Journal Frank's Dutch Attempt

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Better to just get a tank from the local welding supply house. They will give you a 20lb tank for 25 bucks full of Co2. Many companies will not refill tanks they do not own.

This really depends on your surroundings, I have no such place by me. I have actual gas distributors that are grossly over priced, paintball locations that want $5 per pound, or fire extinguisher companies which have the best refill rate. They will refill as long as my hydro test is up to date.

 

[FrankZ]

Better to just get a tank from the local welding supply house. They will give you a 20lb tank for 25 bucks full of Co2. Many companies will not refill tanks they do not own.

Every shop around me requires you to buy one of their tanks which means you get a hideous tank when you swap out the new one when empty. Nobody refills here any more. A couple weeks ago when I swapped out my 20 pound cylinder it was almost $40

 

[Ed Wiser]

I have used the biggest welding supply house in town for years. Drop tank off on the dock. Walk inside pay for tank and walk out.

 

[CMooner]

I have used the biggest welding supply house in town for years. Drop tank off on the dock. Walk inside pay for tank and walk out.

And ask them to pick out your refilled tank, they don’t mind and they usually have some newer tanks available.

 

[Ed Wiser]

My tank is in my stand. So it really doesn’t matter. I am an old maintenance man. So I am use to cylinders. Use to help the delivery man roll them in the shop.

 

[Burr740]

I get mine from a cylinder and gas supply place. I just call them when Im on the way and they have whatever Im swapping ready when I get there. Sometimes its just one or could be two or three. They are very accommodating. The lady that handles it knows I like "pretty tanks" and usually I get fairly nice ones

 

[FrankZ]

GDA is still barely hanging on but significantly less than it has been. Im
Letting the snails handle it.

Minor trim on the palustrus to get the white spots and other unhappy leaves off. Everything has perked up since increasing micros back to 0.17 Fe. As a control for the micro increase (not really, was sick of the twisted leaves) I cut the ar mini and chameleon sword back to basically nothing. So I should see in a couple weeks if they are going to get with the program with new growth.

 

[Unexpected]

Looking good Frank, I’m liking the layout.

 

[Yugang]

Looking good Frank, I’m liking the layout.

+1

GDA is still barely hanging on but significantly less than it has been. Im
Letting the snails handle it.

Few tanks follow 100% our wishes. The good news is that your plants look good, you don't have all the other algae that keep others busy. Why bother about the GDA, or lazy snails, and not scrub the glass clean during weekly maintenance ?

 

[FrankZ]

+1


Few tanks follow 100% our wishes. The good news is that your plants look good, you don't have all the other algae that keep others busy. Why bother about the GDA, or lazy snails, and not scrub the glass clean during weekly maintenance ?

Every time I have cleaned the GDA it has not made a difference or has made it worse so I’m waiting for it to hopefully live out its life cyclic.

 

[FrankZ]

Looking good Frank, I’m liking the layout.

Thank you!!

 

[Burr740]

Every time I have cleaned the GDA it has not made a difference or has made it worse so I’m waiting for it to hopefully live out its life cyclic.

I get the concept of leaving it alone, but I question whether simply wiping the glass has any affect on it's "life cycle"

Theoretically its everywhere and the only solution is to fix the root cause. Therefore I dont see what "letting it go" helps speed anything up.

In my humble opinion its six of one and half-dozen of another. Clean the tank up and get the plants happy, thats the cure. Doesnt matter if you wipe 30% off the glass or not

 

[Yugang]

I get the concept of leaving it alone, but I question whether simply wiping the glass has any affect on it's "life cycle"

I usually get some, and believe in my tank it is mostly light intensity related: it follows the light intensity pattern of my LED's. I wipe it off just before my 70% WC, so with all that gone, including spores, it will start from a lower basis to re-establish itself until my next tank maintenance.

Regarding wiping off, I realised recently how big of a surface area the tank's glass represents for micro organisms to establish and probably a significant part of the biological filtration function. Perhaps I am overthinking, but now only wipe glass when and where I need a more clear view into the tank.

 

[FrankZ]

Double maintenance this week. Cleaned the glass thoroughly and vacuumed out all that I could catch. Also did a thorough vacuum along the front as I saw a small patch of cyano starting below the substrate up against the glass.

The trident fern in the back wall had some hair algae starting, not sure what’s that’s about but I need to up my cleaning game before that gets out of hand. The twisted chain sword has a lot of it too, it was hard to see since it twisted around the leaves and was pretty well hidden.

 

[GreggZ]

Hey Frank I love the way this tank is coming along. Fine tuning a tank takes time and lot's of trial and error. It's great you are documenting it as it will help others.

Interesting following the micro dosing changes. If it makes you feel any better I have never been able to grow AR with nice flat leaves. But I don't care. I just stick to the plants that the like the soup I am serving and try to keep as many happy as I can at one time. If something prefers different parameters I avoid them. Banged my head up against the wall too many times trying to please one at the detriment to others.

Also the tank is looking VERY Dutchy!! I like where this is going and am looking forward to more updates.

 

[Count Krunk]

RE cleaning glass.

It's pretty common to let the back glass get covered in whatever and scrape it maybe every 6 months in reefing.

 

[FrankZ]

Scape is coming along nicely

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Yes looks stunning, “all inclusive” if you will

 

[Unexpected]

View attachment 4461Scape is coming along nicely

Rub it in, rub it in!

 

[Count Krunk]