Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon Planted Tank

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I didn't do a #tbt last week, so here's one before the clock turns to midnight.

August 2013:


This past Sunday:


My tank isn't done yet either! It still has plant additions that will be coming soon and the plants are still growing at their best pace yet!


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I remember the tank from 2013. It had a wall of swords. And threadfins, too?
Lots of room in the new setup for stem plants. Ludwigia species 'red' would look nice in there and would contrast any greens.


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Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Fresh2o said:
I remember the tank from 2013. It had a wall of swords. And threadfins, too?
Lots of room in the new setup for stem plants. Ludwigia species 'red' would look nice in there and would contrast any greens.


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Click to expand...


It was definitely a sword city! The thing I miss is the vertical height aspect, but that should come back with time as these stem plants grow. I did have Threadfins. They lived for a while, but most of them died in one period of time for some reason. I still have one male that hangs around the Harlequins. I'll be getting some Cyperus and Limno here soon, probably the middle of next week. If I have any more room, that Ludwigia may be an option.


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Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Update: I'm probably going to be switching out the ceramic diffuser for a reactor. I'm looking at the Ista Max Mix medium model to use with my Eheim 2213. I'll be clamping it up too if I decide to purchase it. The micro bubbles are sort of annoying me and they make the water look somewhat cloudy (like 7 Up).


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fishenthusiast said:
Update: I'm probably going to be switching out the ceramic diffuser for a reactor. I'm looking at the Ista Max Mix medium model to use with my Eheim 2213. I'll be clamping it up too if I decide to purchase it. The micro bubbles are sort of annoying me and they make the water look somewhat cloudy (like 7 Up).


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Click to expand...


I was thinking about switching to a reactor (well, I'd need to get a canister or powerhead along with it) but at 3.5 bps my DCs are yellow with a greenish tint. That's going through a Fluval ceramic under the HOB. I do see a few bubbles coming out of the HOB but not a mist. Plants are pearling like club soda. Seeing more intense color in the plants.
Sent you a pm about a potential shipment.


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Fresh2o said:
I was thinking about switching to a reactor (well, I'd need to get a canister or powerhead along with it) but at 3.5 bps my DCs are yellow with a greenish tint. That's going through a Fluval ceramic under the HOB. I do see a few bubbles coming out of the HOB but not a mist. Plants are pearling like club soda. Seeing more intense color in the plants.
Sent you a pm about a potential shipment.


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Click to expand...


I've scratched the idea of getting the Ista Max Mix. Many on TPT are telling me that it'd mess with my filter's flow and could potentially greatly reduce it. I'm thinking an inline CO2 atomizer such as the UP Aqua would be better. I think that I shouldn't see as many micro bubbles with an inline unit.


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Its been a little while since I looked that these for sizing. Thats the one though. If I remember correctly the 1000 model handles a higher rate of BPS better say 6-10 Bps. If you are diffusing slower than that you may be able to use the 500. Please find some reviews/threads though, its been a little while.
 
bcarl_10gal said:
Its been a little while since I looked that these for sizing. Thats the one though. If I remember correctly the 1000 model handles a higher rate of BPS better say 6-10 Bps. If you are diffusing slower than that you may be able to use the 500. Please find some reviews/threads though, its been a little while.
Click to expand...


Sure will! I'll report back on it.


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Got some new plants today. Pics to come later!


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I got some Limno aromatica and AR 'mini'. I put the Limno next to the AR 'Rosaefolia', and I'm going to phase out the Rotala rotund. eventually because I don't think it adds to the scape as well.




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Fresh2o said:
Those are some nice healthy specimens. FTS when you get a chance.


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Click to expand...


Sure will! I'll be adding some Cyperus to replace the Ludwigia repens in a couple days. It should fill in the left corner nicely. About the past CO2 reactor discussion, I'm thinking that I might just place the diffuser under my filter's intake. Most reactors that I can buy (don't want to make a DIY reactor) seem to need more GPH of flow, and I've been seeing conflicting reports about them too. Either I can do this, or I can go for an inline diffuser.


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I've decided, and firmly decided, to get the Ista Max Mix (medium) CO2 reactor for my tank. I'll clamp it up to prevent leaks. I'll place an order for it next week. I'll provide some update pictures tomorrow of the plants. The Rotala rotund. is going to get replaced by some red plant soon (probably Rotala macrandra), and I'm replacing the L. repens with Cyperus helferi.


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Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Looking forward to the review of the Ista Max mix (performance, bps, noise, reduction in flow). This will be externally mounted?
I've got several stems of Rotala macaroni to send you. Plus a few extras.


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Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Fresh2o said:
Looking forward to the review of the Ista Max mix (performance, bps, noise, reduction in flow). This will be externally mounted?
I've got several stems of Rotala macaroni to send you. Plus a few extras.


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Click to expand...


Yes, it will be outside the tank. It should be interesting to see how it works. I don't expect to see a huge reduction in flow, hopefully that will stand true. I think that my filter might need a new impeller. It hasn't been replaced in 7 years, and my filter isn't silent anymore. I sent you a PM back.


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Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Update: No pictures this time around as the tank was cloudy from me moving some plants. I reduced the amount of AR to make space for Ludwigia sp. red. I put the AR 'mini' in front of the Limno too. I'll post some update pics later this week as I'll be adding Christmas Moss, Cyperus helferi, Ludwigia sp. red, and Rotala macrandra. The Rotala rotund. and L. repens, along with the Flame Moss, are being taken out.

Edit: Oh, and happy 1,000th post! I wouldn't be in a position to have a nice planted tank if it wasn't for the nice people of AA! I'd still have a sword city!

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1,000 post milestone. I have no idea how many i have. On the mobile app when I click on my profile I don't get a post count.
Lots of new plants soon to be in this tank. Exciting!


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Fish,what size reactor did you go with? As far as clamps go a simple ziptie will do for why I'm looking for..
Just got the shipping conformation for the medium size reactor for my order.

sit in silence...
 
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