guitarchitect7
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- May 14, 2011
- Messages
- 7
Hey all - new member, first time poster here! 
So I've been on these boards reading many threads for over a month now, and thought I wanted to get registered up to join the community. I always thought my first post would be more of a journal log of setting up my aquarium, etc that I started a few months back - but this past week has redirected my attention. So I'll give a run down..,.
First a little about me. This is my second time of establishing a tank. The first time went well, but I introduced new fish and it killed the majority of what I had. I decided I would start anew. I didn't have a quarantine tank at the time. I feel like I know a little bit about keeping an aquarium, but also recognize there is still much to learn. So here's my equipment:
I've got a 36 bow front.
I've got Eco-Complete and gravel substrate mixed together.
I have a few rocks and dogwood
I did a fishless cycle that lasted about 5 weeks using pure ammonia as a booster to get it going.
I got 1:1 ration for WPG. and the lights stay on from 2pm - 10pm everyday.
Plants I added: Crypt Spiralis, Anabis Nana, and Crypt Red Wendtii
Levels are:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 10
Phospate - .25
KH - 5
GH - 12 (I have very hard water)
ph - 8.0
I was adding a half a cup of Flourish Excel everyday and then Florish Comp twice a week - trying to help the plants acclimate and grow.
50% water change every week on Sundays.
I bought 8 Harlequin Rasboras and kept in the quarantine tank for a week. No funny behaviors, etc so I went ahead and added them to the main tank. I replaced those with 6 Black Ruby Barbs in the quarantine tank.
Ok, did I miss anything...
So heres the timeline. The Spiralis has been wilting like crazy. I know they tend to do that after moving so I wasn't worried, but it's been a few weeks and they're still wilting. All other plants look like they're doing really well. New leaves are getting greener, old leaves are still looking good too - some trimming, but nothing major. So that's my first issue...the wilting?
Along with the wilting, the RED ALAGE has sprouted up. It's on my heater and a few of my rocks. I think this was because of too many nutrients and that's why I've cut feeding down a bit and don't add as much Flourish Comp.
Lastly, two of my Rasboras have died this week! One on Wednesday - which I thought might be due to too much from the Flourish products, so I did a 50% water change and have cut back on only adding Excel every other day and haven't even bothered with adding Flourish Comp yet. Surprising, another perished today. I see no apparent white spots, or anything else that would cause such a thing. Normally I would blame it on new fish, etc - but it's been at least 2 1/2 weeks and they're just now dying. Maybe why quarantine should last at least 2-4 weeks.
Anyway, so instead of my journal, I'm reaching out to hopefully ensure that I'm doing all I can at this time???????
I maybe even get around to posting some current photos of the setup.
So I've been on these boards reading many threads for over a month now, and thought I wanted to get registered up to join the community. I always thought my first post would be more of a journal log of setting up my aquarium, etc that I started a few months back - but this past week has redirected my attention. So I'll give a run down..,.
First a little about me. This is my second time of establishing a tank. The first time went well, but I introduced new fish and it killed the majority of what I had. I decided I would start anew. I didn't have a quarantine tank at the time. I feel like I know a little bit about keeping an aquarium, but also recognize there is still much to learn. So here's my equipment:
I've got a 36 bow front.
I've got Eco-Complete and gravel substrate mixed together.
I have a few rocks and dogwood
I did a fishless cycle that lasted about 5 weeks using pure ammonia as a booster to get it going.
I got 1:1 ration for WPG. and the lights stay on from 2pm - 10pm everyday.
Plants I added: Crypt Spiralis, Anabis Nana, and Crypt Red Wendtii
Levels are:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 10
Phospate - .25
KH - 5
GH - 12 (I have very hard water)
ph - 8.0
I was adding a half a cup of Flourish Excel everyday and then Florish Comp twice a week - trying to help the plants acclimate and grow.
50% water change every week on Sundays.
I bought 8 Harlequin Rasboras and kept in the quarantine tank for a week. No funny behaviors, etc so I went ahead and added them to the main tank. I replaced those with 6 Black Ruby Barbs in the quarantine tank.
Ok, did I miss anything...
So heres the timeline. The Spiralis has been wilting like crazy. I know they tend to do that after moving so I wasn't worried, but it's been a few weeks and they're still wilting. All other plants look like they're doing really well. New leaves are getting greener, old leaves are still looking good too - some trimming, but nothing major. So that's my first issue...the wilting?
Along with the wilting, the RED ALAGE has sprouted up. It's on my heater and a few of my rocks. I think this was because of too many nutrients and that's why I've cut feeding down a bit and don't add as much Flourish Comp.
Lastly, two of my Rasboras have died this week! One on Wednesday - which I thought might be due to too much from the Flourish products, so I did a 50% water change and have cut back on only adding Excel every other day and haven't even bothered with adding Flourish Comp yet. Surprising, another perished today. I see no apparent white spots, or anything else that would cause such a thing. Normally I would blame it on new fish, etc - but it's been at least 2 1/2 weeks and they're just now dying. Maybe why quarantine should last at least 2-4 weeks.
Anyway, so instead of my journal, I'm reaching out to hopefully ensure that I'm doing all I can at this time???????
I maybe even get around to posting some current photos of the setup.
