FishProfiles.com Message Forums

No doubt does availablitlity of high quality and quantity of scaping material and plants (and fancy ADA soil, one may add) have something to do with the outcome of a planted tank design.

And also, no doubt does talent and experience play a major role in the scaping process.

Given that I have None-Of-The-Above, my tank is what it is. Pretty good for an average dude, but nothing more.

On the other hand, exactly this is what gives me the option to constantly fiddle with it. To be honest, an perfect tank frightens me as I would not know what to do with it. In some stages of tetratech's tanks (both) I am looking at the pictures and think to myself "and what now".

I, for one thing, fell in love with the ability to change things around all the time, called a tank redo "Ingo Style". The most pleasing of all tanks to change is the 20G, as a whole redo takes me as long as a regular water change and trimming on the 125G.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi there all,

10 days with no entries in my log, neither by me nor anybody else.

Anyway, I have been ultra busy at work, at the same time I had friends over from Germany for a few days, and then I went on vacation and replaced the view into my tanks (which, btw, are going down the drain, the 125 is now BBA paradise, but more maybe tomorrow or Sunday about that).

I just came back from the trip and thought to let you know that I am still around. Gotta go and unpack now, till later,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Last Week's Highlight

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

Glad to see you're back. Sorry about the tanks - you didn't go crazy and start dumping SW fish into your FW tanks now did you?

---

Back in the saddle!

No, I did not add salt to the freshwater tanks, although it wouldn't make much difference in the 125 anyway these days, inconsistent fertilization and a lack of attention have done quite some damage.

But glad to see that you haven't lost your humor, makes me feel good.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ingo, Midnight Madness is coming up at ABS. It's going to be my first time as a customer. Just wondering if you planned on attending. I'd like to catch up!

Mike,

I guess Midnight Madness is in a week, right? I will have to think about it, there is really nothing at the moment that I would need, except maybe a huge load of plants for this tank, which I am sure they don't have.

Can you think of something that would make it worthwhile standing in line forever?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

...you mean aside from keeping me company?

Ummm, I really don't know. I don't really want anything either. I'm going to pick up a bag of Eco Complete and see if I can win some free stuff. If I have to wait in line I'll be pissed!

Welcome back LF, hope your visitors & holiday gave you some great chill out time.

Anyway, what's the story with the clown You can't just put a pic up without telling us what it all means. Is there soon to be darkside log for LF. BTW, it's a nice clown.

Cheers
TW

was wondering why you hadnt posted ingo, hope you had fun on holidays







one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen , thats all you need.

OH TOLEEDY!

w00! a 125 SW reef tank. Nice jorb LF!/:'

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Mike - If I go then I may not get there before 1 AM, that's usually when the line gets shorter. How much do you think the Eco will go for?

Robyn and Matty - Yeah right, I got a 125G reef tank . Actually, I am currently in the middle of editing about 30 pictures of fishies from an aquarium that I visited, the best shots out of 200 that I made. I will post most of them in the marine section and some in the general freshwater, once editing is completed. I personally am so not ready for any salt tank, no way such an entity will enter the Little_Fish houseold any time soon.

Dan - Glad to see that you are peaking in once in a while

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I didn't really think you'd started a reef tank, just wanted to know the meaning of the clown pic.

I agree too, that I am soo not ready for a reef tank either, but that's what hubby has started up & my birthday present to him was one year's maintenance on his tank - I just didn't know it was going to be a reef

Cheers
TW

my birthday present to him was one year's maintenance on his tank

- Even if it would have been a planted freshwater tank, that is a very generous present that you gave there.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Welcome back Ingo. Looking forward to seeing the new pictures. This place sure does slow down though when the LF isn't posting.

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

So where did you go LF!?!?!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Thanks Rick - btw, haven't seen any new shots or stories about your tanks lately either

Wings - I was just at the end of Long Island, still in the state of New York.

Weekly Tank Update - Week 46 AND 47

The last two weeks were marked by a busy work schedule and vacation, and on top of it a declining tank. At least part of that decline can be directly attributed by the lack of frequent fertilization over that time period.

Here is the tank last weekend:

Attached Image:

Last Weekend - Week 46

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

When I came home from the trip I found that the BBA has greatly increased, something that tetratech usually attributes to a lack of CO2. In my case, that was the only stable thing this tank received (besides light).

So this week's maintenance focussed on removing dead or heavily infested plant tissue, and it also sees the start of another round of Excel treatment to control the BBA. The isoetes lacustris had been so badly infested that I had to remove it completely.

When one looks at the tank now with regards to scaping, it is a mess. There is no scape, just plants. I am the least happy with this tank ever since I set it up 47 weeks ago. I simply cannot invision how this should continue, except with another major overhaul, and we all know what that means

Here is the tank this week:

Attached Image:

This Weekend

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

All I can show now are a few BBA shots, they sprout on hardware, wood, and plants (mostly on leaves that are not growing fast, like anubias and isoetes, as well as dying leaves).

First one from the top of the tank, the highest branch near the light:

Attached Image:

BBA I

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is another one on some driftwood, but much further down in the tank and in a much darker section. Oh, btw, I believe I do not have a short high light period, as plants low to the bottom of the tank wither away, like most of my tenellus.

Attached Image:

BBA II

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And this is how the BBA looks when anchored on an Anubias leaf, I can clearly see why it contains the word beard in its name as it collects itself on the edges of the leaves.

That is it for now,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

BBA III

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I am really sorry your tank is filling up with BBA again. I would try to combat it with two things.

1. Excel to the extreme
2. Lighting break

In my tank for the past month or so I have been doing the lighting break to control the GSA. It seems to be working thus far with no signs of plant problems.

What I am doing is run the light for 5-6 hours then take a 2 hour break then back with another 5-6 hours of light. Now don't get my wrong I do have some algae but it has really really slowed down. Aglae needs long periods of light to photosynthesize while the plants can turn it on and off quickly. My plants do not pearl as much as they used to but they are still growing well. Pearling is not really a sign of growth as we have talked about before.

