Journal SkaleyAquatics Re-attempted Dutch

[SkaleyAquatics]

Alright so did a thing to the main tank today:

Reduced the plant species down to 11, not 100% on all the species choices yet but drastically happier with the ability to reduce the number. Now have to get plants happy.

Also putting these information sheets I created heavily based off of greggz in here so I can reference them at a later date.
Main Tank:

40gal Farm Tank:

20gal Farm Tank:

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

So I'm stumped as what this could be causing the twisted leaves on this H. Siamensis 53b. This is the only plant in the main tank to be doing this on new growth.

Dosing are above. I did raise Ca to 30 from 24 this week. As I noticed this on H. Saliciflora before I moved it to the farm tank.

 

[Burr740]

Dosing-wise going by your chart, on paper that shouldnt be happening. All around good numbers for hygros

Hygros do love them some macros though, esp K. Hows the older growth look?

A Co2 issue typically doesnt deform tops like that, at least not hygro tops

I wouldve probably tried more Ca too in your case. Give it a couple more weeks and see if it changes, or maybe even try 35-40

Theres not much else I can see that might cause it to do that

 

[Burr740]

Have you started my micros yet or still using whatever you had before?

If the older leaves are good, at first glance this looks like a low or ineffective Fe issue. I saw your numbers identical to mine and immediately dismissed the notion. Then I remembered you just got it last week or so

If the older leaves are doing bad too Id raise macros by an extra wc dose. Because if thats the case its not Ca or Fe

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Dosing-wise going by your chart, on paper that shouldnt be happening. All around good numbers for hygros

Hygros do love them some macros though, esp K. Hows the older growth look?

A Co2 issue typically doesnt deform tops like that, at least not hygro tops

I wouldve probably tried more Ca too in your case. Give it a couple more weeks and see if it changes, or maybe even try 35-40

Theres not much else I can see that might cause it to do that

There is only one internode of old growth before its is the emersed state and those leaves look normal to me. Good color, normal vein colors, curling or any issues.

Have you started my micros yet or still using whatever you had before?

If the older leaves are good, at first glance this looks like a low or ineffective Fe issue. I saw your numbers identical to mine and immediately dismissed the notion. Then I remembered you just got it last week or so

If the older leaves are doing bad too Id raise macros by an extra wc dose. Because if thats the case its not Ca or Fe

This tank I am still using what I had before, GLA (EDTA + DPTA) Micromix. These are the numbers I get per dose with that:

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

I just realized I might be underdosing macros and micros. I've only been dosing to 22gal, which is my water change volume.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

I just realized I might be underdosing macros and micros. I've only been dosing to 22gal, which is my water change volume.

These should be the weekly dosed accumulation totals for the nutrients:


These numbers do not feel horrifically off, but I am guessing I will need to up Micros to dose for 36gal instead of 22gal? Do I need to do the same for macros or am I correct in dosing the 22gal of replacement water?

If the above case is true I will have to follow suite in my farm tanks as I was dosing the water change volume instead of whole tank volume.

 

[Burr740]

I just realized I might be underdosing macros and micros. I've only been dosing to 22gal, which is my water change volume.

Well yeah that would explain it, lol

Any numbers I give are based on whole tank volume. And yes definitely adjust all nutrients

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Well yeah that would explain it, lol

Any numbers I give are based on whole tank volume. And yes definitely adjust all nutrients

Thats what I figure haha, it had been so long since I used rotala butterfly and figured out totals I forgot. Ca and MG I am doing correctly since I am dosing the whole ro barrel on fills.

I'll adjust those numbers up and let you know in a few weeks. I had been dosing your micro mix on the 20gal and was following your recommended dosing of 2ml per 10gal so that's what made me realize I might be underdosing everything else.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Things are moving along... I can't say that they are moving in the right direction but moving. Little bit of an algae outburst. Probably do to the increased ferts all of a sudden.

I have found quite a few leaks in the yugang reactor so still messing with that. Hopefully I can pull it off tonight and get those sealed up and that will be the end of that. I will probably take the opportunity to also spray it black since we are supposed to have significantly lower humidity here the next few days. I'll take the time to my advantage.

The farm tanks are a hit or miss the 20gal is doing great and am seeing a positive change in plants color starting since switching to @Burr740 micros. I plan to do the same in the other tanks as well. Really hope I can get the main tank under control and ready for the AGA competition. Even if it's not perfect I plan on submitting for feedback and I was asked to give a talk on prepping for it for my local fish club.

