Squirrel's 72 Gallon Planted Tank

[lljdma06]

Thank you. It's funny though, it's changed so much over the course of 13-14 months. What it really comes down to is a pleasing look that's easy to care for. I loved it when there was a tankful of hi-light stem plants (ie, rotala wallichii, diandra, etc....) but like someone else mentioned (Dave?), when the growth is intense, the look you desire only lasts for a week or so. You have to constantly prune, replant, replace, etc. And heaven help you if you miss ANY regular maintenance! It's much easier now and the fish are back to normal. But I do miss the rotala.....maybe I could add just a few stems...

Hee hee! Dave and I have both been complaining about this. That was part of the reason why I changed my 8g, pruning HM was killing me! Well, not really, but you get the point.

You could throw in a few stems of rotala, I don't think they'll be a bother. I have my favorite stems that I like to keep.

llj

 

[Dave Spencer]

Nice looking tank Sondra. I read the part about the noise your diffuser makes with interest because my Cardinals are constantly hiding. Sometimes all I see is the odd Cory or Oto.

As for the BBA on the filter outlet, I tend to get that as well. It`s strange because I diffuse CO2 in to my filter inlet, so the water coming out of the filter has got to be CO2 rich, yet BBA thrives in low or fluctuating CO2. It could be the constant flow of nutrients available to it. I get rid of it by using a dropper and Excel. When I do a water change, I put drops of the Excel directly on to the BBA that is exposed by the low water level. It kills it and stops it from coming back for a good while, plus I don`t have to disassemble the filter pipework (I`m lazy, you see).

Ditto what Andy says about your Avatar. It`s a picture of former US President Baberaham Lincoln, if I`m not mistaken.

Dave.

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Ditto what Andy says about your Avatar. It`s a picture of former US President Baberaham Lincoln, if I`m not mistaken.

Dave.

"....Wayne's World! Party Time! Excellent!" Geesh, now I have to throw in the DVD and watch it!

So, back to the tank. How much Excel do you apply with the dropper? Just a few drops? Does the algae wipe off easily after it's dead? I really have to scrub like crazy to get the stuff off. I'm all for making things easier -- especially in the summertime!

 

[Dave Spencer]

So, back to the tank. How much Excel do you apply with the dropper? Just a few drops? Does the algae wipe off easily after it's dead? I really have to scrub like crazy to get the stuff off. I'm all for making things easier -- especially in the summertime!

I just add a few drops, making sure I stay within the recommended dose. I have Amano Shrimp and they don`t like overdosed Excel. BBA is surprisingly tough stuff to clean off, but using this method, it dies, goes grey and disappears on its own.

The beauty of using Excel is that it is used primarily as a source of carbon for plants, so it is still possible to say that you never use anti algae products.

Dave.

P.S. I reckon its about time I watched WW again.

 

[john starkey]

Hi Sondra just out of interest how do you go about your large water changes, 1) do you do 50% every week 2) do you prepare your new water before hand 3) or do you replace fresh straight from the hot and cold tap and then add dechlorinator to the tank. regards john

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Hi Sondra just out of interest how do you go about your large water changes, 1) do you do 50% every week 2) do you prepare your new water before hand 3) or do you replace fresh straight from the hot and cold tap and then add dechlorinator to the tank. regards john

Hi John, I have to confess that I do not do large water changes. For the 10-15 gallons of water that I do replace each week, though, this is what I do:

Siphon out old water (I use some of it for cleaning the filter media and some goes in the garden.)
Fill up 5 gallon bucket from the tap (using both hot and cold). I float a thermometer in the bucket so it's close to the right temp.
Add dechlorinator (which also removes heavy metals.)
Then I set the bucket on a step stool or chair and add the water back using a small submersible pump. (I only paid $12.00 for the pump).
While that is going on I begin filling up another bucket from the tap.

If I only do a water change (no glass scrubbing, filter maint. or plant trimming, etc), it only takes me about 15 minutes start to finish.

