Amano New Year Build!

Discussion in 'Members Systems' started by LilMissMurder, Jan 5, 2025.

  1. OP
    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    Thank you. I guess it would make sense to get the regulator first so you know what's what.
     
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  3. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    Nice. Still faster then some fish stores too.
     
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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    We always blame our parents for everything, my father is DEFINITELY to blame for this :D I was surprised this morning with with 10 neons and 6 Sumatra Platinum Turquoise barbs, with the excuse that he wasn't going to pay water and lights for the world's most expensive pot plant.

    The barbs have to be the most beautiful fish I have ever seen ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ The photo does not do them justice - depending on the light, they are a deep violet that bursts into iridescent turquoise. SPECTACULAR fish that even manages to steal the neons' limelight.

    FEESHEEEZ.jpg

    The barbs are VERY active, digging the dirt and constantly on the take. All of the fish have eaten and are looking very relaxed and are exploring their new home. I am only concerned for two of the tetras, one has a missing gill cover (but seems fine otherwise) and, more seriously, one that has a curved spine. Not the wavy spine typical of neon tetra disease, but instead it curves downwards and it constantly has to correct its attitude in the water. I am tempted to euthanise it but will see what happens in the next few days - it was actively feeding and doesn't seem to be in distress or have trouble otherwise.

    The tank is transformed and is a huge distraction now.
     
  5. Jaco de Jongh

    Jaco de Jongh

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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    You can't choose your family XD
     
  7. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    Finally some fish in there
     
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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    I've been very tempted, but at the same time very hesitant because of 1) the aluminium sulphate I'd added that made me promise to keep livestock out of it and 2) the continued cloudiness of the water, the cause of I am entirely unsure of. My API testing goodies, slimline HOB and drop checker should arrive tomorrow and then I'll be better informed as to what's what.

    If anything, the digging barbs have made the cloudiness worse, so it may be a case of substrate suckage. Every surface is covered in red-stained mulm. I hate this substrate with searing contempt but I'll wait for it to solidify into a solid block then it can be its own gravestone.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    YIKES.

    yikes.jpg


    The tank clearly did not cycle in two weeks, despite adding at least four capfuls of Stability and perhaps because of the absence of any added nutrients to help it along, apart from the grow stix. And maybe I ruined its ability to form stable bacterial colonies with the aluminium sulphate. LUCKILY the water is slightly acidic, and not the wildly inaccurate ~7.8 pH reported by the test strips I've been using.

    The fish seem okay but I'm going to do an immediate 75% water change. And no wonder the water is cloudy.
     
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  10. Jaco de Jongh

    Jaco de Jongh

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    Sorry, lesson I have learned. Stability on its own won't help in a fishless tank. You need to create the ammonia needed to let the beneficial bacteria grow. Then you need to keep them going, they will multiply as you "load" the tank. So you might have bacteria in the tank, but to little to handle the amount of waste that got introduced. That is why some people prefer introducing only 2 fish, a week later another 4 and so on. It allows the bacteria to multiply to be able to handle the load. I hate fishless cycles, got caught the same way as you before. If i do fishless, i feed fish food to the tank, allow a spike and once the spike is over I introduce fish immediately. Now with filters from about 18 tanks, I set up a tank today, scape, plant, fill and stock with fish before i go to bed. Haven't lost a fish doing it this way in roughly 3 years.
     
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  11. Jaco de Jongh

    Jaco de Jongh

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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    :(

    fml.jpg

    Thank Cthulhu for that Penn-Plax.
     
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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    I was hoping to use my new external cannister filter for the ADA alone, factory fresh and minty. However, your post has made me reconsider; I am so sick and tired of this substrate that unleashes a cloud of what looks like mica flakes (it's got those shimmery eddies reminiscent of shampoo) into the WC whenever it is disturbed - and it doesn't settle and it takes aaaaaaaaages, literally it takes two days for the water to reach some decent level of clarity with the penn-plax running full blast whenever I dig a hole for a plant. Half my plants are still floating because I just don't want to go near it and I've been cringing when the barbs disturb it (I've been watching them, they have a trick of blasting the substrate with their tail fins to expose worms and whatnot and then turning around for a look. Charming behaviour but not with this KAK dirt that I wouldn't even use in an outside pond or for filling in Putin's grave.)

    IhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateitIhateit

    So I reckon, firstly I need MOAR filtration and I need a stable source of it - my jelly mix was finally kaput yesterday and I decommissioned it. ICABRN but because I bought a dinky little HOB that fits on the side, whatever colony was formed in my former "diffuser" filter is now gone. The new hob is squeaky clean so obviously it's only a source of mechanical filtration right now, and I don't want the Penn-plax in the way either. That also has fresh wool anyway so same story - I have to rely on whatever is in the tank itself and it's clearly not enough yet. I will do daily water changes until it finally cycles.

    But, more than anything, I am tired of this substrate and I want my fish and plants out of it - I also don't want a repeat of this with the ADA and I so can kill two birds with one stone - I can just let the cannister run right now on the planter so it can get established so it will be ready to use when I get the ADA online.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2025 at 4:26 AM
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  14. Jaco Du plooy

    Jaco Du plooy

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    The only way you are going to save this tank is by capping the soil with sand but that is going to be a mess in itself.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2025 at 3:38 PM
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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    I want to shock treat it with a wheelbarrow full of sand.
     
  16. Jaco Du plooy

    Jaco Du plooy

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    Please rinse the sand before you put it in
     
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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    Whahahaha you had to go there didn't you :D
     
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  18. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    Put it on the mantel to remember it
     
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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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    I already paid R199 for 10ml of Bromothymol Blue drop checker solution... that leaves me too skint to afford therapy every time I'm triggered by a lithic reminder of my never-to-be-regained tooth enamel.
     
  20. Jaco Du plooy

    Jaco Du plooy

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    LilMissMurder

    LilMissMurder

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