Angel's Planted 40b Build

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  • #151
Really nice! Love the natural look you created with the rock and driftwood! I'm curious, when you have rock like that do you place Styrofoam under the rock to protect the glass tank? Do you have to take the rock out periodically to clean underneath rock for trapped food or waste? Or, does rock-work in tank not need to be cleaned under?
Sorry, this question is for OP, not sure why I tagged you bigemrg - just the last post, I guess.
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I probably should place styrofoam under there, but I don't. I have a deep sand bed though, and make sure to place them where they don't move. I don't clean under the rocks, at least I haven't.

Beautiful driftwood Angel! Are you going to keep everything whole or break apart some pieces?
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Thank you! I'll probably keep it all whole, just because I'm afraid I would want it back together! I'm only going to choose one piece for this tank though. The rest I plan to use in my 72, which I went to visit in the LFS today! they had some ebas in there, but not nearly as pretty as yours!

Yeah I'll be able to see mine with the stand. But am going to try to keep wood floor dry as possible!

Oh wow! I love the pieces you chose! I see they came with paws!
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Yep, that's my husband's dog, Deets. He follows ME everywhere I go. If I close a door he lays there till I come out. He does hang out with my hubby when he's home though.

I so want to play with it all, but I really need to paint my closet (yes, I really said closet) and put the shelving together for it. But the upside is that my bedroom suite is almost complete!

Also, not in my 40, but in a betta tank, I have mystery babies!!! They are so tiny!
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Really nice! Love the natural look you created with the rock and driftwood! I'm curious, when you have rock like that do you place Styrofoam under the rock to protect the glass tank? Do you have to take the rock out periodically to clean underneath rock for trapped food or waste? Or, does rock-work in tank not need to be cleaned under?
Sorry, this question is for OP, not sure why I tagged you bigemrg - just the last post, I guess.
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Imo you don't need to use styrofoam (I would probably use egg crate instead) if you have a deep sand bed as the sand does a pretty good job distributing the weight.
 

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Yep, that's my husband's dog, Deets. He follows ME everywhere I go. If I close a door he lays there till I come out. He does hang out with my hubby when he's home though.

I so want to play with it all, but I really need to paint my closet (yes, I really said closet) and put the shelving together for it. But the upside is that my bedroom suite is almost complete!

Also, not in my 40, but in a betta tank, I have mystery babies!!! They are so tiny!
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Your dog too! Hehe. He loves his mommy! It happens. I'm hoping that when we move Fergie feels comfortable enough to go upstairs. She refuses to do it currently. Mom never went upstairs so she never did.

Have you decided a color for painting it? Yes! Almost done that's good!

Awww, they are actually kinda adorable. I've thought of snails before but not until we move
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #154
Well technically I have my own dog, my 8 yr old Goldendoodle, Gidget.
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Her normal sleeping position
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Technically Deets is his "hunting" dog. Fully duck trained. He's gone dove hunting once, no duck hunting, in a year. Basically he hunts rabbits and lizards in my flower beds.
But I love him too, he's so sweet.
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And I love watching my mystery snails. They're so cool!
 
Well technically I have my own dog, my 8 yr old Goldendoodle, Gidget.

Her normal sleeping position

Technically Deets is his "hunting" dog. Fully duck trained. He's gone dove hunting once, no duck hunting, in a year. Basically he hunts rabbits and lizards in my flower beds.
But I love him too, he's so sweet.

And I love watching my mystery snails. They're so cool!
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Aww, she's pretty!

Oh wow! Deets would like to duck hunt again I'm sure. Although those rabbits and lizards better watch out!! Hehehe
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #156
He chased one to the roof line. I had the muddy paw prints on the top of the window to prove it. He can jump! He also has learned how to open all my doors to let himself in!

So I chose a piece! I was going to place them each, post photos and take a poll, but I loved the way this one looks so it's the winner! Please critique!
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Water is a little cloudy due to dumping another bottle of tss+. Probably a waste but...
For the record:
Substrate: black diamond blasting sand
Manzanita branch
Local wild stones (the ones on the right were originally to keep the wood down. Any and all suggestions on placement are accepted.)
Plantsclockwise from front left)
Oriental sword (tiny little sprout, trying to salvage)
Cabomba (won't stay rooted in other tank, trying in this one)
Water wisteria (compliments of James17)
Ludwigia repens (one sprig from James as well)
Ammannia sp
Temple compacta (same as cabomba)
Amazon sword (my very first live plant)
Anubias barterI
Anubias hastifolia
Either jungle val or water onion, not sure
Water sprite (very small little plantlets)
Hygrophila salicilia
Bacopa caroliniana
Chain sword
Crypt sp (ID welcome)
Anubias sp (forgot this one)

Feel free to make any and all suggestions!!!
 

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So I chose a piece! I was going to place them each, post photos and take a poll, but I loved the way this one looks so it's the winner! Please critique!