That's just my $0.02



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Thanks Wings,

I knew about the light midday break ever since I started in this hobby, and I actually used it immediately on my first tank (the 29). I kept it like that for a few months before I switched to a non-break cycle and I had seen no difference from before and after.

The reasons could be related to the fact that it was a medium light / low tech tank, but there is also a chance that it doesn't work as simple as that. I know way too little about algae to understand if a break after 4 to 5 hours of lights-on would actually harm them, or hinder their growth. Could it be that you see less algae because your overall light period has been shortened as well?

I will have to read up on that topic again, I guess. Right now I cannot recall any statement from the famous planters that suggests such a method.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The book it got the idea from is:

Encyclopedia of Aquarium plants by Peter Hiscock.

Basicly what it says is what I have already said. Aglae can not photosynthesize without long lighting periods but the plants can. It might be worth trying just to see in your high tech tank. Seems to be working for me.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

thanks for the info, I think I have this book

If I am not mistaken then this is the same book that suggests the use of an UGF, right?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

When one looks at the tank now with regards to scaping, it is a mess. There is no scape, just plants. I am the least happy with this tank ever since I set it up 47 weeks ago. I simply cannot invision how this should continue, except with another major overhaul, and we all know what that means

Hey LF, I'm sorry you feel this way. I know exactly how you feel though, because that's how I felt about my 46 before I tore it down. You just feel like you have no vision, that it's so out of whack you don't know where to take it.

And keep in mind, I like the way your tank looks, at least from afar. Plants are healthy as are the fish. My old 46 looked that way too, but the blemishes are there when you look at it up close.

It's a real personal thing, these tanks. I don't want to tell you do this or do that. The thing that helped me was tearing down the tank and making plans to start over, and taking it reeeal slow and planning.

And keep in mind, even Amano says that sometimes a tank's lifespan is only a year, that sometimes the vitality of the stems runs out and the look becomes so muddled you have to start over. It wouldn't be a failure, it's just a learning experience. The thing that would make it difficult with this tank is that the plants in there already are infected with algae, so would have to be discarded. It's a big financial commitment to start over. It's also an opportunity to do things from the get go that you wish you'd done earlier.

Sorry, I hate being the pessimist You've got to do what you think is best, but if you're going to do it over, go all out and start anew.

---

Back in the saddle!

Thanks NowherMan6,

I knew you would understand

The biggest problem with starting anew would be that I cannot really take it slow then either. I have about 50 fish to house right away

If I didn't have any fish, or only so many that I could move them to the other tanks for the time being, I would rip that sucker apart in minutes

Ingo

EDIT: This was my 5000th post

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Congrats LF on the 5000th post! Rock on!

I have not found anything about UGF in this book. You might be thinking of the Encyclopedia of Aquarium Fish book.

Nowher has some good points but it is very hard being you have so many fish. Plus it is hard to let go of what you have and start over on something new.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

Albeit it is hard to let go of things, but when it comes to plants, decoration, and substrate though I have no hesitation to do. Why else would there be the term "Tank Redo - Little_Fish Style", or something like that, here on FP .

If it wasn't for the upsetting of the balance inside the tank, I probably would do these things once every other month. This way, I could make 24 different tanks out of the 4 that I have within the course of a year

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yeah I understand what you are saying. Right now I try to keep my planted tank stable. I pulled up my hygro moster last night to try to get the loaches out (plus it needed a bottem trimming). What a mess! I couldn't comprehend doing a LF change.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I though I share with you what Excel can do for the algae.

This is a comparison shot after 3 days of Excelt treatment of 50ml per day. As you can see, the algae turned reddish, a sign that it is dying.

Unfortunately, not all BBA bastions in the tank look like this yet, others range from a brownish to spotted red color to not changed at all. But I will get them eventually.

Attached Image:

Top Is Before --- Bottom After 3 Days

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And, while I was taking the pictures, my fishies of course thought that I will feed them, so they collect in the top left corner of the tank for the feast. In particular the Apistos, Rainbows, and Pearls.

After I didn't feed for a few minutes, although I was in front of the tank, the male Apisto got a little ticked off and let me know that he is expecting something.



Attached Image:

Give Me Food

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi LF

Interested to see the excel BBA shots. As you know, I started the treatment in the 23.7G log last night. Hope it works for us both

I love your male, he's very pretty. If only I had more tanks, I want a pair just like yours or tretratech's.

Cheers
TW

If only I had more tanks

Oh oh, this is usually the first step towards a new tank

Tetratech's Apsitos are nice, I agree. But mine are rarer , or do you know someone else here with viejita IIs

Anyway, its all just fun and games

Yeah, keep us posted how that Excel treatment is working out. I remember that the first time I did it the results showed rather quickly. The next time it had almost no effect, I don't know why.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Oh oh, this is usually the first step towards a new tank

No chance. At this stage, I'm banned from going ahead with my 4ft - it's empty in the garage & I had to shut down my little hospital tank

Apistos can be hard to find here. There are a few LFS that stock them though. Lots of africans, bolivians & ram's, they're pretty common. I can find Cac's, tetratech's (too lazy to find name), as well as some others, but my Bitaeniata was a rarer find & I haven't seen any viejita IIs. To get a viejita IIs, I'd probably need to pre order & wait ages (like I did for the dehane - & you know I gave up there). For some reason, I don't think there's enough demand for them. But maybe if they were in more LFS, that would create more demand

Cheers
TW

LF,

Are you dosing Excel to the whole take or trying to hit different infected spots?

If you go by a medical store you can pick up syringes. Not the kind with the needles but with the bigger openings. The ones we have at my store an air line hose fits great. With this you can give the algae a direct hit. Works swell!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I am treating the entire tank as I have BBA all over the place and not only in one spot.

Btw, I did some focussed Excel treatment on my Xmas moss in the 29, with the consequence that some of the moss died within a week (see log)

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,
What is your current co2 level? When did you stablize the co2 (tubing issue)? I would push the co2 as far as you can? I have an advantage because I'm around my tank more than you and I could monitor better. I notice if the fish look alittle funky toward the evening, I just nudge my spraybar above the waterline to get some agitation.