I can't use a Python because it won't attach to the type of faucet I have in the kitchen. Plus, I like having the water dechlorinated before it goes in the tank. And, the buckets and sub pump cost a lot less than the Python!

I don't do 50% water changes because I'm not dosing any ferts. right now. I have a nice layer of laterite in the gravel and my nitrate reading is pretty steady around 10ppm with phosphate at 0.50 ppm. For now, it works out well for the types of plants I have in there.

Sorry for such a long reply. I guess I got a little carried away! --sondra

 

[john starkey]

Hi Sondra just out of interest how do you go about your large water changes, 1) do you do 50% every week 2) do you prepare your new water before hand 3) or do you replace fresh straight from the hot and cold tap and then add dechlorinator to the tank. regards john

Hi John, I have to confess that I do not do large water changes. For the 10-15 gallons of water that I do replace each week, though, this is what I do:

Siphon out old water (I use some of it for cleaning the filter media and some goes in the garden.)
Fill up 5 gallon bucket from the tap (using both hot and cold). I float a thermometer in the bucket so it's close to the right temp.
Add dechlorinator (which also removes heavy metals.)
Then I set the bucket on a step stool or chair and add the water back using a small submersible pump. (I only paid $12.00 for the pump).
While that is going on I begin filling up another bucket from the tap.

If I only do a water change (no glass scrubbing, filter maint. or plant trimming, etc), it only takes me about 15 minutes start to finish.

I can't use a Python because it won't attach to the type of faucet I have in the kitchen. Plus, I like having the water dechlorinated before it goes in the tank. And, the buckets and sub pump cost a lot less than the Python!

I don't do 50% water changes because I'm not dosing any ferts. right now. I have a nice layer of laterite in the gravel and my nitrate reading is pretty steady around 10ppm with phosphate at 0.50 ppm. For now, it works out well for the types of plants I have in there.

Sorry for such a long reply. I guess I got a little carried away! --sondra

Hi sondra thanks for the reply, I was thinking about buying some sort of pump for replacing the water is it a type of pump you would use on a garden pond? i have been reading tom barrs article in the aga magazine vol 19 no3 2006 and he states that a well maintained tank can infact get away with fortnightly or monthly water changes, but more consistant results are acheived by doing more frequent changes, i think the main thing to look for is what works best for you and with what type of plants we each have. regards john

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

It's a Rio 600, 9.5 watts. Max head - 4 ft. It's pretty small (fits in the palm of my hand.) It's similar to the ones used in garden ponds -- not quite as heavy-duty as that, though.

 

[john starkey]

It's a Rio 600, 9.5 watts. Max head - 4 ft. It's pretty small (fits in the palm of my hand.) It's similar to the ones used in garden ponds -- not quite as heavy-duty as that, though.

Cheers Sondra i will take a look in my local fs this weekend. regards john

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Hello all! It's been a long time but I'm happy to report the tank is doing quite well. I looked back through my journal this evening and chuckled when I saw the last picture. Everything was a little more tidy at that time. The plants are growing like crazy and it certainly (now) has a jungle-look going on. I had my shoulder surgery last summer and it went quite well. I am able to carry 5 gallon buckets of water once again. But the plants were not trimmed for almost 12 weeks and things got a little "overgrown".

I abandoned using ferts. altogether. Between the fish load, high volume of plants, CO2 and a great cleaning crew (1 BN plec, 6 otos and 9 amano shrimp), the algae has been staying away -- other than that bullet-proof stuff that grows slowly on the filter tubes. Most of the plants are still the same, except for a few and I can't even think of their names right now. It's been THAT long! So, I have lots of catching up to do, including other journals to read.

I plan on taking a few pics of the tank this weekend. By the way, the Congo Tetras did recover and are doing just fine. They swim over to the front of the tank again when I walk near, hoping for a morsel of food. Good to see them like that again. All but one of the neon tetras passed on along with a couple of other older fish. I added 6 Harlequin Rasboras sometime late last year. They look great in this setup.

