GLA 6g Rimless 36-L - My First Iwagumi Inspired Scape Journal

[Brian_Nano12g]

Yeah i saw one for 5 bucks too but with a black suction cup... I was going to buy it from a US seller but it sold out. So i bought the $10 one from a different US seller. Got it in 2 days and i actually like how clear and large the suction is on this one.. Still a decent buy IMO considering how much ADA and ones being sold on GLA are.

 

[Billbug68]

Yeah, it serves its purpose. Mine has a clear suction cup as well. I just checked again and it's 8.50 right now. I'm kinda nervous about the cheap diffuser though. I hope the ceramic doesn't put out huge bubbles. I've got my fingers crossed.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

That's funny that you mention that... Although I like the looks of my UP Aqua glass diffuser, it does put out larger bubbles than my (cheaper) Fluval ceramic diffuser in my other tank. I think the UP Aqua is just another cheap-O knock-off (like the no branders), that decided to brand themselves. Even so the bubbles are larger (especially at lower bps rates), my drop checker is still a nice lime green. I think the seal between the ceramic disk and the glass is not really tight... because that's where the majority of the larger bubbles emanate from. Glad I got the drop checker though, now I can monitor how much co2 is actually getting diffused. I borrowed my other one for a little bit and after a few days I removed it (once I got the bps rate dialed in). But by re-adding the drop checker, I discovered I actually had to reduce my bubble rate a bit because it was getting boarder line yellowish (which I didn't even know... obviously).

 

[jetajockey]

I got the cheap diffuser and drop checker and I like them both. I put the diffuser under the intake on a powerhead, double diffusion.

 

[Bettafanatic]

When I was using CO2, I had a cheap glass diffuser that cost about $11 and it did its job well. When I increased the flow rate too high the bubbles got HUGE but that was at maximum flow so it didn't worry me. If I go back to co2 i'd use the same one.

 

[maxwellag]

eBay lily pipes are like 30 bucks. Not sure if you HAVE to have the name brand, but just thought I'd drop the idea, they still look pretty nice.

Although they are cheap, they aren't always the best choice. It is hard to see the actual shape and dimensions of the pipes in the few pictures that the ebay sellers use. I got a pair of them from ebay and ended up returning them.

 

[Billbug68]

Although they are cheap, they aren't always the best choice. It is hard to see the actual shape and dimensions of the pipes in the few pictures that the ebay sellers use. I got a pair of them from ebay and ended up returning them.

Yeah, I recall you having problems. Wasn't it with the diameter though? What was your opinion of the overall quality? Did you feel like they would break easily, or you should just be careful and you'd be okay? Just wondering for future reference.

 

[maxwellag]

Yeah, I recall you having problems. Wasn't it with the diameter though? What was your opinion of the overall quality? Did you feel like they would break easily, or you should just be careful and you'd be okay? Just wondering for future reference.

They were awkwardly shaped and were too tall/long for my tank. They were actually pretty thick pipes-I had no concern over their sturdiness.

 

[callisto9]

GORGEOUS tank! I love it. Very well done. I need to get some moss...

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Thanks callisto! This is my first time using moss and I'm amazed how well it came out. I like how flame moss grows vertically so its more controllable in a nano.. Java moss on the other hand, seems to grow wild...LOL

 

[maxwellag]

Hey Brian! Your tank looks really good! Have you considered setting up autodosers and doing PPS-Pro dosing for fertilization? It is much easier after the initial set up and is the best method because it keeps the tank on the most frequent and constant cycle.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Thanks Max.. I just started using PPS-Pro but don't have an auto doser. Is that something that's DIY or is that sold somewhere?

 

[fort384]

DIY - Here are a couple links: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f20/diy-auto-doser-build-143431.html

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f20/diy-auto-dosing-solution-101464.html

 

[maxwellag]

Thanks Max.. I just started using PPS-Pro but don't have an auto doser. Is that something that's DIY or is that sold somewhere?

Both, but the doses you can buy aren't very good IMO. It's easy to build them. I am almost done building mine. You'll want to make two different dosers- one for macro nutrients and one for micros. Each one costs about $25-30 depending on what supplies you use and where you get them.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Thanx for the link Fort. And LMK Max when yours is built, like to know more on how they look and operate. Seems like a good option when i go on vacation and no one is around to dose the tanks.

 

[fort384]

Here are what mine looked like when it was all said and done:

If I had to do it over again, I would use aqualifters for the pumps so I could skip the maxijets. I just used a plain digital timer to turn them on for 1 min. per day. Worked like a champ.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Mini Update...

I THINK i found the culprit to my excessive hair algae issue. I looked up the causes and since i don't dose a lot of iron and my nitrates are low, I couldn't rule out phosphates. I don't have a test for phosphates but was scratching my head to where it could be coming from since i have almost no fauna and therefore do not feed this tank almost anything at all.

So which during my last cleaning, i discovered a ton of decaying leaves from the pygmy chain sword in the back, which had to be the source of phosphates. My once "freakishly tall" PCS, decided it didn't like the high lighting and shed all the real TALL blades to only produce short compact growth (something that's expected for high lighting). So after pulling out dead leaves, i decided to pull it all out since i cant see the short plant in the back anyways... Now this affirms this plant as truly a foreground plant. Lesson learned... So meantime, i decided to plant clippings of Rotala Colorata in the back to provide more color contrasts to the green plants. I still want a tall grassy plant in the back... After digging around online, i think i want some valissineria nana...
http://www.tropica.com/en/plants/plantdescription.aspx?pid=056C anyone see this plant in the US? Also, if can get some Downoi i would like to add some in the midground... I guess my tank is more Dutch style than Iwagumi... Can i change the title of this thread? Haha... J/K

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Here are what mine looked like when it was all said and done:

If I had to do it over again, I would use aqualifters for the pumps so I could skip the maxijets. I just used a plain digital timer to turn them on for 1 min. per day. Worked like a champ.

Looks good... Where do you get aqualifters?

 

[Billbug68]

Don't know about this particular one, but when I had Val's, they sent out LONG runners, baby plants popped up like 8-10 inches away from the mother plant. Might be a little invasive IMO.

 

[fort384]

Looks good... Where do you get aqualifters?

Bulkreefsupply, marine depot, DFS. Most online stores that sell SW stuff carries them.