BBA definitely got worse when the co2 was erratic. Excel is just not a good long-term solution and it obviously has negative effects on some plants.


My Scapes

tetratech,

Thanks for the advice, although I never had CO2 tubing issues in this tank (I know it gets confusing on which tank has what issue), that was the 40G.

I have no idea what the CO2 level in this tank is, but I assume it is pretty good as a constant bubbling, hacked into small pieces by a powerhead, is pushed through the tank all day long. I can go and measure though, just in case.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Oh, yeah. Me bad , but same difference. In the same way excel seems to destroy some algae, high co2 has a similar effect on it's inability to grow. I could usually tell by my hardscape if I'm going to have bba issues. The main rock gets covered if the co2 is too low, but the main rock now has been clear for about a month with constant high co2.

My Scapes

Tetra,
How high do you think your CO2 is? The last time I checked mine I was well over 30ppm and I am not having any major algae issues.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,
So hard to tell by the numbers, but my ph is off the scale low (under 6 by afternoon and my kh is steady at 2.



My Scapes

The last time I checked mine I was at around 6.8 at night and 7.2 in the morning with a KH of 16. That gives me a range of aboutg 78ppm at night to 30ppm in the morning. Probably a little high but I have never seen a fish gasping that the top for air.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Weekly Tank Update - Week 48

This week was the first in three weeks that saw a frequent use of fertilizers again, plus a daily shot of Flourish Excel to combat the BBA. Both seem to have helped in improving the tanks overall health.

Here is the tank shot from last week, for comparison:

Attached Image:

Last Week

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is the tank now this weekend after some changes.

A purchase of some Bolbitis for the 40G meant that the Barteri from that tank had to go. Too nice to be thrown out, and too big for any of my other tanks, I added it to this one. I removed the Red Wendtii from the left side, and also disposed of the Ludwigia that was there. The whole space was then taken up by the Barteri.

The Alternanthera in that group had been moved to the back left corner, it got too tall for the spot where it was. Also, two Hygro stems sitting in front of the Star Grass had been removed.

Attached Image:

Tank Now

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

As you may have noticed the Star Grass and the Hygro on the right had been growing nicely during the last week.

Here is a close-up of the Anubias group on the left side of the tank. The whole section that rised on the left side is only the one Barteri Mother Plant from the 40G.

Attached Image:

Anubias Group

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a close-up of the Narrow Laaf Java Fern, a plant that I soon will have to do something about. It is getting too big for its current position and may need either trimming or placement somewhere else in the tank. I have some thoughts, but maybe you folks should give me your ideas on what to do with it first.

That is it for now,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Narrow Leaf Java Fern

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Might try it back between the two large anubias. I don't know if there is room back there and if it will fit, but it might look nice there. Otherwise you could cut it up a bit and stick it on either side of the star grass. It just looks too similar to the hygro on the right to put it anywhere over there.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

My two cents:

1.Take the center push some rocks in their and make it more mound like.
2.Add anubias in and around mound.
3.Sweep stargrass around to interact with some of the other plants
4.Split the fern and divide on either said of mound and try to position some wood between it and the hygro.



My Scapes

Thanks for the suggestions on what to do with the tank next. I also think that I probably will have to do something with the center group, and I fear it means that I would have to take out the wood and either chop it up or at least reposition it.

I will have to think about it for a while.

Thanks,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

OK,

Here are some news with regards to this tank. I finally caved in and ordered a second filter for the tank, an Eheim 2026. This is the one I have on the 40G, and there I have it run on a slow mode. I am sure it will be more than sufficient for this tank, given that I already have a 2028 on it.

I assume it will arrive sometime next week, so I will do some changes the following weekend.

Let me see if I remember that right: place them on opposite ends of the tank, spray across the top towards the middle, maybe reduce flow on both to avoid hurricane conditions in the tank.

Ingo

Edit: oh, I just now realized that I am a contributer as well, nice

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Congratulations on now being a contributer /:'

Cheers
TW

I finally caved in and ordered a second filter for the tank, an Eheim 2026. This is the one I have on the 40G, and there I have it run on a slow mode. I am sure it will be more than sufficient for this tank, given that I already have a 2028 on it.

I think that's a really good move. Yeah you could have the spray bars on the left and right side glass and have the co2 meet in the middle, swoooooosh

BTW - Congrats! on being a contributor. First TFH and now FishProfile, what's next? BTW - What did you contribute?


My Scapes

I agree, good call on the filter. You may not see immediate results but in the long run it's definetely a good move...

---

Back in the saddle!

Let's go back to basics. The end-product of the nitrogen cycle is no3, right?

My Scapes

What did you contribute?

Quite a few profile changes here and there, mostly on the Espei and Viejita, plus loads of pictures from fishies.

And what's next - retirement

The end-product of the nitrogen cycle is no3, right? - Right

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The end-product of the nitrogen cycle is no3, right? - Right

O.K. So the bacteria are releasing no3 into the water column?

My Scapes

Among other things, like CO2(use O2 as fuel, like us) and possibly other waste products, I'm not sure.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

So the bacteria are releasing no3 into the water column?

Yes - sounds about right

Where are we going with this? Should I add less KNO3?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Where are we going with this? Should I add less KNO3?

O.K. we are still on track, after Matty's "rude" interuption .

So if the bacteria are consistently releasing NO3 in the water then would there be more NO3 as you increase biological filtration?


My Scapes

then would there be more NO3 as you increase biological filtration?

Hm, that is a trick question

Answer:

a) Yes: In general, more bio filter = more NO3
b) No: As the tank should have enough bacteria to convert all NO2 to NO3 already, with or without the second filter.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Almost there. Does the respiration of the bacteria depend on how much nh3,no2 there is in the water. In other words does a smaller bacteria colony produce more no3 in a tank with more waste then a bigger bacterial colony in a tank with less waste?