Anyway, that's it for now. Pictures to follow this weekend. (Wait til you see how big that patch of java moss is now!) Nice to be back. -Sondra

 

[lljdma06]

Sondra!!!!

Glad to have you back, looking forward to the pics. We like jungle here.

llj

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Here's a quick pic. The main light is already out as it's after 9PM. It's terribly messy in there! I haven't had the time to put much thought in the layout. Basically, I've only been to cut and replant and try to keep an opening on the top big enough for the fish to eat their flakes. But I have plans to change things around in April (but not too drastic as the Congos don't take change very well.)

It took me an hour just to remember how to upload pictures! It really has been awhile. More to follow as time permits. Thanks for looking!

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Just finished a significant "weeding"! Removed all of the crypts as they were just way too large for the tank. The leaves were over a half meter long with roots to match. I also removed the last of the wisteria as it hasn't grown in the last 6 months - which is odd because it used to grow like crazy. Moved the rotala indica all together in one large clump to the rear right of the tank. Removed 4 or 5 vallis - like the crypts they are too big. AND, I removed over half of the java moss -- Wow -- I can see the bog wood again. I also discovered I have a very nice clump of bolbitis growing amidst the java moss.

I purchased 5 little sagittarias (subulatas, I believe). They look nice planted in front of the wood and will fill in nicely. I had to resist the temptation to buy 10 of them. They grow rather fast so I only got five. Also added two small java ferns.

It still looks very full - but I can see fish now - and it's a great start. In a couple of months (April), I'm going to change things up a little (not too much though, for the Congo's sake.) Starting to make my plant list....

Here are a few images. I apologize for the glare on the glass. It's very sunny here today and I can't block the light.

I found a dead sterbai cory when I was moving things around...poor little guy I usually do a head count every morning - but it's hard to do with the cories as they spend much of the day under the bog wood.

 

[lljdma06]

Looking good, though I always hate seeing crypts go. Please say you didn't bin them, or I will be a sad little moderator.

I found a dead sterbai cory when I was moving things around...poor little guy I usually do a head count every morning - but it's hard to do with the cories as they spend much of the day under the bog wood.

Don't go mentioning this to Inchworm, but corydoras aren't the brightest stars in the sky. They can sometimes get stuck, or he may have died then was moved under the decor. Shame, my Brochis would actually head straight for the underside of bogwood. Now, those were dumb fish, made my platies look like little Einsteins.

llj

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

I didn't bin the crypts! They are in the 55 gallon tank. I hope they do ok as it's a low light tank with no CO2. BTW -- I found another dead cory the following day. Based on their coloring (100% white), I'd guess they had "left this world" about 2-3 days prior to my fiddling around in the tank. I wonder if they are getting enough to eat. There is lots of competition for the algae wafers.

Here is my rough plan for the remodel:

Remove the ludwigia.
Cut back the lily and keep it short.
Cut back the java moss and keep it shorter.
Relocate the rotala indica so it's all in one corner instead of straight across the back.
Keep the vallis in the left rear corner. (the pearl gouramis like it there.)
Keep the single anubias.
Allow the sagittaria to grow along the front.

Add: Rotalla wallichii (I loved this plant when I had it last year.)
Add: Mayaca fluviatilis
Add: Didiplis diandra
Add: Hydrocotyle leucocephala (pennywort)

This tank has seen 4 distinctly different layouts since it was first setup. The last five plants on the list above were my favorites from two of the layouts. I think the tank is mature enough and has enough lighting to support everything on the list.

Also, I'm going to remove the two pieces of petrified wood as they do not blend well with the bogwood. I have three very nice pieces of bogwood in there now that I will keep. I would like to get another piece that is "branchy" looking.

Still thinking things through, though and I'm open to suggestions or comments on the plant list.
-sondra