Journal Fishstery's Garden/Nature style hybrid

[Fishstery]

Day 10 since planting:
I didnt have time to update yesterday, but it was the first day I couldn't monitor the tank since I had work, and I was pretty nervous, even though I felt confident with my co2 settings on Sunday, I was itching to get home and check on the fish. I think a pH controller may be a priority in the future due to the price of the Cenepa. Thankfully everyone looked good when I got home, the lights shut off 2 hours before but I clicked them on briefly just to take head count, check over the plants, and see the drop checker color.

I'm awaiting a delivery of more Hastatus cories which will be going in the breeding project tank for now, and my blood orange shrimp which are going in the display. I'm very excited to get the shrimp in there. I don't want to jinx myself, but I've made a point to get my hands in the tank for a few minutes every day to remove any melted or unhealthy leaves and keep an eye on stem and root growth, and I think it's paying off. I've seen very minimal hair algae but only on the glass and old leaves. The driftwood is starting to get this interesting spirulina-color algae on it, and I think the shrimp will happily clean it off for me.

In the absence of RO, dealing with the tank evaporation has been tricky. I did a 100% WC on Friday before adding the fish and I've already had to lower my lily pipes twice. My new glass pieces should arrive tomorrow to at least get the majority of the tank loosely covered, but I may need to do two 10%-20% water changes weekly instead of one 50%, at least until I get my RODI system set up.

Later tonight I'm going to try and get some good pictures of the plant growth posted here for comparison later on, and get a standalone post done on the Week Aqua T90 Pros, so keep an eye out for that!

 

[Koan]

I think a pH controller may be a priority in the future due to the price of the Cenepa.

The Yugang CO2 reactor was engineered specifically, by our member @Yugang, to give you the option to set a maximum level of CO2 injection in its design that physically cannot be exceeded by your system

It's called "overflow mode", have a look

Article 'Yugang CO2 Reactor - A Guide'

Contents: Benefits of Yugang reactor Calculate the reactor dimensions Overflow mode, regulator mode, pH/CO2 controller Overflow mode, step by step instruction Regulator mode, pH/CO2 controller mode, step by...

• Yugang
• Sep 15, 2025
• 20 min read
• Reaction score: 7
• Comments: 9
• Category: CO2 in the Planted Aquarium

Post in thread 'New Yugang Testing'

Dec 3, 2025

I realize that it might be helpful to explain how to actually dial in a CO2 setup!

First, you have to keep as many variables constant as possible. If you are constantly changing these, it makes it VERY hard to dial in CO2 injection:

Things that change CO2 levels in the water are:

• Injection rate (bubbles per second for bubble counters, or SCCM if using flowmeter. Also rotatable/adjustable horizontal reactors)
• Temperature (warmer = less CO2, colder = more CO2)
• Surface agitation (how near your filter/lily pipe is towards the surface of the water)
• Surface scum (more...

• Naturescapes_Rocco

• 

 

[Fishstery]

I've had a lot going on the past week between work and my family, so I haven't been able to keep up with my updates as much as I'd like. I do have a BIG one though! I'll save the exciting part for last.

Not too much to report plant wise, algae has started to kick up a bit due to the light levels. Luckily it's just isolated to the front glass and the driftwood, and some brown diatoms on the substrate and hair grass. I was really excited to get my shrimp in there, but UPS totally dropped the ball despite paying for next day. They are stuck until Monday, fingers crossed they arrive unharmed.

The Cabomba and Bacopa Colorata are the best looking plants in the tank, I'm really happy with my selection there. The plants are really starting to throw out some aerial roots, so tonight looks like a propagate and replant night.

However, my Rotala Floridia is growing very slowly, and the new growth just isn't coloring up very well. I moved it out into a higher PAR area, but I'm wondering if it may be time to start adding some macros. The Limnophila Belem is alive, but also growing very slowly and not coloring up at all. The Persicaria started growing tiny new leaves, but now they are looking sad and it hasn't taken off like I'd hoped. I'm considering replacing both of those, perhaps with some Ludwigia Super Red and some kind of orange/yellow plant? Does anyone have any suggestions?
I'm hoping @Dennis Wong might chime in, I'm wondering if I should stay on course with APT 1 since I've had minimal algae issues and add some Jazz Caps under the Ramisior, Bacopa, and Cabomba, or if I should move to APT 3.

Now the exciting part, I was cleaning my house earlier today and when I walked by the tank, I noticed my Pencilfish were showing some breeding behaviors! The males have been sparring like crazy, but I didn't expect them to breed. I was going to use my new Hannah co2 test to make sure my co2 levels were okay, but I think I'll take breeding behavior as a sign to leave it alone