My Scapes

does a smaller bacteria colony produce more no3 in a tank with more waste then a bigger bacterial colony in a tank with less waste?

The question is not possible, as the size of the bacteria colony directly depends on the amount of waste.

Less waste = less bacteria

As such, there can never be less bacteria and more waste, except during a brief period where the colony needs to grow while more waste is produced.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The question is not possible, as the size of the bacteria colony directly depends on the amount of waste.

Well if that was the case, wouldn't there always be enough biological filtration to deal with any amount of waste. It would simply increase on the substrate, media, glass, rocks, etc.... and would make the point of adding more capacity mute.

My Scapes

Well,

Then I would rather see the original question rephrased to something like this:

"If the bacteria colony that is available in a tank is not large enough for the waste produced, will there be more NO3 than if the colony would be large enough?"

In this case, the answer would be no, as less bacteria produce less NO3.

In any case, I would like to raise an additional question:

"If plants prefer Ammonia over NO3, wouldn't plants suck of the Ammonia before the bacteria colony can convert it to NO2 and then to NO3?"

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

In this case, the answer would be no, as less bacteria produces less NO3

O.K. So if that's true as you add bio capacity the more NO3 you have being produced in the tank to convert nh3. So if that's the case how would adding NO3 cause Algae?

My Scapes

So if that's the case how would adding NO3 cause Algae?

Well, the only way I could think of why this would happen is if other macros or elements of the micros are out of sink, aka limiting factors.

But - and only if another thing we once concluded is true - why would I not have enough biofilter inside the tank as it is given that 2 days of power outage did not seem to cause any issues in the tank?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

There is another dimension to the problem you guys aren't thinking about. Your filter can only bring so much ammonia per unit of TIME to your biofilter. It's very possible that your bacteria population is quite large enough to reduce all the ammonia that is brought to it into nitrate. However, your filter might not be bringing all the ammonia to your bacteria. That's the reason for another filter, not that there isn't enough substrate for bacteria, but that the filter isn't quite doing the job. You are increasint the turnover RATE.

"If plants prefer Ammonia over NO3, wouldn't plants suck of the Ammonia before the bacteria colony can convert it to NO2 and then to NO3?"

No, because plants will use a VERY small amount of ammonia. Actual ammonia is probably like a treat that is few and far between, even in your tank, just trace amounts are causing the problem. They will still get the majority of their N from nitrate.

But - and only if another thing we once concluded is true - why would I not have enough biofilter inside the tank as it is given that 2 days of power outage did not seem to cause any issues in the tank?

I thought there was an increased amount of algae since then even though the plants picked up reasonable quick? I would say that you weren't feeding and the fish probably weren't producing as much waste as normal, and the bacteria in the tank was enough to handle the situation.....for the most part. Still there were probably trace amounts of ammonia left over from the problem that your filter is having a hard time catching up with, and that's what caused the algae.

Does the respiration of the bacteria depend on how much nh3,no2 there is in the water.

Yes, when you are talking about the entire colony, not the individual. Meaning there is less respiration when there is less ammonia and nitrite because there is a smaller population of bacteria, not because each bacteria is doing less.

In other words does a smaller bacteria colony produce more no3 in a tank with more waste then a bigger bacterial colony in a tank with less waste?

My answer to this: is if Ingo does have trace amounts of NH3/4 in his tank then adding another filter will increase the amount nitrate in the tank. Not so much because of a much greater number of bacteria, but because of an increased RATE at which ammonia is being rbought to the bacteria. With another filter, trace ammonia and nitrite get to the filters faster so they can break it down faster.

That's my hypothesis anyways. Or rude interruption as others might call it

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Well I could check, but I thought the general census was that two days really isn't enough time to see any significant changes. The reason I started the thread was to see reaction to no3 levels caused by bacteria. If no3 causes algae then their is a difference between the no3 we ad and the organic no3 produced.

My Scapes

Tetratech, I think you are trying to undercut the entire organic chemistry field. Some people might not like that.

But really the only difference is the source. To us, to plants, to fish, and of course the algae, NO3 is NO3(which KNO3 is once it's in solution).

EDIT: I think this is the part where bensaf comes in and smacks us around a bit and tells us what really causes algae.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Matty,

Didn't see your thread when I posted. Anyway that's more like it. I was just kinda building up to something before and you didn't follow suit. It's that DIY in you.

Anyway I agree with much of what you said, but in a big tank isn't he majority of the biofilter in the tank itself and not for example in the canister. I don't know the biofilter capacity of gravel, plants vs the for example eheim efhisubstrate. By the way eco is lava rock and supposely had a pretty good bio capacity in it's own right?

My Scapes

but in a big tank isn't he majority of the biofilter in the tank itself

I think it depends on the stocking of said tank. I think the external filter's biostuffs can be vital or it can be pointless. Whenever anybody comes into our store I stress the stuff. Why? Cause I know most people are in the tanks for looks. meaning they will overstock their tank for more "color". That means more waste, cause most people also overfeed on a large scale. Therefore, biostuffs in the filter become vitally important.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

OK,

You are loosing me there in your theoretical games (although I like them, but I can't get the point). One thing is almost for sure: When I add the new filter I will limit the flow rate on both. As such, based on what Matty says, I probably will not be any better off than with one on high flow rate as I bring just as much ammonia to the bacteria as I do now.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

On a different note:

The storm that is currently going on here, Ernesto right, is bringing mostly rain but also some wind. This in not that good as we still have some tree damages from the storm when we had the two day power outage. Branches and even larger pieces of trees are still coming down and I would not be too surprised if we will lose the power again.

This is a view from our house onto the street. This tree cracked a little in the main storm, and today it broke

Attached Image:

TIMBER !!!

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

What a beautiful tree. So sad to see such a great whack of down like that.

Good though, that nothing fell on your house. Hope everything will be ok this time & no power loss, or anything worse.

Cheers
TW

Just wondering, how big are your pearl gouramis?

