I always loved the crypt only scape you had when you were doing your soil tanks. I’m about to go crypt only myself, I’ll post in my journal soon, been busy.
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Journal Cairn Wood
- Thread starter Tim Harrison
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- #22
They’re a very diverse group, capable of synthesising carbonates as a source of carbon so great for low-energy. I love ‘em. Look forward to seeing that post
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- Thread starter
- #23
A few warts 'an all photos, with equipment. Been submerged for a few days now. and starting to go through the ugly bugly phase. One water change, and few scape adjustments to open up the negative space a little more. Parameters all good. Critters next.
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Dialling in the CO2. Always love to see the plants pearling…
BTW, thought I'd introduce my Instagram page, kill two birds... There are images of a lot of my old scapes there @Yugang, if you're still interested
Isn't this considered streaming and not pearling?
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- #25
Haha, I’ve no idea @SkaleyAquatics. Though I guess that’s a more apt description, but perhaps still a type of pearling
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- #26
I’ve never had an outbreak of Cyanobacteria. That is until now. It basically covered my entire scape. A thick poisonous layer on rocks and plants. It was so bad I had to waft it off every few days and siphoned it out.
Unbelievably, the plants were doing well despite this. I know the O2 levels were good. I had a lot of surface movement from the lily outflow, and an Eheim skimmer on constantly.
Nutrient levels were lower than I normally use. Been lean dosing.
There are 3 factors I think may have triggered it. 1. We’re in the middle of a heatwave. 2. Too much deadwood releasing organics. 3. And perhaps most important, light intensity was way too high.
I’ve been using an ADA Solar Plus for the first time. Must admit colour rendition is awesome but, it’s not controllable and the light spill is horrendous even with the shades on. Especially since it needs hanging a mile above the tank.
So what did I do to fix it? 1. I swapped the light out for my dependable and controllable Twinstar 600s. 2. Then I removed all the DW. 3. Reduced the height of the rock stack to get better flow around the tank. It’d become unstable anyway , so had no choice. I didn't want it falling over and smashing the tank. TBH it was originally designed as an Iwagumi anyway and I'm much happier with it that way.
That made things perceptively better. However, the cyanobacteria persisted. In the end I got fed up and dosed the tank with 600mg of Doxycycline. I know it's frowned upon ethically but my fish also had finrot. Just in case you're wondering they came that way from the LFS. Never buy fish without your glasses.
Anyway, it worked. The cyano cleared up in a couple of days. That was a couple of weeks back now and it hasn't come back. I guess the key is to remove whatever may have been causing it in the first place.
I wasn't concerned about crashing the tank or the filter. A lot of the heavy lifting isn't actually done by bacteria, it's done by archaea. Doxycycline doesn't affect them. Also, as we all know the plants do a lot of heavy lifting too.
The pic below is how it looks now. I trimmed the tenellus at the front so it's not looking its best atm. And excuse the dirty lilies, I haven't had time to clean them yet. And it's still very much growing in.
Unbelievably, the plants were doing well despite this. I know the O2 levels were good. I had a lot of surface movement from the lily outflow, and an Eheim skimmer on constantly.
Nutrient levels were lower than I normally use. Been lean dosing.
There are 3 factors I think may have triggered it. 1. We’re in the middle of a heatwave. 2. Too much deadwood releasing organics. 3. And perhaps most important, light intensity was way too high.
I’ve been using an ADA Solar Plus for the first time. Must admit colour rendition is awesome but, it’s not controllable and the light spill is horrendous even with the shades on. Especially since it needs hanging a mile above the tank.
So what did I do to fix it? 1. I swapped the light out for my dependable and controllable Twinstar 600s. 2. Then I removed all the DW. 3. Reduced the height of the rock stack to get better flow around the tank. It’d become unstable anyway , so had no choice. I didn't want it falling over and smashing the tank. TBH it was originally designed as an Iwagumi anyway and I'm much happier with it that way.
That made things perceptively better. However, the cyanobacteria persisted. In the end I got fed up and dosed the tank with 600mg of Doxycycline. I know it's frowned upon ethically but my fish also had finrot. Just in case you're wondering they came that way from the LFS. Never buy fish without your glasses.
Anyway, it worked. The cyano cleared up in a couple of days. That was a couple of weeks back now and it hasn't come back. I guess the key is to remove whatever may have been causing it in the first place.
I wasn't concerned about crashing the tank or the filter. A lot of the heavy lifting isn't actually done by bacteria, it's done by archaea. Doxycycline doesn't affect them. Also, as we all know the plants do a lot of heavy lifting too.
The pic below is how it looks now. I trimmed the tenellus at the front so it's not looking its best atm. And excuse the dirty lilies, I haven't had time to clean them yet. And it's still very much growing in.
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I’m having a cyano issue myself, coupled with filamentous diatoms after adding a top dressing of pool filter sand. Glad you got yours under control because even just the littlest bit STINKS, it’s just a stifling earthy musk that smells like dirty fish tank.
Bummer with that ADA light, is there no way to add a dimmer to it?
Bummer with that ADA light, is there no way to add a dimmer to it?
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- #28
@Mr.Shenanagins BGA is a nightmare. It’s why I gave in and nuked it. So I really feel your pain.
As for the light, I don’t think there’s a way of adding a controller. Not sure the LEDs are dimmable either.
But it’s okay, it’s big and cumbersome as well. Not what you’d call minimal. So I’d rather use the Twinstar over my cube garden.
As for the light, I don’t think there’s a way of adding a controller. Not sure the LEDs are dimmable either.
But it’s okay, it’s big and cumbersome as well. Not what you’d call minimal. So I’d rather use the Twinstar over my cube garden.
Did you test your nitrates? Cyano often loves a nitrate limited environment because it can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. 90% of people I've asked with BGA test 0 on their nitrates. I've personally found that BGA on my plant leaves is almost always a nitrogen-limited environment.
- Thread starter
- #30
Thanks, I’ve read about that. I upped the macro dose just in case. But no I don’t test as a rule. I changed so many factors at once I can’t be certain which did what.
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- #31
This is where I am with the scape now. Still some growing to do. I recently trimmed the Rotala in front of the outcrop, it's was getting rampant, but just starting to sprout new shoots now. Also, I've had a few problems with filamentous algae, and the localised return of the dreaded blue-green slime.
But so far I've been able to control it. It's my own fault I've been a bit blasé dialing in the CO2. And my study, were the tank is, is a very light room with floor to ceiling windows, and two large skylights. I've decided to keep the blind nearest the tank closed from here on out. See if that helps.
Fish weren't the best. I've lost all but 1, despite dosing the tank several times. The survivor is going to my sons tomorrow. He has a phantom species tank. She'll be right at home. I'm going to go with something else.
But so far I've been able to control it. It's my own fault I've been a bit blasé dialing in the CO2. And my study, were the tank is, is a very light room with floor to ceiling windows, and two large skylights. I've decided to keep the blind nearest the tank closed from here on out. See if that helps.
Fish weren't the best. I've lost all but 1, despite dosing the tank several times. The survivor is going to my sons tomorrow. He has a phantom species tank. She'll be right at home. I'm going to go with something else.
Sucks losing fish, been there as you know. Growing in nicely 
- Thread starter
- #33
Thanks @Mr.Shenanagins it sure does. Trying to save them was an ongoing headache. It all came to a head the other Sunday morning. I went to feed them and most of them were either dead or dying. I've never, ever experienced anything like it in a lifetime of keeping fish.
I'm still not sure what happened. Other than perhaps disease just got the better of them all. I doubt it was a water quality issue. All my shrimp were fine, as were my otos. And like I mentioned, the one remaining female is perfectly healthy.
I'm still not sure what happened. Other than perhaps disease just got the better of them all. I doubt it was a water quality issue. All my shrimp were fine, as were my otos. And like I mentioned, the one remaining female is perfectly healthy.
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- #34
Still a work in progress. Been dealing with cyano and filamentous algae. Think I've finally got ahead of it. I hope.
Taken the rotala out and replaced it with Crytpo retrospirais a few days ago. It was grown emersed so I cut all the terrestrial leaves off. Sumersed leaves are shooting already.
Taken the rotala out and replaced it with Crytpo retrospirais a few days ago. It was grown emersed so I cut all the terrestrial leaves off. Sumersed leaves are shooting already.
New fish!
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- #36
Yes, taking it easy atm. Don’t want a repeat of the last experience. Going for the smallest tetras, 2cm. So far have ember and ruby tetras. Half a dozen of each. Waiting on green neons. And would really like to find some of these. Not a hobby regular though.
Hyphessobrycon elachys • Fish sheet
www.fishi-pedia.com
- Thread starter
- #37
Hi guys. Hope all is well. Where ever you are, whatever you’re doing.
Been a while. An update over due. Really pleased how the scape is going. Crossed the rubicon. Feel like I’ve got my mojo back. Was beginning to worry
Have planted V. Spiralis — very underrated aquatic. And C. Retro-spiralis — not so aquatic. Both doing very well.
The BGA is pretty much gone just a few mm in front of the substrate, bizarrely in the darkest corner. But also the area of lowest flow.
Have also planted C. wendetii green along the back. It’s still transitioning. But getting there. Should grown as tall as the brown crypt.
Been a while. An update over due. Really pleased how the scape is going. Crossed the rubicon. Feel like I’ve got my mojo back. Was beginning to worry
Have planted V. Spiralis — very underrated aquatic. And C. Retro-spiralis — not so aquatic. Both doing very well.
The BGA is pretty much gone just a few mm in front of the substrate, bizarrely in the darkest corner. But also the area of lowest flow.
Have also planted C. wendetii green along the back. It’s still transitioning. But getting there. Should grown as tall as the brown crypt.
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Yes filling in nicely! Is your ram okay or is the image just a little washed where he/she pops up in the foreground? How warm is this tank as well just curious, I know they prefer warmer temps.
- Thread starter
- #39
She’s very healthy. Pink round belly, erect fins, etc. image not the best. She’s in shadow.
But a bit temperamental. Lights up like a Christmas tree at feeding time. And when she’s visited by my cat.
Both right up against the glass nose to nose. Bizarre. Funny.
Temp is 26 degrees. She doesn’t have a mate yet. Only females in batches. Have put the word out for a male.
But a bit temperamental. Lights up like a Christmas tree at feeding time. And when she’s visited by my cat.
Both right up against the glass nose to nose. Bizarre. Funny.
Temp is 26 degrees. She doesn’t have a mate yet. Only females in batches. Have put the word out for a male.
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Gotcha, nice to see rams I feel like they were a very popular fish and their sensitivity maybe caused them to fall off a bit. I used to keep em a while back, I really loved the golds but couldn’t keep em long enough. More often than not when I find them they are tiny and not as plump as yours. Good luck with her and I hope she finds a mate!
