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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!
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!
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 
