Tom Raffield
Member
Hi everyone,
It has been a couple of years since I last posted on these forums and in the past these forums have helped me out no end (check my old posts). I am turning to the forums again now for some important advice. To keep this post relatively short and concise I will try and summarise quickly!
Setup: Juwel Vision 260, Fluval FX4, custom spray bar, pressurised CO2, EI dosing ferts, stock lighting tubes (a few years old) and a mix of eco-complete and gravel base which was put in when the tank started about four years ago.
Livestock: pentazona barbs, neons, cherry barbs, amano shrimp. Very small number considering tank size.
Plants: amazon swords, hygrophilia polysperma, java fern, crypts, moss balls and a large piece of wood.
Routine: CO2 on for about 8 hours a day, Lights for about 6. 40-50% water change every week. No space for substrate cleaning.
My situation! I have a 17 month old daughter and another little one on the way in February; this means that I now have very limited time and funds. I do not like my tank at the moment and have become quite down about the whole hobby over the last year. For many, many months the plants have never really been that good - even my amazon swords get covered in pin holes with black edges and look unhealthy. The polysperma lower leaves go back edged and break apart. The crypts are covered in black flecks over the leaves. I can't see how more ferts or more CO2 will help the problem. I have made numerous changes at great cost to the filtration, water turnover and spray bar. I can't do anymore. I have toyed with the idea of breaking the tank down and getting rid of everything but felt this would be a shame considering the years I have had it.
Ideally I need to scale down to a tank which requires the minimal amount of maintenance and minimum amount of cost outlay. As such I have considered the following options but have no idea if they are sensible or realistic:
Many thanks in advance.
It has been a couple of years since I last posted on these forums and in the past these forums have helped me out no end (check my old posts). I am turning to the forums again now for some important advice. To keep this post relatively short and concise I will try and summarise quickly!
Setup: Juwel Vision 260, Fluval FX4, custom spray bar, pressurised CO2, EI dosing ferts, stock lighting tubes (a few years old) and a mix of eco-complete and gravel base which was put in when the tank started about four years ago.
Livestock: pentazona barbs, neons, cherry barbs, amano shrimp. Very small number considering tank size.
Plants: amazon swords, hygrophilia polysperma, java fern, crypts, moss balls and a large piece of wood.
Routine: CO2 on for about 8 hours a day, Lights for about 6. 40-50% water change every week. No space for substrate cleaning.
My situation! I have a 17 month old daughter and another little one on the way in February; this means that I now have very limited time and funds. I do not like my tank at the moment and have become quite down about the whole hobby over the last year. For many, many months the plants have never really been that good - even my amazon swords get covered in pin holes with black edges and look unhealthy. The polysperma lower leaves go back edged and break apart. The crypts are covered in black flecks over the leaves. I can't see how more ferts or more CO2 will help the problem. I have made numerous changes at great cost to the filtration, water turnover and spray bar. I can't do anymore. I have toyed with the idea of breaking the tank down and getting rid of everything but felt this would be a shame considering the years I have had it.
Ideally I need to scale down to a tank which requires the minimal amount of maintenance and minimum amount of cost outlay. As such I have considered the following options but have no idea if they are sensible or realistic:
- Reduce and eventually remove the CO2 and dose no ferts and attempt to keep the plants or at least some of the plants.
- Scale down the CO2 and ferts input to try and make the tank more manageable.
- Remove all plants and equipment and move to a fish only tank with the possibility of adding more wood for a wood only scape.
- Rip out all the plants and old eco-complete/gravel and go to a fish only tank or wood only tank.
Many thanks in advance.