blondfish Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Hi all, A few weeks ago I bought a second hand AquaOne AR-126 35L tank, I removed the gravel and did all the required tests to make sure it was safe. Then came the cycle, since I couldn't locate any ammonia (could only find the cloudy stuff at countdown), I had to use a dead shrimp in some pantyhose, not the desired method, its been sitting in the tank for about 2 weeks now and with some mature media the ammonia is just starting to be processed. The tank will be a Dwarf Puffer, either a solitary male/female or trio (one male and two females). I'm going to plant it with a sand substrate, rocks and some driftwood. I'll be dosing with Seachem Flourish Excel. The current plant list is this... Java Fern Java Moss Baby Tears Vallis Crypts Thats all I have ATM I'm open for more suggestions though. Oh, and the light is an 11Watt AquaOne. This is the most recent pic.... Unfortunately, as you can see, I have gotten mold growing on the shrimp :phb: Thats it for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calculator Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Looks like it could be cool, you going to put substrate on the bottom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted September 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Looks like it could be cool, you going to put substrate on the bottom? Yeah, I will. I was just cycling without it as I heard the shrimp can be messy so I thought I'd save myself some cleaning and add it once the cycle is finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calculator Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 What are you going to be using as substrate? Sand/gravel? Colour? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted September 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Sand Yellowy colour I've just done some more tests and it appears that nitrite is being processed too. Here's my results... 0.50ppm ammonia. 2-5ppm nitrite 20-40ppm nitrate. Almost finished :bggrn: :dnc1: :happy2: :happy1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 better to have the substrate in before hand as it provides a large surface are for the desired bacteria to grow on, just give it a gravel clean afterwards. plus its 10000X messier to add gravel after its full Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted September 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Yeah, true. I'm going into town tomorrow so will pick up some sand and add it along with some plants :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted September 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Got my sand today After washing the sand for several hours, it has still made the tank cloudy :facepalm: The only plant I got today was some Java Fern. I thought I would let the tank settle for a bit before I add anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amelia Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Looking good! I like the sand, where did you get it/what type of sand is it? Just a heads up, those tanks are only 21 litres, not 35. :sage: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted September 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Looking good! I like the sand, where did you get it/what type of sand is it? Just a heads up, those tanks are only 21 litres, not 35. :sage: I got it from Animal Antics, I have no idea what type LoL, it just said "washed sand" on the packet. Really? I put the dimensions into a volume calculator thingy and it came up with 35 litres :dunno: Might have been the wrong dimensions though as I think I included the hood. Thanks for the heads up though The tank has finally cleareed up :dnc1: I can't wait to get some more plants. I haven't seen any pieces of driftwood yet that I like but I'll keep my eyes out, anyone know any good places to collect driftwood/buy driftwood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 21L is a perfectly fine size to keep Dwarf Puffers. I kept mine in a 25L tank. Here is what it use to look like: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 21L is a perfectly fine size to keep Dwarf Puffers. I kept mine in a 25L tank. Here is what it use to look like: Nice tank! Thanks for sharing Is that a narrow leaf java fern? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 No just normaL JAVA FERN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 No just normaL JAVA FERN Oh, looks narrower than my Java Fern. :dunno: Never mind........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted September 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Since the shrimp had completely rotted away, I added two Zebra Danios to the tank to check it is cycled. They seem relatively happy at the moment, I'll test on Saturday to check though. I also bought some Val, while talking to the lady at Carine, she said it could be awhile until they get their DP's in So, I'll either just have to wait, find someone wanting to rehome their DP or get a Betta or school of Pygmy Corys instead. Pic.... The boat won't stay, it's just in there because the Java Fern on it wasn't doing so well and with the better lighting on this one, I thought I'd see if I could get it looking healthy again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 I used to have dwarf puffers in a 38L and a 200L, and the difference in their behaviour in the larger tank was quite obvious. There were more territorial disputes with them flaring, which I thought was strange. They would also frequently lay eggs in the 200L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgustipated Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 the flourish excel will melt the twisted val. don't use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted September 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2013 the flourish excel will melt the twisted val. don't use it. Okay, thanks for the heads up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted October 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 Still no news on the dwarf puffer The danios are back in the tank after a break and all tests are coming back good Was at the beach (Anzac Bay) on Friday and found some nice pieces of driftwood, unfortunately, most of them were too big but there is one that fits and I'm curious to find out if it is suitable.... Soaking at the moment and I've already poured boiling water over it. Is it suitable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 is there a way to tell if a wood is suitable by looking at it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 If you can dig your fingernail into it it's not suitable for use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 you can dig your fingernail into aquarium bogwood from HFF :bggrn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted October 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 If you can dig your fingernail into it it's not suitable for use. Dumb question, but is that like, if you can make a dent then its not suitable or is it if you can like, properly put your finger in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted October 6, 2013 Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 If it's soft-soft, in that you can poke your finger into it then it's going to break down fairly quickly and isn't a good idea, but most wet wood you can make cuts in with your fingernail so am not sure this is a good formula, or maybe just needs Godlyevil to explain more. I think that other than that, you can't tell by looking at wood if it's ok to put in the tank or not. Mostly it is ok. If you don't know what sort of wood it is then you can only try it and see. If it's been boiled or rinsed in boiling water and sunk for a few days then it's probably going to be ok. I've used various found woods with various success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondfish Posted October 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2013 If it's soft-soft, in that you can poke your finger into it then it's going to break down fairly quickly and isn't a good idea, but most wet wood you can make cuts in with your fingernail so am not sure this is a good formula, or maybe just needs Godlyevil to explain more. I think that other than that, you can't tell by looking at wood if it's ok to put in the tank or not. Mostly it is ok. If you don't know what sort of wood it is then you can only try it and see. If it's been boiled or rinsed in boiling water and sunk for a few days then it's probably going to be ok. I've used various found woods with various success. Cheers. Once its water logged I'll put it in my tank, hopefully it will be safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.