Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping => General Fishkeeping Chat => Topic started by: barneyadi on December 23, 2019, 07:03:41 PM
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Having asked a few questions lately thought I would let you know what I am hoping to do.
As you probably know I have two tanks, one is empty and now clean and ready to ready. The other has some fish in, neons and pencils mainly. The plan is to get the empty tank up and running, plant it up, transfer the filter media to the new filter and then transfer the fish over. Then after a week or so, depending on readings will get the other tank ready to the other new filter and transfer the original mature media over to the other new filter and then slowly add fish.
Tank one will definitely stay tropical but will have tropica soil and be planted. Tank two is most likely going to have guppies and platys in if the JBL Aquadur does the trick in raising my Dh. If it doesn't then might go temperate or just have another tropical tank. It will have the same soil and will also be planted.
Going to use Oase internal filters as they are corner ones with built in heater, so hopefully will look better. I am probably going to update the lights in both tanks as well. Found one solution for changing the lights to LED. Seeing if there is any other way as seems quite a few different LED's on line but of course with my tank lid I am probably rather restricted unless I can find a cover of some sort. Any ideas would be welcome.
Will try and keep things updated as I go, probably more question too.
Dave
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Tank two is most likely going to have guppies and platys in if the JBL Aquadur does the trick in raising my Dh.
Hi @barneyadi
As explained previously, JBL Aquadur increases KH and GH. The term 'Dh' is incorrect but no big deal as you'll soon grasp the terminology. We can further advise you concerning dosage of Aquadur but don't forget that it will need to be added to your dechlorinated tap water each and every time that you add water to your tank.
JPC
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Great to get your update on plans, @barneyadi - keep us posted.
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Great to get your update on plans, @barneyadi - keep us posted.
Will do.
Hit a slight brick wall about lighting. Matt has given me good advice but also asked some others and getting lots of different views so rather confused at moment, but doing some internet research tonight to see if I can get things clearer in my head. ;D
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Aha!!! A lightbulb moment about lighting. It seems that a 28w T5 bulb will produce 1120 lumens, divided by my lank litres of totals 8.96 per litre. Easy plants seem to want 10-20 lumens so with two bulbs totalling nearly 18 lumen that all sounds good. Maybe fitting a reflector will increase this and move me into medium plants.
Well it seems to make sense.
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It does except medium plants will require co2 injection too!
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It does except medium plants will require co2 injection too!
That's ok, will stick to easy plants, make my life easier.
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So tank 1 on the way. Background attached, tropica soil in at 1 to 3 inch deep and a small bit of wood. Filter will go in back right hand corner.
Any comments/suggestions most welcome.
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Looks good to me! :cheers:
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Christmas and New Year have got in the way of things slightly. Tank 1 is ready to add plants to. Unfortunately all the local LFS are low on stock so will wait for new supplies or might order online. Got lighting, a retrofit of LED's for my Juwel tanks. Got one in each tank, looks good in one but not so much in other tank but will wait and see when plants are done in tank 1 as can always add a second light.
Mulling over how to do tank 2, seen a resin submarine and a aircraft carrier I like but as its a planted tank trying to decide if they will fit in as most planted tanks I have seen have wood and/or stone.
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It can be useful to find out what day of the week each store gets its plant deliveries in - the way you can be sure to get the best quality and choice of plants. Many will also order in exactly what you want if it in in their catalogue.
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Just realised I could be using one of my new filters in my old tank to get some bacteria on the new sponges. So transferred old media into one of the three slots and got new sponges in the other two. Quite impressed with the filter, top flow rate is very strong but has a nice gentle flow rate as well.
Will let you know how things progress.
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Had my new filter with mature media in it up and running for a week. Hopefully getting plants for other tank tomorrow, and once planted will fill with water. I understand that Tropica soil doesn't normally cause a ammonia bloom. So if I check my readings and they all seem ok, can I transfer the fish from other tank into it, bringing the filter with mature media as well.
