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The Green Reaper

gex23

Member
Joined
10 Jan 2011
Messages
252
*Updated equipment list 23/12/17*

First off, don't expect good photos (they look like they've been taken with a potato), clever aquascaping or a green finger, I possess none of this :lol:

Initially this was supposed to be a low tech build, however i'm probably going to go for a medium / high tech setup.

Equipment so far :

Aquarium - Fluval Roma 90 (60l x 35w x 45h)
Filtration - Eheim Professional 3e 700
Heater - Hydor 200w external
Lighting - Ecotech Radion XR15FW x 2 running the freshwater planted template. Kessil A160 tunasun on a timer for 2 hours at midday.
Substrate - ADA Amazon 12l soil and ADA Amazon 3l powder
Hardscape - No hardscape.

Maintenance regime -

50 litre water changes (tap water) twice a week, treated with Seachem prime
TNC complete fertiliser (10ml) added daily
Easylife easy carbo (liquid carbon) (5ml) added daily
Easylife ferro (iron supplement) 1.5ml added daily

Still to purchase :

- Reefloat automatic water changer
- Ectotech Vortech MP10QD
- Ecotech Reeflink
- Sodastream CO2 system

Planned livestock :

- Paracheirodon Axelrodi
- Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
- Apistogramma Panduro
- Corydoras Pygmaeus


33475280573_ed7ecbf602_c.jpg
20170418_201559 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

This has changed a bit :

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So today I added plants and honestly it was a total disaster as it looks awful and over-planted. Way too many varieties. The Alterna Reineckii was a particularly poor choice and will be removed ASAP.

The plant list is as follows :

- Rotala Wallichii
- Hygrophila Polysperma
- Hydrocotyle tripartita 'Japan'
- Cryptocoryne Willsii
- Cryptocoryne Wendtii
- Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green
- Cryptocoryne Becketii
- Alternanthera reineckii 'Pink'

(Only planted a few hours ago) :

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20170426_170208 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

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20170426_170115 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

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20170426_170227 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

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20170426_170254 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

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20170426_170237 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

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20170426_170307 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

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20170426_170328 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

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20170426_170337 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
 
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I like the hardscape a lot. I think a bit more depth could be created but ramping up the substrate at the back, and introducing some smaller grade rocks. As you say, I don't think the Alternanthera quite gels. I'd also suggest breaking up the crypts into separate plantlets so that they grow out and converge eventually, rather than staying bunched up forever
 
Hi
Its a very nice setup.For a newly setup tank high O2 levels are important for the tank N cycle especially with ADA Amazonia.If U are going for the CO2 route.
As soon as U install it the spraybar needs to be under the water with flow not breaking the surface as it will outgas a lot of the gas you pump in.That said while fine tuning the CO2 some surface agitation is useful to achieve constant levels.
Good luck with your project and all the best.
Can't wait to see it all grown in.
Regards Konsa
 
Hi there! Don't be so harsh on yourself: it's not a disaster and it's certainly not overplanted; actually this vegetal mass will bring " balance to the Force " ; problem is, IMHO, that you started this tank - high end substrate and light unit - without CO2; I think you're on the edge there; BTW, what's your opinion on this Ecotech XR15? Is it blindingly strong? At what percentage do you run it?
If I can give you a piece of advice: use the Tropica starting guide application for the first 3 months; I have been using it myself, 3 out of 3 times, 100 % success.


Envoyé de mon SM-G935F en utilisant Tapatalk
 
Cheers for all the replies,

Eduard - It's a great unit, as I come from a marine background I like high powered high end light units. I currently run it on a 45% peak intensity. Colour temp starts at 4500k, steadily ramping up to a midday temp of 7000k, and back down for dusk. Also runs lunar cycles.

A few things :

CO2 system will be ordered tomorrow.
I need more flow but don't want to spend on a Vortech MP10QD and reeflink right now, so will go for something like a Jebao RW4 or Fluval Sea wavemaker for better flow.
Fertilisers will be ordered with the CO2 system.

Question though - should I carbon dose AND add CO2?
 
Made the most of the CO2art bank holiday discounts and ordered a sodastream CO2 system, along with a 16 /22 mm inline atomiser from someone off here,
 
Attached some Java / Christmas / Weeping moss.

Ammonia still high and no sign of nitrates yet.

CO2 system should be here tomorrow. Atomiser arrived today.

Definitely need more flow.
 
liquid carbon and CO2 are complementary ; I use them both simultaneously ; there is no risk for the fish or the invertebrates
 
So a warts and all update.

