457 replies to this topic

[Delapool]

Anyone have any tips for shifting swords and crypts? I've heard crypts can melt?

I think at Easter time (unless the family disappears for a morning) I'm going to pull most of the plants out and redo the plant layout. Some plants are hidden and I want to simplify the tank again.


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[Westie]

I have found that crypts can melt when you put them in a different tank, but they didn't melt when replanting in the same tank. Maybe something to do with different water parameters. I also chop the roots on crypts and swords when replanting them, just for ease of replanting.

[Delapool]

Thanks for the info - that sounds better than I hoped for. Worth a try. Just got to find a free day now.


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[Delapool]

Well, slightly embarrassing. CO2 ran out so got the second bottle. Except it's empty

So either it leaked over summer or I paid for an empty bottle.


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[Westie]

Or you already used it and forgot?

I got a new co2 bottle on the weekend, as the one on my main tank is empty. It usually lasts a few months before I need to swap, but the last bottle I got only lasted a month. I probably should check for leaks..... oops!

[Delapool]

Lol - never thought of that.

I had the bottle sitting in the lounge room for 10 minutes after bringing In from garage and got quizzed on the smell of gas. Didn't think possible but checked and valve seemed closed. Little bit of wriggle maybe.

Hoping I can get away early enough today to swap it out.

Since it was actually empty, suspicion narrowed to a sheepish looking dog....


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Edited by Delapool, 14 March 2017 - 09:41 AM.

[Delapool]

Just made it to swap the larger 6.8kg bottle. Talked it over and still not sure what happened. It does seem to bucket down every time I do this so yet again was trying to carefully get the bottle in the car and not get wet too much.

Connected all up, no leaks and back churning out CO2.

CO2 diffusers seem to going ok. One has the intake almost totally blocked by plant leaves (its like a magnet for them) so will see if I need to clear it.

Unpacked and sorted the dry ferts from the mail. Looked at the auto betta feeder and decided one to test on the weekend when bored.


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Edited by Delapool, 14 March 2017 - 08:36 PM.

[cameroncuz]

Just made it to swap the larger 6.8kg bottle. Talked it over and still not sure what happened. It does seem to bucket down every time I do this so yet again was trying to carefully get the bottle in the car and not get wet too much.

Connected all up, no leaks and back churning out CO2.

CO2 diffusers seem to going ok. One has the intake almost totally blocked by plant leaves (its like a magnet for them) so will see if I need to clear it.

Unpacked and sorted the dry ferts from the mail. Looked at the auto betta feeder and decided one to test on the weekend when bored.


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Hey Delapool, where did you buy your dry ferts from? 
I'm looking to buy some soon. 

[Delapool]

It varies a bit between shops and internet. I have ordered from overseas but mainly using aquagreen now.

http://www.aquagreen...au/catalog.html



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[cameroncuz]

Cheers, I was looking at Aquagreen for everything except potassium nitrate from ebay. Unless there are local stores which sell it?  

[Delapool]

Anyone know on local stores?

I dose PMDDs which contains a bit plus from fish.

Anubias from auction seems to be doing ok in new spot. Looks like a bit of new growth.


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[Westie]

Aquotix

[Delapool]

Picked up 10m of poly tube today to try skipping the buckets. That got me to the bath tub so felt a little guilty not out on lawn. The tubing was a fraction smaller and I noticed not as good flow (by quite a bit) so might try some other shops to get larger poly tube.

On the plus side once it got going from the gravel vac I could just let it run. I see why people use u-bends as the tubing did pinch a bit but oh well. I was thinking the wire handle off those small nets might help there.


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[Chopstick_mike]

Just use your hose mate mine connects perfectly to my gravel vac and pump

[Delapool]

Thanks! I'll try that next week.

Just done small tank and Java Fern seems to be looking better and more settled. Little algae so I think taping off some LEDs has helped. Mr pond snail decided to drop off his perch and was probably lucky not to crack the shell.


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[Delapool]

Some readings:

P - tank 1ppm, tap 0ppm.
Nitrates - tank 5-10ppm, tap 0ppm.

GH - tank - about 8.

KH - tank 107ppm.
Retest with pool kit (3 solutions) - 90ppm. So maybe over reading slightly.


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[Delapool]

Well grim news. Got to take the bad with good I guess. Did a bacterial treatment for two fish with red spots / streaks and bloating. Val and crypts have melted. Half the stem plants are gone and lots of brown leaves on java Fern. Rest of plants are not looking that flash. Certainly solved the jungle look. Will see what survives for replanting.


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[Delapool]

Hopefully the picture makes sense. Looking at a tank re-do buying some more plants and using some existing ones. Any ideas welcome.

Thinking of a front hedge of narrow leaf Java Fern, back-Right side will be crypts mainly, back-Left side will have red and green stem plants. Back behind central ornament will be aponogetons (this is the flowing one I have that gets 2ft leaves). Around the central ornament - maybe some swords?

Trying to make this more plantation style rather than a jungle. Specific areas for each plant and not so crowded (hopefully). No fine leaf or plants that spread by runners (will miss the val but not the ambulia!). And less work as well (if such a thing is possible).

Same old tank ( ) so 4ft x 2ft x 2.5ft high and high tech light/CO2.

[Delapool]

Just measured the Java Fern. The narrow leaf is about 15cm, the broad-leaf 30cm and chain sword is about 22cm. Thinking I'll have to use narrow leaf at front as seems to be shorter.


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[Bostave]

Please have look at micro and mini Java fern varieties or even the crested Java fern if height is an issue. There are many crypts that you can consider too. Slow growing stem plants if you don't mind the periodic trims to maintain the height distribution.