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Post by Crazygar on Dec 10, 2019 8:03:40 GMT -5
I'll post an updated picture tonight, really going to concentrate my efforts on getting some H.zosterfolia (Stargrass) as this is still the leaf shape I want in where the Hygro currently is.
Seems I may never be fully rid of HC...
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Dec 10, 2019 19:55:50 GMT -5
More and more do I want Stargrass for the right hand side.
Going to really work down some of the Blyxa this weekend, now that it's settled, 1 plant actually equals 3 or 4. It grows like crazy!
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Dec 29, 2019 14:43:42 GMT -5
I am realizing I am not a holiday person. It gives me time to think. Sometimes thinking and ideas can be bad things.
I've had lots of time to really look at the tank. While I really do enjoy it, I realize I need to do some tweaking;
1) Staurogyne repens. Ok, I can grow this like no one's business, but I am thinking of replacing it with Hygrophila pinnatifida. I need some new leaf shapes and colors in the tank and I've always wanted to give this a whirl.
2) Hygrophila wisteria. Starting to well, get a bit ratty looking. I plan to replace this with a Crypt. I am going to build a corral (to keep the Crypt for sending adventurous runners all around the aquarium) to keep it contained. Which Crypt? Good question. To be filled in later
3) Alternanthera reineckii. Possible replacement with Hygrophila rosanervig (Sunset Hygro) or maybe, something I haven't tried yet. Still considering but this needs changing out. I still want something red, maybe Ammania gracilis....
Blyxa is growing like the weed it is. Each pruning I am removing some rather nice offshoots from the mother plant. I would prefer to see these go to a good home. So every Sunday, I trim and replace. Inquire if you want a few shoots of Blyxa. Free. Can meet up at the McDonald's on Manning Road.
The smell of Tim Horton's coffee turns my stomach.
HC is still growing on the rocks and I am keeping it. The hairgrass continues to take over anywhere it can.
This one gabor129 and lesfromlakeshore will enjoy; I've noticed that I start great with Red Cherry Shrimp and over time my population just dwindles into nothingness. I was staring at the tank on Christmas Eve when it dawned on me.... I've been buying only males all this time.
Ladies required to keep the population going. I can't believe I missed this. Ahh, only me. Which opens up another question... Red Cherry (common, readily available) or something new that can tolerate 76-78F? Suggestions welcome.
Gary
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Post by lesfromlakeshore on Dec 30, 2019 10:43:26 GMT -5
Gary Gary Gary lol . Chistina can probably supply you with females.
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Post by gabor129 on Dec 30, 2019 21:42:17 GMT -5
Wow Gary, you just having one interesting story after the other about this tank!
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Post by Crazygar on Dec 31, 2019 10:36:42 GMT -5
LOL you know me guys, loads of things going on at the same time. Eventually something gets put on the back burner. Does make for an interesting read though.
I'm going to wager a lot of people have interesting stories about their tank or previous attempts etc, I just share mine with the Members here on this forum.
Gabe, do you remember my Fluval 404 incident which shot 30 gallons of water OUT of the tank back in 2005? I have loads of aquarium stories (both good and bad), you tend to collect them being in the hobby for over 30 years.
OMG, 39 years actually as I started when I was 9.
As for Shrimp, not sure I want to go with Cherries, while they are nice, readily available, I would like to try something different. After all, this is what this hobby is about... challenging yourself and learning something new.
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Jan 5, 2020 7:02:26 GMT -5
Everyone is bouncing back from the Holidays. I decided to do what I refer as "The Golden Miles" on Gratiot yesterday. While loads of neat fish and stuff, plants were less than appealing.
I started at Stingray Bay close to 9 Mile & Gratiot and finished off at Petco at 15 Mile & Gratiot. A few stores looks like they had some issues over the holidays. Going to check out Aquamania here in town today to see what they have.
Worse case, I take a little drive to Guelph to visit the Crown Jewel of Aquarium Stores (in my opinion, mileage may vary)... AngelFins
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Jan 7, 2020 7:49:51 GMT -5
David Bowie was right, "Changes..."
I removed the Hygrophila wisteria and plan to keep this area open. I placed my remaining Seiryu Stones in there for now, going to get a few more, arrange them nicer (sloping towards the left) and plant Hygrophila pinnatifida on the rocks.
Trimmed the devil out of my Blyxa (threw away some really nice daughter plantlets) and I like how more natural the tank looks.
If my A.reineckii bounces back, I'll trim and keep. If not, I'll re-try my hand with Hygrophila polysperma rosanervig. I've noticed that my Rasboras tend to collect in that open area since yesterday.
Almost a disaster...
Last night, while playing a game on my PS4 Pro I noticed that some of the fish are gasping at the top of the tank. It only took me a few seconds to realize I was pumping in mega-CO2. During my maintenance on Sunday, I cleaned all the lines, equipment and re-assembled, I must have bumped the needle valve on my CO2 regulator...
I do plan to swap out the while tubing going into the tank with Black (I have enough to wrap around my office) tubing in the near future. Clear tubing past the Check Valve shall remain.
My the end of the evening, they (all fish) were out and swimming around again. I am going to keep the powerhead pointing upwards for today while I re-adjust (I throttled back the CO2) the CO2. Man...
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Jan 18, 2020 15:54:57 GMT -5
Holy Hanna does that Blyxa grow. This picture is today. Almost a week after trim...