CO2 added plus a pair of Apistogramma Nijsseni.

As you can tell, LOTS of algae and diatoms everywhere.

Plenty of crypts have melted and significant detritus build up on every possible surface.

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20170514_201015 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

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20170514_201022 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
 
Also wanting to add a bright red stem plant between the H.Polysperma and R.Wallichi - any suggestions?

Also the Java fern will be mounted on the manzanita eventually with leaf litter put in the bottom right hand corner.
 
Update

- Added some red root floater
- Pretty much every crypt has melted
- Need to pick up some liquid CO2
- Considering EI ferts method
- Considering going less hardscape and lot more dense planting, sort of a dutch hybrid.
 
Thinking of adding a second XR15fw to my tank.

Frustrated by the growth habit from a single point light source.
 
Quick video update - the qualities been killed by youtube.




Dosing wise - TNC ferts 10ml daily, easycarbo 10m daily (temporary to kill algae), also I returned the Apistogramma Nijessini and replaced with a pair of Microgeophagus Ramirezi.

Seem to have gotten in control of the hair algae, though the rotala wallichi has slowly died off from the bottom up. Also added a coupe of Buce 'Wavy green' and am now thoroughly addicted to all things Buce!

Equipment wise i'll be purchasing a second XR15fw, this time the G4 pro most probably, an inline heater and a second Eheim external to increase capacity / add biomedia / increase total turnover. Glass lily pipe and intake / surface skimmer ordered and on their way.
 

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Seem to be talking to myself but oh well.

Second Ecotech XR15FW (3rd gen) bought - should be here next week.
 
Hi
The things happening in your tank are very commonly seem in new setups.The key is to keep on top of the maintenance and regular water changes. I am surprised U desided to put the drop checker there.Its ussualy positioned on opposite side of the diffuser. U may get false reading where it is as bubbbles of Co2 may enter it directly.From what I see U have pretty good flow.
Ferts wise make sure U dose macro and micros both.U haven't said wich TCN U are using.Dont go wild on the liquid carbon as is not a miracle cure it works best when spot dosing with filter off.Some plants are sensitive towards it.Adding floating plants is a good idea.They will help balance the tank.Adding more light may be a bit tricky at this stage so make sure U reduce the intensity of both.Dont hassle about having more biomedia as the actively growing plants will do most of the biological filtration .
Regards Konsa
 
Hi
The things happening in your tank are very commonly seem in new setups.The key is to keep on top of the maintenance and regular water changes. I am surprised U desided to put the drop checker there.Its ussualy positioned on opposite side of the diffuser. U may get false reading where it is as bubbbles of Co2 may enter it directly.From what I see U have pretty good flow.
Ferts wise make sure U dose macro and micros both.U haven't said wich TCN U are using.Dont go wild on the liquid carbon as is not a miracle cure it works best when spot dosing with filter off.Some plants are sensitive towards it.Adding floating plants is a good idea.They will help balance the tank.Adding more light may be a bit tricky at this stage so make sure U reduce the intensity of both.Dont hassle about having more biomedia as the actively growing plants will do most of the biological filtration .
Regards Konsa

Thankyou for the input.

Water changes - 25 litres of RO / DI water (0TDS) twice weekly.

CO2 diffuser - as per your recommendation i've now moved it to the opposite side of the tank

Fertilisers - It's the TNC complete liquid fertiliser. According to TNCs website it's 'Comprehensive aquarium fertiliser containing nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and trace elements.
Ideal for high light, CO2 enriched tanks'. Can also be used on an EI estimative regime too. So seems suited.

Liquid carbon - i'll be slowly tapering off to 5ml per day.

Lighting - I'll be halving intensity but maintaining the photoperiod and keeping an eye on algae blooms. Bought it purely for better light distribution.

Floating plants - Added red root floater and duckweed but managed to kill it off!

Filtration / Media - You raise a valid point. It's more for the increase water capacity / water flow. I may be tempted to add an Ecotech Vortech MP10 and run it with the Radions via a reeflink Wifi module.
 
Keep the posts coming, watching thread with interest.

Sent from Mountolympus via neural interface

Cheers :)

Radion on it's way, I just need to modify the mounting bracket to accommodate it now.
 
Hi
If U having algae issues I will recommend to make 2 x 50 % waterchanges.
Yes TCN complate is fine I have seen EI dosage sheme on this product but cant recall where sr.
Dont give up on floaters.Get some pistia (dwarf water lettuce ) it grows fast or Amazon frogbit (Large roots) they are bullet proof.
Regards Konsa
 
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