimally the plants. I have not the slightest doubt that this is largely the reason I do not have to post asking for help because my fish are doing this or that or dying.

Anyone who has ever tested the habitat waters will not find evidence of these chemicals, and the fish manage perfectly well. I know this is somewhat simplistic, but it has been said and it is true, fish live in clean water, not chemical soups, and you will have success with the former over the latter.

In your situation as you have detailed it in a couple of threads, you do not need the Aqua Essentials. You decide.