Needs another good trim already. The top parts of the Blyxa turning yellow/red, that's normal when they are exposed to greater light. Life is good and the tank is where I want it. Just a few things;
Shrimp, I think Crystal Reds, Saul, where are you? Do you have any? Males and females please. Plants, A.reineckii 'mini' in replace of my scraggly looking A.reineckii roseafolia. Hygrophila pinnatifida on the rocks at the back Fish, a few more Chilis, hard part is finding them. Waiting for Angelfins, my favorite LFS
I may get a few smaller Seiryu stones and try to get somewhat of a nicer arrangement in the back.
I will have to attack that Eleocharis with a lawnmower, too bad they don't make underwater ones...
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Jan 19, 2020 15:11:38 GMT -5
As of 3:05 pm this afternoon.
The Blyxa received it's haircut, assuring me a place in Barber's College if I decide to do it when I retire (ha ha. I'd need people skills as well, that may be a problem). It does make me think of Don King (famous Boxing Promoter) though...
The place where I get my RO/DI water was closed because of weather (whatever, having lived in Western Canada for 10 years, I assure you, it could be much much worse), so I used regular old tap water.
I'm glad I keep Dechlor handy just in case of such emergencies. I am going to buy Bottled Water for top ups through out the week.
Next week, Hairgrass trim (catching individual pieces is well, trying at times) and my continued search for A.reineckii 'mini'. Yes, my current A.reineckii is looking a bit, well, scraggy, but I am blaming the Hygrophila for that one. If it does bounce back then cool, if not, I am still in the market for sp.'mini'.
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Jan 23, 2020 7:44:26 GMT -5
A Week with Tap Water
RO/DI is the way to go indeed. I did my initial fill up on Sunday with treated (Dechlor only) Tap Water and did a top up yesterday with the same. What have I found? The water is phosphate laden!
I have GSA (Green Spot Algae) appear on all 3 sides of the Aquarium (strangely, not at the back?).
While it is easily taken care of (remove the phosphate source, aka Tap Water and use my debit card scraper) it does give me some insight to well before I left this city in 2008 why I always seemed to fight with this.
I am looking forward to switching back to RO/DI this weekend (if it does not snow, c'mon folks, it's just snow) when my water place opens up again.
I also have noticed that plants are well, a bit more lack lustre with Tap water. While it is not going to harm them, I can clearly see the differences between the two different types of water and how it affects the aquarium.
It's now the Snail-apocalypse again. Going on a 100% effort to remove/kill as many as I can. Yesterday, at least 30. The garbage bag was full of them
On the mailing list for Chili Rasboras and Hygrophila pinnatifida from Angelfins. Depending on when they arrive, I'll throw in a few more items as well.
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Jan 25, 2020 12:44:04 GMT -5
I just have to laugh.
I decided to pop into AquaMania today for some frozen food (Big Box stores selection is usually poor) for my Chili Rasboras and decided to take a look at the plants. Stargrass. Seriously, wanting it all this time, decided to go with another plant, forgot about ever getting some and here it is.
No, I didn't buy it, doesn't fall into my plan now. I love the irony though.
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Jan 26, 2020 14:39:14 GMT -5
One Hour and Fifteen Minutes Later
That was one heck of a maintenance session.
- Trimmed the Blyxa, threw away some really nice Daughter plants again
- Trimmed the Staurogyne repens
- Trimmed the Hairgrass (I'm starting to think the HC was easier at least for scooping out, hairgrass sticks to just about anything)
- Trimmed the HC Mound, found another one starting on another rock! Awesome!
- Removed all the GSA (Green Spot Algae) that the week with Tap Water created
- Removed any snail that dared to venture close to me during this entire process
- Left the AR 'Roseafolia' alone. It's starting to bounce back somewhat but still looks ratty.
- Did a 50% water change, topped back up with RO/DI (ahhhhhhh)
While I was hacking, cutting and slashing I started to formulate ideas again. I was trying to imagine the tank without the Hairgrass. The soil would be deep black and really contrast against the Green/Red of the plants.
I am going to admit, I am planning to enter this tank at some point into the AGA contest. I know it doesn't resemble a forest (what is with that? Seriously, almost all the tanks entered look like forests with trees) or anywhere close to the calibre of some of the tanks, but I plan to get it there. First thing is to remove snails.
Sometime this week, it's time to call in some Assassins. I am trying to find Crystal Red Shrimp (don't have to be show quality, but I do want a mix of Males and Females) to help with janitorial. I can see how much of an impact Shrimp had on the tank when you only have one left.
As usual, I will post a picture later on this evening or tomorrow after the tank settles down. I love this tank. Though I still wonder what it would look without Hairgrass. Going to start listing what I listen to during my maintenance, just for kicks.
Album(s) listened to during maintenance: Beat, Bowery Electric by Bowery Electric.
Today's weather requires some good old fashioned Trip Hop/Shoegaze.
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Jan 27, 2020 18:37:37 GMT -5
Trimmed and cleaned. Hairgrass looks so much better when it is trimmed rather the unruly growth of it going wild.
Would really like to start with my final plants and concentrate on letting the Aquascape mature out for the contest.
Gary
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Post by Crazygar on Feb 2, 2020 5:35:19 GMT -5
They say that the early bird catches the worm, this morning it caught 10 Chili Rasboras and 1 Pot of Hygrophila pinnatifida from Angelfins.
I received notification last night that Angelfins had the Fish/Plant that I wanted. Delivery Tuesday.
Now, I can start to concentrate getting this tank ready for the AGA either this year or next. One way or another, it's being entered. Updates later on today after water change. Looks like another hack and slash session. I am going to remove the A.reineckii to make way for the H.pinnatifida.
Gary
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