Journal 40B MTS Nature Aquarium

Mr.Shenanagins said:
You’re probably right. I did recently mess with the flow output of pump and idk why I did that. I think I’ll boost it back up and also open up the holes in the spray bar so I get the GPH but not the jet stream that can come with it.

Consistency is my problem, and it’s been detailed in this journal. I find that after maintainence I get it back to looking pristine but within a week it’s back to a mess. Honestly if I could be more consistent WEEKLY I’d prob be in a better place. Life doesn’t make it easy though.
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Yeah, I think consistency is probably the most challenging part of the hobby for a lot of people, especially over the long term. I know I have to keep my upkeep as simple as possible or I won't stay on top of it.

But I'm also a big fan of solving issues by doing nothing. It seems counterintuitive, but my experience is I've had more algae issues disappear on their own than not. I've also had problems that required intervention, so I know it's not the solution to every problem, but consistent maintenance + time is an underrated combo. But like you said, it can be tough to put into practice.
 
Hey all, update time.

So for a couple months I’ve been struggling with some green algae and cyano. Not sure how it started or where it came from, but I was over it. Due to some life events and scheduled trips. I had not touched the tank maintained wise for about a month. At the halfway mark, I decided to exercise my usual failsafe of turning off the lights but allowing the CO2 to remain on its daily schedule. Even with lights out, I allowed a nearby window to give the tank some ambient light. This was practice for about 2.5 weeks. I don’t have pictures, but you’d be surprised to know that I had minimal die off. Yes, some stems suffered with their lower halves losing leaves, and some stems even melting halfway up. BUT, what was left was able to be used and topped! The green algae had ultimately disappeared, and what was left was dead and brushed off.

Now the bad part. The day I decided to address the tank I transferred the bunches of stems I was going to replant to a bucket that filled with the tap water I usually do WC with. They sat in the bucket for about 9 hours, and when I was ready to replant, this is what I had: IMG_1449.jpegThis is pogo Kimberly and rotala blood red. This condition was unrecoverable and I lost every plant that was in that bucket. I have no idea what caused it, because they looked normal and colorful when they went into the bucket, very bizarre. Thankfully, the blackout for several weeks did not hurt my crypts, moss, ferns, or buce. So those with scapes dominated by those types of plants, I’m here to tell you an extended blackout with some ambient or extremely low light will not hurt those plants.

So, the plan is to get some new stems and start over stem wise. I initially thought of potentially going crypt only back there, but I’m not sold on it because I know I’ll miss the deep red of a Ludwigia or the purplish pink of some finer leaved plants. But how great is that crypt albida costata on the right side? Such a striking pink with that line green stripe in the middle. I initially though maybe it was Tiger and mislabeled, but it’s just not as broadleaved as Tiger would be. Anyhow, I like what I’m seeing growth wise with everything else so my next update will be the addition of new stems. Any thoughts or criticism welcome 👍🏻IMG_1466.jpegIMG_1467.jpegIMG_1468.jpegIMG_1469.jpeg
 
Hmm, maybe those stems were spent from the semi-blackout and only needed the slightest nudge before they gave up the ghost. But hey, getting the upper hand on the algae is awesome. I'm sure the scape will be in its full glory soon!
 
You’ll get it turned around in no time. It looks pretty good already. A bunch of us have had algae disasters in the last few months so you definitely have sympathy especially from me.

Did your triflora survive? I have a forest of it from the cuttings you sent me. I could send you a bunch back to restock.
 
Figured I’d join the party of woe and despair, putting off this maintenance as long as possible lol.

Also, anyone experience Melanotaenia munch on crypts? My leaves keep randomly melting away after bite size holes appear on them. I’ve only ever caught them nibbling on moss but I know they are omnivores crypts are a softer leaved plant. Just weird nothing else is getting attacked.IMG_1537.jpegIMG_1538.jpegIMG_1539.jpegIMG_1540.jpeg
 
Mr.Shenanagins said:
Figured I’d join the party of woe and despair, putting off this maintenance as long as possible lol.

