Journal Attempting a True Dutch

[gjcarew]

It won't be big enough in time for what?

 

[Kwyet]

It won't be big enough in time for what?

I still want to enter the contest again, and I’m assuming it would be around the same time as last year.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

The new tank has been set up 5 weeks now. There was green spot algae on a some leaves and staghorn on old growth in a few places, before I trimmed them off today. I haven’t had any diatoms and no serious algae problems so far. I keep having to increase the ferts though. Maybe someone will tell me that’s not the problem, but I still have a lot of pale growth, especially on the ludwigia. I’ve gradually raised the power of the light too, in case that’s part of it. This is from today before trimming:

View attachment 14881

Don’t judge the layout. It doesn’t have one yet, lol! I figure by the end of the month I should start making some decisions about what is staying in the tank and placement. The moss is looking better. Unless the Barclaya suddenly takes off, it won’t be big enough in time to be a focal point, so I’ll probably need to rethink that.

Back to ferts, I tested before the water change today: 8.6 ppm nitrates, 11 dgH, 8.5 dkH, 0 Fe, 2 phosphate. I also tested calcium and magnesium for the first time with Salifert test kits, but I need to try them again because I don’t think the readings made sense (calcium turned blue immediately after adding the .6 ml of reagent, and magnesium turned blue before adding any reagent).

I think it’s okay that Fe was 0 because it was already noon when I tested, and doesn’t it get absorbed very quickly after adding it to the water? I think nitrates are still too low though, so I increased them by another 7 ml/week and did the same to the micros to match it. I should probably pick a consistent time and test daily for a week to really see what’s happening. I did figure out that with the new dosing, the tank is now getting 34.3/8.8/40.2 macros and .65 Fe weekly. How do those numbers look? Part of that is the 3x dose macros after the 50% water change.

As for light, I haven’t measured the par yet (because it’s a bit of a pain), but it’s at 65% power. By comparison, the other tank is at 74% power with the same light, and a little taller, and I believe it has a par of 50 at the substrate. I’ll probably move this one up to 74% next week.

Well, I guess that’s it. Anyone with any insights is welcome to share them! Thanks for reading!

First, tank still looks great!

The only thing I'd be worried about is the GH and KH, both are pretty high.

But your numbers at 34/9/40 are good for macros with a tank of this style! I'm back to running my tank at similar, 34/10/42 ish. So basically the same.

 

[Kwyet]

First, tank still looks great!

The only thing I'd be worried about is the GH and KH, both are pretty high.

But your numbers at 34/9/40 are good for macros with a tank of this style! I'm back to running my tank at similar, 34/10/42 ish. So basically the same.

Thanks! I didn’t realize the sand wasn’t inert when I bought it, and I don’t want the expense of replacing it for at least a year, so I’m muddling through with that. I think it’ll become plain which plants can and can’t handle it. I’m actually surprised that most of them are doing just fine with it. Is there a secret to those Salifert tests? I thought I followed the directions carefully.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I haven't tried the salifert Ca or Mg tests, I didn't know if they could work for fresh water! Perhaps that's the issue?

 

[Aquajack]

Back to ferts, I tested before the water change today: 8.6 ppm nitrates, 11 dgH, 8.5 dkH, 0 Fe, 2 phosphate. I also tested calcium and magnesium for the first time with Salifert test kits, but I need to try them again because I don’t think the readings made sense (calcium turned blue immediately after adding the .6 ml of reagent, and magnesium turned blue before adding any reagent).

I think it’s okay that Fe was 0 because it was already noon when I tested, and doesn’t it get absorbed very quickly after adding it to the water? I think nitrates are still too low though, so I increased them by another 7 ml/week and did the same to the micros to match it. I should probably pick a consistent time and test daily for a week to really see what’s happening. I did figure out that with the new dosing, the tank is now getting 34.3/8.8/40.2 macros and .65 Fe weekly. How do those numbers look? Part of that is the 3x dose macros after the 50% water change.

Still looking great so far. I assume that dosing is for tank volume and not water change volume?
I'm in the process of gradually increasing macros but starting form a much lower base. I'm only increasing around 10% a week at the moment. How much had you been increasing?

 

[Kwyet]

I haven't tried the salifert Ca or Mg tests, I didn't know if they could work for fresh water! Perhaps that's the issue?

Oh man, I’m an idiot! You are right! Thanks!

 

[Kwyet]

Still looking great so far. I assume that dosing is for tank volume and not water change volume?
I'm in the process of gradually increasing macros but starting form a much lower base. I'm only increasing around 10% a week at the moment. How much had you been increasing?

It’s for estimated tank volume. It’s a 72g tank, so I based it on 65g. I increased by 1 ml/day plus the 3x dose based on daily dose after a water change. This is the 3rd increase. I started with 5 ml/day and 15 ml after water change, and now I’m at 8 ml/day and 24 ml after water change. It’s probably better to do macros on 1-2 other days after the 3x on water change day as many others do, but I do it daily because I never know when I’ll have to skip Monday maintenance and do it on another day. I figure this way I’m covered even if I have to leave for a few days.

 

[Aquajack]

It’s for estimated tank volume. It’s a 72g tank, so I based it on 65g. I increased by 1 ml/day plus the 3x dose based on daily dose after a water change. This is the 3rd increase. I started with 5 ml/day and 15 ml after water change, and now I’m at 8 ml/day and 24 ml after water change. It’s probably better to do macros on 1-2 other days after the 3x on water change day as many others do, but I do it daily because I never know when I’ll have to skip Monday maintenance and do it on another day. I figure this way I’m covered even if I have to leave for a few days.

Similar size tank to one I'm working on. I've also just moved to daily, well around 50% macros front loading then the rest split up daily (ferts have a holiday Fridays LOL) I don't have to think about it then

 

[*Ci*]

Your moss wall is looking amazing!

 

[Kwyet]

Your moss wall is looking amazing!

Thanks very much!

 

[Kwyet]

I had decided to start doing 2 water changes weekly to keep the gH/kH lower and more stable, but when I tested on Thursday gH had only risen by 1 degree and kH by about 1/2 degree. By Monday, at the most, those should double and that should be fine. That means during the week gH should be 5-7 and kH 3.5-4.5, which is very encouraging!

Coincidentally, the quarantine tank and this tank had almost identical parameters. I’ve been adding this tank water to the quarantine tank during water changes to slowly adjust it. Since everything looked good, I moved in the rest of the Celebe’s. They’re calmer now that they have a larger school. The colors are very cool too. It was an unsexed group and I wish there were more males, but the females are quite pretty as well. I don’t know why I found them listed as top-dwellers so many times, because these go everywhere, but mostly in the mid-level. I’ve ordered 20 Pseudomugil luminatus to arrive next week and take their turn in quarantine. Luckily Imperial Tropicals is having a sale. The Celebe’s are much calmer during feeding time than the Neon Dwarf Rainbows, so hopefully there won’t be any criticism of their compatibility with the Pseudomugils.

 

[Koan]

I moved in the rest of the Celebe’s. They’re calmer now that they have a larger school.. I’ve ordered 20 Pseudomugil luminatus

How's everybody doing?

 

[Koan]

Luckily Imperial Tropicals is having a sale

 

[Kwyet]

Of all of the fish bought for this tank, I’ve lost two. One was the Celebes that didn’t acclimate well on arrival. The other was a Cory that just seemed to drop dead during a water change. I hadn’t even done anything but lower the water level and trim a few plants. Can fish have heart attacks? At any rate, everyone else is doing great. The Pseudomugil are still in quarantine, but they look good.

 

[Kwyet]

Just a quick update. The stocking is complete with the addition of the Pseudomugil luminatus and 6 juvenile SAEs, and the 2 medium-sized SAEs have been moved to the 140g. I have yet to catch the other 2 that are in the farm tank. They’ll be going to the 140 as well.

This arrangement isn’t at all final, but it’s starting to shape up. The big hygrophila is supposed to be “Cherry Leaf”, but I think it may have been mislabeled. It doesn’t look anything like @Unexpected’s and it grows like crazy. I guess it could be because of lower light and less ferts. What does it look like to you?

The gH/kH still swing about 3 degrees/week. If I’ve moved things very much it’ll go up more, but then I do an extra midweek water change so it evens out. I’m still getting some algae, but I think it’s getting better. It’s due for another trim too, which I’ll get done soon. I’ve caught a virus, so I’m taking it easy today.
As always, thanks for reading!

 

[Koan]

OMG.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I want to know about that sword! Where did you get it, and what species/variety is it?? Does it stay colored/red?

 

[Kwyet]

I want to know about that sword! Where did you get it, and what species/variety is it?? Does it stay colored/red?

I think it’s a Reni, but it’s possible it’s a Red Rubin. I almost used it last year, but it got algae and I over trimmed it, so it was growing out in the 125 and then briefly in the 140. I’m afraid I don’t remember where it came from. The inner leaves get that deep red color and turn dark green as they age.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

If you ever have plantlets I'll buy them, it's a beautiful plant!