Zikofski's Ada 60H (45) Iwagumi Tank Journal

[Zikofski]

not so much as to much but to low phosphate, but my phosphate has been around 2ppm which with 20ppm nitrate is fine, altho yesterday my nitrate dripped to bellow 10ppm and my phosphate dropped to bellow 1ppm so i dosed phosphate and nitrate with regards to my normal EI dosing schedule this shows one of two things my plants are growing enough to counter the effects of my high nitrate or my substrate is slowing with leaching ammonia into my tank. 
 
but thats all good, the UV steriliser will not harm the beneficial bacteria as its in its own enclosed space within the filter unless i go with an inline version but i rather not tbh, the UV only effects water born algae and other harmful stuff nostrum exactly it kills but i know it works only on water born algae hence why i feel the need to get it on this tank, yet again this miring the tank was clear and now its green again, I'm guessing the algae is almost non existent in the tank over night either dead from no light or my ottos have eaten most of it but when the light comes back on the remaining multiply very rapidly and there for engulf the tank.
 
okay and here is my setup kit wise 


5Kg CO2 canister, the filter and thats my inline heater connected to my outtake with the Co2 Diffuser above it
 
and a picture i took yesterday that i forgot to add

 

[Ch4rlie]

Set up looks good.
 
Hw do you connect the Co2 to the filter?
 
A splitter connector or something to the intake?

 

[Zikofski]

that question confused me a little the co2 dose not go into the filter, the co2 goes from the FE through a check valve into a bubble counter then into my inline diffuser here
 

 
this is connected to the OUT flow of my filter directly into the tank

 

[Ch4rlie]

Aha, that makes sense, i could not see the airline going into the co2 diffuser, i followed the airline and it went behind you external filter on your first set up pics.
 
I have heard folks using their external filter as a additional diffuser for co2, helps to chop up the co2 bubbles even finer, so i thought you were doing the same thing here
 
Thanks for clearing that up

 

[Zikofski]

no worries m8 i tried that added the diffuser to the inline pipe but the bubbled where building up into a larger bubble and then that used to get pushed through as one making one hell of a noise in the filter didn't like that noise altho i better filter may do a better job honestly i have hugely disappointed with this ehiem filter very noisy not the impella but the while thing dose not fill with water 100% there is a gap and therefore i can hear a trickle as the water comes in I've tried priming and priming again and again nothing helps it, and also every now and then i hear a large bubble go through the filter i am looking for a more powerfully filter not much an extra 200lph a 1000lph aqua manta 1000U with the UV steriliser built in but my local MA is out of stock at moment
 
another little update my Veggie filter i have received almost all parts for it today, i am just needed a pump to pump water to it bidding on ebay at moment but not sure if i  will get that one I've set the tank ontop of my cabinet so far looks huge ontop of it i hope the pump is strong enough to get flow that high be interesting to see how this works i also need to buy another LED driver for my LED extension i shall be adding a further 15 to 20 LEDs onto this setup to help get the desired lighting to the far edges of the tank think i will do a DIY thread in the DIY section to show someone how to make a custom LED light unit of there own

 

[Dandyman3]

How do you go about cleaning this tank Ziko, would be interesting to see a video if possible. I am just wondering if you use a gravel vacuum or how you get into the nooks and crannies of the tank without disturbing the shrimp/aquascape. Especially when pouring water back in. 
 
Just bought a new stand today so I can sit the new filter into it when I find one suitable. Looking at Maidenhead with the one you mentioned above all out of stock like you say. There is a slightly smaller model of it but that one doesn't have the UV fertiliser in... 
 
Decisions. 

 

[Zikofski]

with cleaning i dont, all i do is remove 50% water wipe down the sides and then fill back up with fresh tap water from the hose pipe exactly the same way i showed in the first video, the poop that is left behind is minimal and bearly noticable so no need look and clean it out

yea i am not sure whats going on with the aquamanta filters aparebtly there is a problem with them so i may haft to just settle with this filter and buy an inline UV steraliser annoying but then i guess i can use it else where if nessasery like other tanks in future

 

[Zikofski]

good news had a phone call from Sharnbrook shrimp this morning saying he will post the shrimp today for delivery tomorrow now I'm feeling excited for these guys meanwhile as i have 0-1 KH/GH in my tank and this is causing me problems with a few plants in my other tank i may gt hold of some GH/KH+ being salty shrimp one seeming its for shrimp too may help things. i have also worked out what UV steriliser i need to get level 1 sterilisation for my tank and will buy that today too so fingers crossed by end of next week i should have 0 water born algae in my tank and less bacteria viruses and anything else thats harmful to my shrimp and fish floating within the water column
 
here is a definition of the 3 stages of sterilisation if anyone would like to know i have also come up with a simple calculator to work out how much UV and how much GPH go pump(filter) you need to get these levels
 
 

Clarification


(Green water control; Aquarium/Pond)


The most popular application for ponds


 


Level One Sterilization


(Bacteria, some Virus)


The most common & recommended aquarium application


 


Level Two Sterilization


(Parasites, “Stubborn” Viruses; Recommended for Swimming Pools)

 

[Zikofski]

EEEEK
 
my shrimp arrived all 5 okay and survived i am VERY impressed with sharnbrook shrimps, came in a polystyrene box double bagged and included detailed instructions on how to acclimatise them also your first postal comes with a free 1m length airline hose to help acclimatise them very very impressed. okay so they did arrive very dark dark blue, almost black, very tinny to surprised at how small they are compared to my RCS in the tank
 

 

[Ch4rlie]

Very nice indeed, nice deep colours. Worth every penny i think
 
Polystyrene box and double bagged, sounds familiar........

 

[Ninjouzata]

Oooh the shrimps are too stinkin' cute! So glad they arrived safely.

 

[Mamashack]

Am so glad you are pleased with them - they are a lovely colour and some interesting tail-fan markings!

 

[Zikofski]

thank you they are cute ninj so so tiny, i can't see them in the tank with all the green water some times i can't even see the back rocks its getting so bad this UV unit can't come quick enough, i acclimatised them for around 4 to 5 hours, and they seemed very happy when put into the tank, no fancy glass surfing just strait to the bottom and going about there normal business i hope i don't get any losses, and even tho my tank is very open there is so many little hiding spots around under the cuba and nooks and crannies in the rocks i have only seen 1 or 2 since adding them in scary but i hope they are all fine,
 
thank mama they are very interesting i love the fact one has a clear (light blueish) stripe in the middle that would look very interesting if that stays as it gets larger and the markings on the tail intrigued me i thought they would be all blue but it looks very interesting i have no idea how old these shrimp are but they are no more than 3 to 6mm in length i would say very very tiny 

 

[Mamashack]

How did the acclimation go? How long did it take? Were their instructions as expected?

 

[Zikofski]

yes there where instructions and they provided me with a 1m long airline hose too so i am VERY impressed with the shipping detailed instructions fool proof and sometimes i find instructions hard to follow

 
the acclimatisation took around 5hrs, honestly i didn't check PH, i checked TDS at around 4hr and there was a difference of 30ppm, so no problems there, all i did was i let the tub fill which took 2hr then took half the water out loosened the not on the airline to allow the water to fill up quicker then emptied 3/4 of the water out after 3hr then let it fill again till 5hr and then just netted them into the tank not once did they glass surf or act in a strange manner, the only time they did was when i tripped on my sofa and made a loud bang

haha