trennamw
Aquarium Advice Addict
Wow, long time no see. 3 years, from the look of it. This will run long; I appreciate help critiquing my plan to rebuild 2 tanks, and thoughts on this java moss issue.
First a big
... I first came here in 2014 I think, after killing several bettas in the previous year. With your help, I became a fully reformed fish keeper: I set up and cycled a 29 gallon tank, added a few plants, stocked it appropriately, maintained it as I was told to. Started carefully breaking some rules in about 2018 (more plants, fewer water changes). 6 years later, a handful of those same fish are still alive, and my big tank has had no major illnesses or algae infestations.
So, I have a 55 gallon tank that's ridiculously full of java moss
banghead, java fern, and Anubias. And 2 each of geriatric Danio, Harlequin Rasbora, and Candycane Tetra. Pool filter sand substrate. It's been a "set it and forget it" tank: add fish food, test occasionally, very small very rare water changes 
I do expect I'll need to be more hands-on when I re-stock it.
I also have an empty 17 gallon bow front.
My goals are:
I pulled all the plants but the Vals, out of the big tank, they're in a bucket. And I water-tested the empty 17 gallon. Here's my thoughts for the next steps:
First a big
... I first came here in 2014 I think, after killing several bettas in the previous year. With your help, I became a fully reformed fish keeper: I set up and cycled a 29 gallon tank, added a few plants, stocked it appropriately, maintained it as I was told to. Started carefully breaking some rules in about 2018 (more plants, fewer water changes). 6 years later, a handful of those same fish are still alive, and my big tank has had no major illnesses or algae infestations. So, I have a 55 gallon tank that's ridiculously full of java moss
banghead, java fern, and Anubias. And 2 each of geriatric Danio, Harlequin Rasbora, and Candycane Tetra. Pool filter sand substrate. It's been a "set it and forget it" tank: add fish food, test occasionally, very small very rare water changes I do expect I'll need to be more hands-on when I re-stock it. I also have an empty 17 gallon bow front.
My goals are:
- Eradicate Java Moss from the 55
- Figure out what to do with a lot of Anubias and Java Ferns - they've just been hanging out unattached, but weighted down, on one side
- Probably, resist the temptation to add other plant species
- Restock, without causing too much trauma to my 6, 6 year-olds
I pulled all the plants but the Vals, out of the big tank, they're in a bucket. And I water-tested the empty 17 gallon. Here's my thoughts for the next steps:
- Take the 18" x 24" java moss mat that came out of the 55, and cut it to be a carpet for the 17 (does this even work? I see instructions for starting a JM carpet, but can one just toss down a mat of it?)
- Obvs, set up the filter and heater and light in the 17, that it had before
- Add some rocks (to hold down the JM carpet) & a few of the java fern & anubias
- Pull water from the 55, equalize the temps, then move the 6 fish to the 17. There they can live out their lives undisturbed by young rascals
- Take all the plants I want to use in the 55, strip the java moss off by hand
- Eradicate Java Moss from the 55. Can I remove the vals, and treat the tank with something? Understanding it'll probably kill my trumpet snails and biofilter, and may require some mitigation after?
- Somehow kill all the Java Moss that attached to the driftwood
- Replant the vals, add the driftwood and some rocks back in, add the anubias and java fern back in. It won't win awards but it's what fits my time & budget!
- Cycle the 55 gallon (hopefully a lot of its bacteria will still be alive on the plants, that sat in a bucket while I battled the java moss)
- Start stocking!
- Maintain in the way that has worked with my extremely soft Portland, OR water: A touch of Equilibrium and a touch of Ciclid salts. No C02, probably no fertilizer
