125 Gallon Journal

[Kevin F.]

Also any idea if these are eggs or not.  It they are who do they belong to.  There are many more than just what's in the photos.

[Odd Duck]

On 10/10/2021 at 3:31 PM, Kevin F. said:

Also any idea if these are eggs or not.  It they are who do they belong to.  There are many more than just what's in the photos.

Looks like nerite snail eggs.  Do you have any nerites?

[Torrey]

On 10/10/2021 at 2:31 PM, Kevin F. said:

Also any idea if these are eggs or not.  It they are who do they belong to.  There are many more than just what's in the photos.

I second Odd Duck:

Those look like you have a female nerite snail. I take them off with my fingernail. 

[Kevin F.]

And here though I got lucky.  Three months and the nerites hadn't laid any eggs, but on closer observation they do look like nerite eggs.  Thanks for the input, it really helped narrow it down

 

[Kevin F.]

Week 14.  Added another 24 plants this week, and a new light.  The light is a Fluval 3.0 48".  I know it's not long enough for the tank, so untill I can get another one the old lights will make up the difference.  Even though I've had a problem with stem plants in the past I went ahead and got some more to see if it was just the amount of light.  

New plants are,

Anubias Gold Coin 

Anubias Nana petite

Anubias Nangi 

Cryptocoryne Pink flamingo 

Cryptocoryne wendtii 

Dwarf sagittaria 

Cryptocoryne Tropica 

Backpack Carollnlana 

Scarlet Temple 

Pogostemon Stella's Octopus 

Stauropyne Repens

Bucephalandra Green Wavy didn't get a photo straight out of the box but here it is in the tank

There is also a Aponogeton bulb that has sprouted on the left behind the driftwood.  Some of the plants showed up pretty beaten up, but all the roots looked really good so I thank they'll bounce back.

Fish seem to be good.  I did loose a zebra danio, don't know if it was from all the stress of the plants being added and me moving every thing around or what.

Water test was somewhat good. These numbers are the same before and after water change (30%).

Nitrate 50

Nitrite 1

Hardness 300

Buffer 120

Ph 7.6

Chlorine 0

Ammonia 0

 

Edited October 16, 2021 by Kevin F.
Forgot a picture

[lefty o]

On 10/16/2021 at 3:08 PM, Kevin F. said:

Week 14.  Added another 24 plants this week, and a new light.  The light is a Fluval 3.0 48".  I know it's not long enough for the tank, so untill I can get another one the old lights will make up the difference.  Even though I've had a problem with stem plants in the past I went ahead and got some more to see if it was just the amount of light.  

New plants are,

Anubias Gold Coin 

Anubias Nana petite

Anubias Nangi 

Cryptocoryne Pink flamingo 

Cryptocoryne wendtii 

Dwarf sagittaria 

Cryptocoryne Tropica 

Backpack Carollnlana 

Scarlet Temple 

Pogostemon Stella's Octopus 

Stauropyne Repens

Bucephalandra Green Wavy didn't get a photo straight out of the box but here it is in the tank

There is also a Aponogeton bulb that has sprouted on the left behind the driftwood.  Some of the plants showed up pretty beaten up, but all the roots looked really good so I thank they'll bounce back.

Fish seem to be good.  I did loose a zebra danio, don't know if it was from all the stress of the plants being added and me moving every thing around or what.

Water test was somewhat good. These numbers are the same before and after water change (30%).

Nitrate 50

Nitrite 1

Hardness 300

Buffer 120

Ph 7.6

Chlorine 0

Ammonia 0

 

did you get 1 of every plant? 🤪

[Kevin F.]

Just about.  

[Streetwise]

That is an epic plant order!

[Kevin F.]

I really wanted to finish filling it in.  The wife told me she had been putting some money away so I could do just that.  I've got to be the luckiest man in the world.

[Streetwise]

I can’t wait to see how it all grows out!

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Kevin F.youve got an awesome spouse. This is going to grow in beautifully. I like the choices and the overalls design of the scape. It will give you nice sight breaks and depth. 

[Kevin F.]

@Beardedbillygoat1975 she really is the best.  As far as the scape goes well have to wait about three months to see what happens.  I'll keep yall posted with weekly updates.

[Torrey]

@Kevin F. I really like the wall of bubbles in the back. Did you make it, or buy it? None of the ones I have tried actually deliver the fine bubble mist that is promised. 

You are lucky to have a spouse who supports your aquarium habit. I mean hobby. <😅>

It has taken 4 years of marriage and 3 years of dating to get to that point. 

 

[Kevin F.]

I purchased it from a chain store.  The only problem is the black material it's made out of clogs up and I have to take it out and scrap it with my finger nails every couple weeks or it gets dead spots.

[Torrey]

On 10/21/2021 at 6:50 PM, Kevin F. said:

I purchased it from a chain store.  The only problem is the black material it's made out of clogs up and I have to take it out and scrap it with my finger nails every couple weeks or it gets dead spots.

Thank you, I suspect that is too high maintenance for me, lol

[Kevin F.]

Ya I  was really hoping it would be a put in and forget like a air stone.   

[Griznatch]

Tank is really looking good, Nice layout.

[Kevin F.]

Sorry out of town today.  Weekly update will be tomorrow.

[Kevin F.]

Week 15.  Finally got the Nitrites back down.  Don't know what caused it eather.  Couple days after last update it went up to a five.  Did a water change and brought it back to zero and it's stayed there ever since.  Had a halequin rasbora jump out of the tank during that water change and unfortunately I didn't notice until dinner time.  

     I am loving the new Fluval 3.0.  This has got to be the best light I have ever owned.  If anyone is shopping for a new light just get one.  Spend the extra on one and get it.  I'm having a little algae but I suspect it will be under control when I get the light dialed in.  Hopefully in November I get the small one for the other side.

     Water parameters this week are, (first number is before water change second one is after)

Nitrate 10 25

Nitrite 0  0

Hardness 300  300

Buffer 80   120

Ph. 7.2  7.6

Chlorine 0  0

Ammonia 0  0

 

Edited October 24, 2021 by Kevin F.

[PineSong]

On 10/16/2021 at 5:11 PM, lefty o said:

did you get 1 of every plant? 🤪

I love the epic plant order! It's a great way to find out what works well in your tank.

Also a fan of the bubble wall. I always had one in my goldfish tanks and I believe the fish enjoyed them because they played in the bubble stream quite a bit. That was in a city with much less hard water than I have now--pretty sure it would clog up in a week here, but I'm still kind of tempted!

[Kevin F.]

Yep the hard water does clog it up, but I just scrap it with my finger nails and it opens right back up.  Some  of the fish really live it,  like the hillstream loaches and the corydoras. 

[Kevin F.]

Week 16.  The Cryptocorynes that had lost all there leaves in shipping have all got new growth on them.  The biggest grower of the week is the Aponogeton.  This thing had taken off like a rocket.  Every thing else is going good, except the Java fern.  I've had a lot of die off.  Water test was again forgotten before the water change, sorry.  After water change.

Nitrate 25

Nitrite 0

Hardness 300

Buffer 80

pH 7.6

Chlorine 0

Ammonia 0

 

[Streetwise]

Your plants have a bright future!

[Kevin F.]

Look what my wife got me for our anniversary.  She's really is the best. 

[Kevin F.]

Week 17.  Not much change this week other than the new light.  I'm still trying to get a good schedule down for them.  No other updates this week I'm not filling to good caught a cold.