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Richards First Scape

From the photo, you may want to further split your grass portions
Jurijs mit JS shows excellent Eleocharis mini planting technique in this video
- this type of planting seems to trigger the grass to “fill in” the space (more quickly) between adjacent clumps, also growth appears more natural


CO2 comes on at 2pm. Lights on at 4.15. CO2 goes off at 9.30pm
When is lights off?
It’s usual to stop CO2 a couple hours before lights off, so that nighttime CO2 levels are lower - of course one can just increase surface agitation to the same end

Your plant mass is quite low in the tank, so monitor fish for CO2 distress
It’s less tricky when staring a scape with no livestock and loads of plants, as over indulging in CO2 has little consequence; for your tank, I’d ensure gentle surface agitation (slight rolling movement rather than calm) so water oxygen levels remain maximized

Between the ich (higher temperature water has significantly less dissolved oxygen) and injected CO2, fish have likely been somewhat oxygen stressed - which may have triggered the jumping

Turned temp down to 24 as getting a lot of leaves floating on the surface.
Most plants seem to prefer lower temperatures, especially when still transitioning form emerse to submerse growth, established plants are more tolerant in general


have Tropica soil in there but considering some Tropica Soil Powder to help the roots for some of my plants. Thoughts?
A top layer of small particle soil does tend to increase density of carpeting plants, it also grabs/holds plants more firmly than the larger particle soil (Tropica Soil also tends to become more water saturated and less “floaty” over several weeks (rather than just a few days))
It’s common in scaping videos to see “Powder soil” used at the front of the tank and wherever smaller plants are used (especially if using in vitro or tissue culture plants)

Once you’ve seen the last visible ich (spots), continue increased water changes and close syphoning of substrate areas (but don’t lift/uproot plants) for a couple weeks - frequent water changes is good planted tank technique as well, and especially helpful in minimizing algae during the first weeks
 
Lights off is 10pm and my CO2 is running till 9. Plant mass looks low at the moment as newly planted and crypts were cut down. Fingers crossed everything starts to come together soon. I’ve been doing 50% water changes for almost 3 weeks now. Think I might purchase some soil powder to put in between the tanks- it’s pretty expensive!
 
New filter and Aquascaper glass pipework set is fitted. Just need a smarter cabinet!
Would the tropical soil powder be difficult to use now my plants are planted. Umming and ahhing whether to buy a 3 litre bag.
 
Yes and unknown.

The Unkown part is how stable is your pH and the light intensity

Need to do a pH profile. Take pH from before lights on every 30mins till CO2 off. I aim for a stable pH of no no change in pH to within 0.1pH.

When you pH is stable then you can say if your DC is green 2hrs after lights on your [CO2] is 30ppm for photoperiod

Zeus do you have a PH tester kit you can recommend or do you use a PH probe?
 
A top layer of small particle soil does tend to increase density of carpeting plants, it also grabs/holds plants more firmly than the larger particle soil (Tropica Soil also tends to become more water saturated and less “floaty” over several weeks (rather than just a few days))
It’s common in scaping videos to see “Powder soil” used at the front of the tank and wherever smaller plants are used (especially if using in vitro or tissue culture plants)

Would it be possible to put powder down now after planting?
 
Hi all, water in my planted tank is turning cloudy even after a 50% water change. I changed my filter over 9 days ago so it’s bedding in, moved old sponges over. I’ve put more plants in which all need to bed in. Do I have anything to worry about?
 
17AA1099-F727-4CEE-9264-DC7E93D4268B.jpeg
 
How is this doing now? Looks like a bacterial bloom which should probably be well on it way to sorting itself out by now...
 
Yes it’s a lot clearer thanks. Plants and fish doing well, although still need to reduce numbers.
 
Thoughts on my latest stock. Have drastically brought down numbers to 35.

1 L236 Plec
1 bristlenose Plec
6 rummynose tetra
2 female pearl gourami
1 Male pearl gourami
8 Neon tetras
4 Apistogramma Borelli 3 of which are baby fish
8 glass catfish
4 black phantom tetra 3 Male and 1 female
 
Well done on the tank so far :)

Just for fun, an opposite livestock style aquarium (note the 12+ black phantoms )

Jurijs’ Kong Island Final Maintenance
60 x 50 x 40cm (H)

Those Apisto borelli will grow up soon, so you still need to count their adult size (& spatial needs), though these are among the most peaceful apisto, you may want to note sex of the babies (I’m assuming you bred these fish)

Glass catfish - general recommendation for these is ~ 15l/ fish as they are sensitive to water conditions, so for long term health it’s recommended to keep them in a lightly stocked tank
While you could reduce their number to 6, you might see a shift in behaviour, they seem happy and visible in the tank right now

Pearl gourami - you know I keep suggesting their removal as they are the largest fish, and are also quite substantial so contribute significantly to your bioload

Rummynose tetra - by reading through the Notes section, you should be able to tell which of the 3 species sold under this common name you have (care is quite similar though behaviour is anecdotally quite different)

Neon tetra - the smallest fish you have, though I’ve seen them grow quite massive when overfed :eek:
Aqualog Blog entry because this little fish really did change the hobby

Black phantom tetra - a brilliant fish, I’d like to see a group of at least 7-8 (adding 2 more females and 1-2 males) BUT only if you reduce fish numbers first

Bristlenose pleco - again one of your more substantial fish (and he’s likely not a favourite of the Apisto’s ;) especially once they’ve grown and want that bottom space), and one I’d not keep in a smaller planted tank, of course you may feel a personal connection and if you do want to keep him, I’d add a couple pieces of less branchy wood laying along the substrate towards the back so that he has some cave choices and some decent chewing options ;)

L236 pleco - I’ve linked the COTM article, obviously lots more info on this at Planet Catfish and other specialists sites
I’d choose this guy over the BN ;) and suspect he may be receiving some intimidation tactics from the BN, again I suggest adding more driftwood - at the moment you seem to have a single central wood section, I’d add some pieces trailing back towards the back left corner, also a piece back right, and perhaps also left middle (open spot)

I suggest reading through all the linked Seriously Fish Profiles, and remove fish which seem less compatible or may have different requirements

Some suggestions (keeping L236, I assume you’re also keen on the Apisto borelli)
Option A - 3 pearl gourami, 7-8 black phantoms, apisto
Option B - glass catfish, 7-8 black phantoms OR 11 rummy nose OR 13 neons, apisto
Option 3 - mixed tetra 5-7 black phantom, 6-8 rummy, 8-10 neon, apisto
etc
35 smaller fish would be fine in your setup, but you have a few more substantial fish and unless you want to move up to a larger tank (eg the Aquascaper 900 would give you both more bottom surface area and upper swimming area), I encourage you to reduce the fish volume
Even with twice weekly 50% water changes to maintain good water quality, I feel tank will go sideways at some point as the fish are just too crowded
 
Well done on the tank so far :)

Just for fun, an opposite livestock style aquarium (note the 12+ black phantoms )

Jurijs’ Kong Island Final Maintenance
60 x 50 x 40cm (H)

Those Apisto borelli will grow up soon, so you still need to count their adult size (& spatial needs), though these are among the most peaceful apisto, you may want to note sex of the babies (I’m assuming you bred these fish)

Glass catfish - general recommendation for these is ~ 15l/ fish as they are sensitive to water conditions, so for long term health it’s recommended to keep them in a lightly stocked tank
While you could reduce their number to 6, you might see a shift in behaviour, they seem happy and visible in the tank right now

Pearl gourami - you know I keep suggesting their removal as they are the largest fish, and are also quite substantial so contribute significantly to your bioload

Rummynose tetra - by reading through the Notes section, you should be able to tell which of the 3 species sold under this common name you have (care is quite similar though behaviour is anecdotally quite different)

Neon tetra - the smallest fish you have, though I’ve seen them grow quite massive when overfed :eek:
Aqualog Blog entry because this little fish really did change the hobby

Black phantom tetra - a brilliant fish, I’d like to see a group of at least 7-8 (adding 2 more females and 1-2 males) BUT only if you reduce fish numbers first

Bristlenose pleco - again one of your more substantial fish (and he’s likely not a favourite of the Apisto’s ;) especially once they’ve grown and want that bottom space), and one I’d not keep in a smaller planted tank, of course you may feel a personal connection and if you do want to keep him, I’d add a couple pieces of less branchy wood laying along the substrate towards the back so that he has some cave choices and some decent chewing options ;)

L236 pleco - I’ve linked the COTM article, obviously lots more info on this at Planet Catfish and other specialists sites
I’d choose this guy over the BN ;) and suspect he may be receiving some intimidation tactics from the BN, again I suggest adding more driftwood - at the moment you seem to have a single central wood section, I’d add some pieces trailing back towards the back left corner, also a piece back right, and perhaps also left middle (open spot)

I suggest reading through all the linked Seriously Fish Profiles, and remove fish which seem less compatible or may have different requirements

Some suggestions (keeping L236, I assume you’re also keen on the Apisto borelli)
Option A - 3 pearl gourami, 7-8 black phantoms, apisto
Option B - glass catfish, 7-8 black phantoms OR 11 rummy nose OR 13 neons, apisto
Option 3 - mixed tetra 5-7 black phantom, 6-8 rummy, 8-10 neon, apisto
etc
35 smaller fish would be fine in your setup, but you have a few more substantial fish and unless you want to move up to a larger tank (eg the Aquascaper 900 would give you both more bottom surface area and upper swimming area), I encourage you to reduce the fish volume
Even with twice weekly 50% water changes to maintain good water quality, I feel tank will go sideways at some point as the fish are just too crowded

I'm thinking Option A as the colours of the pearl gourami are so good and love the apisto. I will keep one male and one female apisto. I'll get more black phantoms. I already have 3 male and one female so would you recommend 3 female and one more male?
 
Not what I was expecting :wideyed:
I was really just throwing some (quite random) options out there :D

I’d likely pick up 2 M & 2-3 F black phantoms, as the males seem to spend more time chasing each other
I’d likely try to keep 1M 2 F borelli (make sure there are extra caves rather than just enough)
 
Not what I was expecting :wideyed:
I was really just throwing some (quite random) options out there :D

I’d likely pick up 2 M & 2-3 F black phantoms, as the males seem to spend more time chasing each other
I’d likely try to keep 1M 2 F borelli (make sure there are extra caves rather than just enough)

Which option were you expecting?!

There's so many plants in there, not really room for caves!
 
Also, you mentioned more driftwood, again I'm not sure I've room now. What pieces and how small would you go?
 
35 smaller fish would be fine in your setup, but you have a few more substantial fish and unless you want to move up to a larger tank (eg the Aquascaper 900 would give you both more bottom surface area and upper swimming area), I encourage you to reduce the fish volume
Even with twice weekly 50% water changes to maintain good water quality, I feel tank will go sideways at some point as the fish are just too crowded[/QUOTE]

With the Aquascaper 900 I could fit that in the space of my current one, but would mean taking all the plants out, fish, soil out and starting again. But I guess I could keep all the fish!
 
As already mentioned a larger tank would be much better with your current stock. The L236 will require a rock cave or specialist plec cave, wood has been mentioned but all the hypancistrus from the Rio xingu really need rocks. They’ll use wood if there is nothing else but rocks should really be used. Not sure how big it is but that and the bristlenose May cause issues with digging up and disturbing plants.

cheers

conor
 
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