Planted planning...

I managed to upload a video of the tank... Not so good quality, but it will do...

http://youtu.be/FDPMrQ56KwY

 

I have some livestock in the tank! I have 2 new ottos (the last 2 left at the LFS) and what looks to me, could be a L191... It's very pretty!! The only reason I bought it, was because the LFS really didn't know what it was, and it only cost me R56.00 LOL! I should be getting another 10 Ottos next Sunday.

Anyhoo!! they all look very happy in their new home!

 

Pics Sean Pics ...

 

Soon Ferdie, Soon!! LOL!

 

dude they had a beaut at a pet store not to far from me like 10cm or bigger! this fish has searious teeth bud lol.

 

Apparently the teeth are for algae and for rasping on driftwood. I have read that they don't usually munch on plants. I hope so, anyway.

 

PICS!!!





I will get some better pics when I get the other camera out on the weekend!

 

very cool - proof of life accepted !!

 

He is pretty... And for R50 you're pretty lucky!

 

Well, I have a new filter now... An Eheim Professional 3e 350... It's very nice. It actually moves water. Not like the other one. So the other one is still under guarantee, so I will replace it and use it on my 45 x 45 x 45 cube... Yes, MTS has kicked in good and proper now. LOL! This filter is awesome though.

I did break the one lily pipe inflow though... Dammit. I am a clumsy idjit sometimes... I always manage to break something when I replace things. At least it wasn't an ADA lily Pipe!!

But all fish are still alive. Double dosing ADA Green Bacter at the moment. Also dropped some Bacter Ball in the filter and into the tank as well, to help with the beneficial bacteria.

The tank is starting to look OK now. I took the rock out as well. It was becoming an eye sore. And the wood now stays down. I am considering removing the wood though. I'm not 100% sure yet, but it does take up quite a lot of real estate!!

Anyways. I'll take some pics when the water is a little clearer.

 

:laugh: I'm with you Sean! GIGGLE! I'm overdue for a tank upgrade (& light upgrade in the other one), so I've been removing everything I can that isn't alive outta the plot... little pots for ancistrus? haven't been used in months, out they go! Squint at driftwood, then remind self that the ancistrus need wood. Damn! Evil plant addict wonders if they could make do with half... :laugh:

 

Hehehe... Ja, it's not the fact that I'm a plant addict, I just don't think that I have found that perfect piece of wood for the tank. Also, the fact that it is 3 different pieces of wood, is also bugging me. I could always leave the small piece in the tank for the Pleco to chew on. That wouldn't be a train smash at all...

 

So, here are a few pics. 2 weeks after planting.

Front


Side:


Some plants




Carpet:


Otto:


Another pic from the side:


Hope you enjoy!!

 

wow looks good. When are you going to get some more fish in there?

 

Getting another 10 Ottos on sunday. Then I'm not sure what I want in the tank yet, so I'll wait a bit longer.

 

10 Ottos? Nice. Ottos are a bit pricey for me, but getting only one doesn't really do them justice.

 

Hi Sean,you may have posted this but I would like to know what is the situation with ammonia and nitrite when using new Amazonia?Have you had any problems and did you use a mature filter?

 

@Rudi - Nope, I definitely didn't use a mature filter. Started one up when I started the tank. Also, changed to a new filter yesterday, as the old one was just not good enough for this tank. A couple of days after starting this tank, I got some Seachem ammonia alerts and PH alerts that you place inside the aquarium to monitor the levels. In the 2 weeks, there has been no detectable traces of ammonia, yet. I am having some issues with water colouring, but that may be because of the wood in the tank still leaching tannins. I have removed the bigger piece of wood, which I think is the cause of the yellowing. I have added a good amount of purigen to the filter, so hopefully this should clear up the tannins.

That new filter is actually unbelievable! I have set it to stream mode. It blows quite hard for 10 seconds, and then slowly for 10 seconds. It is certainly more natural than a constant flow and it causes some really nice current in the tank. I will upload the video at the office. It's quite something. I need to change the Lily Pipes though. I think that this one has far too much "downward" direction. I will get the ADA ones on the next order.

I have only been using the ADA ferts and supplements on this tank, and clearly, something is working. The growth is incredible. It's only been running 2 weeks!!

 

Oh yeah, @Rudi - I am doing about 70% water changes every week. So that should also help.

 

Thanks.That's something that has been bothering me for a while now.