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L_Plates Juwel Rio 240 - Cycle and Design Log

L_Plates

L_Plates

Member
Joined
19 Apr 2011
Messages
154
I am currently cycling my Juwel Rio 240 - Image below.
tank.jpg


Set Up
Juwel Rio 240
Size: 121 x 41 x 55 cm
Volume: 240 litres
Lighting system: Twin T5 High Lites
Filter System: Compact H
Pump: 1000 lph
Heater/stat: 200 watts
Temp: 28 degrees c.

Tap water parameters:
Straight from tap:
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
PH: 7.4
PH High: 7.8

Daily Tests
Day 1, 3rd April 2011 - 17:00: Ammonia: 4ppm
Day 2, 4th April 2011 - 17:00: Ammonia: 1ppm, Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrates: 0ppm
Day 3, 5th April 2011 - 17:00: Ammonia: 1ppm
Day 4, 6th April 2011 - 19.00: Ammonia: 1ppm
Day 5, 7th April 2011 - 19.00: Ammonia: 1ppm, Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrates: 1ppm (slightly orange)
Day 6, 8th April 2011 - 19.00: Ammonia: 1ppm
Day 7, 9th April 2011 - 19.00: Ammonia: 1ppm
Day 8, 10th April 2011 - 19.00: Ammonia: 1ppm, Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrates: 1ppm (slightly orange)
Day 9, 11th April 2011 - 18:00: Ammonia: 1ppm
Day 10, 12th April 2011 - 19:00: Ammonia: 0.50ppm *Redosed to 5ppm*
Day 11, 13th April 2011 - 19.20: Ammonia: 5ppm, Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrates: 1ppm (slightly orange)
Day 12, 14th April 2011 - 19.00: Ammonia: 5ppm
Day 13, 15th April 2011 - 18.30: Ammonia: 5ppm
Day 14, 16th April 2011 - 19.30: Ammonia: 5ppm, PH Low: 7.6, PH High: 7.8 (Added Bogwood)
Day 15, 17th April 2011 - 17:50: Ammonia: 5ppm (Added 2 small Plants)
Day 16, 18th April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 2ppm, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 5ppm
Day 17, 19th April 2011 - 17:30: Ammonia: 0.25ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 20-40ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 18, 20th April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 20-40ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 19, 21st April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 20-40ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 20, 22nd April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 80 - 160ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 21, 23rd April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 5ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 22, 24th April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 5ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 23, 25th April 2011 - 16:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 5ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 24, 26th April 2011 - 16:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 5ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 25, 27th April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 5ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 26, 28th April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 20ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 27, 29th April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 20ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 28, 30th April 2011 - 18:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 20ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm

Day 29, 1st May 2011 - 17:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 20ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 30, 2nd May 2011 - 17:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: Off the Scale, Nitrates: 20ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 31, 3rd May 2011 - 17:30: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: 2.00, Nitrates: 80ppm, Redosed ammonia to 3ppm
Day 32, 4th May 2011 - 19:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, PH: 7.6, Nitrite: 0, Nitrates: 80ppm Redosed ammonia to 3ppm

Start testing every 12 hours for 0 in ammonia and nitrite
Day 33, 5th May 2011 - 07:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 1
Day 33, 5th May 2011 - 19:00: Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrates: 80ppm Redosed ammonia to 4ppm

Day 34, 6th May 2011 - 07:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 1
Day 34, 6th May 2011 - 19:00: Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrates: 80ppm Redosed ammonia to 4ppm

Day 35, 7th May 2011 - 07:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0.25
Day 35, 7th May 2011 - 19:00: Nitrite: 0ppm, Redosed ammonia to 4ppm

Day 36, 8th May 2011 - 07:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0
Day 36, 8th May 2011 - 19:00: Redosed ammonia to 4ppm

Day 37, 9th May 2011 - 07:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0
Day 37, 9th May 2011 - 19:00: Redosed ammonia to 4ppm

Day 38, 10th May 2011 - 07:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0
Day 38, 10th May 2011 - 19:00: Redosed ammonia to 4ppm

Day 39, 11th May 2011 - 07:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0
Day 39, 11th May 2011 - 19:00: Redosed ammonia to 4ppm

Day 40, 12th May 2011 - 07:00: Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0
Day 40, 12th May 2011 - 19:00: Redosed ammonia to 4ppm

