Awesome tank! Is the filter loud?
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Journal Low Tech, Hi Tech Goldie Extravaganza!
- Thread starter *Ci*
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #22
*Ci*
Tending water worlds since 1975!
I haven’t run it yet … I don’t think it’s supposed be turned on without water running through it, as the pump for the cleaning jets is a built-in submersible, and I am not done with the rest of the filtration.
I’m having trouble trying to figure out how to mount my return pump (submerged into the 2nd barrel), with a 2” check valve, 2” ballvalve and 2” inlet/outlet UV. They are all huge and heavy, as well, and space is very cramped where they have to go under the floor.
Then I have the 2” return pipe going through the floor and have to split it into two 1” returns to the main tank without it looking like a mess. I found this pvc fitting, which I didn’t know existed, that might just solve the problem! It’s on order.
I think the light is as a good choice, you can adjust as needed to your preference/viewing pleasure 
- Thread starter
- #24
*Ci*
Tending water worlds since 1975!
March update:
Plumbing is completed and the tank has been cycling now for a few weeks.
I had to soak the k-1 in potassium permanganate for a few days to get it to stop floating and roll properly in the moving bed. It went through the ammonia portion of the cycle pretty fast and got stuck on high nitrites until I added some media from my discus canister. Now it’s showing .25ppm of nitrite and I’m waiting patiently for that to go down to zero.
The vals are growing long, and the dwarf sag has stopped melting, but is not really spreading yet. I’m adding micros and macros with no nitrate, and dosing to keep my kH at 4 and gH at 6, dosing everything daily to keep up with the constant drip.
No algae, but definitely diatoms.
I’ve decided to get my first batch of 7-9 goldfish from this farm in the US, because his fish are incredible, nothing like anything I can source in Canada:
Zhao’s Fancies
Since they only ship within the states, for me this will involve a 2 hr. drive, then a 1.5 hour ferry to cross the border, pick up at a Fed Ex dropoff point, paperwork, taxes and duty, then home again. But totally worth it! I mean, look at this Orchid Tail Ranchu - you just can’t get any better!
I have a work contract for March and April, so I can’t pick up any fish until that is over (Zhao only ships on Monday’s for a Wed. pickup)., so I don’t mind waiting while the tank takes it’s time to cycle, and the plants have a chance to root more thoroughly.
In the meantime, I am moving my mangrove seedlings into the tank (each one attached to a suction cup to hold them halfway out of the water, and adding more houseplants coming out of the top.
Plumbing is completed and the tank has been cycling now for a few weeks.
I had to soak the k-1 in potassium permanganate for a few days to get it to stop floating and roll properly in the moving bed. It went through the ammonia portion of the cycle pretty fast and got stuck on high nitrites until I added some media from my discus canister. Now it’s showing .25ppm of nitrite and I’m waiting patiently for that to go down to zero.
The vals are growing long, and the dwarf sag has stopped melting, but is not really spreading yet. I’m adding micros and macros with no nitrate, and dosing to keep my kH at 4 and gH at 6, dosing everything daily to keep up with the constant drip.
No algae, but definitely diatoms.
I’ve decided to get my first batch of 7-9 goldfish from this farm in the US, because his fish are incredible, nothing like anything I can source in Canada:
Zhao’s Fancies
Since they only ship within the states, for me this will involve a 2 hr. drive, then a 1.5 hour ferry to cross the border, pick up at a Fed Ex dropoff point, paperwork, taxes and duty, then home again. But totally worth it! I mean, look at this Orchid Tail Ranchu - you just can’t get any better!
I have a work contract for March and April, so I can’t pick up any fish until that is over (Zhao only ships on Monday’s for a Wed. pickup)., so I don’t mind waiting while the tank takes it’s time to cycle, and the plants have a chance to root more thoroughly.
In the meantime, I am moving my mangrove seedlings into the tank (each one attached to a suction cup to hold them halfway out of the water, and adding more houseplants coming out of the top.
JayP
Valuable Member
So large goldfish like that won't munch on or destroy your plants?
