Noob planning a planted fw pico rimless

[octanejunkie]

Yeah that's how I felt too... makes me wish I lived in a house versus an apartment, I would totally buy an RO filtration system...lol

On the bright side, your tanks are nanos so you would only need to lug a lot of water at first (less if you mix with tap). Subsequent top offs and PWC's should only be done in moderation to keep the water parameters stable. I started getting my RO from those water dispenser machines usually found in front of the supermarket. It's 5 gallons for $1. Just think of it as the "labor of love!" Haha

I had a consumer RO system in my last house, would probably take all day to get 5 gallons out of a consumer system! I'm also in an apartment now... a small apartment.

It's the love part I'm questioning, not the labor... he he he

Atleast you're lugging jugs for a pico tank. 5 gallons could last 2-3 weeks for top offs and tiny water changes.

Now I just need to find a spot to store a 5-gallon water bottle for 2-3 weeks... these small tanks are going to force me to move to a larger place (oxymoronic, no?)

 

[Jkeating8]

I really think once you see shrimp being berried, you'll be in love.

 

[octanejunkie]

I really think once you see shrimp being berried, you'll be in love.

I hope so... I'm almost ready to inseminate them myself

 

[Jkeating8]

I hope so... I'm almost ready to inseminate them myself

Hahaha. That was funny!

 

[octanejunkie]

I just realized I bought 25 alder cones this past weekend... they are about 3/4" long, like a large jellybean.

Any value to throwing one or a few in at this point?

 

[Jkeating8]

I just realized I bought 25 alder cones this past weekend... they are about 3/4" long, like a large jellybean.

Any value to throwing one or a few in at this point?

It won't hurt! They provide good source of bio film and soften the water a little.

 

[octanejunkie]

Day 5 Update (the real day 5)

I realize I posted a Day 5 Update yesterday, but yesterday was only day 4... doh!

No fatalities since yesterday, so far...

I fed Hikari yesterday, around 12 tiny flakelets, (flakes/pellets) which are all gone today
Going to blanch some organic zucchini this morning
Tomorrow will be a fast day for the shrimp

Tomorrow is also going to be the first pwc using RO
I'll pour 100% RO into 1/2 of the existing water creating essentially a 50/50 mix of RO and tap.
I'll mock up a batch and test TDS before actually doing

TDS measurement in shrimp tank today: 313ppm

As an aside
I found this residential RO system on eBay, similar to the one I used to have at my old house... tempted to buy but with a porcelain sink and tile countertop the idea of drilling for the fixture is not appealing at all.

Lastly, I am noticing a minor melt on a few leaf tips of both c. parva and anubias barteri v nana - could the light be too strong/close?

 

[octanejunkie]

Day 6 AM Update

Water change day
We will do our first 50% water change w RO

NO fatalities yesterday
I visually accounted for all 10 remaining shrimp in the tank yesterday

Found 2 molts in the tank this morning

Left a piece of blanched zucchini in the tank yesterday, seems untouched, not sure if I should leave it for a few more days...

 

[octanejunkie]

Day 6 PM Update

No shrimp harmed in the ownership of this tank, today

Found another fresh looking molt
That bring's the day's total to 3 molts in the last 24 hours

We picked up 3 gallons of RO today
Tested TDS, 006

Postponed shrimp tank water change till tomorrow
Topped off tank w 100% RO

I think I will start with small water changes, 15-20% increasing over time to 50%, because I'm sure the chemistry will change as the % of clean (RO) water to tap water changes.

Consistently stable water conditions
Eventually it would seem converting over to 100% RO will provide the most consistent (controlled) water quality over the long run, but I hate the idea of luggin' buckets forever.

I saw this tankless home RO system at an LFS for $129 - I did not buy it, decided to research first

Found it online here, hmmm in-home RO

Lighting
I think the current 3W 6500° Dolphin LED light may be too bright for our tank. The tank is planted with java fern, c.parva, xmas moss, and a small section of anubias nana - these are all low light/low tech plants - is 6500° too much light?
Should we reduce the timing of this fixture, or I replace the fixture.?

The thank is in our kitchen right below a 12" fluorescent fixture that takes a T5 bulb. Home Depot has 12" T5 bulbs in: 2700°, 4100°, 5000° - right now there is a 2700° warm white bulb installed 10" above the tank on a manual switch I can easily convert to a timer

What is the optimum photocycle and lighting choice(color/temperature/spectrum/distance) for the plants we've got in this tank?

 

[Jkeating8]

No shrimp harmed in the ownership of this tank, today

Found another fresh looking molt
That bring's the day's total to 3 molts in the last 24 hours

We picked up 3 gallons of RO today
Tested TDS, 006

Postponed shrimp tank water change till tomorrow
Topped off tank w 100% RO

I think I will start with small water changes, 15-20% increasing over time to 50%, because I'm sure the chemistry will change as the % of clean (RO) water to tap water changes.

