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Wyvren
03-01-2012, 11:34
Ok so my new tank is up and running. The 5 female bettas now has 7 cardinals as companions and the guppies where returned.

The tank is 600x325x350. Aquaclear 30 HOB filter, 1 t5 growlux and 1 t5 skywhite 10 000k 24w each lights. Substrate is the flourite dark, decided the red was to red and the black to dark. This looks more natural and makes the plants and the wood stand out.

I planted it mainly with all the variations of java fern that i could find.

Currently the girls are very happy and chasing the cardinals a bit but there is plenty of cover under the wood, in the leaves for them to hide. I am hopeful that this chasing will last only a short while.

No co2 except for some excel.

I worked out that the tank has 60l of water ( after the substrate and wood has been added). So now i need to see how many more cardinals i can add i want at least 10 of them tho.

AquaAddict
03-01-2012, 11:40
Looks awesome!

OscaCT
03-01-2012, 12:01
Wyvren Looks very nice! - Where did you buy the driftwood?

Wyvren
03-01-2012, 12:08
Thanks FreshWater i will get better pics once i have borrowed my brother's camera

Thanks Oscarct i found those at super plants in the air plant section of the nursery. Its worth while to have a look there as well for wood - in any nursery.

Gert Combrink
03-01-2012, 22:34
Looking good!
I know where you got that substrate from! Giggle! :bigsmile:

Vez
04-01-2012, 07:14
wow, nice little tank you have!

Lloydster
04-01-2012, 07:30
looking good angie....!!!

shywhite is 8000k though lol...but very nice choice of globes your betta must look realy cool

Wyvren
04-01-2012, 08:39
Ive had some issues with the white light, lloyd i know it is 10 000k tho then maybe not skywhite ( i must have the name wrong). But for some reson the light light keeps flickering and going off. So need to see why.

Gert Combrink, 90% van die varings was daai wat ek by jou gekry het.

Lloydster
04-01-2012, 09:12
maybe look at the connections?? shorting because of it beeing damp ect.

Wyvren
04-01-2012, 10:03
Yea im going dremmel some more vents into the lid today, altho there wasnt much condensation. Also that reflective tape i used keeps the lid cool on the outside.

Lloydster
04-01-2012, 14:27
let me know if you want any moss will look good in this setup..:blink1:

Sean J
04-01-2012, 14:35
That is a wicked looking little tank there!! Stunning!

Wyvren
04-01-2012, 16:50
Ok finally proper photos (note - Ipads take good photos in plenty of light only)

Full shot of the tank, my pc and the 40L jebo

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gYAvbrUVCb4/TwR0FU4hY-I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/bG6DYyfDLwc/s640/IMG_8447.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DhIKHmMxQBs/TwR0AyIE7OI/AAAAAAAAA6A/M_rOEYF-Ezs/s640/IMG_8453.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-byUMLwU-6Pk/TwR0CAle-CI/AAAAAAAAA6E/uSYeJNrG7NY/s640/IMG_8451.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XBgJjJvtufI/TwR0DCQND5I/AAAAAAAAA6I/jgtS-dFLBg8/s640/IMG_8450.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-N6j-SddcTTs/TwRz67gVkfI/AAAAAAAAA5s/nc9yu9Eho30/s640/IMG_8466.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xOuu-KkDG8k/TwRz5TxkN_I/AAAAAAAAA5o/f1Rc0KHpMW4/s640/IMG_8467.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sQccotAe0Lg/TwRz9TNWwHI/AAAAAAAAA50/F0VhgV3S1ls/s1024/IMG_8459.JPG

Still awaiting some ground cover plants, but otherwise the ones in there now will become the ground cover.

Wyvren
04-01-2012, 17:38
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MpNpUSfvk-M/TwR-vDk8gKI/AAAAAAAAA6g/jfkZkU_VQM0/s640/IMG_8476.JPG

windfire
04-01-2012, 18:36
very nice Wyvren i love the different java ferns. and your lady bettas!

