Fletch Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Today was the day. Took my 3ft community tank completely apart (other than filter :-)), scrubbed out and replaced all substrate. Feel very happy with the results and after 8 hrs with no lunch, I better be happy. :-). Before. Now. Fish just released and still stressed. Full tank. Left side. Right side. Can't believe how much weed I had left over. Threw out a good bucket, mostly java fern and Val. Much less chaotic now. What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Very nice!!!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Lol. As above but this time with the lights. :-) Full tank. Left side. Sure the bristlenose are getting ready to spawn. Middle. Matts Lotus in the front. Hope this survives. Very little roots on it. Right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Looks good paul! The lotus should be fine, they're as tough as old boots, can't kill em'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Great news then, thanks Milk crate. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Tank looks great Paul!!! Hope the lotus goes well - they're brilliant plants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 If it does cark it I'll have another one here for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Thanks Wayne. :-). @Matt......thanks, hopefully this one will be ok. I am aware of the bubbles coming out of the sand but I am pretty sure the Java Fern and Val are both Pearling. I do have my DIY co2 hooked up and the tank is 100 times brighter, so would this be right Matt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somchai2500 Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Great effort. 8 hours+ Have not yet started a planted tank. Looking to see the style I like. Good pics. Cheers Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 its wierd if the java fern is pearling, it doesn't really grow fast enough to pearl, could it be algae on the leaves? Or just air bubbles trapped on the leaves somehow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2littlerevheads Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 looks good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 oh my god love it... what a great start, it'll look a million bucks once the plants grow out a bit and it fills up a bit... I love that wood - is it real??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Great work Busman Paul, Its so different from the before pics. I love that bristle nose Cheers les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Same bit of wood, yes it is real Ness. Thanks guys. Really hoping to see some good growth. Very excited and pleased with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 This morning I have fish gasping on the surface. I have disconnected the co2. Water looks milky which doesn't worry me as my last tank cleared up in about 3 days. Not sure about the gasping but I will keep an eye on em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I may be wrong, but as you have removed half the plants wouldn't that mean that not as much of the dissolved co2 is being processed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Could be mate. Makes sense. This tank is now ment to produce it's own co2 so maybe I have saturated the water overnight. It's was only connected as it was still going from the tank before the upgrade and I thought I might as well attach it. Maybe I shouldn't have. :-(. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 (edited) :confused: would an Air stone help put some more Oxygen into the water? Edited November 30, 2011 by Nicola Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 It's coming good. Will leave the co2 out at this stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 Did you poke the substaight like Matt said to to let the airobic bacteria flurish? I do hope it woks out espesialy after all that work Cheers Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I haven't poked the substrate at this stage. Tank clearing up tonight. Had to move the tunnel out as the male bristlenose was digging so deep I was worried he would upset BB below. Lost a few fish today. Think it was the stress with the gasping this morning. A few others red around the gills so looks like I burnt em (co2 again?) so will lose a few more I think. Was prepared to lose a few. Big change in short period. As a whole, all going well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I don't think CO2 burns, it just suffocates them, could it have been ammonia? Alot of the nitrifying bacteria are in the substrate, on the plants and wood ect, could it have been that while the bacteria in te efilter multiplied to handle the load? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 Never cleaned the filter out so filter should be fine. All wood and rocks were in the tank before. From half hour after co2 was disconnected, the fish improved. No fish look sick or gasping now but not as active as usual. Haven't tested ammonia yet but don't see the need, at this stage. I did expect to lose fish. Doing a huge stressful move, twice in one day, plus new tank and 100% wc and taking into account we are talking about tetras, you will lose a few every time. :-). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 Al fish look good this morning. Water is crystal clear. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts