Journal Frank's Dutch Attempt

[FrankZ]

I could use some sympathy right about now and all of you folks will understand my pain. All the bad words have been said, twice maybe three times. Probably made up a few new ones.

I took out the sponge filters this morning to reduce the clutter. In the process of moving the air line tubing I apparently knocked the power head magnet off the outside of the tank. I found it on the floor in front of the tank.

The suction cup held it in place all day until it was bath time for my kids. It waited until I was occupied for a while before it let loose and crashed into the substrate where it proceeded to stir up the sand, clay, and MTS and blow it all over the place.

To make matters worse I used up my RO reservoir earlier so it’s not filled for a water change. Air bubblers are on max, peroxide has been added, fingers crossed, and prayers said.

I'm going to have to deal with it tomorrow evening after work. I fully expect the MOAAB (mother of all algae blooms).

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Leave the lights off until you can do your water change the plants will be fine. I echo your grief, I made up some of my own cuss words in your honor.

 

[FrankZ]

Leave the lights off until you can do your water change the plants will be fine. I echo your grief, I made up some of my own cuss words in your honor.

Great idea. My ramshorn snails are certainly grumpy from it. They are all hanging out of their shells floating on the surface. I netted them out and put them in another tank where they immediately resumed doing normal snail things. Fish seem fine so far. Might give it a preventative dose of Safe

 

[Art]

Oh Frank! I’m sorry, man.

Reading your summary brought me back to the times this has happened to me. Usually, it was when I landed on a business trip and my wife would call me to tell me this happened. One time it was, “all your fish are dead.”

Like was said, keep the lights off and add oxygen until you can get to it. All will be fine.

If it helps, you have a group of people feeling your pain.
Hang in there.

 

[FrankZ]

Oh Frank! I’m sorry, man.

Reading your summary brought me back to the times this has happened to me. Usually, it was when I landed on a business trip and my wife would call me to tell me this happened. One time it was, “all your fish are dead.”

Like was said, keep the lights off and add oxygen until you can get to it. All will be fine.

If it helps, you have a group of people feeling your pain.
Hang in there.

Thanks Art. My wife and kids are like blah you’ve made it look worse before. Probably over reacting a bit just because my plants are looking good for once and I want to keep it that way

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Yep, I overdose safe every water change.

 

[FrankZ]

Looks like everything survived the power head incident the other night. There is still some residual haze and it settles out on the plants about 12 hours after I swish it away. I’m planning on a deep clean of the filter tomorrow as well as thinning out the hygro street and some other trimming duties. I’m going to split it between Friday and Saturday since I want to get back to my Saturday maintenance routine.

So no MOAAB but if I don’t get things back to thoroughly clean, hair algae and staghorn will start showing up. Kind of surprised I haven’t seen any yet…

 

[FrankZ]

Part way done. Working on the right side after the RO barrel refills. Going to clean the filter and do another water change tomorrow

 

[HardeeParty]

Glad to see everything on the mend. Everything seems to wait until the kids are in the bath to completely unravel.

Like when the cat decides the newly installed lid allows him a top down view and knocks the lid, the cat, and the (cheap Amazon) light into the tank.

I keep an old small hang on back filled with filter floss and carbon on hand now for just such occasions.

 

[FrankZ]

Done for the night. It’s still hazy from all the uprooting and my python getting clogged every so often. I think it finally has a resemblance to a proper Dutch scape. Filter cleaning then another round go vacuuming is the plan for tomorrow

 

[Unexpected]

Yep, the lines are looking much better.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I’m in a similar boat. I tore out the stems, vacuumed the substrate, planted the new stems and the ones I’m keeping, and refilled. I still need to address the hardscape, glass, and clean up the cosmetic substrate so I’ll do that tomorrow when the wife is out and the kids are occupied.

Lookin good man

 

[FrankZ]

Yep, the lines are looking much better.

Thank you! That’s means a lot coming from the #2 guy in the world this year.

 

[FrankZ]

I’m in a similar boat. I tore out the stems, vacuumed the substrate, planted the new stems and the ones I’m keeping, and refilled. I still need to address the hardscape, glass, and clean up the cosmetic substrate so I’ll do that tomorrow when the wife is out and the kids are occupied.

Lookin good man

Thank you! The compliments mean a lot! Since I’m my own worst critic.

Early morning for me. Trying to get it all done before the kids are up

 

[FrankZ]

Finally done cleaning up. It’s hazy from the bubbles of the water change. Substrate is thoroughly vacuumed and the filter is cleaned (boy was it caked with clay and dirt).

Time to relax for a while with ice on my shoulder. I took my good ol’ time doing everything but still managed to make my shoulder angry.

I think I’m happy with the scape now. Once things grow in it should look even better.

Thanks for listening!

 

[FrankZ]

Almost forgot. I have to catch all the young plecos out of here. They are eating the Val, downoi, and rugosa. Bleeping bleep of bleepers!

 

[Burr740]

The AR leaves will flatten out better with lower micros. Its one of the best indicator plants for Fe/micros and the leaves gnarling up like that is a clear sign of too much

Back the .17 3x down to something like .13 3x and I bet you'll see a big difference. Probably have to wait for new growth to come in. The current ones esp the older ones probably wont flatten back out

 

[Burr740]

Almost forgot. I have to catch all the young plecos out of here. They are eating the Val, downoi, and rugosa. Bleeping bleep of bleepers!

Lol damn. Every one I ever had eventually started munching on plants. I gave up on them little heathens a long time ago

 

[fablau]

Lol damn. Every one I ever had eventually started munching on plants. I gave up on them little heathens a long time ago

I put mine in my pond together with goldfish, outside... to let them live, I put heaters in my outside pond, so they can thrive through the winter (I am in southern California, BTW)... but I had the same problem, they like tender leaves!

 

[FrankZ]

The AR leaves will flatten out better with lower micros. Its one of the best indicator plants for Fe/micros and the leaves gnarling up like that is a clear sign of too much

Back the .17 3x down to something like .13 3x and I bet you'll see a big difference. Probably have to wait for new growth to come in. The current ones esp the older ones probably wont flatten back out

Ok. I was going to keep doing what I have been because they came from a neglected low tech tank and havent put out new leaves yet just increased the size of the existing ones. I can easily decrease my dosage of micros though. Need to do some quick math. I’m at 15 mls now to get 0.17 so I’m guessing g something like 10 mls might be right to get to 0.13