Wyvren
04-01-2012, 19:26
windfire - thanks, its the reason the tank got an upgrade, the girls needed more space :P ( Well that was my excuse)

Vez
05-01-2012, 07:35
very very nice! are you going to add a black background? think you plants and "ladies" will look even better!

and what type of plant is in the front?

Zoom
05-01-2012, 08:01
Nice scape dude.

Wyvren
05-01-2012, 08:57
Thanks guys, Vez, i doubt that i will add a background, i really dont like them much, plus i worry that it will create an even bigger reflective area that might drive the girls nuts.

Lloydster
05-01-2012, 10:07
and what type of plant is in the front?

quadricostatus

Wyvren
05-01-2012, 11:12
Thanks lc3786455 (btw change the dang nick :P) I got the plant from him so he should know best.

I still am debating on the moss, but I never had much luck with mosses in my tanks so I really don't know.

Lloydster
05-01-2012, 11:22
lol send me a pm on how to do that and i will glady..

Wyvren
05-01-2012, 11:29
I think PM one of the mods :P Might be the best option :P

Skye01
05-01-2012, 11:41
Wyvren, what a stunning tank you have designed there. I think that once it has grown in a little it will be even more gorgeous than it is now, if that's possible...:blink1:

Vez
05-01-2012, 12:04
i dont think you should add the moss, its really looking awesome as it is!

Wyvren
05-01-2012, 14:20
Thanks guys, yea im still very iffy about the moss, I want to see what this looks like as ferns only.

Lloydster
06-01-2012, 12:03
Wyvren is this better???

Vez
06-01-2012, 13:42
new name! i like!

Lloydster
06-01-2012, 13:56
shot dude!! its easier to mention me in post yes??

well that was the idea anyway:laugh:

Vez
06-01-2012, 14:03
Lloydster

YES it is!

Lloydster
06-01-2012, 14:07
Lol....

Wyvren
06-01-2012, 15:55
Hahahah +10000000000000000000000000000000000000000 internets to you Lloydster :P Its a huge improvement :P

Lloydster
06-01-2012, 17:04
lol glad you like it!:cheesy:

Wyvren
07-01-2012, 10:48
Lloydster it is just so much easier to type ;D

Small update, no pics tho, i have noticed the ferns are dying back a fair bit, but have also noticed new growth. So i am assuming it is just the old big leaves dying back and making room for the new growth. I have trimmed the dying leaves out, so the new ones have a better chance.

I am also running a mini experiment on this tank, since i know how well the seachem stuff worked on my other tanks, i stocked up on a few of Henk Hugo micro lift products. Going to use them exclusively on this tank. So far i have to say the special blend and bio carb smells horrible but i find its just as easy to dose. The bloom and grow i found odd looking at first since it is more clear than the seachem stuff and not so ferty smelling. Oh and the nice thing i liked about the products is that it doesnt smell so much like chemicals as the seachem stuff does.

I will post pics again in a week or so and we can see.

Lloydster
07-01-2012, 14:04
Wyvren were did you get the products?? i want the biological supplement thingy.

the ferns are just probably ajusting to the new tank nothing major, just cut the leaves though so they dont rot away and foul your water.

Wyvren
07-01-2012, 14:18
I asked my LFS to get me a few bottles. Just ask you petshop to get it :P Ive removed 90% of the dead leaves, will do another trim in a few days. At least the HM that I had left over has settled in the tan (Its a temp thing :P)The main thing s the new shoots and a couple of baby plantlets already, so obviously the tank is settling in nicely.

Lloydster
07-01-2012, 15:29
will do...
nice to hear your tanks doing well. let me know if you want any plants

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 08:38
Unfortunately I have lost two of my girls, the one I found this morning on the bottom of the tank, the other one is MIA. I have looked everywhere, including taken the filter apart this morning and I cannot find her. All the other fish tho look healthy. It could be due to the ferns dying back, but as they died I removed the leaves on a daily basis to prevent any spikes.

Vez
10-01-2012, 09:05
Ai that’s not cool! Sorry to hear!

No holes in the canopy? That the one managed to jump out?

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 09:12
Nope there isnt even 5mm gaps any where. The only place she could have gone to was the filter and I have taken it apart and she isnt in there.