I would have never thought myself interested much in goldfish until I clicked on that link. Those are awesome. I didn't know they came like that. I'm excited to see what you get.
Interestingly, I sorted them by price and the ones I like are on the cheaper end.
That'll never happen again.
Interestingly, I sorted them by price and the ones I like are on the cheaper end.
That'll never happen again.
So exciting! 
- Thread starter
- #28
*Ci*
Tending water worlds since 1975!
- Thread starter
- #29
*Ci*
Tending water worlds since 1975!
Ok, update time. The tank finally completed it’s fishless cycle and I decided that I would not get my goldfish from Zhao’s - too much trouble and stress having to get across the border to pick them up, plus most of the ones I had picked out were too big. I wanted to start with babies that would have less of an inclination to destroy the plants right away : )
I bought mine from the best seller in Canada, back east. Not nearly as nice a selection as Zhao, but nicer than pet store fish. I’ll be on the lookout for a few more locally, as nice ones pop up occasionally.
The tank went a little cloudy after adding the fish - small bacterial bloom, I suppose, and I’m not worried about it. RDF is working great, but here are some things I’ve learned.
1) Herbie style overflows are really hard to tune. I bought the best gate valve I could find (Spears), I got the pump tuned just right for both the tank water level and the RDF, but damned if I can get the overflows silent. Small adjustments seem to do nothing, then suddenly it’s too much and trickle noises ensue. I give up ¯\(°_o)/¯
2) I can’t believe how much maintenance jungle vals need! I am constantly in there up to my armpits pulling ageing leaves off the rosettes. Like, several times a week. I knew there would be some initial melt back, but they should be past that by now. This was supposed to be a super low maintenance tank …
Soooo, time for a rescape. The dwarf sag is getting uprooted by the fish and the vals have to go.
I’m switching them for some tall crypts from another tank and putting everything in faux driftwood pots like these
:
I’m removing the rocks, and 2/3 of the pool filter sand, leaving just enough for the goldfish to dig around in.
Another problem is the glass in back is too hard to clean with all the vals in the way (problem potentially solved), and houseplant baskets and mangroves suction cupped to the glass.
The mangroves are rooting and sprouting, so I think I can start selling the excess off. For the ones I keep, I have an idea for floating rings to set them in and tether them to the tank frame. The houseplant baskets - I don’t know. But things should improve alot with the other changes.
Hopefully, next update will incorporate all of these changes for the better!
I bought mine from the best seller in Canada, back east. Not nearly as nice a selection as Zhao, but nicer than pet store fish. I’ll be on the lookout for a few more locally, as nice ones pop up occasionally.
The tank went a little cloudy after adding the fish - small bacterial bloom, I suppose, and I’m not worried about it. RDF is working great, but here are some things I’ve learned.
1) Herbie style overflows are really hard to tune. I bought the best gate valve I could find (Spears), I got the pump tuned just right for both the tank water level and the RDF, but damned if I can get the overflows silent. Small adjustments seem to do nothing, then suddenly it’s too much and trickle noises ensue. I give up ¯\(°_o)/¯
2) I can’t believe how much maintenance jungle vals need! I am constantly in there up to my armpits pulling ageing leaves off the rosettes. Like, several times a week. I knew there would be some initial melt back, but they should be past that by now. This was supposed to be a super low maintenance tank …
Soooo, time for a rescape. The dwarf sag is getting uprooted by the fish and the vals have to go.
I’m switching them for some tall crypts from another tank and putting everything in faux driftwood pots like these
:
I’m removing the rocks, and 2/3 of the pool filter sand, leaving just enough for the goldfish to dig around in.
Another problem is the glass in back is too hard to clean with all the vals in the way (problem potentially solved), and houseplant baskets and mangroves suction cupped to the glass.
The mangroves are rooting and sprouting, so I think I can start selling the excess off. For the ones I keep, I have an idea for floating rings to set them in and tether them to the tank frame. The houseplant baskets - I don’t know. But things should improve alot with the other changes.
Hopefully, next update will incorporate all of these changes for the better!
Last edited:
My favorite.
