HelplessNewbie Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 (edited) Hi everyone, glad to be part of this supportive group! Me and my family are new to the hobby. Here is an attempt to chronicle our adventures in learning! Our 20g: - start date: Jun 25, 2023, actually earlier than this but I redid the substrate because I didn't like the mounds - fishless cycling with plants (3 weeks dark start, but got impatient and put plants during 3rd week) - wood cellulose capped wuth coarse sand, fertilizing with diy liquid fertilizer and diy root tabs - Living: 10 pygmy cory, 11 endlers (5m:7f), 5 endler fry, 1 amano shrimp, bladder snails,plants: java fern, java moss, Anubias (nana, nana petite, barteri), jungle val, guppy grass, sagittaria, madagascar lace plant, red tiger lotus, pennywort, golden creeping jenny, hornwort, Mayaca Fluviatilis, baby tears, 1 tiny piece of susswassertang - Dead: 1 otocinclus, 3 cherry shrimp, 3 amano shrimp, 6 pygmy cory, 1 endler fry, 1 mystery snail; windelov fern, lemon bacopa, ludwigia, crypts, stargrass, rotala rotundifolia, hygrophilia corymbosa, pogostemon octopus, salvinia cucullata; moved out: amazon swords (trying to propagate in nursery) - 1 diy mini pump filter with nylon pot scrubbers, output is pointed up toward sponge on opposite end of tank - 1 nano sponge filter with additional nylon pot scrubber diy filter add-on - 1 Fluval stick heater with temperature controlled ACO heater - diseases encountered: none yet - diy 2 piece tank lid made from greenhouse polycarbonate panel (thanks, Cory!) - ACO led plant light - home automated light control, leak detection and mitigation This is getting expensive with all these "projects" I am starting, but I am enjoying this hobby immensely. Edited March 6 by HelplessNewbie updated living and dead 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 (edited) I muted my usb nano air pump following Mark's Shrimp Tanks video, except I stuffed the jar with polyfill. The ticking noise was annoying me. diy mini pump filter with nylon pot scrubbers, output is diffused with small piece of sponge Edited July 29, 2023 by HelplessNewbie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 diy root tabs the batch on top was too crumbly due to too much water and not enough plaster of Paris diy 2 piece tank lid made from greenhouse polycarbonate panel (thanks, Cory!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted July 22, 2023 Author Share Posted July 22, 2023 Currently deciding if escalated action is needed to address the presence of a leech Here is one of 4 bladder snails I found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted July 22, 2023 Author Share Posted July 22, 2023 Replaced previously clear tube with black; temporarily weighing down the jar with a rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 Here are a number of tubs (in various stages of prep) for quarantining smatterings of nano fish for the 20g tank. Guppies are already in one tub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 I think I got too many plants at the swap meet. Heehee! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 On 8/6/2023 at 10:19 AM, HelplessNewbie said: I think I got too many plants at the swap meet. Heehee! Newly planted after reverse respiration. Hoping they take: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted August 7, 2023 Author Share Posted August 7, 2023 I put 4 shrimp and a mystery snail in today. I am delighted, particularly with the shrimp! They move so gracefully and are so busy. The endlers are curious but don't seem to bother with the shrimp right now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted August 16, 2023 Author Share Posted August 16, 2023 This 7 week old tank seems to be holding well. Plants are showing signs of growth, and stems that were grown curved (purchased that way) are starting to straighten out. The ferns are not browning like their batch mates in our 10 gallon. This water isn't crystal clear, but not bad! Maintenance on this 20 gallon long is minimal, so far. It is a lot to ask the family to help me with these aquariums because of my disability/limitations, so I really appreciate that it takes very little to manage this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted August 19, 2023 Author Share Posted August 19, 2023 New residents: pygmy cories! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted August 21, 2023 Author Share Posted August 21, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 2:29 PM, HelplessNewbie said: This 7 week old tank seems to be holding well. Plants are showing signs of growth, and stems that were grown curved (purchased that way) are starting to straighten out. The ferns are not browning like their batch mates in our 10 gallon. This water isn't crystal clear, but not bad! Maintenance on this 20 gallon long is minimal, so far. It is a lot to ask the family to help me with these aquariums because of my disability/limitations, so I really appreciate that it takes very little to manage this one. I wonder if we should be adding more plant mass. I feel like we should. Is there such thing as having too many plants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted September 4, 2023 Author Share Posted September 4, 2023 (edited) My tank is 9 weeks old. What issues should I expect at this stage? Diatoms? Hair algae? Mold? I thought this might be considered heavily planted but I think I need to double the amount of plant mass before I can call it that. Here is the latest pic of my tank. I have hair algae for sure: Edited September 8, 2023 by HelplessNewbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted September 14, 2023 Author Share Posted September 14, 2023 Took a chance and brought in 4 amano shrimp without quarantining them. Here is one playing peek-a-boo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted September 15, 2023 Author Share Posted September 15, 2023 (edited) Welcomed our first 3 endler fry this morning! So cool. Edited September 15, 2023 by HelplessNewbie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted September 17, 2023 Author Share Posted September 17, 2023 On 9/15/2023 at 10:26 AM, HelplessNewbie said: Welcomed our first 3 endler fry this morning! So cool. I am amazed that endlers don't eat their fry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted September 23, 2023 Author Share Posted September 23, 2023 (edited) Made my 2nd small batch of diy n-p-k and iron root tabs. Per @nabokovfan87's request, I am sharing the recipes I use. ============================ diy N-P-K root tabs Thoroughly mix 1 tsp epsom salt, 2/3 tsp triple phosphate and 2 T plaster of Paris with enough water to make a thick putty. Before it dries completely, either: spread into a slab on parchment or foil, then make shallow score marks in a grid pattern; or, spread into mini-candy or ice cube moulds. Let dry several hours, then cut the slab into thin squares or remove from moulds. Store in air tight containers and keep out of sunlight. ============================ diy iron root tabs* Thoroughly mix 1 tsp epsom salt, 1/4 tsp pyrite/steel wool, 1/6 tsp ferrous sulfate and 2 T plaster of Paris with enough water to make a thick putty. Before it dries completely, either: spread into a slab on parchment or foil, then make shallow score marks in a grid pattern; or, spread into mini-candy or ice cube moulds. Let dry several hours, then cut the slab into thin squares or remove from moulds. The color will change to a dark brown rust color. Store in air tight containers and keep out of sunlight. *Apply iron vs npk root tabs on separate occasions and locations to minimize them cancelling each other out. Edited October 10, 2023 by HelplessNewbie added iron root cube photo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted September 23, 2023 Author Share Posted September 23, 2023 (edited) Tank progression photos... ~June 17, 2023: ~June 20, 2023: June 27, 2023: Week 4:Sep 23, 2023: Oct 6, 2023: cycle crash Nov 14, 2023: still recovering from cycle crash and loss of plants Nov 26, 2023 Mar 3, 2024: red tiger lotus is new, and some plants moved around or out; lots of hornwort floated and light intensity reduced to lessen black brush and thread algae growth May 2, 2024 Edited May 3 by HelplessNewbie 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted October 9, 2023 Author Share Posted October 9, 2023 Awful experience with cycle crash due to chlorine flush from the city: I believe we lost 1 amano, 2 fish and 1 mystery snail in the aftermath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted November 14, 2023 Author Share Posted November 14, 2023 On 10/9/2023 at 3:53 PM, HelplessNewbie said: Awful experience with cycle crash due to chlorine flush from the city: I believe we lost 1 amano, 2 fish and 1 mystery snail in the aftermath. tank, especially plants still recovering... new plants in transition: madagascar lace, creeping jenny, red flame swords, pogostemon octopus, taiwan lily (might not make it), hornwort melting/melted: java fern, windelov fern, val, dwarf sag, 1 tiny strand suswassertang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted November 26, 2023 Author Share Posted November 26, 2023 Added 6 platinum white medaka ricefish and 1 blue coral platy. Added more hornwort. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted December 2, 2023 Author Share Posted December 2, 2023 A few of the ricefish... ...and one new otocinclus 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 (edited) If we are successful at raising our unexpected ricefish and pygmy fry, I would like to add them back to this tank. I find these two types of fish fascinating! We counted 12 today... Encircled in green are what we think is an example of the white ricefish fry, and encircled in purple, a representative of the pygmy cory fry. Edited December 4, 2023 by HelplessNewbie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 On 12/4/2023 at 1:35 AM, HelplessNewbie said: If we are successful at raising our unexpected ricefish and pygmy fry, I would like to add them back to this tank. I find these two types of fish fascinating! We counted 12 today... Encircled in green are what we think is an example of the white ricefish fry, and encircled in purple, a representative of the pygmy cory fry. Seven fry (turned out to all be ricefish) survived and have been moved in! Here is one of them: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelplessNewbie Posted May 3 Author Share Posted May 3 Moved out all male endlers, since we have a bunch of fry and juveniles. Placed one bully ricefish in quarantine timeout, and an injured ricefish also to separate quarantine for recovery. Two new otocinclus, Bill and Ted. Red tiger lotus is getting big, so trimmed a few of the taller leaves off. Madagascar lace plant melted back and is so tiny right now. Still fighting bba in a few places, but reducing the lighting time and adding hornwort to shade certain areas appears to be helping, though I understand it will take time in this low tech setup. Banana plant is doing all right. Java ferns are growing back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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