New 29 Gallon Build - Journal

[jfhrtn]

Gave the water a test tonight also just to check up on it. Everything checked out again which I was very happy about. The pH has stabilized around 7.4-7.6 I think. Nitrates were still under 20ppm.

7/3/17

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrites: 0ppm

Nitrates: <20ppm

pH: 7.4-7.6

Temp: 77.6

 

[TMaier]

I have never seen a nerite dig in. But they do go MIA and magically reappear. Possible they're under the sand surface?

 

[jfhrtn]

I got 2 of the 3 nerites still visible this morning. When I get back to the house tonight I'll check and see if all 3 are out. I haven't found any good articles saying they burrow either. I think when they disappear they burrow in sometimes but I know they are escape artists too. I would have thought this one climbed out and disappeared if I wouldn't have seen it burrow in the sand.

 

[jfhrtn]

Also put a sponge on the intake last night. To hopefully help the filter stay cleaner. It is a course sponge for sure though

 

[jfhrtn]

View in the tank

 

[TMaier]

That's a cute little sponge. Mine is as big as a soda pop can.

 

[jfhrtn]

Lol tell me about it. I need to get a Fluval or Tetra sponge that is a little bigger and finer mesh. Something that is a bit more accommodating for beneficial bacteria. Also my girl said before she left today the snail that burrowed itself finally came back out to socialize

 

[jfhrtn]

Tested the water last night before doing some vacuuming. Everything checked out nicely. Nitrates were around 30ppm and by the time I got done vacuuming it was around a 30-35% water change. Dosed Thrive again after the water change. Plants are looking like they are enjoying the thrive. Did a little clipping and planting of the clippings

7/5/17

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrites: 0ppm

Nitrates: 30ppm

pH: 7.6

Temp: 77.8

 

[jfhrtn]

Pic from 7/5/17

 

[jfhrtn]

Tested the water last night and everything checked out good again. Cut the lighting back to 5 1/2 hours to hopefully help with algae control and prevention.

7/7/17

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrites: 0ppm

Nitrates: 10ppm

pH: 7.6

Temp: 77.9

 

[jfhrtn]

FTS (7/9/17)




Anyone got any tips on propagating this Windelov Java Fern? I have what looks like small plants that are forming on the end of the leaves circled in red.

 

[TMaier]

Leave them until they break off or until they have at least 3 leaves. Then attach them to something by the root, not rhizome. Or leave them free floaty until bigger.

 

[jfhrtn]

Thank you for the info @TMaier I will keep an eye on them for when they break off. I think I will leave them floating for a while if the circulation pump isn't too strong when it comes on. I might try to move the circulation pump down in the water column but still pointed to the surface to help with surface agitation.

Checked the water last night while I was messing around with my 10 gallon and all looked to be well. Ammonia & nitrite levels were both 0, nitrates were around 20-30ppm, and pH was still right at 7.6 so I was pretty happy about that. Apologies for the blue tint to everything in the pic. The "night lights" were still on

7/11/17

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrites: 0ppm

Nitrates: 20-30ppm

pH: 7.6

Temp: 77.9

 

[jfhrtn]

Emptied out the filter and man was it dirty. Can't believe the build up after only a week. I'll post up a pic of the water test from last night. Also got some freeze dried daphnia to give a try. So far for their diet I am feeding NLS Thera A+ pellets Mon/wed/Fri/sun and alternating bloodworms and daphnia Tues/Thurs/sat. I will a FTS in the morning

7/14/17

pH: 7.4

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrites: 0ppm

Nitrates: ~30ppm




Pic of the amount of stuff that was built up in the filter after a week






The daphnia that I picked up

 

[jfhrtn]

Tested the water last night and everything looked good 24hrs after the water change. While I was doing a water change I scraped all the green algae off the glass. Dosed 1/3 of my weekly dose of Thrive with the new water.


7/18/17

pH: 7.4

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrites: 0ppm

Nitrates: ~10ppm

Temp: 77.5

 

[jfhrtn]

Water test this evening was pretty much identical as before. Tested since my water is getting a bit hazy/cloudy. Not sure if it is an algae bloom since I'm not seeing much other the green algae in the tank. The 3 nerites are doing their best with the help of my oto but I'm thinking about getting 2 more snails. Not totally sure but having snails around is really growing on me. Got to figure out whether or not to order some algae wafers for them abd the other to munch on once a week or just feed them zucchini. I'll get a FTS in the morning of the tank and how the water looks. Hopefully the camera can pick it up since it is very slight. Maybe it is a nutrient imbalance but I'm just hesitant to dose a lot of ferts. Might call me chicken when it comes to ferts haha.

7/20/17

pH: 7.4

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrites: 0ppm

Nitrates: <20ppm

Temp: 77.7

 

[jfhrtn]

So I've noticed a pick up in the amount of algae lately and what looks to hazy water or small bits floating in the water column. I have cut back to feeding sparingly every other day. Every week I will do a 40% water change and the new water is treated with prime. I have a small bag of crushed coral with aragonite running in my filter. The water parameters look pretty much like normal. Got to test hardness tonight and will post results of that up in just a bit.

A few questions:

Should I remove the crushed coral with aragonite? Looks like it would be good to have for the shells on the snails but I can most certainly remove if necessary.

Really don't think that this light is high light. I was thinking maybe medium at the most. Should I be dosing more ferts than just Thrive once weekly? Maybe dosing like a medium-high light tank?

Maybe increase water changes? Like 2 25% water changes each week?

Just don't want to use those chemicals to kill algae since I don't believe they are safe for snails. Any suggestions other than the chemicals?


7/22/17

pH: 7.6

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrites: 0ppm

Nitrates: 20ppm or less







FTS from tonight:




Some of the algae that has appeared:

 

[jfhrtn]

FTS with just the "night lights"

Some of the algae on the substrate:

Algae that is growing on the rocks:

FTS from 7/17/17 when the water was a bit more clear

 

[TMaier]

I wouldn't recommend removing all of the aragonite. But your readings are a bit high so maybe cut it in half? It isn't the source of the haze. Suspect bacterial bloom.

Cut back lights or split the photo period to reduce the algae.

 

[jfhrtn]

I plan on cutting it in half here within the hour and with the timer for my Beamswork light it will only let me have one photo period. Right now I have it set for 5 1/2 hours a day. I could put a timer on the power strip to control this time more accordingly? Would you recommend going to 5 hours or less for the photoperiod? Also thank you for the help