Brennos

I added API Root tabs today, and did a water change. Will wait a while, and test all parameters, and add KNO3, and flourish excel. Hopefully the plants respond to the root tabs. I also pulled out the dead sag, looks like the cyano was the culprit there, as there was a lot on there.

It's better, I did a inspection before, and there is still a little attaching its self to the tips of my sag, and a little around the base of the uraguayensis, but ill vacuum that off tomorrow and do a 40% water change and add kno3. cheers for all your help mate.

Why don't my plants look that nice. My tank is filthy compared to yours.

I wouldn't dose with out one TBH. I think they are under $20 for a new one from animates.

Let me know when you find one, and ill see when I'm heading past your place next time. If it's late, i might just pop it in the letter box, in a small box.

I usually clean the cyano off with my fingers, and vacume what I can see off. So far the potassium nitrate has worked for me (thanbks john , day 5 and still no cyano. If you want, I can drop you off some kno3, but you will need to score a nitrate test kit (and test properly, unlike me who had a 60ppm spike because I didn't use the test kit correctly)

Oh, there is another guy selling them then.

I added 02 overnight for 2 reasons. One, to agitate the water, and to try and give the plants a chance to get some 02. its not to do with my fish, as the tank is rather understocked, and I don't think the o2 levels ever get that low. Secondly, I added the 02 to try and combat Cyano, as many sites suggest o2 rich water to get rid of it. The DIY co2 set-up is temporary at the moment, hence why I'm dosing with excel as well, I am saving for a decent co2 set-up as we speak. If What I am doing is wrong, please by all means advise me of it, as I am still rather noobish when it comes to plants.

I'm adding potassium nitrate, so I hope potassium isnt the issue?. I'm off to HFF tomorrow to get some JBL balls. Do I need to trim off the dying leaves of the uruguayensis and sag? Lighting is 2x 20w t8's and 2x18w pl tubes, which probably isn't ideal, but its the best I have to work with at the moment. I dose with Potassium Nitrate at the moment, my nitrates are up around 15ppm right now, due a water change tomorrow, hence the high reading. I am going to purchases some PMDD next week, to replace the flourish. What else?

Hey all. I am starting to try and get a little more serious with my plants. So far I have Nutrafin co2 (diy style but easier) and dose 1ml of flourish Exel daily, and 2 ml of Flourish Comp twice weekly. I do a 30-40% water change weekly, turn on the air stones at night, and remove co2 at night. I am looking at co2 injection soon, and PMDD of trademe to replace the Flourish comp. Just recently, 2 of my plants have appeared to start dying. How often, and how much should I be pruning from these plants? The E. Uraguayensis has recently (last 2 days) started getting brownish leaves. Not all of them, but some, are these old leaves that need pruning, or signs of something more sinister? and by sp. Microfolia has started dying, but only one plant, is this one a dud? or again, something more sinister? any help and guidance would be much appreciated. PICS:

Your the PMDD guy on trademe? from east akl, if so i'm buying some next week Ill continue with the Flousih Exel, and use your stuff. until I sort a Co2 system, then its just ppmd and co2.

Ro DI water might be another option. Rain water would be the easiest, but not so much in summer. Where abouts out west are you? Surely there are other locals who use the same water as you on this forum, maybe some one who is local could shed some light and see if they have had any problems..

I found the glass intake and duckbill on ebay for 30 dollars plus 15 in shipping. It's tempting to get, will work out to about $65 landed. and I'm unsure if it will make it to nz undamaged. Any one know if you can get em locally? And on the subject of Discus? Would I be able to keep 3 in my tank, and keep them happy? Specifically the Red Melon variety.

Yeah, the filters and uv annoy me A LOT. I might switch the spray bar out for the duck bill that came with the filter, that will make a massive difference. I can move the UV filter to the other side of the tank, as I hadn't really thought of that till now. The air stones are a temporary fix. I read somewhere that if you increase the oxygen content of the water, the cyano may disappear, so along with raising my nitrates, I am adding air stones. Personally I don't like air stones in a fish tank, but sometimes needs must. I will probably move one of the air stones behind the drift wood, and turf the other one. Ill look into the glass filter equipment, Might have to be an ebay mission.

Thanks. Now those apistos look pretty nice, plenty of colour. They might just be on the cards. I plan on adding some more cardinals as well. maybe another 5 and see how they look in a bunch. I hadn't considered rummynoses. I'll have a look at the apistos first, and go from there. cheers.

Can you pm me some links? do you want to do a double buy and split freight?

its about 140l. So not really suitable for discuss? Yes the spray bar is horrid. But It's a need unfortunately, I guess I could go back to the duck bill, which I could hide behind the drift wood, but then I would loose the surface agitation, and the flow the spray bar creates.

I am to a point where I am happy enough with my tank. My stocking is getting there. My plants are pretty good. Cyano is still an issue, but I'm on to it now (thanks John). So now, I am after some more opinions on what I can do to make it even better. I started off just adding plants and fish till I was happy. Over the last year or so, I have changed a few plants, and added new fish, and by a complete fluke, I have ended up with something of an Amazon themed tank. So far my only plan is to get a little more serious with my ferts, I have purchased a PMDD kit from tradme, and will continue with my current regime. I am looking into a CO2 injection kit on tradme right now, $215 plus a bottle, and a diffuser, I might have to get a diffuser from eBay, as I can not find anything decent locally. My Nutrafin "diy style" co2 isn't really cutting it, and I will move that to my lightly planted fighter tank. Stocking (as of 23/8/10) 11 Cardinal Tetras 2 Electric Blue Rams 1 Adult Female Bristlenose 3 Juvenile unsexed Bristle Noses Plants Sp. Microfolia in the foreground Java Fern on the driftwood, and in the back ground. Some of it I have potted to sell later on once it gets bigger. Amazon Sword towards the back Echinodorus uruguayensis in the middle Java moss (although you can't see it yet) on the driftwood to the right of the tank. Ludwigia Repens x5 stems on the right also. I have only just added the plants on the right, so with any luck they take nicely, and fill out. Basically, I am after some input to do with stocking suggestions, and maybe some more plants to fill in gaps. as far as fish go, I'd like something larger than the rams and tetras, as some sort of "centre piece" that has plenty of colour, and wont eat or harass the other fish. Suggestions? PICS: Thanks in advance Dave

You can get snail traps. ( I don't think they work) Snail Rid worked for me, until I got new plants. Me, I don't mind too much, but I only have maybe 5 snails in my main tank, and maybe 10 or so babies in my fighter tank.

Cheers for the price. On a side note. I'm still waiting for my local animates to ring me back as well. The supplier must be pretty average in getting back to the distributors?

If you do get it up and going, I might be keen to buy some of you. I have just added some to a small tank for my fighter to lie on.

Hff has them for 5 for $35. I am going to get some more next week.

1000 cardinals is roughly $7000 worth of fish. Sound expensive.

Thanks for your help so far john. I have E. uruguayensis, s. microfolia, and added 5 small bunches of Ludwigia Repens today, as well as an Amazon Sword (which is rather small and sad looking right now) and I have quite a bit of Java Fern planted on driftwood, as well as a large free floating bunch. So I have quite a few plants in a 130l tank to absorb a lot of the ferts, ill try adding a 1/2 teaspoon of Potassium Nitrate, and go from there. Once again, Thanks for your help John.

Welcome. Frogs are awesome, but I don't have the room for any more tanks lol.