I will conduct a full search this afternoon to see if she somehow did manage to jump out.

Lloydster
10-01-2012, 09:29
maybe the others had her for supper??
sorry to hear that angie...not cool losing fish

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 09:43
Could be, but then again they left the other one alone. They tend to not eat dead fish (or havent before). Especially since she was bigger than the others.

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 12:27
Ok now I suspect nitrite or ammonia poisening. I noticed at lunch two more girls where swimming with their fins clamped. I removed both and placed one each in my other tanks (the one with my male is in a breeding net).

Ironically enough the cardinals are not showing any symptoms. I did a 20% water change now during lunch and will most likely do another when I get home from work. Also will go thru the tank to make sure I find what ever is causing this spike.

Not to sure if there is much else I can do, I have added the Special Blend as well to the water.

Lloydster
10-01-2012, 12:35
strange, new filter perhaps??
in take it you dechlor your water..do you have prime? its quite good in emergency’s like this.

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 12:45
Yep I only use prime, the filter is half new, the sponge was setup in another tank for about a month before I started this tank. Im getting some stability as well after work. I found that helps a huge amount. I just really dont want to loose another girl. Otherwise I will have to wait for someone to breed in CT again.

Will keep an eye on things when I get home and see whats up. Still can't find the missing girls body tho.

Lloydster
10-01-2012, 13:58
only the sponge was old?? that your problem then maybe you should have 50/50 mix of old bio ceramics and new. it works much better to sead the filter as its way better at housing beneficial bacteria than the sponge. if you have a cycled tank use those cermaics in your HOB. even take some from your boet if possible. do a 50% water change add henk's special blend and thats that. i promise your will stabalize in no time!!! no need to get stability just get some good bacteria going.

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 14:20
I used 50% of the gravel from the old tank as well as all the water, which is about half of the big tanks water. Also with water changes I add water from my established tanks. I took the gravel since there isnt that much ceramics in the trickle filters. I didnt want to upset those tanks to much as well. But its only giving me problems now - 3 weeks later. Im used to having the spikes and what not early on. Will add some more of the special blend as well as a bit of ceramics from the other tanks.

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 17:49
Ok so I now know what is killing the girls. They have columnaris. Unfortunately none of the pharmecies I went to now would give me even one capsule erythromycin. Will be getting a prescription from my doc in the morning and get the meds that way. But I suspect it is to late now. Will be treating the tanks with some AQ salt, (I did a search on it in the forums and that and the meds was prescribed by the proff).

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qc1kZwUzmfc/TwxrAmcZ5nI/AAAAAAAAA68/2Mbwcnd4we0/s1440/IMG_8484.JPG

tracyp
10-01-2012, 18:49
Dirk Bellstedt?

Lloydster
10-01-2012, 19:34
@wyvern i have erythromycin if you want?? 250ml capsules they come in various salts the one i have is called purmycin. remember this stuff kills bacteria and will knock your bio filtration HARD!!!!!

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 19:37
Lloydster, if i dont come right tomorrow, I will call you. I can get it in the morning no worries. Besides, looking at the two girls who are knocked the hardest by this I think its to late already. The symptoms came on way to fast. The blue girl I am seriously considering putting down, she has no fins left, and just hiding under a stump.

Lloydster
10-01-2012, 19:40
shame man... well let me know

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 19:45
At the moment I am just getting the meds to treat the tank to kill off the nasties. Then I will start thinking of what to get for the tank. But only in a month or 2.

Vez
10-01-2012, 19:48
shame man! how did you know what the prob was?

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 19:56
I googled the markings, read thru all the symptoms and unfortunately it looks like a match, the only difference so far is the stuff havent become fluffy, but then again its killing the girls in less than a day of me spotting the signs.

Lloydster
10-01-2012, 20:02
maybe fill out that thing on "ask the prof" as see if he can help you. he is pritty good at this sort of thing.

Wyvren
10-01-2012, 20:19
I will give it a shot :)

Wyvren
16-01-2012, 13:40
Quick update on what the tank looks like now. Unfortunately none of the girls made it but the cardinals are happy.

Wyvren
17-01-2012, 08:43
Quick question to the clever plant guys, the Echinodorus quadricostatus is a bit yellow but I am not sure why? Could any of you give me any tips?

Vez
17-01-2012, 08:50
could be Fe ?

Vez
17-01-2012, 08:51
o ja, tank is looking good!

Wyvren
17-01-2012, 08:55
Hehehe thanks Vez, I will add some Fe tonight and keep an eye on it.

Vez
17-01-2012, 09:31
what do you use for Fe? and how much? and how many times per week?

Wyvren
17-01-2012, 09:39
I have the Microbe-lift Fe, havent used it yet but from the horrible maths I did I think I ended up with 1ml per week? Im not a big doser, I only dose once or twice a week as it is :P

Lloydster
17-01-2012, 09:54
hey angie check your NP levels that gives the plants REAL colour, Fe is trace element that allows the plant to receive and use other nutrients effectively. i think what happens is people have more than enough NPK but the plant are still dull then they up the Fe and hey, there is colour but its actually the plant using the NPK more readily because of the Fe being present. Fe is a MICRO nutrient so you only need micro amount 0.1ppm is more than enough. also dont forget to up you GH to 4-5 degrees so you wont see cal,mg deficiencies. Well this is what I think anyway lol

Wyvren
17-01-2012, 10:01
Lloydster - ok now in english?? :P

Keep in mind Im trying to keep it low key as possible, I dont want to fuss a lot anand I also dont want to be constantly stressing about numbers.

Lloydster
17-01-2012, 10:25
lol you never need to stress about the numbers. on saturday me and henkie lol can talk to about the products as he is the importer so he could shed some light on the situation aswel. but if you really dont want to stress about numbers then the prof's ferts is pritty good.

Wyvren
17-01-2012, 10:35
Hehehe so far I have managed without stressing bout the numbers :P I will continue in this trend :P I just realised one of the reasons the plants might have suffered was during the girl's illness - the added salt as well as the time the light where off for about 4 days.

Lloydster
17-01-2012, 11:05
sheesh ya salt will make them into biltong lol.

Wyvren
17-01-2012, 11:35
Its almost out again tho, by the weekend it will be all gone

Wyvren
23-01-2012, 18:07
Some blurry pics, with the glosso and bolbitus planted.

Siamese fan
23-01-2012, 18:31
looks so good dude, lovit!!

Wyvren
23-01-2012, 18:46
Thanks, Im glad the ferns are slowly pushing out new leaves and is now settling in nicely. Will put up decent pics by the weekend.

Siamese fan
23-01-2012, 18:48
Cool man, cant wait to see! good luck

Razer2007
23-01-2012, 19:04
dude
man

Ahem... I think it's a girl dude...

Anywaaays. Looks good dude :D

Wyvren
23-01-2012, 19:17
Bwahahaha I dont mind, Im used to ppl thinking Im a guy on the forums :P Its because I have a weird nick and then the fact that I admit to being a geeky gamer :P

Sean J
23-01-2012, 19:29
Well, there are worse thing in the world to be called than dude... Hehehe...

Looking good Angie!!! Very nice! Some bigger pics would be cooler though!! Please... Pretty please?

Franna
23-01-2012, 19:31
All the English People on the Forum think I'm a girl.

I like your tank

Razer2007
23-01-2012, 19:33
Pwitty please?

12972

Now I need to klap somebody to feel manly again..

Wyvren
23-01-2012, 19:39
LOL guys, Ill get the camera from Arno on thursday and take proper pics. Sean - did the needle leaf survive?

Siamese fan
23-01-2012, 21:58
Wyvren OMW!! i feem like a total idiot...i am soooo sorry:banghead: hahaha...

Sean J
24-01-2012, 07:19
LOL guys, Ill get the camera from Arno on thursday and take proper pics. Sean - did the needle leaf survive?

Seems to be good so far. I'll keep you posted on its progress. Thanks again for the plant!

