Journal 22 gallon long bookshelf

[HardeeParty]

Okay this is all coming back to me now. Yes I think that’s a difference in the pump sizes. The smaller models come with the same size threaded inlet/outlets and the inlet options are threaded barbs. The larger models start approaching or exceeding 1” and 1-1/2” to 5/8” barb adapters don’t exist without using multiple step down fittings, so they supply them with slip fittings. I didn’t have to use a split fitting on the 1500, but if I did, I’d probably do the same thing and use pipe dope.

 

[JayP]

Thank you @JayP . For the connection between the stock Jebao ring and the "flat" side of the 3/4 PVC union, are you referring to the left-most part in this picture? Did you use anything else with that union piece to get a leak-free connection? Tape or pipe dope? @HardeeParty , I apologize for the thread hijack.

Yes, the piece on the left. I secured the elbow to the union with a 1 1/4"-1 1/2" piece of pipe and PVC primer and cement. I now use clear primer rather than purple.

 

[HardeeParty]

7 90% water changes and 4 deep substrate vacuums later…

 

[HardeeParty]

Spent all good portion of the day cleaning and planting. The amount of dust that came out of this substrate was insane. I was still pulling out dust but at some point I had to call it quits. It’s considerably better than it was, and completely churned.

When I finished last night I filled it up with tap water and heavily dosed NPK to help charge whatever cec may be left.

I also double doses algaefix and h202 overnight and gave it another 90% water change with RO before planting. Swapped the biomaster 600 for the Vevor canister since the flow was simply unmanageable for this size tank. I’ll use it on the 40B instead.

Plants are a mix of emersed stock, other tanks, and whatever I snagged from Chantz’s greenhouse the other day. Forgot his screename on here, but thanks again homie.

Some stuff is just babysitter plants until it matures a little. Bought proper calcium sulphate powder to set gH (woefully unstable blind dosing Ca previously via cutting with tap water and/or Seachem equilibrium, which may or may not have contributed to the tanks downfall). Dosing will be a NPK EI fertilizer mix I made with dry salts. Co2 via inline until I get the horizontal reactor installed. Starting light out at 30% and moving up from there.





Love side shots.



Donor tank pre-trim:



Post trim:



One of Chantz’s tanks in the gallery:

 

[HardeeParty]

Some final filling in this morning. Undecided about the open area up front. I know I’ll be using some Lobelia feayana in there.





A basic plant, but I really love this Hygrophila ‘Tiger’



The vacuuming really made a big difference in the amount of dust kicked up when planting. I put in the leg work this time around and have a good feeling about it.

One of our local native mosses. Vesicularia vesicularis.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

What's this guy?

 

[HardeeParty]

@Naturescapes_Rocco its a local Ludwigia hybrid I haven’t identified. I’ve had some outside for well over a year and it hasn’t flowered once. I’ve been calling it Ludwigia sp. ‘Allapattah’ after the locale.

In situ: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/254913041

Combination of opposite leaf pairs and alternating nodes (hallmark hybrid). Serrate margins, stoloniferous, moderately pilose. Very robust plant.

Grown to full potential:

 

[HardeeParty]

Sagittaria isoetiformis was exactly what the background needed.

 

[HardeeParty]

Plant list, mostly for my own tracking purposes.

Hygrophila triflora
Hygrophila balsamica
Hygrophila odora (possibly)
Hygrophila pinnatifida
Hygrophila difformis
Hygrophila lancea ‘Araguaia’
Hygrophila sp. ‘Tiger’
Hygrophila angustifolia ‘Rubra’
Boltonia diffusa
Echinodorus sp. 1
Echinodorus sp. 2
Persicaria sp. ‘Sao Paulo’
Alternanthera sp. (unidentified)
Ludwigia inclinata ‘Meta’
Ludwigia simpsonii
Ludwigia alata ‘MC’
Ludwigia pilosa
Ludwigia glandulosa
Ludwigia sp. ‘Allapattah’
Sagittaria isoetiformis
Lobelia feayana
Vallisneria neotropicalis
Acmella repens
Ooia manduensis
Bacopa innominata
Diodia virginiana
Cryptocoryne sp.
Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Green Gecko’
Physostegia purpurea
Rotala rotundifolia ‘Blood Red SG’
Spiranthes triloba
Potamogeton sp.
Vesicularia vesicularis
Callicostella pallida

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I'm VERY interested in how many of these plants grow. Please keep us updated!!

 

[HardeeParty]

Kids toys left in randomly photogenic places.





Blyxa is starting to wake up in the nano next to it. Excited to transplant that.



Dropped a few more plants in.

Spiranthes laciniata
Cryptocoryne nurii ‘Rosen Maiden’
Aglaonema commutatum
Lagenandra meeboldii ‘Bleeding Heart’

 

[HardeeParty]

The emersed transition. My favorite part.

Doing 20% water changes every other day with RO. Filters were running on other tanks and substrate was existing so I’m not expecting much of a cycle.

Source water is RO, remineralized to 15ppm CaSO4 and 5ppm MgSO4 dosed with weekly 50% water change on Sunday.

Macros are dry salts mixed in solution for NPK, (7.5ppm/0.3ppm/7.5ppm) dosed every other day. Once I get the tank stable enough I’ll probably switch to front loading. I’m not married to those values either so if I need to tweak them based on evidence or suggestion I will. Micros are Burr Aqua, also dosed every other day.

Happy with the change so far. I’m trying to resist adding more plants but every day something else winds up in there. Like Aciotis acuminifolia, Acrostichum danaeifolium, and Gratiola visdicula did yesterday. There’s a lot of plants I’ve never grown before which is kind of exciting.

Echinodorus is a new one for me.



As is Hygrophila triflora and odora.





Ludwigia simpsonii:



And the full tank, which is annoyingly difficult to get in one picture without compromising image quality and subject framing.

 

[MrJG]

I’m kinda like Rocco, can’t wait to see some of these grow in. Esp curious how your nurii grows out, def on my short list of awesome patterns.

 

[HardeeParty]

It’s still very young but it’s already starting to show its character.

 

[HardeeParty]

The Spiranthes is another one I’m excited about. They have this silver iridescence that’s characteristic of orchids. Not unique from a botany standpoint, but definitely something you don’t often see with aquatics.

 

[HardeeParty]

Decent full tank:

 

[Countrykingdom09]

Just hoppin in to say, looks good!

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

The Spiranthes is another one I’m excited about. They have this silver iridescence that’s characteristic of orchids. Not unique from a botany standpoint, but definitely something you don’t often see with aquatics.

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I've been wondering about these for YEARS. Really want to see how yours turn out!