Water is a little cloudy due to dumping another bottle of tss+. Probably a waste but...
For the record:
Substrate: black diamond blasting sand
Manzanita branch
Local wild stones (the ones on the right were originally to keep the wood down. Any and all suggestions on placement are accepted.)
Plantsclockwise from front left)
Oriental sword (tiny little sprout, trying to salvage)
Cabomba (won't stay rooted in other tank, trying in this one)
Water wisteria (compliments of James17)
Ludwigia repens (one sprig from James as well)
Ammannia sp
Temple compacta (same as cabomba)
Amazon sword (my very first live plant)
Anubias barteri
Anubias hastifolia
Either jungle val or water onion, not sure
Water sprite (very small little plantlets)
Hygrophila salicilia
Bacopa caroliniana
Chain sword
Crypt sp (ID welcome)
Anubias sp (forgot this one)

Feel free to make any and all suggestions!!!
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I like it very much, I like the picture behind it also.
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #158
I like it very much, I like the picture behind it also.
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Thank you! And thank you, my silly self painted it!
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I've never really liked it much, so the compliment is very much appreciated.
 
AngelTheGypsy. Oh wow! Lab or lab mix correct? They are powerful dogs! And smart. Hehe. I'm very glad we have door knobs and the cats don't have thumbs. Oh wow I am liking the tank!! Didn't know there were so many species of Anubias. I kinda like having the wood on major display.
 
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  • #161
Full lab. Yeah he's figured out he can jump and hit the door lever with his paws and the door opens. The other two doors, if they aren't shut tight he can nudge them open with his nose. Sometimes that's how we know he wants in cuz we can hear him push on it. My girl barks once to let me know she's waiting...
Thank you! I'm liking it too. Just hope I can get this osmacote to stop throwing ammonia so it can cycle and I can get swimmers! My husband thinks I'm crazy to have fish tanks with no fish in them. I've explained the cycle; I don't think he listened.
 

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Full lab. Yeah he's figured out he can jump and hit the door lever with his paws and the door opens. The other two doors, if they aren't shut tight he can nudge them open with his nose. Sometimes that's how we know he wants in cuz we can hear him push on it. My girl barks once to let me know she's waiting...
Thank you! I'm liking it too. Just hope I can get this osmacote to stop throwing ammonia so it can cycle and I can get swimmers! My husband thinks I'm crazy to have fish tanks with no fish in them. I've explained the cycle; I don't think he listened.
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Ah. Yeah if we had levers on the doors at least one cat would be able to open doors, same car that can stand on his hind legs and look at what you are doing on the kitchen counter. Well, she's a polite dog!

Welcome. Oh boy! Umm did you sprinkle it on the bottom of the tank before filling with sand or push the Osmacote filled gel capsules into the sand? Yes we want fish in the tank!! You will have fish in the tank soon. Gotta make the water same for the fish first. Mine understands, I'm gonna have to get my mom to understand as my tank will be set up while they are still in the house we are moving to
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #164
Progress!!!
Ammonia has gone down from 1 to .5, so much better than still rising!
Nitrates are sky high, 100+. But I just added tss yesterday, and did a 95% WC the day before. So I'll wait until my husband's not looking...
However my nitrite test result is strange. It's gray. I ran the test twice, with the same result, simultaneously ran it on another tank and that result was your normal 0.
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  • Thread Starter
  • #169
I stopped using the tss and my ammonia was still skyrocketing. I don't think it was the tss, pretty sure it was the osmacote (or the wild rocks, but doubt it)
TexasDomer I can't! My OCD won't let me but has anyone seen a nitrite test do that?

Now that I've thought about it, I am going to just let it ride. That's when it's good to be indecisive.
 
has to be a contaminant of some sort, I've never seen grey. That's just strange. STOP TESTING

Go paint a big ship.
 
I think its -2.5 ppm lol no id take that as between the first two, so say 0.12 its just a minimal reading witch is strange and rare to see especially considering the nitrate reading, where is everything going ?
 

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  • #172
Been scrounging the web, apparently if nitrite is sky high unreadable it turns grey.
I'll let it ride a few days, but I still gotta test, if nothing else for science' sake! Gotta see what actually happens!
I've been painting walls lately...my hands and wrists are killing me! Lol now I'm building my closet shelving.
 
If nitrite is sky high I would do a wc. I let ammonia hover above 4 sometimes, nitrites above 4 will stall out the cycle for sure....
Then again, tss is in there so who knows...
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #175
Just for s&g's I tested again.
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A little more purple than this morning
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Then I did a 1/4 dilution test and looks 0
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1/2 is really weird
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  • Thread Starter
  • #177
You're going to drive yourself crazy
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Nah, I'm already there. I'm married and have two sons, age 10 & 12. I boarded the crazy train a while back!

