Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon Planted Tank

[fishenthusiast]

I'll update later, but I've been thinking about the fish lately. I'm intrigued by CPDs. With the tetras going to a friend of mine soon, I'd have space for CPDs. My fish have similar temperature requirements to CPDs (tank temp. ranges from 75-76.5 °F). I like of look of them, especially in tanks such as Fresh's. I'll be adding a couple Otos eventually to finish out the stock.

10 Harlequin Rasboras
6-7 CPDs
2 Panda Garra
4 Otos
6 Kuhli Loaches
2 Dwarf Honey Gourami
Some Assassin Snails

I think this stock would be a nice finished product!


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[fishenthusiast]

UPDATE TIME!

I attached the Ista Max Mix, and it seems to be working pretty well. Only a few bubbles were coming out of the outtake today, but it definitely isn't club soda like before with the diffuser. I've noticed really no loss of flow at the moment. The filter is still making some noise, but it's from the air that still remains in it. The old impeller surely needed to be replaced as it barely spinned as well. The Rotala macrandra and Limno are making me really happy. The Ludwigia sp. red and Cyperus helferi are having a hard time adjusting, but I think they'll eventually come through.

Tank pics: FTS:


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[tiger terror]

UPDATE TIME!

I attached the Ista Max Mix, and it seems to be working pretty well. Only a few bubbles were coming out of the outtake today, but it definitely isn't club soda like before with the diffuser. I've noticed really no loss of flow at the moment. The filter is still making some noise, but it's from the air that still remains in it. The old impeller surely needed to be replaced as it barely spinned as well. The Rotala macrandra and Limno are making me really happy. The Ludwigia sp. red and Cyperus helferi are having a hard time adjusting, but I think they'll eventually come through.

Tank pics: FTS:


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Great! Tank is looking tough Fish..Both impellers turning good for ya?

20L Mafia...

 

[fishenthusiast]

Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Great! Tank is looking tough Fish..Both impellers turning good for ya?

20L Mafia...

Not the top one, but the bottom one is turning well. But many people have reported that the top one doesn't move.


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[Brookster123]

Tank looks bangin fish!! Nice work! With the cpds, I'd get like 20 if you can swing it.. they're beautiful and energetic, shy to match. Strength in numbers seems to help quite a bit.

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[Fresh2o]

I see a threadfin in there. I thought about those but was trying to stay with the nano theme.
I just added 5 CPDs from QT; brings my total to 9 or 10. Yes, would like to bring that number up. The little guys are costly. I was thinking about adding porkchops or harlequins to the mix but I might just increase the number of ember tetras.
Oh, I fixed one of your pics. You're welcome.

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[fishenthusiast]

Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Tank looks bangin fish!! Nice work! With the cpds, I'd get like 20 if you can swing it.. they're beautiful and energetic, shy to match. Strength in numbers seems to help quite a bit.

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Thanks, Brookster! This probably wouldn't of happened if it wasn't for you guys. CPDs seem interesting. Another option for me would be Cheery Barbs or Furcata Rainbowfish. I guess it'll just be a in store decision!

I see a threadfin in there. I thought about those but was trying to stay with the nano theme.
I just added 5 CPDs from QT; brings my total to 9 or 10. Yes, would like to bring that number up. The little guys are costly. I was thinking about adding porkchops or harlequins to the mix but I might just increase the number of ember tetras.
Oh, I fixed one of your pics. You're welcome.

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Haha! That's awesome!! I'll have to keep that one. The lone Threadfin hangs around the Harlequins. I would just increase the numbers, but they come at a steep price at the only store I've ever found them--1 for $20. I also had trouble keeping the females--they seemed to be more sensitive. Furcatas were a little cheaper at 1 for $12-13. Cheery Barbs are cool too. I'll definitely be getting Otos though. I'll have to see if they have bellies when I get them.


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[fishenthusiast]

Welp, I've found out why my filter was making an awful noise. The impeller's shaft is broken. Luckily, Amazon has overnight and two day shipping.


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[tiger terror]

Amazon to the rescue huh..was the impeller old?
How's the mishmash working out?

sit in silence...

