Journal 40B MTS Nature Aquarium

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Yep I'm sure you would be. But co2 as we know is very important LOL.

Not to many actually around me. I moved around 15 miles east of where I was and I called around to see where I could get co2 and they all recommended the place I was already using. So know instead of 10 minutes away it's around 35 minutes.

About the same distance I have to travel, it’s not far but traffic is a real female canine.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Diatoms, Tannins, aggravation, Oh my!!! Ugly stage has officially set in, but I’m happy to see new growth. The pinnatafida is starting to get going and I’m really enjoying the red undersides of the leaves. I’ve tried this plant in the past with little to no success so happy to see it transitioning positively.

It’s actually much more yellow tinted in person, the camera adjusted it a bit.

 

[JPog]

The Pinna is a really nice plant, looks perfect in that scape. Can't see the diatoms. You could throw some AC in the filter if you want. Would clear up tannins and help with organics, but might not be necessary.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

The diatoms are filamentous in nature, you can see a more extreme case here at the top of the driftwood peak. I just need to go around with a brush and swish it off some of the plants and rocks. It’s starting to attach to the sand as well where there is a little less flow so I will have to siphon that out. I’m not concerned at this point, once my plants start to take hold it’ll start to struggle.

Tannins I don’t mind, I just need to go heavy on the WC’s for now. I have Purigen but I hate recharging it lol just lazy.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Diatoms are fierce at the moment, and I don’t have any cleanup crew currently. Manual removal is ridiculous for it to just come back full force in a couple days. How good are ottos at picking this stuff off? Any suggestions? Not sure what’s causing it, because I had these filamentous diatoms even before I took down my tank this time around. Not exactly sure what’s feeding it, makes me want to try RO more and more.

 

[JPog]

I would try to ride it out. The otos would eat it, but they've always been sketchy for me in new tanks, so you might lose a bunch, but YMMV.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

@JPog Thanks for the advice, I’m currently just siphoning and doing water changes but man this stuff really is tenacious.

On a positive note, I won some awesome Boesmani Aytinjo Rainbowfish that I am super pumped to receive! Got them at a great price and I’ve read they are the most vibrant variety. The seller claims they are a direct line from Gary Lange so I’m expecting some quality fish. Any recommendations for keeping these guys happy @GreggZ ? I know we’ve chatted in the past about my woes with dwarf neons and their lack of survivability.

 

[GreggZ]

Any recommendations for keeping these guys happy @GreggZ ? I know we’ve chatted in the past about my woes with dwarf neons and their lack of survivability.

These will be quite a different experience than the Neons. As you know the Praecox is the weakest strain in the hobby.

As to keeping them happy it's simple. Good surface flow (O2), large water changes, and a good variety of high quality foods. Rainbows in general are very easy fish to keep. Those are a nice variety and I look forward to seeing pics sometime.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

This is a public service announcement to anyone who may need to revisit their address info for any future purchases.

I was checking to see the status of my rainbowfish delivery, to find it was out for delivery……..to my old address in NY!

Thankfully it’s my parents house and they have received them and will be overnighting to me today. The seller assured me they are packed for a weeks plus time in transit so all should be well with them.

On another note, today I tested my tap water to find that it’s coming out at a whopping 475 TDS , and my tank is currently sitting at 590. I am getting an RODI unit to make things more suitable, any recommendations on transitioning to lower kH parameters? I’d like to still keep gH high for the rainbows at least. @GreggZ whats your take sir?

 

[Art]

Can you discuss a little why you have chosen mineralized topsoil as your substrate, please? Pros and cons?
I have done low tech Walstad tanks successfully in the past (filterless, low light/sunlight, dirt substrate, no added ferts, thickly planted), but was not aware of the practice of using a dirt substrate in a high tech environment. I’m very curious!

If you haven't seen this yet: Mineralized soil planted aquariums

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Fish arrived okay thankfully, I won 8 but received 12 as insurance for any losses. I lost two in transport so 10 total fish and they are doing well.

I have not updated the tank much due to time constraints and issues with maintenance which have been troublesome for the tank to take off. The diatoms are waning thankfully but it’s going to be a while before I can get back to the tank with the dedication it deserves due to things going on at home. Right now I’m going to focus on the fish and keeping the tank healthy for them and then worry about plant life when things around here are less hectic.

 

[Art]

Hey @Mr.Shenanagins, hope things have calmed down a bit. How's the tank going?

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Hey @Mr.Shenanagins, hope things have calmed down a bit. How's the tank going?

Hey Art, tank livestock wise is doing fine. Since I’ve moved into my new house we are still getting our finances in order so a new plant order is on the back burner. I did acquire a 15lb tank to replace my 5lb so I’m happy about that. Right now I just have some loose crypts and anubias floating around, the hardscape needs a bit of a scrub and the cosmetic substrate touched up but I don’t plan on doing that until I get my plants.

So nothing exciting at the moment lol

 

[Art]

Since I’ve moved into my new house we are still getting our finances in order so a new plant order is on the back burner. I did acquire a 15lb tank to replace my 5lb so I’m happy about that.

Hey, I can relate to that. Priorities.

Congrats on the 15lb cylinder pick up. I was just thinking about that. I have a 5lb and am getting tired of refilling every couple of months. I may have to look at something larger as a future upgrade.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Hey, I can relate to that. Priorities.

Congrats on the 15lb cylinder pick up. I was just thinking about that. I have a 5lb and am getting tired of refilling every couple of months. I may have to look at something larger as a future upgrade.

Yeah with heavy injection I’m getting like 2 months, just not practical. 15 lbs should last me half the year and it should only cost $10 more a fill up. Crazy right. The only issue is hiding the bigger tank.

 

[Art]

I'm not sure how my wife would feel with a 15lber sitting next to the tank. Actually, I take that back. I know exactly how she will feel about it

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I'm not sure how my wife would feel with a 15lber sitting next to the tank. Actually, I take that back. I know exactly how she will feel about it

Yes that, and little wanderers with grabby hands who like to get into everything.

 

[Art]

When my two were little, I was paranoid about them trying to climb the stand and toppling the tank or getting into the cabinet and messing with the CO2 cylinder. Had everything tied down and locked. Couple of metal straps to prevent unintended tank toppling.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

When my two were little, I was paranoid about them trying to climb the stand and toppling the tank or getting into the cabinet and messing with the CO2 cylinder. Had everything tied down and locked. Couple of metal straps to prevent unintended tank toppling.

Smart, my Victor regulator is beefy and it would topple easily when the tank was on the low side. I’m thinking of hiding it next to the tank with something decorative so it’s pleasing to the eye and not something they are interested in. Thankfully with a steel 15lb it can hold its own weight.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Did a tank clean up last night, excuse the glass I’ll wipe that down today. Cleaned up the substrate and hardscape and stuffed the remaining epiphytes I have into cracks for now to fill the void. Fish are doing well, excited to see my Boesmani mature.