Lloydster
24-01-2012, 07:31
Looking sweeet angie! now just tell you boet to cut his rotala and hm so you can fill the back nicely.lol

Wyvren
24-01-2012, 07:39
Siamese fan - no worries at all! Im used to it by now :P

Sean - glad to hear it! Its a slow grower but once it does grow it doesnt stop.

Lloyd - hahahaha Yep trust me I will do :D Altho the HM I planted in there is struggling a little bit, why I have no idea? Just loosing leaves, but the plant is still green little sticks, Im leaving it in there and waiting, it happened to a few plants and they bounced back lovely. Im just happy the ferns are settling in and pushing new shoots now.

Lucas
24-01-2012, 08:51
Looking sweeet angie! now just tell you boet to cut his rotala and hm so you can fill the back nicely.lol

She only needs to ask :D My HM is like a weed now... good but oh so bushy :D
Both Rotola's are doing very well , clipped the foreground ones a bit and replanted along the side. so will likely be able to give her a good bunch by next week.
The Nanjenshan is starting to grow in very nicely now, got a good few sprouts that have reached water level. Will allow it to grow a bit more before cutting and donating.

Wyvren
27-01-2012, 13:36
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HWXeSpkse4Q/TyGe55FMo1I/AAAAAAAAA8g/7YG72QK6bh0/s640/IMG_8496.JPGhttps://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VagfDi2FcSM/TyGe4Pyfe3I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/bbCZCemSLGw/s640/IMG_8499.JPG

Vez
27-01-2012, 22:01
Stiil looking good dude!

But me thinks, she can like to look awesome with a black background!

Wyvren
28-01-2012, 08:45
Hehehe I'm looking at options for one, i don't like the old style ones that you glue on with olive oil. Was considering getting black cardboard an laminating it before i tape it to the glass. Will be easier to apply aswel. Since moving the tank will be hard.

Vez
28-01-2012, 09:03
the why not use that plastic sheets, get a blue one, and then add a small light at the back, then its like the sun comming up?

Wyvren
28-01-2012, 09:05
Want nou raak jy te technical vir my vrot van die verkoue brein! The other thing is Im not sure they have the height I need, this tank is a bit taller than the standard ones, so I will go looking today to see what I can find
Let me get the pump first tho :D

Vez
28-01-2012, 09:05
very nice options

http://www.aquascapingworld.com/forum/general-aquascaping-planted-tank-discussions/676-background-color.html

Vez
28-01-2012, 09:06
hahaha, use "selofaan" eish i hope i got that word right.....

Wyvren
28-01-2012, 09:13
bwahahahhaha Dis ook 'n goeie idee, ma met die groen kleur van die muur en die tank watse kleur sal werk?

Vez
28-01-2012, 09:16
try n ligte blou!

Wyvren
28-01-2012, 09:23
Ok ek sal gaan kyk wat ek kry - hemel mansmens raad op 2 threads maak my deur mekaar dammit :P

Vez
28-01-2012, 09:42
lmga! okay okay ek dog julle vrouens kan "Multitask"?

Wyvren
28-01-2012, 13:21
Nee Gewoonlik kan ek - ma eks so vrot van die verkoue en medlemon maak my net useless :P

Wyvren
01-04-2012, 19:34
Quick update time!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1xfQkFT3-eI/T3iMRtN2jPI/AAAAAAAABLo/MJxzJBngumw/s640/FTS1.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MBUBYa3uv10/T3iMTgay98I/AAAAAAAABLw/OQzA0emzum0/s576/60L3.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_pB0Nhc01Lo/T3iMWcfZeuI/AAAAAAAABL4/JNEuo4BBMog/s640/60L1.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bQsd8dSwQKc/T3iMZSjp9HI/AAAAAAAABMA/FXJxHBnCoIU/s640/60L.jpg

Gert Combrink
01-04-2012, 19:51
Uitstekend!
Well done!
keep us posted...

Razer2007
01-04-2012, 20:02
Jis dis baie mooi.

Wyvren
01-04-2012, 20:32
Gert Combrink - Jy is welkom om te kom loer - dit lyk 10 keer beter as jy dit sien

Dankie Razer2007 :)