CO2 is working - Update 1-15-07-5.5 gallon nano planted tank

Ok so as you know my mom let me setup my sisters 2.5 gallon mini-bow tank.  It is currently inhabitited by one golded mystery snail.  Hopefully someday I'll get a betta in there too.  In the mean time I'm planting it.  I have a 10w compact fluescent bulb, 25w heater, Lee's corner filter and the finishes off my equipment.  I'm looking around for a good co2 DIY mixture but haven't found one yet, my last couple weren't good and I had leaks.  Help there is appreciated if you have one.  I'm dosing liquid ferts also once a week and just have regular gravel though.  I currently have some anarchis, one crypt, and one twisted val.  I'm hoping to get possibly a banana plant soon, some cambomba, and maybe some anubias or crypt.  So far the tank is up a running with the val planted but the crypt floating and getting used to the tank and the anarchis floating also but growing.  Comments are welcomed.  I have one question though, I can't add the betta because my nitrites are too high.  I've never had this problem before so can somebody tell me how to lower them, is it by daily water changes?  Thanks

Cheers ;D Austin

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

Sonds good. I'm not sure about the nitrites. But I'd keep doing water changes.

Can't wait to see pics.

Gwenz

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

atm dosen't have a digital camera so he can't get pics. any

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

Daily water changes and treat the water with something like Prime which detoxifies the nitrites.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

Got them down. My plants are all planted now. I'm looking around currently for a co2 mixture and hopefully might have that up and running soon. And yes no digital camera, working on getting one though, maybe for my b-day.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

CO2 for a 2.5 gallon tank? That'll be a bit tricky if you want an injection system. I just use Flourish Excel instead. There are a couple of kits that can be purchased pretty cheap but I wouldn't use one in such a small tank.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

atm, make sure that you don't have tons of Co2 bubbles injected in thee tank or you Ph and O2 levels will be totaled

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

Thanks, I know that. My mom doesn't want me to spend anymore money on the plants right now so I'm going to wait a few months then talk to her and possibly get the nutrafin kit. Nothing else has changed except I'm now running a very small sponge filter so I can change the filter media in the corner filter frequently and not worry about recycling my tank since the filter is clear and you can see the junk.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

I got the betta, he's blue with a little red in him. He really likes the new tank and likes the snail.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

As some of you know I haven't had good luck with the betta's so it turned into a quarintne tank and now I'm in the process of redoing it. Later this week I hope to have it under way. I hope to dry everything out except a tiny piece of anarchis and try to kill all the snails but still have some anarchis. Don't worry the snail will be in a temporary tank though and the crypt will have a bleach bath. I do have a new filter elite stingray filter and I love it. I'm debating what to do with the tank though and what to put in it, I'm leaning towards some african dwarf frogs if there availbale but not sure what i'm gona do if there not.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

Well I have weeded out all by one tiny strand of anarchis and this weekend I'm going to redo the tank and look to see if my lfs can get some adf.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

Today I took done the 2.5 and am drying out all the equipment to kill the snails and put the mystery snail in a small tank with a airstone along with my crpyt and a small piece of anarchis in it.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

I have finished seting back up this tank and must say it looks better than before, all I have to do is wait for the anarchis to start growing again and get some more plants. The mystery snail is still alive but not as active as it used to be. So far so good.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

Week later it's all good, crypt and anarchis growing well, no pond snails, just waiting to get some more plants. No algae so far either

 

Re: 2.5 gallon heavily planted tank

I now have a forest of hornwort, some anarchis, and a crypt with hopefully some pics soon if my dad will buy a camera ;D

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

I'v decided to make my 2.5 gallon tank look like an amusement park, going up to the lfs today to see what I can use but this was inspired by a persons golf course planted tank. All comments are welcomed on this and plant suggestions are welcomed, will update when I go there later today.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

Well the ferris wheel will cost me 12.58$. There's a red and blue one. this is what it looks like I was thinking maybe putting this in the center of the tank, having some anarchis, combomba, or hornwort in the back like a forest or something else suggestions welcomed with some dwarf hairgrass or other smaller tall skinny plant to form a walkway to it in the front and another on the side for an exit with some sort of plants on the front right and left of the tank, haven't dicided yet and maybe some marimo balls on the seats if that would be possibly probably not and maybe some shrimp and a betta.

What do you guys think and suggestion comments?

Austin

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

Whoa cool! ;D I think it'll look great! What is the ferris wheel made of?

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

plastic, though I'm debating on the plant combination and looking for any suggestions. I'm not sure what exactly else to put in it either if any other decorations would look nice, maybe a funny figurine or something. I saw a movable octupus that looked kinda cool though not sure how I could tie it in with the theme. Maybe have it be like the octupus ferris wheel ;D ???

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

If all goes well I should be getting a 5.5 and selling my 2.5 thus giving me more room for another ride or two.

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

Ok here's the hopeful layout of the tank:
grey strip:ferris wheel
red dots: marimo balls riding the seats?
Dark brown: path made out of pebbles or slate or something natural
Redish strip: another ride if I can find one
Light brown strip: some sort of food or vending area given I can find one, if I find more than one I'll put more around that area
Dark green: cambomba or hornwort haven't decided
Light green: anarchis
Light blue: is the filter pushing the ferris wheel so I'm not using air bubbles
Dark blue: is the heater hidden

Notice space behind the rides to give bending room so it doens't get caught on the ride. I might put a fence of some sort by the path or along the tall plants to give a wooded feel not sure yet though. I'm not familiar with any good small bush to small tree like plants so if I'm doing my research now and if anybody has any ideas for them let me know.

Comments, critisism etc. welcomed.

Cheers

Austin

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

you are so creative! I think this is gonna be really neat...where did you see the golf course tank? I've never seen anything like these before! too cute! and I love those marimo balls..don't know if they will be small enough to fit in the seats, as the ones I saw were about the size of large eggs, but maybe they can be cut in half? keep us posted atm!
denise

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

Currently I'm trying to get the 2.5 gallon sold so I can purchase a 5.5 gallon, no progress till that happens. A person I know is doing it, I can give you a link if you want.

Austin

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

wow mate that's gonna look sweet! I had the same idea before signing up to fish lore!! keep us updated I think I will start my own journal

darren

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

good luck on your sale! maybe someone will need to buy it for a last minute Christmas gift? My neighbor saw my empty 90g and wanted to trade me something for it..when I explained it leaks, he was unconcerned because it will be for a snake home! yay!
I would love to see the golf course tank and your amusement park (when you get it up)!
denise

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

Fingers crossed, I'm currently selling it to somebody and will hopefully be picking up a 5.5 gallon tank with hood on tuesday with my aunt if they still have some. Ya can't wait to see it up either.

thanks for the comments

atm

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

When I go tomorow I'll see how much stuff I can find for this, if I can't find anything I'll be changing my layout.

atm

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

austin, I will do some research over here for you "I know some people,good people" who may help tracking down such ornaments. if the price is right you may pay aussie dollars of course (cheaper for you!) any way no harm done I will start asking around when I go on my journey in the search for the perfect aquascape. will get back to you in the near future( my tank arrives tomorrow!!!)

so much to do so much fun to be had.... lets play!!!
darren

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

O that's ok, I think i'm just going to postpone it till the summer and just get the tank planted and established. Don't worry about finding anything. I'll update this today when I come home with some new plants ;D

atm

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

no problemo. I am still waiting for my tank!!!! maybe tomorrow...lol!!

 

Re: 2.5 gallon amusement park

HEhe I got my tank though, hope you get yours soon.

1.Here's me filling my 5.5 yesterday with the 2.5 next to it
2. Here's a side pic of spikey's old tank

atm

P.S. Will update more with pics and info as time allows

Re: 5.5 gallon Low-Tech Heavily planted

Some stats

Current Stock:
1 CT betta
4 oto's

Filteration:
Elite stingray 5 internal filter (ugh hate internal, might change it later, good filter though)

Heating:
Elite HOB 25w heater

Ferts:
Weekly tetra florapride for now, might upgrade to better ferts later

CO2:
None now, might DIY later or nutrafin kit

Substrate:
Small gravel (not sure on size but couldn't find any small bag of eco-complete

Lighting:
one 10w cp bulb (wal-mart type, lfs was out of all-glass aquarium type, will buy one of those when they get them)

Plants:
1 crypt
Cambomba
Moneywort
Unsure on others, possible sword, hygro

Pic as of now, plants are only temporary, moving them today.
1. tank
2. tank
3. view from top
Sorry for not centered, the camera I'm using doesn't have a good view lense and I haven't gotten used to it yet

Comments, suggestions?

atm

Re: 5.5 gallon Low-Tech Heavily planted Update New Years EVE

 

Re: 5.5 gallon Low-Tech Heavily planted Update New Years EVE

well still waiting for the tank have the cabinet though! and the rocks my mate has the tank but is finding it difficult to deliver it!! still deciding to go live or fake plants though. is there a problem with putting them in later say in 2-3- months time I see all these beautiful live plants and wonder if I should be doing the same!!!

 

Re: 5.5 gallon Low-Tech Heavily planted Update New Years EVE

I would put them in in the beginning, I find it just easier to put them in before all the fish come in then they have somewhere to hide. When you put them in later you might expierence algae problems that's all I can think off though that may not happen I don't know, it's up to you though I would suggest putting them in first though you have plenty of time to figure it out since you have to cycle the tank before the fish go in anyways.

 

Re: 5.5 gallon Low-Tech Heavily planted Update: co2 equipment is here

Got my co2 stuff today, waiting to set it up. pictures here

 

Re: CO2 IS WORKING, UPDATE 1-10-07-5.5 gallon nano planted tank

CO2 is working, already have seen larger than normal growth in a day.

1. co2 on right, air pump on left in case fish need oxygen
2.closeup of co2
3. co2 going into the filter

Is DIY co2, comments/suggestions/questions are welcomed.

thanks for looking

 

Re: CO2 IS WORKING, UPDATE 1-10-07-5.5 gallon nano planted tank

ingenius buddy, I am going to hit you up with a gazillion questions very soon my tank has been postponed another coupla days. how much did the d I y co2 cost you to set up???

 

Re: CO2 IS WORKING, UPDATE 1-10-07-5.5 gallon nano planted tank

cost me 1.19 for pop bottle, 3$ for check vavle, 1.56$ for tubing.  That's it. Ask all you want, just take it slow, first time I did this it didn't work, I took it slower this time and it worked. This is a common idea among planted tanks so it's not like I made it up.

 

Re: CO2 IS WORKING, UPDATE 1-10-07-5.5 gallon nano planted tank

nice one change from $10!!! enough for a beer! o.k so how is the co2 produced do you have a co2 candle in the pop bottle???

I just can't figure that bit out?? I'm off to the magic lfs soon sold half my house so I can go shopping...lol.

regards dazz

 

Re: CO2 IS WORKING, UPDATE 1-10-07-5.5 gallon nano planted tank

basic setup. Mix yeast, sugar, baking soda in pop bottle, it produces co2 goes through tubing and is dissolve in my filter by my impeller.

 

Re: CO2 IS WORKING, UPDATE 1-10-07-5.5 gallon nano planted tank

ah now its as clear as mud!!! and how long does that last before you re stock your mixture.. and how much mixture do you put in there ???