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April 2nd, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Your tank looks amazing! Love the plants!! | 
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April 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Updated tank photo... Plants are out of control and I have not had time to trim/replant anything this week. I also installed the lunar lights. After many weeks of thinking/debating(with myself of course) I have decided to do a fully automatic co2 system. I ordered the full system from aquariumsplants.com including their patented electronic regulator. I will be sure to post pics of the install as well as write a review on their product. | |
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April 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| I like the lunar lights. I got white ones and I wish I had gotten the blue.
It looks like the algae bloom cleared up!
Please do share info on the Co2 set up as I am currently on the fence with Co2 as well.
I was looking at Foster and Smith package. What made you choose that one over another? Also are you going with a pH controller as well? | |
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April 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Nate: I chose the system from aquariumplants.com over the Dr Fosters one due to 2 main factors. The electronic regulator from aquariumplants.com is waaaayyyyy more accurate than any needle valve and I have heard too many horror stories from friends about needle valves going bad and dumping co2 into their tank. Secondly, the ease of ordering with aquariumplants.com is alot nicer. I was able to upgrade to an inline reactor instead of the HOB reactor from Dr Foster, which I would have to purchase separately. I called aqauriumplants.com last Sunday and spoke to the owner for over an hour. He was able to explain every little detail of how their system works and compares to most other systems out there. He also would not sell me any plants until I had the co2 up and running and he knew my tank would thrive. It's not everyday when an owner of a company will talk you out of purchasing product. Their system includes a ph controller and is only $70 more than the Dr Foster system but I purchased a 10lb cyclinder also. I believe I got a much better system at a better value. Not to mention the technical support I will get with their products. | |
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April 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
|  Double WOW!!  I like the blue lights as well. I just have the little ones for the inside of the tank that sticks on the glass but the blue looks the best I think. They come in white,red and blue. Anyway great job!! | |
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April 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Wow, thanks a ton for the response re: the Co2 set up. I think I may end up with one myself. You owe me 2 hours though! Thats how long I have been researching the product on various forums. LOL
It gets great reviews and looks like VERY accurate bubble counts. Throw in great service and that seems like a bargain compared to Foster and Smiths.
One question though....do you think this will help in a 20 gln. cube? I am a little afraid of not being able to get the bubble count down where it would have to be for that small of a tank. ( A new tank will be in the works eventually but for now this one is the project) | |
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April 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| The electronic regulator is adjustable down to 1 bubble per every 10 seconds or 6 bubbles per minute. In a 20 gallon tank your rate should be roughly 8 bubbles per minute. Also, at 8 bubbles per minute a 5lb cyclinder will last well over a year. That's about $20 per year for your co2 injection after the initial expense of course. | |
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April 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Thanks again for the info! Back to your thread ...I didn't mean to derail it! | |
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April 18th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Updated photo. The plants are pearling like crazy. All the river gravel will be coming out this weekend and I will be replacing it with the substrate from aquariumplants.com that arrived today. It will be an all weekend project I'm sure but will be well worth it. CO2 setup should arrive early next week and I will post pics of that install as well. I will also be throwing out many plants this weekend as aqauriumplants.com is doing a custom aquascape for me. Once the substrate and co2 is done it will be ready for all the new plants. | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Start to finish gravel swap.... Wht a job that was on a 125G tank! It took almost 8 hours to complete but the most time consuming thing was washing the new gravel. I did find about 30-40 what I believe to be guppy fry that must have been hiding in the plants. Here are some photos of the swap... | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| I love the new gravel!!!  | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedy  I love the new gravel!!! | +1! 
Any hints as to the new plant stock or do we have to wait for pics? | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Cool pics! Thanks for sharing! | |
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May 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Updated: with photos
So it's been a month or so since the substrate change and I got the new co2 system setup and added some plants. Manzanita branches and other goodies will be here this week. Tell me what you guys think... | |
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May 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Everything is looking great. Look at all the pearling and the pink! Those are some very happy plants there. 
So how do you like the new Co2 System. I have been looking forward to your results. Is the bubble count as accurate as it seemed? | |
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May 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Nate McFin Everything is looking great. Look at all the pearling and the pink! Those are some very happy plants there.
So how do you like the new Co2 System. I have been looking forward to your results. Is the bubble count as accurate as it seemed? | Nate: Thanks for the kind words. The plants are doing great and I couldn't be happier with the results. I am super happy with the co2 system. The bubble count is very accurate but it took some tweaking to understand their regulator. Their regulator actually lets you control bubble count and bubble size. Put those 2 things together with the PH controller and it takes some figuring. It took me about a week to get the correct timing, bubble count, bubble size, and co2 concentration to be correct. I ordered a drop checker from GLA which shipped out today which will be the last piece to ensure I have the absolute best concentration and maintain the correct amount of co2 throughout the photo period.
On a side note...All of my dry fertilizers should be here this week and I will begin EI dosing. I am new to EI dosing but have read a ton about it and hope it will work for me. I plan to do a full write up on my dosing regimen if everything works as planned.
Last edited by MPrudent; May 26th, 2009 at 08:20 PM.
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May 26th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Looking forward to the result with EI method!
Did you set up the Co2 with fish in the tank? If so any trouble with overdosing or anything. It has me a little concerned trying to adjust things when I am at work so often and unable to keep a close eye on things. | |
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May 27th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| I did set the co2 system up with fish in the tank... I made sure to watch my water parameters closely for the first week or so. I had zero casualties and everyone is still healthy and active. | |
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May 28th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| New goodies have arrived....All the dry ferts and drop checker are here. Manzanita package shipped out today so I should get it on Tuesday of next week....too bad I have to soak it for a few weeks. | |
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June 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Update: EI dosing for one week and the plants are definately showing signs of improvement. Also, manzanita branches showed up today. I am going to soak the for 2-3 weeks and then they will be going into the tank. | |
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June 14th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| New scape, new plants, more lights. | |
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June 14th, 2009
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| | Moderator
|  Beautiful! | |
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June 14th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Amazing Tank, very nice!! | |
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June 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Tank is looking great. I really like the new scape very nice placement of the driftwood.
Thanks for the update as always. | |
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June 17th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Thank you everyone for all the kind words...Finished the canopy and it matches perfect with the stand. And now to the whole reason I placed this tank where it is....Perfect view from the pool/patio area. | |
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June 17th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| The wall behind the tank really looks great from out by the pool! I mean...Dolphin tank. | |
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June 17th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| beautiful tank..! | |
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June 22nd, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| Your tank is just beautiful!!! | |
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June 27th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Its been almost 2 weeks since the last update. The tank is filling in nicely and really starting to take shape. The first photo is from May 17th and the second is from a few minutes ago. It's amazing how far this tank has come is just six weeks. | |
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June 28th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Your tank is absolutely stunning! Great job | |
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