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October 24th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Freshwater planted tank
So thanks to this forum here and the wonderful suggestion that I have recieved I am happy to report that today I setted up my very first freshwater planted aquarium. Here are the first 2 pics http://img10.imageshack.us/i/004di.jpg/ http://img197.imageshack.us/i/008yq.jpg/
It's a bit clowdy despite my efforts in washing the substrate (although it took very ,very long). No fish yet, I just added some flakes to get the cycle started. I will keep an eye for algae :P
Equipment:
Filter : Fluval 105 canister (initially I wanted a Whisper 40 but the guy in the LFS convinced me to get the canister....I have to say is SO SILENT...I love it!)
Heater: Top Fin 150W Submersible
Light one 24" - 20W T8 ...I know, I need more, working on that
Substrate: 40lb Fluorite
Plants: 2 Amazon Swords, 2 Ludvigi Arcruata, 4 Green Crypt & 2 Java fern
Some rocks and driftwood.  | 
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October 24th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| its coming along great! awesome job in a fishless cycle  | |
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October 25th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Hello Click. Awesome job. I think it's going to be beautiful once it clears. Congrats on doing a fishless cycle! By all means keep us updated.
Ken | |
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October 25th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| Congrats and well done! I like the color of the substrate. | |
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October 25th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Congrats Click. Is that baby tears near the front of the tank? | |
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October 25th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Nate McFin  Congrats Click. Is that baby tears near the front of the tank? | I am not sure what the popular name for the plant is, but the name on the tag is Ludvigia Arcuata. I was told it's a bush-type plant. I had 2 pots and divided each in 4. We'll see how they come along. | |
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October 25th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Ludwigia is a great looking plant. It will get quite tall it may be better suited to the back of the aquarium once it gets bigger. As it grows out trim the tops off. You can replant what you trim and it will grow. This will also encourage the plant to grow out sideways rather than just vertically. | |
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October 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| The water is clear now (clearer than you can see in the pic). My ammonium is around 3 - 3.5 and temperature is 76F.  | |
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October 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| thats looks awsome | |
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November 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Quote:
Originally Posted by click The water is clear now (clearer than you can see in the pic). My ammonium is around 3 - 3.5 and temperature is 76F. | so how long did it take for your water to clear up.. tank looking nice | |
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November 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| Lookin' good! Great progress! A little while more, and you'll be on your way to the LFS for fish Good luck! | |
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November 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by koast519 so how long did it take for your water to clear up.. tank looking nice | I think it took about 12 hrs to be completely clear.
I've passed the first step in my nitrogen cycle, my ammonia keeps dropping to zero every time I add some.  Now I'm eagerly waiting for the second bacteria to grow...seems like it takes forever... | |
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November 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Looks very very nice. | |
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November 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| nice! | |
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November 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Thank you all.
...I will keep updating with pic as I get the fish...as soon as the bacteria grows...wonder if all new fish owners are as impacient as I am to get the little ones  | |
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November 4th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by click Thank you all.
...I will keep updating with pic as I get the fish...as soon as the bacteria grows...wonder if all new fish owners are as impacient as I am to get the little ones |
YES, even fishkeepers who have been doing this for awhile get impatient for the finned babies to go into the tank  | |
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November 10th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Update
I have some pics with my new guppies. I cannot believe how hard it is to take a few shots, these guys won't sit still for a second I didn't get them all, since they are always on the move, exploring the tank & getting to know each other (they are from different stores). So here they are below, I still need to find them names. | |
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November 10th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Gorgeous guppies, Click! I really love the tail coloring in the first pic. | |
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November 10th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Great looking tank!
I'm considering what plants to get for my 55 and looking at a lot of these posts.
One question, is that a shell in the tank? I've heard that snail or sea shells can cause problems with the tank water (can't remember what the problem was), so you might want to consider plucking it out (unless theres a snail living inside).
Good luck with the tank and nice job!
eb | |
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November 10th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Razmear One question, is that a shell in the tank? I've heard that snail or sea shells can cause problems with the tank water
eb | Yes, shells usually increase the pH of your water. But it's just one and it didn't affect my PH before. On the contrary, my PH went down from 7.0 to 6.6 (probably the driftwood?) Now I actually consider to add more shells to boost it up 
I managed to get pics with the others that were hidding before.
Last edited by click; November 10th, 2009 at 11:15 AM.
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November 10th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Wow, great looking tank and fish! I love the yellow! | |
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November 10th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| I'm digging the bottom pic on post #17. I like how you've changed the layout of the tank to be less "symetrical" (sp?). It gives it more of a natural look.
I wouldn't worry about the PH issue too much..my understanding is that PH is the one thing that fish tend to adapt to pretty well. As long as ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are kept in check, you should be pretty good to go!
Nice work! | |
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November 10th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| wow nice fish tank, i had a few guppies before, but one of them keep bitting the others' fin. don't really know what happen to him  .
that is why i now don't keep guppies. | |
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Hello Click. Your tank and fish are beautiful! Thanks for sharing the photos.
Ken | |
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November 17th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Update pics
Here are my new additions to the tank: 6 beautiful (and shy) cories. I have 2 pandas, 2 sterbae and 2 laser. The lasers are very very shy, they barely come out of hiding. The pandas and sterbae are a little nore daring and swim about looking for invisible food. My guppies love them, they sometime swim behind the corries and eat things they unsettle from the gravel. They even chew on their veggie tablets.
I also added 2 crystal red shrimps. They are so fun to watch. Every now and then my hubby and I play a new game to us "find the shrimps"  | |
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