Also how long does it take to seed the other sponges when using mature media?
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Great about the filter. Hopefully it sits nice and neatly against the corner and doesn't float out at the bottom like my JBL corner one does/did (before I used magnets to address the issue)?
As you'll be bringing both the filters over into the new tank, then you could transfer the fish with it when it's filled with water and water quality readings seem good and water parameters on a par with the old tank. It would probably take approx a month for the new filter to be fully seeded, after which you could remove one of the other filters if you wished - but do keep an eye on water quality for approx 4-6 weeks after that, to ensure that it's definitely ok.
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Great about the filter. Hopefully it sits nice and neatly against the corner and doesn't float out at the bottom like my JBL corner one does/did (before I used magnets to address the issue)?
As you'll be bringing both the filters over into the new tank, then you could transfer the fish with it when it's filled with water and water quality readings seem good and water parameters on a par with the old tank. It would probably take approx a month for the new filter to be fully seeded, after which you could remove one of the other filters if you wished - but do keep an eye on water quality for approx 4-6 weeks after that, to ensure that it's definitely ok.
Definitely seems to sit nicely in the corner and no floating away yet.
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So here is the first picture of planted tank. Think I will need more plants at front to cover but looking for anything else I might have missed.
Any thoughts?
David
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Great news re your filter. Mine floated away from the outset, so it sounds as though your brand and model is much better.
I like the layout of your tank and plants - well done! I'll leave the more experienced plant-keepers to cast a more constructive critical eye over it.
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Looking good! 8) Be sure to take the same photo of your tank every week or two so you can see any progress more clearly. You might experience a few algae issues over the first couple of months, the best thing you can do to combat these is to do big and very regular water changes for this initial period. Let me know if you need anything, but I think the tank looks great - the more plants you can add now the better too. Keep up updated!! :cheers:
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Looking good! 8) Be sure to take the same photo of your tank every week or two so you can see any progress more clearly. You might experience a few algae issues over the first couple of months, the best thing you can do to combat these is to do big and very regular water changes for this initial period. Let me know if you need anything, but I think the tank looks great - the more plants you can add now the better too. Keep up updated!! :cheers:
@Matt I suppose my main worries at moment is if lighting is enough and what fertiliser to use. Have seen TNC complete, TNC Lite (supposedly for low tech) and the aquascaper complete plant food. Not sure which is best.
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Are you planning on heavily or lightly stocking the tank and what are your tap water nitrates?
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Are you planning on heavily or lightly stocking the tank and what are your tap water nitrates?
Tap nitrates are 5ppm. Just want to stock as much as I can safely.
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Any thoughts?
It looks nice :) good work.
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In that case I would get BOTH TNC Lite and Complete. You can then dose around a half dose of Complete and a half dose of Lite after your weekly water change, i suspect this will provide the best results. Keep a note of your nitrate levels pre your weekly water changes and let me know and we can adjust this if needs be.
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In that case I would get BOTH TNC Lite and Complete. You can then dose around a half dose of Complete and a half dose of Lite after your weekly water change, i suspect this will provide the best results. Keep a note of your nitrate levels pre your weekly water changes and let me know and we can adjust this if needs be.
@Matt how long should I keep lights on, was thinking 6 to 7 hours.
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Sounds sensible, I would start with 6, ramping up to 8 by the end of the first couple of months of the tanks life - this will give it time to settle, minimise chance of algae etc...
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Ok, been hit with a slight delay. Checked my water parameters and Ammonia at 4ppm and Nitrites at 2pm. Suspect the Tropica soil is to blame.
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Don't panic. Better for this to have occurred now, rather than when fish were in the tank.
I'll leave this to others to advise what, if anything, you ought to do next in the circumstances.
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Ok, been hit with a slight delay. Checked my water parameters and Ammonia at 4ppm and Nitrites at 2pm. Suspect the Tropica soil is to blame.
This article on the forum that talks about tropica soil not releasing ammonia however I’m not sure if helps narrow down your reasons for the parameters
https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/aquascaping/substrate-3879/msg46883/#msg46883
:)
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There was a great booklet that I've seen in the past few years that featured all sorts of different substrates - a page on each. I can visualise it, and know I've seen it on here, but can't for the life of me find it. Can anyone help? I'd be intrigued to see what its Tropica soil page said.
Edited to add: I know JPC has helpfully since replied but I'm still keen to see the aforementioned booklet anyway, if anyone recalls it, as it would be quite good to "sticky" it in the forum as a useful source for those considering the pros/cons of different substrates.
Edited to add (again): This might be it https://www.ukaps.org/index.php?page=guide-to-substrates although it's not quite how I visualised it; perhaps there's something similar or it appears in a different format as a hard-copy booklet with more pictures.
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Ok, been hit with a slight delay. Checked my water parameters and Ammonia at 4ppm and Nitrites at 2pm. Suspect the Tropica soil is to blame.
Hi @barneyadi
There's obviously a good reason why Tropica have this to say about their Aquarium Soil:
"Aquarium Soil is further an active bottom layer that lowers the pH value and slightly affects the water chemistry. We recommend that you change 25-50% of the water min. twice a week during the first 4 weeks after establishing the aquarium".
The last four words of the second sentence make no sense to me! I despair with some of these suppliers. I think I'm also correct in saying that their Specialised Nutrition fertilizer contains ammonium. You may want to check this out.
JPC
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Thanks for all the replies. I did research Tropica soil and went for it as it was suppose too not cause a ammonia burst. But unless wood or plants can cause the ammonia, it is the only thing it can be. It's not a big problem, been told about something that can remove it, but as with everything I will watch the chemistry closely. It's a shame as two LFS are just getting new fish in after Christmas break, but will get there.
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Edited to add (again): This might be it https://www.ukaps.org/index.php?page=guide-to-substrates although it's not quite how I visualised it; perhaps there's something similar or it appears in a different format as a hard-copy booklet with more pictures.
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Thanks @fcmf I am yet to choose a substrate so this will make light reading tonight :D
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Edited to add (again): This might be it https://www.ukaps.org/index.php?page=guide-to-substrates although it's not quite how I visualised it; perhaps there's something similar or it appears in a different format as a hard-copy booklet with more pictures.
Thanks @fcmf I am yet to choose a substrate so this will make light reading tonight :D
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Strangely Tropica Aquarium Soil isn't on the list.
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It's likely the wood that is releasing the ammonia. You will also likely see a fungus growth on the outside which will disappear after a couple of weeks. Wood is not particularly well know for releasing ammonia when first entered into the aquarium but it does do so fairly reliably and you have a large chunk of wood there.
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It's likely the wood that is releasing the ammonia...Wood is not particularly well know for releasing ammonia when first entered into the aquarium but it does do so fairly reliably and you have a large chunk of wood there.
Hi @Matt
I wasn't aware that aquarium wood released any ammonia that would be of concern. I think we should draw attention to this post on the UKAPS forum:
https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/another-tank-cycling-question-kind-of.59143/#post-579380
It looks as if you replied to this post.
JPC
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It's likely the wood that is releasing the ammonia. You will also likely see a fungus growth on the outside which will disappear after a couple of weeks. Wood is not particularly well know for releasing ammonia when first entered into the aquarium but it does do so fairly reliably and you have a large chunk of wood there.
@Matt So how can I get rid of this ammonia?
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I recently learned from DIY AquaPros. The soil may of course be releasing some too but it seems the wood may also be the culprit. Regardless, let's help you deal with it!...
You need to prevent the ammonia from going to high. Anything above three on your water tests and I would do a water change to bring it back down. The ammonia is a good thing in a sense, it will feed the plants and help establish the beneficial bacteria. Likely the quickest way to ensure the tank can process the ammonia efficiently and be able to take fish is to establish some used media into the filter if you can get hold of some.