Robyn - I guess they will have to take down the tree on the right completely as half of the main branch came off while the other half is still on with a severely weakened (in diameter) trunk.

coop - When I got them they were both (one male one female) maybe about 2 inches. Now the male is maybe close to 4 and the female a little over 3. I will post a picture of the male in a short while, so stay tuned

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Weekly Tank Update - Week 49

This week saw no special event with regards to this tank, I continued the 50ml Excel treatment to combat BBA. Most of it is gone by now, but at the same time I see an influx of green hair algae, in particular on the Anubias leaves. I assume one is directly related to the other but currently I am at a loss on what to adjust to combat it. My conclusion is that I will add another filter and see if that helps.

Once I place the second filter on the tank I will also rearrange the plants themselves, maybe even cut up the wood some more and change its position.

Here is the tank last weekend:

Attached Image:

Last Week

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Although I didn't plan to do much trimming this week, I could not avoid having to do more than I planned for. The Star Grass group had grown to the surface and was beginning to create so much shade at its own bottom that a die-off was very likely, and as such a fouling of the water. The same is true for the Hygro Group, its height started to influence the water flow and duck weed on the surface all the way to the right started to die off en masse. Both groups receiced a major trim.

This picture was taken with the light unit still pushed towards the back for the maintenance, I simply forgot to move it back forwards after I was done.

Attached Image:

Tank Now

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The Star Grass is still there, just very short again. After I removed the plants I notices that a major trim was required to ensure that only "good" parts remain.

Here is a shot from an angle showing the short group:

Attached Image:

Star Grass

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Now I only have a few pictures of fishies to show and then my update is done for today.

First of an Espei. Not because it is such a nice shot but to tell that the reduce size group is doing fine. I see way more swimming action than before and more interaction on a personal level between the members of the group. I have seen one younger fish that may be around 1 month old (maybe a little more), that means that repopulation is still going on.

Attached Image:

Espei

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is look at 5 of my 6 Rainbows, in attack formation

No, they actually don't attack anybody in the tank. I believe they evaluate leadership within the group and the acceptance of such by going into a formation like the one in the picture:

Attached Image:

Rainbows I

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a closer look at that group, it is actually not the same shot than the one before but maybe has been taken a few seconds later. As one can see, the group hasn't moved to much, ergo - the group has a stable hierarchy.

I think it was Wings who mentioned the splashing of his Rainbows, but I can second that observation. With great frequency so I get water splashed out of the tank during feeding, they behave almost like trout

Attached Image:

Rainbows II

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Last but not least, by chance I got a nicer shot of my male pearl. Usually he is either all the way on top of the tank, or doesn't show me his side, or hiding in the plants after a water change (he is a chicken in some way, although he is the boss of the tank).

Coop, if you are thinking about getting them, I find them to be beautiful fishies. I don't know if anyone here had them before (I know bensaf does), I find their eating habit very interesting as well. When I add flakes to the tank they are right there in the mix and they even let me touch them during that time. All that time their mouth forms the letter O, it looks like they are singing in a chorus. Just cute

That is it for today,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Male Pearl

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I can definitely attest to the pearls being nice fish. I only had one back in my 38G, and was delicate, yet substantial at the same time.

I do wish that you'd turn the filters all the way up when you get the new one. Point the spray bars at the glass and it will deflect nicely. I do think this will help, but only if you are actually increasing the amount of filtration going on.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Beautiful pics of your fish, as always. Your tank is looking pretty sharp too.

So your pearl is the boss. I thought the boss was your apisto?

Such a shame too, that you will lose that beautiful tree outside your house.

Cheers
TW

Thanks for the comments

Matty - See, that is where you and tetratech are not in sink, or at least I interpret it this way. Tetratech stated that simply the fact of additional surface for bacteria will be sufficient. And I can see why that would be. If the flow rate is slower then there should be more "contact time" between filter material and ammonia (for example). This should help settle more bacteria than it does now.

Robyn - Well, the Apisto is the lord of the underworld, while the pearl is the ruler of heavens. The only time they get together is during feeding and the Pearls have no problems simply swimming over the Apistos to grab first bites. As such I declare him the ultimate king of the whole tank universe. He never shows off to any other fish than his wife, that is not needed if you are that much bigger I guess. The male Apisto though shows off to the Rainbows who once in a while get in his way.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Matty - See, that is where you and tetratech are not in sink, or at least I interpret it this way. Tetratech stated that simply the fact of additional surface for bacteria will be sufficient. And I can see why that would be. If the flow rate is slower then there should be more "contact time" between filter material and ammonia (for example). This should help settle more bacteria than it does now.

This I believe is the philosophy behind Eheim. Many Eheim canister filters that are used for planted aquaria have much less flow than other brands. If you compare flow rates beteen for example Eheim and Fluval the Fluvals have much higher GPH for the same size tank. For example:

100 Gallon Tank Max: Eheim Pro 2026 - 250gph / Fluval 405 - 340gph

70/80 Gallon Tank Max: Eheim Ecco 2236 - 185pgh / Fluval 305 - 260gph

As you can see the Fluval 305 which is actually rated up to 70 gallons has more flow than the Eheim Pro 2026 rated to 100 gallons.

The contact between the water and media is much better in the eheim thus increasing bio-filtration. I believe this is based on not only reduced flow, but better contact. I don't know about the 2026, but the ecco is one big round basket on top of each other filled with biomedia not sponges. There is a sponge on top and bottom but inbetween it's all efhisubstrate. The Fluvals on the other hand have split baskets and the water is split between going over the biomedia and the big sponge they give you which is more for mechanical filtration than biological.



My Scapes

Yup,

That is pretty much how I remembered what you explained to me a while ago, and it makes perfect sense to me.

To sum it up:

The duration of the exposure to the biological filter is more important than the number of times the water flows past it. And having then about 10 pounds of biofilter in the two filters should be enough to house as much bacteria as would be neede to clean out the Raritan river (insider joke in NJ, as it is really dirty, right NowherMan6?).