Consistently stable water conditions
Eventually it would seem converting over to 100% RO will provide the most consistent (controlled) water quality over the long run, but I hate the idea of luggin' buckets forever.

I saw this tankless home RO system at an LFS for $129 - I did not buy it, decided to research first

Found it online here, hmmm in-home RO

Lighting
I think the current 3W 6500° Dolphin LED light may be too bright for our tank. The tank is planted with java fern, c.parva, xmas moss, and a small section of anubias nana - these are all low light/low tech plants - is 6500° too much light?
Should we reduce the timing of this fixture, or I replace the fixture.?

The thank is in our kitchen right below a 12" fluorescent fixture that takes a T5 bulb. Home Depot has 12" T5 bulbs in: 2700°, 4100°, 5000° - right now there is a 2700° warm white bulb installed 10" above the tank on a manual switch I can easily convert to a timer

What is the optimum photocycle and lighting choice(color/temperature/spectrum/distance) for the plants we've got in this tank?

Good! No casualties! 100% RO will deinately give you the best results, especially if you want to keep more sensitive and demanding shrimp.

As for light, if the light isn't causing algae, I wouldn't change it. You can run the photoperiod even longer if you're not seeing algae. 6500k is the ideal spectrum for any plant. Just because it's a low light plant, doesn't mean that it needs a different spectrum. Depending on how high the T5s are from the tank, you could have an algae mess on your hands with a tank that small.

Edit: There is an optimum for every tank, but you have to experiment with that. It's different for every tank. If I had to guess, I think you could run a 10 hour photoperiod on the tank. But that depends on how high the light is.

 

[Fishperson]

Wow, following this tank! Looks good!

 

[octanejunkie]

Good! No casualties! 100% RO will deinately give you the best results, especially if you want to keep more sensitive and demanding shrimp.

As for light, if the light isn't causing algae, I wouldn't change it. You can run the photoperiod even longer if you're not seeing algae. 6500k is the ideal spectrum for any plant. Just because it's a low light plant, doesn't mean that it needs a different spectrum. Depending on how high the T5s are from the tank, you could have an algae mess on your hands with a tank that small.

Edit: There is an optimum for every tank, but you have to experiment with that. It's different for every tank. If I had to guess, I think you could run a 10 hour photoperiod on the tank. But that depends on how high the light is.

Thanks for the reply!
The T5 is 10" above the waterline, and it's only a 12" long bulb

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

If you start going 100% RO, don't forget you'll have to remineralize it.

 

[octanejunkie]

Day 7 Update

No fatalaties today, and active shrimpery was witnessed!

I went back to CK's in West Covina to pickup some sekiu(sp?) rocks for my pico cube build.

My latest inspiration.influence on an igwami style build:

Photo found in internet

While at CK's I spoke with the staff about my experience with the super tigers I picked up from them last week:
1 DOA
3 more died within a week
We discussed their water, stock, feeing, etc.
They told me they would replace the 1 DOA, and I decided to buy two more
We are drip-acclimating them now

 

[octanejunkie]

If you start going 100% RO, don't forget you'll have to remineralize it.

Not sure I want to go that route, but it may make sense in the long run... what is the most cost-effective way to remineralize?

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

You can use what Joey recommended here:

Yeah, they're must be something in the tap. That's weird though how you just tested and the TDS was up even more. If you do go all RO, I know serious shrimp people use Mosura and Salty Shrimp products, but it's alot cheaper to use something like remineralize by seachem or Kent RO right.

I use a product called Remineraliz-P from Brightwell Aquatics

 

[Jkeating8]

Thanks for the reply!
The T5 is 10" above the waterline, and it's only a 12" long bulb

Hmmmm...I don't know. You still may be pushing it. I think that if what you're doing now is working, why change it?

 

[octanejunkie]

You can use what Joey recommended here:

I use a product called Remineraliz-P from Brightwell Aquatics

If I have to condition tap water, I might as well remineralize RO water

Seachem makes Replenish, it's $4 for 500mg liquid

How much is the Remineraliz-P for 500g?

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

I paid 15.99 at my LFS for the Brightwell. I've barely put a dent it... I think the 500g is a lifetime supply at the rate I use it! LOL

The other cheaper products would probably be better since you have nano/pico tanks.

 

[octanejunkie]

Hmmmm...I don't know. You still may be pushing it. I think that if what you're doing now is working, why change it?

1/2 of my c. parva melted, the shrimp are enjoying eating it as it rots.

The tip of leaf of anubias nana is yellowing

The java fern looks good so far, and the tips of several leaves are poking out of the water, which is desired

I'm not sure if our setup is "working" or if I'm just seeing "adjustment" in the plants, but I'm pretty sure I will have to plant a lot more c. parva in this tank if I want a faux-carpet ala crypt.