 

[fishenthusiast]

Amazon to the rescue huh..was the impeller old?
How's the mishmash working out?

sit in silence...

The impeller is new, but the shaft was very very old (5 years). The reactor is doing a nice job. I don't get 100%, but I only notice a few small bubbles coming out of the spray bar at a given time. I'll take this over the diffuser any day. A cerges reactor would probably do a better job, but for $9, I think the Ista is good for its price.


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[fishenthusiast]

Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Edited. Ignore.

 

[Sk3lly]

Theres a bit of a debate between very scientifically orientated hobbyists, as to wether co2 completely dissolved in our tanks is more or less beneficial to plants than micro bubbles via a diffuser. Personally i think i get better results from my ADA diffuser. That is not to discredit a lot of you guys using the reactors as your results are good too. Its an interesting topic which i feel, like many areas in aquariums, there is no right or wrong


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[fishenthusiast]

Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Theres a bit of a debate between very scientifically orientated hobbyists, as to wether co2 completely dissolved in our tanks is more or less beneficial to plants than micro bubbles via a diffuser. Personally i think i get better results from my ADA diffuser. That is not to discredit a lot of you guys using the reactors as your results are good too. Its an interesting topic which i feel, like many areas in aquariums, there is no right or wrong


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I agree. I feel that as long as the plants get their CO2, be it from a CO2 reactor or via a diffuser, they'll grow properly. My reason for getting for getting a reactor was more about aesthetics. I found that the micro bubbles distracted from the plants and the water didn't look crystal clear. With the reactor, I still see some micro bubbles, but I'm not bothered by it. This is sort of like pearling too. Many strive for pearling (I'm guilty myself). I've only gotten a couple plants to pearl, but I still get good growth from my plants, which I'd take over pearling any day.


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[Sk3lly]

I agree. I feel that as long as the plants get their CO2, be it from a CO2 reactor or via a diffuser, they'll grow properly. My reason for getting for getting a reactor was more about aesthetics. I found that the micro bubbles distracted from the plants and the water didn't look crystal clear. With the reactor, I still see some micro bubbles, but I'm not bothered by it. This is sort of like pearling too. Many strive for pearling (I'm guilty myself). I've only gotten a couple plants to pearl, but I still get good growth from my plants, which I'd take over pearling any day.


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Pearling isn't the be all and end all of a tank. My co2 has normally turned off before I get home so I don't tend to have much of an issue with micro bubbles


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[fishenthusiast]

Fishenthusiast's 30 Gallon High-Tech Tank

Pearling isn't the be all and end all of a tank. My co2 has normally turned off before I get home so I don't tend to have much of an issue with micro bubbles


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I know. It's just neat. I saw my Limno doing it today. I'm not striving for it though. I let it happen on its own.

The Ludwigia sp. 'red' is really struggling to adjust. All of it is pretty much melting away. One or two stems are sprouting side shoots though. I might try Rotala wallichii in the future. The Rotala macrandra is growing really well.


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[Sk3lly]

Ludwigias are normally pretty easy to grow. Wallichii i think is considered an advanced plant


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[fishenthusiast]

Ludwigias are normally pretty easy to grow. Wallichii i think is considered an advanced plant


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I grew L. repens pretty well. This Ludwigia just doesn't want to root in and adjust well. I see about 4 side shoots that are healthy. I'll try to save those. All of my other plants are doing well though.


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[Fresh2o]

I got 3 ludwigia sp. 'red' stems from Brookster last year. Took a while for them to get established but when they did took off. What's nice is that they stay red regardless of the light level (versus turning green).


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[fishenthusiast]

I got 3 ludwigia sp. 'red' stems from Brookster last year. Took a while for them to get established but when they did took off. What's nice is that they stay red regardless of the light level (versus turning green).


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That's good to hear. I'll trim off the side shoots when they're big enough.


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[Fresh2o]

That's good to hear. I'll trim off the side shoots when they're big enough.


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I usually level off the main stem and let the side shoots become the new main stems.
Give it sometime. In my tank it rivals the Rotala macrandra in terms of growth rate.


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