Also, anyone experience Melanotaenia munch on crypts? My leaves keep randomly melting away after bite size holes appear on them. I’ve only ever caught them nibbling on moss but I know they are omnivores crypts are a softer leaved plant. Just weird nothing else is getting attacked.View attachment 6507View attachment 6508View attachment 6509View attachment 6510
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Your tank doesn't look that bad for putting off maintenance. Looks about as bad as my farm tank I've been fighting for the past month with weekly water changes.

Also I've never seen or heard of melanotaenia species ever munching on plants. Or any rainbowfish for that matter. Sure something else isn't going on?
 
SkaleyAquatics said:
Also I've never seen or heard of melanotaenia species ever munching on plants. Or any rainbowfish for that matter. Sure something else isn't going on?
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Well the only other fish culprits would be my single Otto or my peacock gudgeons who are picky eaters to begin with. Every leaf that ends up rotting and coming loose is a healthy stalk, that all of a sudden develops a strange hole in the leaves that look like tear marks not just decay.
 
Mr.Shenanagins said:
Well the only other fish culprits would be my single Otto or my peacock gudgeons who are picky eaters to begin with. Every leaf that ends up rotting and coming loose is a healthy stalk, that all of a sudden develops a strange hole in the leaves that look like tear marks not just decay.
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Interesting. You should get a picture if you can. I am not doubting it but its weird that they are making holes in the leaves, id suspect they just tear off at the edges.
 
Mr.Shenanagins said:
Figured I’d join the party of woe and despair, putting off this maintenance as long as possible lol.

Also, anyone experience Melanotaenia munch on crypts? My leaves keep randomly melting away after bite size holes appear on them. I’ve only ever caught them nibbling on moss but I know they are omnivores crypts are a softer leaved plant. Just weird nothing else is getting attacked.View attachment 6507View attachment 6508View attachment 6509View attachment 6510
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The struggle is real, still fighting issues in 2 of my tanks! The headache continues.
 
Any suggestions on what to put here in this section between both moss mounds in the center? I had blyxa here for most of the scape but maintenance issues caused it to melt. I recently tried a TC of crypt Petchi pink but it all melted in a week to nothing. Pretty sure the culture was bad but not entirely sure, I believe my fish enjoyed pecking at the fresh fragile leaves and that did it in. Anyway, I was possibly entertaining Meeboldii Red, or something like Erio Vietnam. Thoughts?
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Mr.Shenanagins said:
Any suggestions on what to put here in this section between both moss mounds in the center? I had blyxa here for most of the scape but maintenance issues caused it to melt. I recently tried a TC of crypt Petchi pink but it all melted in a week to nothing. Pretty sure the culture was bad but not entirely sure, I believe my fish enjoyed pecking at the fresh fragile leaves and that did it in. Anyway, I was possibly entertaining Meeboldii Red, or something like Erio Vietnam. Thoughts?
View attachment 6544
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Either would work personally
I think erio Vietnam would look better. Also Meeboldii are so slow growing. I grabbed bleeding heart TC and its maybe gained a quarter of its size in a month.
 
SkaleyAquatics said:
I think erio Vietnam would look better.
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I agree with you. Now I just gotta source it 🤔

Tank continues to surprise me with how it bounces back after maintenance. My biggest struggle currently is keeping the anubias clean, it develops a strange black colored algae that for the most part can be rubbed off with a tooth brush, others more heavily stained I just removed. I think a major flaw with my flow is the fact that it flows from the back, down the front, and then whatever debris or detritus there is it gets caught up in the hardscape and accumulates. Time to invest in a turkey baster 👍🏻
 
Check it out, not just a pooper scooper! With cosmetic sand and finer gravel, it’s a complete BITCH to keep the sand clean and all the gravel in one place. I decided to get one of these so I can scoop up the sand and catch the gravel without it mixing up everywhere 👍🏻
 

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Mr.Shenanagins said:
Check it out, not just a pooper scooper! With cosmetic sand and finer gravel, it’s a complete BITCH to keep the sand clean and all the gravel in one place. I decided to get one of these so I can scoop up the sand and catch the gravel without it mixing up everywhere 👍🏻
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Cool multipurpose tool! Hope it works well for ya buddy
 
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