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10-06-2009, 08:26 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Almost Guru
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 108
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_ReApEr's 29g "Evolution" [Updated every Monday][PIC HEAVY]
Note: this is going to be my journal post. It'll be updated every Monday with the new picture and relevant information and questions. I will also write a new post for each Monday's update containing the same information.
My goal for this thread: I'm fairly new to the hobby, especially relatively speaking, and don't have a whole lot to offer to the community yet. I can, however, share my journey with my own tank and, hopefully, people can learn from my wins and losses. I hope someone, somewhere, gains something from the thread. Description: I started this tank in November of 2008. It is my very first freshwater planted tank and I absolutely love it. It's had its ups and downs, to be sure, but it's all part of the game. It grows and thrives, sometimes things choke and die. But the experience in its entirety is priceless. This Week's Picture: January 13, 2010  This Week's Comments: I'm late this week. I wanted to wait until I got the new light fixture from Catalina today so I could get a picture of the tank with the new lights over it. Unfortunately, my camera is so crappy that it doesn't even capture the huge difference. The new light fixture, even with only 2 of the 4 bulbs on for 48w, is significantly brighter than the 65w CFL fixture I had. This could pose a problem regarding algae, as I think I already had too much light. I'll look into getting some shade cloth from a nursery to fix that. Anyway, Catalina ended up making me a custom fixture which works beautifully. It sits perfect on the tank and with the 4 bulbs instead of 1, it obviously casts a far better spread of light on the tank. The moonlights are fantastic; the blue light on the Cardinals really makes them pretty at night. I thought the 12 moonlights might be a bit too much for a planted tank, but they're very mild and cast a very nice, relaxing color on the tank at night. In spite of my original frustrations, I'm very pleased with Catalina and their fixture in the end. Aside from the light, not a lot to talk about about. I'm going to let the plants sit and do their thing for a while without butchering any of them, see if they can catch up with me and fill out again. Think that's it for this week. This Week's Questions: None. Tank Details as of This Week: Setup
CO2 System
Flora
Fauna
Misc.
As always, all advice, comments, and criticism are appreciated! Last edited by _ReApEr; 01-13-2010 at 11:28 PM. |
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10-13-2009, 01:47 AM
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#2 (permalink) |
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Almost Guru
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 108
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This Week's Picture: October 12, 2009
 This Week's Comments: Well, I'm now doing daily 50% water changes to combat the green water. The picture is taken directly following one of said changes, hence all the bubbles. I'm also just beginning to push the CO2 levels to the fishes' tolerance limit, so hopefully the extra CO2 will help out. Otherwise, nothing really new this week besides from the usual evident growth. Hopefully I can get this green water tackled soon, because the moneywort is in serious need of trimming. One of my bronze corys just died on me.  That probably isn't due to the CO2 pushing, though, because he's been looking like he was dying for a few days now. Which leads to my question this week.This Week's Questions: When I grabbed my dead cory out of the tank, he was almost rock hard around the front of his body, his head, and his fins. He died very recently as he was alive just a few hours ago. Is this hardening indicative of something I should be concerned about infecting my other fish? Does anyone know what might cause that? Tank Details as of This Week: Setup
CO2 System
Flora
Fauna
Misc.
As always, all advice, comments, and criticism are appreciated! |
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10-13-2009, 05:28 PM
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#3 (permalink) |
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Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,823
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Not sure why your fish has perished. Could be many things to blame for that. At this point I would make sure all fish are accounted for everyday. If one go's missing your water parameters will go more unstable that you would want them to.
You can look into renting a UV from an LFS or using small willow branches to rid the green water. |
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10-14-2009, 10:27 PM
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#4 (permalink) |
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Planted Tank Guru
 Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 533
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I would suggest just watching the fish and making changes gradually and with care. I wouldn't worry about the greenwater too much. It often occurs in new setups and and is bound to disappear on its own after a while. By removing a certain amount of the dissolved nutrients your water changes might help to reduce the greenwater, but unless you condition the new water with care such large changes might create fluctuating conditions and cause additional stress for your fish.
__________________
Hydrophyte |
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10-20-2009, 01:00 AM
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#5 (permalink) |
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Almost Guru
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 108
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This Week's Picture: October 19, 2009
 This Week's Comments: Well, yeah, there it is. After a week of daily 50% water changes, the water was looking pretty good, but it was obvious the algae was still waiting for me to give up. So I've taken a more direct approach. Today is day 1 of a 3-day total blackout, hence the mummification. I will also be doing 50% water changes, daily, during the blackout. In addition, I dosed 15mL (3mL/5gal tank volume) at the start and will be dosing 7.5mL after each water change. With any luck, I'll kill the algae before the plants. Nothing else, really, to report on. Stay tuned, hopefully next week's picture will be of a tank with crystal clear water. This Week's Questions: None. Just waiting with my fingers crossed. Tank Details as of This Week: Setup
CO2 System
Flora
Fauna
Misc.
As always, all advice, comments, and criticism are appreciated! Last edited by _ReApEr; 10-26-2009 at 09:37 PM. |
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10-20-2009, 11:00 AM
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#6 (permalink) |
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 47
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Imho
As hydro said above take your time. do things slowly. Go get a cheap pond uv at home depot, hook it up and your water will be clear in 24 hrs. It is the best way to fix this problem. Doing large water changes and more then 1x a week will create as many problems as you are trying to fix unless you take the time to mix up good mineralized ro water. When everything is balanced out and healthy "this takes time" the aquarium will become very stable. Many factors can effect the time it takes for this to happen. Good luck and enjoy md |
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10-20-2009, 04:29 PM
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#7 (permalink) |
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Almost Guru
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 108
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I'm avoiding spending any money because I just spent almost $1000 upgrading the tank. My other half would not be happy if I told her I had to go spend another $100. I'm just hoping the blackout+Excel will kill it. Otherwise, I'm likely waiting until Christmas. ;/
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