I'm actually quite pleased to see low ammonia. That was driving me crazy! Especially when I didn't know where it was coming from!
 
I hear you there Angel, I've got three... 10, 4 and 2. I probably boarded that train about 5 years ago.

Edit: I almost forgot! I love your painting and I'm quite sure it would go for about $200 in one of the little art shops down in the Keys. Nice work!
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #179
Thanks

I was obsessed with "painting with a twist" for a while. Still love to go, just haven't been in a long time.
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #180
Ammonia had been 0 for 48 hours with nitrite test still being grey, so I dose 1 ppm last night. It's gone this morning, nitrite still purplish grey. I'm thinking about doing a water change...my indecisive self can't decide... it's been 3+ days since I added the tss+, and when I did I had added seeded media.
Yes TexasDomer... it's driving me crazy! Lol
Now my husband has decided that we are leaving on vacation on Monday for 4 days. What am I going to do with this tank? I will be so upset if I lose my progress (if I've made any). Really, we are leaving Monday and will be back Thursday, so not too bad. I can dose on Monday and I'll be back on Thursday to test and dose.
Doing my thinking out loud thing...maybe I'll just not do the water change, keep adding ammonia every day till we leave, add a triple dose on Monday, and see where I'm at when I get back.
That nitrite test is blowing my mind though. I did dilution tests and they were still screwy. 1/2 and 1/4, still grey. Lighter shades, but...(emojI of me pulling my hair out)
 
Nah, I'm already there. I'm married and have two sons, age 10 & 12. I boarded the crazy train a while back!
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Welcome aboard. Married with 3. 2 Boys 10 and 2 and a 4 year old girl. I've convinced myself the fish tanks are the only thing that is keeping me sane.
 

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AngelTheGypsy. That is an odd color for the test. But they warn you of this. Have fun on your vacation!! (What is this vacation you speak of?)
 
I do feel like I've been saying it a lot recently! I would love to be as great as Edna Mole one day...
 
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  • #186
AngelTheGypsy. That is an odd color for the test. But they warn you of this. Have fun on your vacation!! (What is this vacation you speak of?)
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Going rv camping at beavers bend in Oklahoma with the hubby's family.

Stop testing and no water changes!
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Too late, I couldn't help it.... It's all just a science project anyway...

Welcome aboard. Married with 3. 2 Boys 10 and 2 and a 4 year old girl. I've convinced myself the fish tanks are the only thing that is keeping me sane.
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Fish tanks and wine!
 
Oh sweet!! Have fun! . Love going camping and sounds close to a river.
 

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Fish tanks and wine!
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Indeed, although I'll add baking to the list. Sometimes it feels pretty good to punch and slap the dough around.

Sounds like a great vacation Angel... take pictures! Have fun!
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #195
Drift wood hunting as well by the river? =)
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Or plant hunting....
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You know, I haven't been looking forward to this trip at all, but I can definitely turn that around for some tank scrounging! Y'all have given me reason to want to go! I really need some good rocks.... Thanks!

Tank wise, I think I've discovered my issue...my nitrite test is bad!!! . I upped the dose on the qt, by .5 ppm, and the nitrite result is grey. The test expires in November of this year, so not yet, but I think that's the issue! So now I have to get a new one (this one was "brand new") grrrrr
Edit: it's the only replacement I didn't order on amazon! I bet I got it at petco...
 
Go find those rocks!!

Oh good so you found a likely cause for oddball nitrites. Maybe. Hopefully that is it
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #198
So went to get a new nitrite test, petco had none, LFS has three, and the newest one has an expiration date of 6/18. Test is still running grey! (This is on my qt which has no tss in it)
On 6/15 it was cycled to 1.5 ppm. Upped dose to 2 ppm. Up until this point, starting with .5 ppm and up, nitrite has been 0. Ammonia down to .25, nitrite 0 on 6/18, dosed 2ppm. 0,0 by evening 6/19 (test 2x day) dosed 2ppm. By next mor, ammonia at .25, nitrite showed trace, waited until 6/20 evening, 0,0. Dosed 2.5 ppm. 6/21, .25 ammonia, grey nitrite.
At 5:30 pm when I got home with fish, I tested and got 0 ammonia, grey nitrite. Did 40% WC, nitrite 0, ammonia.25 (yay for my tap) so I added fish (dosed prime of course, nitrate was at 10 pre WC)
Does anyone have any ideas here? Originally I was thinking grey= sky high, but none of my dilution tests proved this. Now I know nitrite can't be sky high. Technically they aren't expired...
I also tried to call API. No luck.
 
I wish I knew.... I would send you my bottle just for kicks!!!! Possible that tests were exposed to extreme heat/cold and are not valid? I would try to get one from Amazon.... third times a charm right?
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #200
Yeah it's in my cart... still adding stuff to it too. I'm an amazon junkie...
 

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