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

The Fluvals on the other hand have split baskets and the water is split between going over the biomedia and the big sponge they give you

Well this isn't exactly true. The water is forced through the sponges, then into the baskets. The water is never split between the two. If you wanted to fill all the trays with biomedia, you could. And all the water that is filtered would go through that media.

Personally, I don't beleive in extra "contact time" I believe in big baskets of biomedia and higher flow rates. Big baskets means more surface area and therefore more chances for bacteria to grow and be able to "catch" ammonia. Higher flow rates means more water is brought by the bacteria, and with more water comes more ammonia, again more chances for the bacteria to catch some ammonia. If the same water sits next to the bacteria, clean of waste, what good does that do?

I think eheims are good because they have big baskets, not because of reduced flow rates. That's aside from the fact that they just make a quality peice of equipment. I think the same filter would be better with more flow.

All this is within reason. I wouldn't recommend blowing your fish out of the water, obviously. I think the case is, more often than not, that there is too little flow going on in tanks.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Double Post Matty

Well, I hear you as well, and blowing the fish out of the water was actually one of my concerns. That is how the slow flow rate discussion actually started a while back when tetratech tried to convince me that I need another filter.

I always meant to say this, but somehow always forgot, so here it goes. I also think that I have more waste in the tank because the filter intake is behind layers of plants and loads of stuff gets caught in the plants and never reaches the filter. What do you think about that theory (made just Ingo crazy talk)?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well this isn't exactly true. The water is forced through the sponges, then into the baskets. The water is never split between the two. If you wanted to fill all the trays with biomedia, you could. And all the water that is filtered would go through that media.

Half of the chamber of the fluvals I know (unless the new ones are different) have a basket to hold media like carbon or ceramic (I believe the Fluvals come with noodles) and the other half has a vertical type alignment that does not hold loose or bagged media, but holds a big vertical sponge running the entire height of the chamber. This sponge is pretty much devoted to mechanical filtration (of course you'll get bio filtration too, but it certainly isn't as efficient as noodles or ceramic type media.) So the capacity for the filter to have as much bio filtration as the eheim is reduced simply by volume. I still beleive the contact time with the media increases bio filtration efficiency. Why would eheim work on reduced flow. They are the filter of choice in hardcore planted aquaria by probably 80% of enthusiasts. I have only 185 gph on my tank and my filter is going up 3 feet and I have the flow reduced further buy a uv on the return side.

My Scapes

Why would eheim work on reduced flow.

I answered that in my post, the media trays are bigger than fluvals and whatnot. Surface area is part of the equation, along with flow. IMO(that's all just opinion) the more flow the more ammonia that is brought to the bacteria.

If contact time is all that's important, answer this: Why increase the flow rates on filters designed for larger tanks? based on the contact time theory, you'd just make a larger basket.

Half of the chamber of the fluvals I know (unless the new ones are different) have a basket to hold media like carbon or ceramic (I believe the Fluvals come with noodles) and the other half has a vertical type alignment that does not hold loose or bagged media, but holds a big vertical sponge running the entire height of the chamber.

It's not half and half. It's more like 1/3 mechanical to 2/3 baskets(and if you supe up the mech area it's a darn good filter). I'm still in agreement with you though, that out of the box eheim probably has better management of internal space, which I said in my previous post(or two posts ).

I also think that I have more waste in the tank because the filter intake is behind layers of plants and loads of stuff gets caught in the plants and never reaches the filter.

This is basically reduced flow. It sounds like a pretty sound theory to me . The real threat, however, is a dissolved particle that can't get caught in the plants, but can be slowed down if leaves clog the intake etc.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Matty,

This is part of a story from an aquariumfish.com article

"Canister filters, like undergravel filters, are excellent sites for biological filtration. Water travels at a relatively leisurely pace through the filter and is in prolonged contact with a large volume of filter material, which acts as a substrate for colonies of nitrifying bacteria. The greater the surface area available for the bacteria, the larger the potential bacteria population. The longer the water is in contact with the filter medium, within reason of course, the greater the potential efficiency of the nitrification process. Thus, a large-volume canister filter with a relatively low flow rate provides a superb set of conditions for the two-step conversion of ammonia to nitrate. A good rule of thumb for filter flow rates is no more than four or five tank volumes per hour."

Here's another one from a scientific site


"The longer the better"

"Broadly speaking, the effectiveness of biological filtration is improved the longer the 'polluted' water is held in the filter - i.e. the longer the retention time. The most time-consuming process in filtration is the breakdown of dissolved organic carbon compounds into simple inorganic compounds. These compounds are ultimately incorporated back into living organisms. This complex chain of processes is not instantaneous and will, even under ideal circumstances, take some time."

The above is pretty much my argument. The Eheims not ony have the reduce flow but the water goes right through all the media baskets while the fluvals have the split side and some of the water by-passes the bio media. The increased flows in bigger tanks are more a factor of mechanical filtration than bio, although I beleive there are still flow requirments to move things along.


My Scapes

A good rule of thumb for filter flow rates is no more than four or five tank volumes per hour

Which eheims don't come close to.

This complex chain of processes is not instantaneous and will, even under ideal circumstances, take some time.

Well I read this article, which has a lot of calculations, and I went ahead and tried one out. The author says we are aiming for 15 minutes(.25hr) of "contact time" for clean water.

This is the equation: filter retention time = filter size/pump rate

So in the case of the eheim pro 2026 with a volume of 1.3G and a flow rate of 251g/h, the equation goes like this:

Contact time = (1.3g)/(251g/h)
Contact time = .00517hours or 19 seconds

My findings show that for proper contact time this guy is asking for either a same size canister with a flow rate of 5.2gph(1.3/5.2 = .25), or a 63 gallon filter(63/251 = .25) with the same flow rate. Souns pretty logical.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I was asking about their size because i have 2, 2inch females and a 3 inch male. My male looks like yours sorta but its got more orange on the chest and a round dorsal
The dorsal fin not being pointed has got me confused.
maybe its just genetics.

Which eheims don't come close to.

A good rule of thumb for filter flow rates is no more than four or five tank volumes per hour

Matty, I think you missed the operate word:
"no more than"

Contact time = (1.3g)/(251g/h)
Contact time = .00517hours or 19 seconds
My findings show that for proper contact time this guy is asking for either a same size canister with a flow rate of 5.2gph(1.3/5.2 = .25), or a 63 gallon filter(63/251

Here I picture Mattyboombatty, going into a backroom of his fishstore marked "Beyond Fishkeeping" and doing all kinds of strange and unusual experiments.

Your obviously as stubborn as me

My Scapes

coop - Whatever happened to your initial question? Did you delete it? If so, why? Yeah, I was wondering when my male's chest will turn orange more than it is, I also have seen them much brighter than this before. He is not fully grown yet though, maybe that is why.

Matty - I may have some issues with your source for the specs on the filter flowrate and volume, but they are minor. And I agree that 15 minutes of contact time sound "a little long" (where does this value come from anyway). But here is food for thought:

If the contact time is derived from media volume divided by flowrate, then wouldn't a slower flow rate increase that contact time (as you state as well when saying one would have to slow down the filter to about 5gph)? And isn't that what tetratech implied, a slower rate increases contact?

I think we are spinning around in a circle as basically we all agree on something, but can't quite put the finger on it. Ah, now I know: Having a second filter is a good idea

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Doesn't anyone sleep around here

Ah, now I know: Having a second filter is a good idea

And best of all it's an EHEIM!


My Scapes

Yeah Baby, an Eheim

Doesn't anyone sleep around here

I am known to be an early riser, but I have to say that I was about to ask you a question like that. I guess you don't need that much sleep anymore with your old age .

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Matty - I may have some issues with your source for the specs on the filter flowrate and volume

I got them here if they are wrong, I can do the equations with the correct specs if someone has them.

(where does this value come from anyway)

This is tetratechs article. It's about pond stuff, but really I think it's an article on a guy who has done waste management. I've heard a lot of this from a friend who is in engineering who took courses on waste water treatment. It's for seriously polluted water, which nobody should have in their fish tank. Oh read the whole thing, cause at the bottom it tells you how important flow rate is.

And isn't that what tetratech implied, a slower rate increases contact?

Yes, but I'm trying to show you what a proper contact time is, how to get it, and how very far away from it any of our filters are(even the "best" ones). Therefore, this can't be as important as we thought if we've gotten by on severely reduced contact time for all these years.

I'm going to take this statement:

A good rule of thumb for filter flow rates is no more than four or five tank volumes per hour

and this one(again from tetratechs article):

the pond flow rate is dependent on the total ammonia produced within the system, With higher stocking densities there has to be a corresponding increase in flow rate.

and mix them together. The first statement says we can't go above 4-5 times turnover rate. The second says, the more flow through the filter the more ammonia you are going to be able to reduce. So here it is: "The more flow provided by your filter, up to 4-5 x turnover per hour, the more ammonia your filter can reduce." Also, if you are willing to believe it, your contact time needs to be 15 minutes.

So lets make up a dream filter, one that this fish doc prescribes. For LF's 125g tank: 4x turnover seems ideal. That's 500gph. And 15 min for contact time. X = filter size.

.25hr = Xg/500g/hr
Xg = .25hr*500g/hr
Filter size = (you guessed it ) a 125g tank.

So LF, to get rid of your ammonia and your algae problem, you need to drill your tank and get a 125g sump. Simply getting another eheim won't cut it.

I still want to compare contact times between two of our filters, but at this point I'm just being silly I guess and taking up too much of Ingo's thread, so I'll quit being stubborn, and agree that Ingo needs another filter(albeit a 125g one).

On a side note, I do have about a 30g filter on my 30g sw tank which, from the return pump probably gets 4-5 x turnover rate. Maybe that's why I have a stable system there.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Matty,
I respect your knowledge for aquaria immensely, but the bottom line is reduced flow increases contact with bio-filtration along with the way the water passes through the media. There is less bi-pass with an eheim compared to the fluvals I've always know.

A good rule of thumb for filter flow rates is no more than four or five tank volumes per hour

Your ready this in reverse. What it's saying is it shouldn't be "more than" 4 to 5 times, not that 4 to 5 times is what to shoot for. Are you sure we are on the same page. I'm talking about bio-filtration. Mabye if you have large fish you need more flow to get more solid waster out of the tank and into the sponges and pads.

My Scapes

I'm just trying to show you my side of the arguement. I've read your posts and sources and tried to make valid points. You were, but your last post is just "I'm right and you're wrong" so we'll quit there. I don't want to get people upset over a technical disagreement and I don't want to kill Ingo's thread after so many pages . You know how to take care of your tanks better than most(probably including me) and all that matters is your fish and plants are happy which they are. Honestly, there's more than one way to skin two birds with one stone. Or is it don't count your chickens in a glass house? I can't remember. Anywho, good day to ya.

EDIT: Oh, and my last post was mostly sarcastic, I realize that in all reality another filter will probably help LF out, and a 125 sump is silly business.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Aaaannnyyyyway,

What's the matter with you guys. Don't you dare to start a war here .

Yes, you two have different opinions, and I believe that is ok. Well, of course that leaves me in the middle

Big Al f*ed up, somehow my order did not seem to have gone through as I see it still sitting in the online site (which is messed up like hell these days, at least the whole order part of it - including order history). I had to order over phone as I had a gift certificate and these cannot be redeemed online

And all day there was nobody to answer the phone there, even the voice that comes on was cut off in the beginning, starting like "Online is not available ..." Why was "Big Al's" cut off? Did they fold? The site didn't say they were closed today, it says the only day off is July, 4th.

So, and now I want entries from both of you supporting me in the rant about Big Al's

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I don't know Big Al's, can't use Big Al's (being in a different country 'n all) , but I will support you in your rant.

Big Al's you should not have mucked up LF's order & your "on-line" should be available, you should have answered his phone call & you should have been open, because it was not 4th July.