This will be my last dosing as its fish on Saturday. Cycle Complete :)

Fish: 18 Copper Harlequins, 12 Five Banded Barbs, 5 Peppered Cory, 5 Rams, 6 Hillstream Loaches, 1 Molly, 3 Cardinal Tetras, 3 Platinum Tetras, 3 Glowlight Tetras, 4 Assassin Snails

Plants: Aponogeton crispus 'Red', Echinodorus x barthii, Taxiphyllum barbieri, Sagittaria platyphylla, Eleocharis parvula, Sagittaria subulata, Bacopa australis, Echinodorus bleheri (bleherae), Alternanthera reineckii 'Purple' (lilacina), Anubias, Java Fern, Echinodorus x barthii.

Co2: Fire Extinguisher 2kg. Diffused via my SEIO 250 Powerhead.

Images Of Tank

15 May 2011
tank1.jpg


tank2.jpg


18th May 2011
240latest.jpg


6th June 2011
240latest2.jpg


Five Banded Barbs.
barbs1.jpg


barbs2.jpg


German Blue Rams
rams.jpg


21st June 2011
IMAG0325.jpg


5 July 2011
2011-07-05-19-55-40.jpg


14th July 2011
21st-June-2011.jpg


Latest Member to the Family, THE BOSS - Male GBR
male-ram.jpg
 
Hi Alan, welcome :)

If you're not using CO2, you might find it best to remove the air pump. The pump will just create extra surface movement, which will cause you to lose CO2. You don't want a completely still surface, but you do want to limit the amount of agitation unless you inject extra CO2.

Your lights are probably bordering on bright enough to require some sort of CO2, but see how you go. If you start getting Black Beard Algae, Staghorn algae or other hair algaes, it might be worth looking in to it. Have a look here for algae types and causes: http://theplantedtank.co.uk/.

A lack of CO2 won't limit your plant choice so much, but it will certainly limit the growth of the plants you have. There are cheaper ways of setting up a CO2 system if you need to. Have a search on here for how to use CO2 Fire Extinguishers. You can also get a regulator and solenoid off eBay by a company called 'UP'. They are cheap and work.

Test kits are very unreliable and can give false readings. You might be better off not testing for a while, and let the tank tell you what's happening. You can also plant from day one if you like. The plants will also take in Ammonia and Nitrate as nutrients.

Do you have any plans for fertilisers? The plants will need some nutrients to grow well, and the cheapest way to do so on a tank this size is to use dry ferts. Have a read here: http://www.ukaps.org/EI.htm. Once you get your head round it, it's quite simple to do. You can use the Dosing Calculator on the first website I linked to to work out how much you need for your tank.

Good luck!!

Tom
 
Hello Tom thanks for the pointers.

I never realised that using the pump would lose me Co2 so thanks for that, they do look great but if its not going to be best for the tank in the long term i will stop the use of it.

I have currently set my light to be only on for 6 hours due to the strength of them to try and help combat any algae growth. Would this be wise or would it best to look at some lower strength lighting ? I also read that maybe blocking one light off might be wise.

I have some Flourish and Flourish Excel and was planning on buying some tabs to place at the roots of the plants. Again would this be good practice as i have no form of fertilizer under the gravel.

Again thanks for the reply and links i will have a good read about the Co2 options you have mentioned and the algae.

Alan
 
Hi there Alan and welcome!
I think blocking off one of the lights sounds like a great idea! Light helps fast growth (when teamed with sufficient nutrients inc. carbon) but also makes your tank more unstable, meaning algae issues are more likely. It's also important to note that if you're dosing Excel (which is Liquid Carbon if i'm right...) your tank moves into the "high tech" category as that is defined by supplemental carbon - be that pressurised or liquid. As far as the ferts go Aquarium Plant Food UK (UKAPS sponsors) do an "all in one" EI mix that is a good place to start if you don't fancy making up your own, and it'll work out a whole lot cheaper on a tank of this size! If you're dosing the water column you don't necessarily NEED to supplement the gravel as the plants will draw everything they need directly from the water. Having said that some form of supplementation in the substrate gives you a bit of leeway with your dosing, which i find quite useful (as i'm a bit slack... :D)
Hope this helps mate,
Matt
 
Hello Matt,

Thanks for replying to the post. I have not currently dosed any form of flourish at this time as i have only the plants you see in the image in the tank. The excel is liquid carbon you are correct. One question i have on this is that i have a carbon sponge in the filter will i need to remove this ?

