Journal 75P - Journey Into High Tech

[Minninips]

Misc ramblings for the week: I've been trying to keep consistent on the weekly water changes every Saturday night and journal updates here shortly after.

This past week, the skimmer was gurgling when I came down in the morning, so I went to adjust it. As I approached the tank, I saw something go down it and the gurgling stopped. There was a blue eyed rainbow sleep swimming right next to it. I feared that maybe it was another rainbow. I ended up opening the filter this week for the first time since I set up the tank and found 3 dead rainbows in the prefilter, which bummed me out. The inlet skimmer thing is such a weird contraption (to me anyways) that seems like it always needs fine tuning. I might revisit no skimmer on the inlet and setting up the Oase skimmer I bought originally. After putting everything back together and running, I was cleaning up and found 2 alive amano shrimp in the water I poured out with the 3 dead fish. Funny enough, I think I've only see 1 amano in the tank since I put them in and I don't think I've seen these 2 since (saw a molt between drafting this and posting). I also removed 1 red 30ppm filter foam from a basket. I had 2 in 1 basket and was worried it was causing some flow issues since the filter gurgled from time to time.

I've generally noticed a haze or fogginess to the water. Unsure if it's skimmer related or to do with bringing the light up to 35% (or something else entirely).

I lowered my temp to 74, but the inkbird has consistently read lower than that (~71). I adjusted the heater to be above 74, but it looks like I'll need to kick it up a few degrees. It's odd because at 79 the inkbird was constantly reading 79. I ended up looking through the settings and saw a "Heating Difference Value" which was set at 3.0*F, so I changed it to 1 and see the temp is now in the ~73 range. I might change the Inkbird to 75 so I can hit 74.

I cut a new hose for my macro bottle to the auto doser head and recalibrated it. When looking at the settings again, I'm not sure if I had the automation on, which would mean I haven't been dosing. I never bothered to enter the bottle volume into the Chihiros app because I knew the dose was off to begin with. I added the bottle values to the app for both Micros and Macros and will have to keep a closer eye on things.

With the time change today, I noticed the light didn't turn on on time and I sat next to the tank and didn't hear the magnetic stirrer or autodosers. I manually dosed Micros today.

Now that things are starting to grow in, I need to start trimming more. I bought some UNS scissors that are springy and they don't always pop back open. I'll need to go buy some actual scissors.

Raised the light to 40% starting tomorrow. Curious to see what happens, but I feel like 30% was sufficient given how low the light is hanging.

Next on my things to do is make my RO setup as easy as possible. I haven't spent any time on that and it's a PITA to move the water all over the place. We're also looking to re-organize the space the water is in, so it might not happen as soon as I'd like, but might give me the opportunity to really hide the system and storage. Also looking to organize my cabinet, which I never got around to (then I can share some pics!). Then get started on the 120p planning now that the Hyperspot is here!

And because this thread is worthless without pics, top is when I first planted (1/31/26 I think) and bottom is today!

 

[techman81]

This past week, the skimmer was gurgling when I came down in the morning, so I went to adjust it. As I approached the tank, I saw something go down it and the gurgling stopped. There was a blue eyed rainbow sleep swimming right next to it. I feared that maybe it was another rainbow. I ended up opening the filter this week for the first time since I set up the tank and found 3 dead rainbows in the prefilter, which bummed me out. The inlet skimmer thing is such a weird contraption (to me anyways) that seems like it always needs fine tuning. I might revisit no skimmer on the inlet and setting up the Oase skimmer I bought originally. After putting everything back together and running, I was cleaning up and found 2 alive amano shrimp in the water I poured out with the 3 dead fish. Funny enough, I think I've only see 1 amano in the tank since I put them in and I don't think I've seen these 2 since (saw a molt between drafting this and posting). I also removed 1 red 30ppm filter foam from a basket. I had 2 in 1 basket and was worried it was causing some flow issues since the filter gurgled from time to time.

I've gone back-n-forth many times on lily pipe skimmer and powered skimmer. I've been back to the pipe skimmers for awile now and I've been happy with things. I think one of the reasons things are working better now, is that I replaced the plastic skimmer assembly with this third party model.
I can't imagine fish or shrimp getting sucked into it as long as it's adjusted right and not sucking in too much water.

With the time change today, I noticed the light didn't turn on on time and I sat next to the tank and didn't hear the magnetic stirrer or autodosers. I manually dosed Micros today.

Yeah, it's a funky Chihiros thing. I also had to remember to manually turn all the Chihiros devices back on today. Once you communicate to them after the time change, they're fine again until next year.

 

[Koan]

found 3 dead rainbows in the prefilter,

So sorry to hear that

With nano fish it's always a good idea to plug the intake of a skimmer with a piece of 20 PPI foam , or use one with a guard or both even if they're adjusted properly, they can jam up with leaves, get sucked under the water without warning and swallow up your fish or shrimps

Also an outlet skimmer is safer, even though they're kind of funny looking

might revisit no skimmer on the inlet and setting up the Oase skimmer

Lots of 3D-print guard models available for this @gnatster likes this one,



my nephew's printing one for me now

 

[Minninips]

I've gone back-n-forth many times on lily pipe skimmer and powered skimmer. I've been back to the pipe skimmers for awile now and I've been happy with things. I think one of the reasons things are working better now, is that I replaced the plastic skimmer assembly with this third party model.
I can't imagine fish or shrimp getting sucked into it as long as it's adjusted right and not sucking in too much water.


Yeah, it's a funky Chihiros thing. I also had to remember to manually turn all the Chihiros devices back on today. Once you communicate to them after the time change, they're fine again until next year.

Thanks, just ordered the tube and will swap it out when it arrives!

I looked in the app and couldn't even find any date / time. Thought that was funny in itself. Good to know I need to go manual for time changes.

So sorry to hear that

With nano fish it's always a good idea to plug the intake of a skimmer with a piece of 20 PPI foam , or use one with a guard or both even if they're adjusted properly, they can jam up with leaves, get sucked under the water without warning and swallow up your fish or shrimps

Also an outlet skimmer is safer, even though they're kind of funny looking

View attachment 15005



Lots of 3D-print guard models available for this @gnatster likes this one,

View attachment 15006

my nephew's printing one for me now

Ill look into plugging it with some foam. I have a 3d printer that I recently set up, but don't know the first thing about designing from scratch, so I'll look around and see what's out there.

 

[Kwyet]

For the Chihiros doser, I finally figured out this week that it hasn’t been dosing at all on my Dutch tank (except for manual dosing after water changes) because I never set the dosing time! I’ll put it on my journal whenever I update again, but thought I would mention it to you just in case.