There, will that do LF?

Cheers
TW

Man am I glad I go down the shore on weekends, that way I miss all this drama...

LF, even though they say they're open every day but 4th of July, I can see them being closed today, it is Labor day afterall...

---

Back in the saddle!

You were, but your last post is just "I'm right and you're wrong" so we'll quit there. I don't want to get people upset over a technical disagreement and I don't want to kill Ingo's thread

Matty, sorry I didn't mean to come across that way. Every opinion means something and my responses are definitely not 100% fact, although "I" believe in them.

I thought I ended it with a joke a couple of posts back. Anyway, let's move on.

LF,
Don't worry BigAls isn't folding. They are a very big company and have plenty of brick-n-mortar stores in Cananda and recently opened an 18,00 sq.ft. store in Florida. I think they "upgraded" to a new system and are getting the bugs out.





My Scapes

*shakes fish at big al's*

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

All Right Folks,

That's much better

Yeah, I didn't think they would fold, but somehow the phone message was cut off to not include the beginning, alas "Big Al's".

Anyway, this means most likely that I don't have the new filter, and the new light for the 29 (bulb), and the new light fixture for the 20, and all kinds of other small stuff by this weekend.

Do we have an extra week to "discuss" flow and such



Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So I called up Big Al's this morning.

After over 10 minutes they told me that the order was in this status because the Coralife fixture was out of stock. It had arrived Friday night though and now they can send it.



Doesn't sound right though, as "Item Out of Stock" is not quite the same as "Awaiting Payment"

Anyway, it is supposed to be sent out today,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

After over 10 minutes they told me that the order was in this status because the Coralife fixture was out of stock. It had arrived Friday night though and now they can send it.

Lf, just curious, I guess cause you were ordering other things etc and points is that why you ordered the fixture from bigals as opposed to hellolights.

My Scapes

Lf, just curious, I guess cause you were ordering other things etc and points is that why you ordered the fixture from bigals as opposed to hellolights.

I went to both websites and found the price to be almost equal. And yes, I ordered way more stuff (but they don't sell Tiffany items ). And shipping is less, in particular because I had to order stuff from Big Al's as well.

Hello Lights is good when you get a great deal on a secondary light, but I am not so convinced that their "no name" brand is as good as the Coralife Brand, and that one is also pretty much the same price as Big Al's.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Just a quick photo before I go to bed.

Here are some of the fish during feeding. What appears to be loads of flake food pieces floating in the water are actually CO2 bubbles expelled from my small power head off the picture to the left. The food is flakes floating on the surface.

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Feeding Time

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

OK,

So my order came in yesterday and all items have been delivered. Including a 5L bottle of Tropica Master Grow

When I was ordering my stuff I decided to peruse their new Tropica stuff which should have been available at that time. But what did I see there? My favorite micro mix. As I had to order over the phone anyway, I asked why it was available again. I was informed that they received 10 bottles from their store and then it would be over with it. Let's see how long it will be up on the site.

So, now the question is: What do I do with the 2L bottle of Flourish? Will it still be good when I am done with the 5L TMG?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So, now the question is: What do I do with the 2L bottle of Flourish? Will it still be good when I am done with the 5L TMG?

A while back I was talking with the Seachem rep. and he said that the stuff shouldn't go bad. The reason I was wondering as well is because we picked up a couple of the 4L's. You might want to stick it in the frig though.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

Thanks a lot man, makes me more comfortable to have this stuff collecting dust.

The fridge is no option though, for the sake of the wife and the kids. Looks too much like juice.

Thanks,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks a lot man

No problem!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Weekly Tank Update - Week 50

Having been at work all of yesterday the water change had to wait until today. Given that a day has limited hours and that I had stuff to add to all of my 4 tanks (check them out please, as it seems I am the only one recently to add anything to my 20 and 29 log), I only had time to do one major thing to this tank, and here it is:



On the table are the parts of the new Eheim 2026 and a new stealth heater for the right corner.

Attached Image:

New Stuff

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a tank shot from last weekend to show the tank before the changes. As you can see, the Alternanthera on the left back of the Star Grass group had grown very tall and would have required a trimming anyway, but the new current made it really needed as it bent almost 90 degrees.

Attached Image:

Week 49

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is the tank now this weekend, after the new filter had been added. It is on the right side, with the spray bar arranged horizontally on the top of the side panel.

For the time being I left both filters on full blast and I will see what effect this has on the fishies.

Attached Image:

Now

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And I have only one more shot for this weekend, there was just not enough time to take more.

Here are some Rainbows hanging out in the new current. It seemed as if all fish were busy finding new spots to hang as the whole water flow dynamics in the tank have changed. For example, just look at how strong the Java Fern in the full tank shot is bent compared to the week before.

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Rainbows

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Other than the java fern, the rest of the plants don't seem affected by the flow, I see straight standing stems everywhere. Those are some nice looking rainbows, I hope I can get mine to grow up that healthy.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thanks Matty for the compliments on the rainbows

"I see straight standing stems everywhere" - Well, that is because all weaklings, aka stems, are short based on the trimming last weekend. There was a tall Alternanthera in the middle of the tank that really bent over. And during my lst trip down to the tanks last night I had the first Star Grass stem floating around the tank.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Almost a week has gone by since my last entry in this log, and almost as long has gone by since my last entry at FP overall.

Part of it is based on enourmous overtime hours at work, but part of it is tank related.

The closer the one year anniversary of this tank (and as such tetratech's tank as well) the more it is on my mind that for an entire year I was fighting algae. And I am sick of it.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I here ye! Is that really you LF?

Don't think things are always so blissful in tetratech land. I had a "gigantic" mishap in my nano tank.

Log soon to be updated.



My Scapes

Wow both LF and Tetra are alive! I thought you guys were gonners being it has been dead up in here!

LF,
Don't be so down on yourself about your tank. You have had some set backs but we all have. The real question is: have you learned anything about plant/fish keeping in the last year. If so can you use it to become better next year?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric