ChemBob Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 On 10/27/2021 at 10:49 PM, Atitagain said: On the mbuna tank what is the purpose for the egg creat under the substrate? Is it just to keep the rocks off the glass? Help to sturdy the rocks? This is to distribute the weight of the rocks so that there isn't a sharp point of the rock pressing on the glass, especially of it settles. The concern is if a corner of the rock presses on the glass, the full weight if that rock and the rocks on it will create a single point of high stress resulting in breaking the glass. I've seen this in aquarium and terrarium builds. It tends to be recommended for heavy rock scapes from what I've seen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 I planted the overhead sump today. Broke up some lava rock and added creeping Jenny, pothos, and crypt wendtii. This picture is about 2 hours after planting, and the crypts leaves are already super dry. They were previously floating in the planted tank. Curious to see how they handle the transition to emersed. Here is an update of the mbuna tank. I'll be ordering the saulosi in a couple weeks when my QT tank opens up. It is currently holding kuhli loaches for my 20 gallon. Here is the planted tank. I am currently having a hair algae outbreak. I've vut back feeding to see if that helps. Trying to keep ferts stable, but had to leave town for a few days unexpectedly a week ago, so that didn't help. Slow and steady on this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted December 9, 2021 Author Share Posted December 9, 2021 Been a while since I've updated, so here goes. The Mbuna Tank The Mbuna Tank is doing well. It was stocked with a group of Chindongo saulosi about 3 weeks ago. As these are the only fish in the tank, they are being quarantined in place. Everyone seems to be getting along well. I have some Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus floating, mostly to see how the mbuna would do with it. I have seen them picking at it to eat, and have definitely seen them eating some duckweed. We'll see how it goes to up, at least until I get tired of it. The overhead sump on the Mbuna Tank is doing ok. The crypts have melted back with minimal growth. The creeping Jenny also appears to be doing just ok. I suspect the humidity is too low for both, more the crypt though. The pothos is doing well, establishing roots and starting to put out new leaves. The Planted Tank I've been fighting aglae in the Planted Tank, mostly hair algae. All the inhabitants are doing well, though. The pencilfish moved right back in without issue once the Mbuna arrived. As far as algae goes, I tried reducing feeding, then reducing ferts, and then slightly reduced lighting intensity. I did one at a time over several weeks. The reduced light really seems to be helping. I ordered phosphate and potassium test kits to see if one of them was off. Phosphates measured between 1 and 2 ppm. Potassium was reading non detect. I am now wondering if I'm under dosing micro nutrients. First, more research on what a good phosphate and nitrate number really are. I have also ordered some algae crew members to help. I know it's not the solution, and that search will continue, but I wanted these guys anyway. A clown pleco and a reticulated SAE are currently in quarantine. They came in with the saulosi cichlids, intending to QT separately. Not great pictures, but here's what I could get. Anyway, if you read that overly long post, thanks for checking in, and see you next time! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 @ChemBobthey make clear plastic covers for those planter boxes if I remember right and if you can obtain those may take care of your humidity problem. Otherwise sounds like the typical growing pains if dialing in a planted tank. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted December 12, 2021 Author Share Posted December 12, 2021 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minanora Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 I have to say, I can appreciate what I assume is a glass of whiskey in your initial post. My go to, 100%. The progress of the 40s is awesome! Algae struggles can be frustrating. I love all of your helpers! Congratulations on the new addition to the family as well! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jawjagrrl Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Finally got a chance to read this.... love the contrast of environments, makes me nostalgic for my cichlids years ago. Would love to see what plants you added and how you feel they all are doing - starting to look at options for my 55 project. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Looking good @ChemBob! Fine adjustments in the Fluval app have improved, but they can still be finicky. When doing a new Pro schedule, it helps to delete everything and start from scratch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemBob Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 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! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minanora Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Wowza! That planted tank looks incredible! I love the mbuna tank as well. Those corydoras though! ❤️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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