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Delapool's 150 Gallon Tank


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#241 Delapool

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Posted 16 October 2017 - 08:12 PM

A couple of quick photos - not the best. Heaps of character to the shrimp and barbs. The shrimp I can actually see with the substrate added now. Barbs have settled in very quickly, not the greatest colour but I like the pattern.

https://uploads.tapa...d493ca1963.heic

https://uploads.tapa...45148ad5e9.heic

https://uploads.tapa...2bda6f7acc.heic

https://uploads.tapa...89876a0802.heic

#242 Delapool

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Posted 17 October 2017 - 09:34 AM

Also picked up to baby yoyo loaches - saw them swimming around this morning doing well.

#243 Delapool

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Posted 21 October 2017 - 06:47 AM

Ninja shrimp photos (the iPhone was struggling). Bit more colour and maybe some banding. Very tiny but very busy!

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#244 Delapool

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Posted 21 October 2017 - 07:12 AM

Was going to check out the PCS library for shrimp / Australian natives books but if anyone has a good link on these would be interested as haven’t found much so far.

#245 Delapool

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Posted 22 October 2017 - 10:18 PM

Results record:

Gh>
JBL - 7
API - 6

Ca>
API - 3

KH> still to sort out.

Nitrate>
JBL - 18ppm
API - 10 to 20ppm

#246 Delapool

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Posted 27 October 2017 - 07:16 AM

These Spanner Barbs are pretty friendly! Bit of a battle to get the pellets in before they get splashed out. Changed around the feeding a bit so the rams are getting some.

#247 Delapool

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Posted 28 October 2017 - 12:50 PM

And understand English as well. I mumbled something about pruning the plants and lo and behold, they kindly got stuck into some new growth for me...

Tried a garden hose that someone suggested ages back for drain hose. Little bit bigger diameter so I think flow was better.

#248 Delapool

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 08:12 PM

Has anyone grown plants off glass mounts? I glued some buce to one to find some real estate but hunting for something better.


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Tested pool with pool ph and api test kit - both 8.2 or so. I remember testing this last summer against the digital pens and was pretty happy (except I forgot how much of a pain the ph colour charts are).
 
APi kh test kit 90ppm and pool test kit 70ppm (maybe 80ppm if kind as dribbles extra drops). I used a glass of tap water that had been standing over-night so should of been little interference from anything in the water. The pool test kit has no date but did match the pool shop results last summer. So, the KH test kits interesting puzzle.  

#249 Delapool

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Posted 30 October 2017 - 07:31 AM

I confess I think I over-stocked the tank on these barbs. Looked much smaller in shop... Very stocky, actually dwarf the angelfish a bit. And if the tank was a boat, they would be tipping it to one side as they rush to follow anyone coming into the room. They kind of remind me of goldfish but I think goldfish have more manners.

#250 Delapool

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Posted 04 November 2017 - 08:37 PM

Pretty camera shy but here we go.

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#251 malawiman85

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Posted 05 November 2017 - 07:24 AM

There's not much out there to read on ninjas/chameleons but in my experience there isn't a hell of a lot to learn about them. By that I mean they don't have any characteristics significantly different from other small freshwater shrimp:
http://www.aquagreen...rimps_of_NT.pdf

#252 Delapool

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Posted 06 November 2017 - 09:02 PM

Many thanks for the information - much appreciated. Seem to be going ok so far - getting a bit bigger. Just doing about 30% water changes weekly and not adding anything. The java fern is looking better though. I think less light reflected with the new substrate soaking it up in small tank.

#253 Delapool

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Posted 06 November 2017 - 09:12 PM

It appears the java fern needs pruning again in main tank. It's very forgiving from last mass pruning but needs another hedge mow. Noticing the catfish having to bash their way through again or just loiter on top.


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#254 Delapool

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Posted 07 December 2017 - 10:21 PM

Re-connected CO2 bottle re-fill and no leaks we could hear. But one of the CO2 diffuser’s has a stopped impeller so pulling that apart on the weekend. Hopefully it comes good.

#255 Delapool

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Posted 11 December 2017 - 02:35 PM

CO2 Diffuser working again (although must check tonight). This one pulls in a lot of plant debris (bad spot, really needs shifting).

Something has been eating the Anubias for sure. About half a dozen new leaves gone. Does save pruning it I guess... I wish the java fern and bolbitis would also get done as these have really gotten over-grown now. Maybe next week I’ll find the scissors.

#256 Delapool

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Posted 15 December 2017 - 07:32 AM

Picked up an electrical useage meter. Planning to try on weekend and see how bad it is. See if any real high useage pieces of equipment.

#257 Delapool

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Posted 02 January 2018 - 12:09 AM

Ok, so very, very busy last few days - quick update. Started to simplify the tank for pulling down later on. All the ornaments, driftwood and fake rocks out. Smaller canister filter cleaned and shut-down. That was the easy part. Then pulled out all the plants and stored in buckets (4 of them). Removed about 60kg of gravel I think and left about half an inch to cover the tank base. I did have the idea of keeping the gravel but just ditched it and will buy a better plant substrate later on.

 

Then about 4 massive water changes to try and clear the water. A lot of clay in the gravel for the plants which was just a pain now. So about 2000 litres has been changed out. 

 

Caught the spanner barbs for selling off and put them in a basket - quite clever I thought except should of bought a lid as well as at the moment 6 had escaped back into the main tank. Hardly worth the effort.

 

Dumped the plants back in and have cleaned the internal filter once and one of the CO2 reactors twice as little broken plant roots and clay making a mess. So I'd say 10 hours spent doing all this and it's not even pulling the tank down - just making it more easy to do so. 

 

I've decided to eventually go with discus in a planted tank with ferns, anubias, etc that don't need much gravel. Plus some driftwood. Still deciding though so lots of plants just floating around for the moment. Will keep the CO2 going.

 

Some progress photos below:

 

 

Tank before starting.

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Canister filter out and ornaments.

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Buckets of plants.

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The basket idea - it did float but had to glue netting over handles to cover gaps. And turns out it needed a lid for the barbs which I could hear bouncing off the tank cover and around tank from next room after they decided to get out.

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And finally - tank at moment. Heaps of java fern and bolbitis to keep. Keep the anubias and buce (such as it is) as well. Crypts, aponogetons and red stem plants - real nice but may not have a place for them anymore.

 

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#258 Delapool

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Posted 02 January 2018 - 09:17 AM

CO2 reactor looks to be getting clogged again. Always been a pain that one. Other one looks clogged but still working ok. Friday I think I’ll clean both and internal filter again and that should be it. Seachem clarity doing the job.

Thinking a bit of hose might be handy to suck up some gravel every water change. I just need a little gravel to stop lights reflecting. Probably easier to just get it all when tank drained though I guess.

#259 Delapool

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Posted 03 January 2018 - 07:26 AM

Just thinking for later on but anyone know of plants that just sit on gravel / driftwood? So far I’m thinking I know of java fern, bolbitis, Anubias, buce and wondering if any others?

#260 Bostave

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Posted 03 January 2018 - 08:15 AM

Mosses and Hygrophila pinnatifida




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