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ChemBob

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  1. ChemBob
    In addition to your fish shed, I'd love to see pics of your monitor room build!
  2. ChemBob
    If I had the sieve for 75s when I got my 40s, I'd have been all over it. I wouldn't be sordid any the size. If anything, it should stabilize the water conditions as you build out.
  3. ChemBob
    I'm in Louisiana. I did nothing other than make sure my lilies are at the bottom of the pond. It looks like everything overwintered fine. Sorry I'm not more helpful for you!
  4. ChemBob
    I was just thinking the same thing myself. The filters fit together perfectly. And a powerhead may be the way to go. I run a sponge in all my tanks as a easy way to add a bit of filtration and an air stone. My canister intake and output are circled on the left. Sponge filter on the right. Both are relatively non obtrusive in this tank.
  5. ChemBob
    Time for a long overdue update! The Mbuna Tank is doing great. They have not destroyed the vallisineria and appear to be allowing the floating Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus and water wisteria toilet. They do pick at the duckweed quite a bit, so that probably keeps them full and from harassing the other plants. It is extremely entertaining to watch them interact with each other and move around the sand im the tank. One of them likes to dig around the rocks in the front right. The planted tank is doing much better. I pulled the wood and rocks and scrubbed the BBA off. Combined with lower light for a couple of months has really gotten things under control. I now have the stems well established and have increased light intensity and CO2. I've also adjusted the fertilizer regime. Every other day with Easy Green and the opposite days with Brightwell Aquatics Florin Multi, which is a micro only fertilizer. The plants are really liking this. I have to trim back the stems weekly if I want them under control, and the crypts look great. Except the pink flamingo. It can't decide if it likes me. Finally, I got Melanotaenia sp Kali Tawa from Dan's Fish! I pu them in the display tank yesterday. I can't wait for them to color up. This is my first foray into Rainbowfish, and excited to see how it goes. Until best time, cheers!
  6. ChemBob
    @Jawjagrrl one thing you could consider to start would be sponge filters. Not the prettiest, but get the job done to see how you like them. You can add sumps or canisters later (though drilling gets harder, but not impossible). Certainly the simplest option, especially if you are going planted in both. The other thing working well for me is the overhead sump. Easy to access and relatively cheap to build. It did take me a bit to find a container I liked for it.
  7. ChemBob
    I am definitely checking out your 40x40 journal tomorrow! I'm going to have to update that one soon. I haven't done that in a while, but got some new plants i should post.
  8. ChemBob
    I like canisters. Lots of people hate them. Haven't used sump, but they seem really easy assuming you have good access. Based on research I've done, it seems like lids for sumps are highly recommended. I would also end up with a drilled tank for a sump, whereas with a canister, I don't need to worry about losing the overflow siphon. On substrate, I use the @Bentley Pascoe lasagna method with Brightwell Rio Cafe and red Eco Complete. I am a fan. I really like the buts of Eco Complete coming up now as well. It provides a nice texture and look in my opinion. I wouldn't mess with sand personally, id just expect it to get mixed in with the way my tanks go. Totally a personal preference though. Can't wait to see this develop! Good luck!
  9. ChemBob
    Bentley Pascoe recommends either mixing them, or layering them in lasagna method, with a layer of half the stratum on the bottom, the eco complete on the middle, the the other half of the stratum on top. I am using the lasagna method and am liking it. Some is getting mixed up as I move things around, but not too much.
  10. ChemBob
    Algae scrubbers.
  11. ChemBob
    Good choice. I know I'm a bit late, but I'll echo what @Guppysnail said, definitely choose the reptile or amphibian first. A crested gecko was my entry back into reptiles after 15ish years. I went bioactive, and love the terrarium. It has been up for about 5 years now. I put an umbrella tree in, and it is to the point I need to do some major trimming. I also need to refresh the soil a bit, it's just broken down over the years. Definitely do research, and decide what you are willing to feed. I haven't had gargoyles, but I understand they tend to want insects a bit, whereas crested geckos can get by on the gecko diet alone, though will take insects. Also, is your family going to allow insects? I keep a culture of dubia roaches now for my viper geckos, but keep it tucked away so my wife doesn't have to deal with it. Just another consideration. Good luck, and let us know if you have any questions!
  12. ChemBob
    I'll second the Fluvals. I have 2 7 series and they are running great.
  13. ChemBob
    What variety of angels are those? They are gorgeous!
  14. ChemBob
    Decided to go Pro with my Fluval 3.0 on the Planted Tank. Been off this week with our newborn, so watched several videos on optimizing a planted tank. The result is a change in lighting based on @Bentley Pascoe's Day Sim settings and a shake up in fertilization. I am dosing a nitrate and phosphate free all in one fertilizer daily, as the tank is relatively heavily stocked and has plenty of these macros. I also ordered a few new plants, but more on those when they arrive. Here are the light settings in now using. If I could make an improvement to the Fluval app, it would be too allow me to type the number in. Trying to dial in the exact numbers in the slider was quite the task... but I got it.
  15. ChemBob
    This reminds me of the awesome night scenes from Avatar with all the glowing plants. Such a great tank! Thank you so much for sharing.
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