A tale of two tanks

[Starr22]

Here I will (try to) chronical the two tanks I currently have sitting on my desk.

The tank on my right is 40l and measures 30cm wide by 27cm deep by 40cm high (1ft x 10.5” x 16”).

I bought the tank second-hand for $10 (Australian). It did have an internal filter set up but I took this all out. The tank now has a Chihiro A series II light and a sponge filter for filtration.

 This tank was started on the 31^st of October.

Master soil as the substrate and the first plants to go in

Water wisteria               (Hygrophila difformis)

Ambulia                            (Limnophila sessiliflora)

Crested Java Fern            (Microsorum pteropus)

I added some Monte Carlo (Micranthemum umbrosum) a few days later.

I currently have 5 tetras (4 x cardinal and 1 neon), a male betta and a mystery snail in the tank.

I also have added some red root floaters (Phyllanthus fluitans), this is mainly to combat algae.

This tank is my first foray into the world of aquascaping / aquariums and so far it hasn’t been too bad of a journey. The plants are growing but not as fast as I want them too 😊 and I have some issues with algae from time to time.

I do also seem to get the occasional ammonia spike.

The tank on my left is also second-hand. I bought this for $40 and it came with a little Aqua One LED light. This tank is 23cm wide, 37cm deep and 24cm high. I placed it so that the longest side is easiest to see when I'm sitting at my desk.

I’m running a second air line from my air pump to feed a nano sponge filter in this tank.

The idea is to set this tank up as a shrimp tank only (neocaridina’s). I started this tank on 04/12/2022 (3 days ago).

As substrate I used Fluval plant & shrimp (I used a little gravel & sand at the back to raise the floor) and planted it with the following (front to back):

Monte Carlo      (Micranthemum umbrosum)

Lobelia Cardinalis

Rotala rotundifolia

Amazon Sword  (Echinodorus amazonicus)

Ambulia              (Limnophila sessiliflora)               < cutting taken from the other tank

Red root floaters (Phyllanthus fluitans) < also from the other tank

Both the Lobelia and the Rotala I got for free from my local pet store as they were about to throw them out. They cam in tissue culture pots and seem to be ok for now. I’m trying to get my hands on a bottle of Dr Tim’s ammonia so I can start the cycling process with this tank.

I’m using both these tanks as learner tanks and to take these lessons to a larger community tank.

[TheSwissAquarist]

They look great! Can’t wait to see the future plant carpet in the second tank.

[Starr22]

Right Tank update. Mystery snail has died….I don’t know why. All water parameters remained unchanged, did weekly water changes. The only thing I could attribute it to is my fertiliser which has 0.005% Copper in it. Would this be enough to poison my snail? I don’t know but I’m going to look for a fert that dos not contain any copper / is safe for snails & shrimps. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I’m also dealing with some persistent algae, not a lot but enough to be noticeable. I don’t know what to do about this either. I have reduced my light hours and intensity.

I removed the Ambulia and instead put in a broad leaf plant I bought some weeks ago and was sitting in my fish pond outside. I also replanted some of the micro swords and removed a heap of susswassertang that I found hiding 😊. The red root floaters are growing and I can see their little roots in the water now. Exciting!

 

Left Tank update

I bought another pot of Monte Carlo and put this in as well. There is good growth which only makes me more impatient! I have found a little snail roaming around as well which is amazing as the tank is full on cycling!!

Current parameters:

pH 6.8

Ammonia 2

Nitrite   0.5

Nitrate  5

Have been dosing with Dr Tim’s Ammonium Solution. I also bough another light for this tank. A Lominie LED 2 channel light. Should be arriving any day now (honestly don't know why I bought this as the current light seems to do fine).