The EI mix if i understand correctly this would be instead of the flourish and any tabs at the root of the plants ? But you would recommend to use tabs in case i get SLACK on the dosing :)

Last question, i know i have a lot of them ! Whats the best way to block off a light ?

Cheers
Alan
 
It's not recommended to use carbon in a planted tank as it removes micro nutrients from the water column if I remember correctly. Really there's no need as long as you keep on top of everything.
 
Cheers i will remove the carbon sponge late this evening.

Alan
 
L_Plates said:
The EI mix if i understand correctly this would be instead of the flourish and any tabs at the root of the plants ? But you would recommend to use tabs in case i get SLACK on the dosing :)

Last question, i know i have a lot of them ! Whats the best way to block off a light ?

Cheers
Alan
Click to expand...

You're right! I think of substrate dosing as a "buffer" - it also helps give you more leeway with your dosing. EI would be instead of the Flourish. Proprietary ferts are very good, but as you're essentially buying diluted EI chemicals in a fancy bottle you're mainly paying for water! EI really is nothing to be scared of, and you'll save a ton of cash as you're running a REALLY big tank!
Cheers!
Matt
 
Matt thanks again for the reply. I will look into this.

Alan
 
Johno2090 said:
It's not recommended to use carbon in a planted tank as it removes micro nutrients from the water column if I remember correctly. Really there's no need as long as you keep on top of everything.
Click to expand...
John, this is not really true. There are actually many more reasons for using Activated Carbon than there are reasons to not use it. Have a look at Active Carbon filter do u or not? from beginning to end.

Cheers,
 
Cycle on track, looking forward to the end so i can get on with design and stocking :)
 
Stocking wise im looking at:

12 Tiger Barbs
15 Harlequin Rasboras
6 Corydoras ( which one yet unknown )
And possibly 4 Bolivian Rams


Design
tank.jpg


I am aiming to have the right hand side with a few plants to give the fish somewhere to hide, play or chill.

The left hand side i will be attaching java moss to the roof of the wood to create a carpet effect.

But i am open for ideas on plants and features as i am new to all of this :)

Cheers
Alan
 
bigmatt said:
Bolbitis - it's the future! Looks great on wood! How about a carpet of something?
Like Harlequins - always a good choice - shoal brilliantly adn look stunning!
Cheers!
Matt
Click to expand...

Can the bolbitis (water fern?) be planted into the gravel aswell as attached to wood ? This looks a nice plants from the images i find.

I would like a carpet of some sort on the right habd side to start and have looked into a few and i really like the look of 'Glossostigma elatinoides' (sp). It says the plant is easy to grow and maintain, would this be correct ?

Cheers
Alan
 
Hi Alan,

Bolbitis should not be planted into the substrate, otherwise the rhizome will rot, you can however attach it to wood or stones with plain old super glue...... it is a nice plant, I have it in my new scape, it has taken a while to show any growth but now seems to be throwing out new leaves all over the place, can't really comment on Glosso as I have never used it myself.....
 
Thanks B7fec, i am going to nip to the my local fish store and see what plants they have available. Im tempted to start adding more plants during the cycle but im worried of a bloom in algae. So im thinking it might be wise to wait till after the cycle.

Alan
 
If you're waiting to plant it's worth ordering online from a specialist supplier. TGM and AE have a very good reputation and i personally use www.plantedtanks.co.uk - live near him so can pick up and his plants are of the very highest quality. Also keep an eye out on here when you get more than 25 posts and can access the for sale section. Plants from members tend to be AMAZING quality very cheap!
LFS plants are generally a bit more expensive and not in so good a condition!
Hope this helps
Matt
 
Hi Alan,

I see listed in the setup section at the begining of the thread you list the temp of the tank as 28 degree cel - Is this not a bit to high, generally speaking - perhaps a more experienced member could comment on this?
 
bigmatt said:
LFS plants are generally a bit more expensive
Click to expand...

I think you'll find it's the other way around, when comparing to the likes of the green machine. If you hunt, you'll find some great LFS selling good quality plants at sometimes, half the price.
 
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