 

[Art]

Even if it's not perfect I plan on submitting for feedback and I was asked to give a talk on prepping for it for my local fish club

Completely agree with your decision to submit anyway. You get valuable feedback so it’s very worth it.

Love that you’re giving a talk to your local club. If you do any presentation, please consider adding it here as source. We can always use it and share it with the wider community. Good luck!

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Completely agree with your decision to submit anyway. You get valuable feedback so it’s very worth it.

Love that you’re giving a talk to your local club. If you do any presentation, please consider adding it here as source. We can always use it and share it with the wider community. Good luck!

I have already begun compiling the slides now. I would be more than happy to upload the slides here as a reference, we are a pretty small club and normally do not have talks recorded.

 

[Art]

Slides would be more than welcomed. Let me know when you’re ready and I can help get them uploaded.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

So while I could exclusively post the good, where is the learning process without the bad? So Sunday this was what the tank looked like:
What a disaster. Did a water change as far down as my pump would allow which I estimate to be about 30gal or 90%. Water was still pretty cloudy after that. This evening I decided to do another 90% water change and this is what it came out looking like:

I am very pleased with the extra effort this week and how much better it looks. I do have a uv sterilizer on the way as believe it or not this is the first time I've dealt with green water in 17 years of fish keeping. On the plus side the plants look great for the most part in this tank. 2 weeks ago maybe 3. I adjusted my Ca up to 40ppm instead of the 30ppm I was doing. This week I also adjust the lights down as the limnophila aquatica is staying compact towards the substrate and its already starting to grow more upright. Things are moving in the right direction and am pleased with where I am at. Here are my current dosing numbers:

Layout wise I moved the red lotus to a temporary spot and moved bacopa colorata into its spot. I was hesitant to put the bacopa there because of leaf comparisons with the lobelia cardinalis. I promised someone I would test it but I felt it was wrong and I still stand by that and it will eventually be moved. I want a fine leaf red plant there in the focal point. The aponogeton as the front left curtain is going to be moved. I want to keep it in there but I have not decided what to put in its spot. I think this year I am going to have to go without a moss wall. I could probably get a java moss wall together by then but the end of summer is looking hectic and do not know if Ill have the time to keep it upkept. This tank currently has 8 species so I can add 1 or 2 without much concern.

Also lets take the first look at the 40gal farm tank. I decided this past weekend to take down the 20gal and just focus on 2 tanks.

This tank is the next tank to get right. Its a algae farm. It looks much worse in person then these pictures give credit. The plan this week is to trim all the unhealthy growth and replant the healthy tops. Massive water changes and might also start doing water changes 2x a week.

 

[Art]

Hey thanks for the update and honestly showing what we all go through. We need to see the challenging times to really appreciate when the tank is looking really good.

I also love the fact that you're using the Excel spreadsheet to track your ferts. Awesome and allows us to see what you're doing.

Why do you think the farm tank is challenged with algae?

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Why do you think the farm tank is challenged with algae?

I have a couple theories to this. I haven't been as good with upkeep on it and it took me awhile to dial in the co2. I think the co2 is finally dialed in now I need to be more vigorous on maintenance of the tank to match that of the main tank.

 

[Art]

In my situation, I've really come to think of it as a cause and effect thing. When I slack on maintenance, I know that it will lead to algae. I do have fun wondering which algae it will be "this time".

May I ask how you went about "dialing in" your CO2?

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

In my situation, I've really come to think of it as a cause and effect thing. When I slack on maintenance, I know that it will lead to algae. I do have fun wondering which algae it will be "this time".

May I ask how you went about "dialing in" your CO2?

Yeah there is definitely a cause and effect with algae. I have finally gotten a good routine down in the main tank that I am now not even seeing GDA. I partially believe that is tying into tank maturity as well as maintenance.

Regarding the dialing in of co2. I was really watching the saturation of mist in the tank since I am using a diffuser for the co2. I have noticed pearling in many plants and now I am testing pH drop once a week.

 

[Art]

So is pearling still a good think to look for when tweaking or have we moved to focusing on the 1+ pH drop?

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

So is pearling still a good think to look for when tweaking or have we moved to focusing on the 1+ pH drop?

I don't know that they are exclusive. I'm still looking for a 1+ pH drop. But who's not to say that plants pearling is not a good indicator of co2 levels? Also visible bubbles on plants can tell how well water circulation is in your tank, can it not? If only some plants are pearling then you might not be evenly distributing co2 across the tank.