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Post by Xander on Apr 16, 2016 19:30:59 GMT -5
Definitely true. And that's what I mean to avoid. I can overcome this, lol.
First thing's first: attacking all the calcium buildup and filth (mold?). My house reeks of fish store smell.
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Post by deez on Apr 16, 2016 19:52:06 GMT -5
Definitely true. And that's what I mean to avoid. I can overcome this, lol. First thing's first: attacking all the calcium buildup and filth (mold?). My house reeks of fish store smell. Did you load it with plants first?
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Post by Xander on Apr 16, 2016 19:56:30 GMT -5
Definitely true. And that's what I mean to avoid. I can overcome this, lol. First thing's first: attacking all the calcium buildup and filth (mold?). My house reeks of fish store smell. Did you load it with plants first? No, it's currently completely as I got it: ugly blue and black gravel, and like 5 pieces of decor. Plus pleco and rainbow (not RTB!) shark.
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Post by deez on Apr 16, 2016 20:06:25 GMT -5
Did you load it with plants first? No, it's currently completely as I got it: ugly blue and black gravel, and like 5 pieces of decor. Plus pleco and rainbow (not RTB!) shark. Then just keep doing water changes and gravel vacs.
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Post by Xander on Apr 16, 2016 20:12:16 GMT -5
No, it's currently completely as I got it: ugly blue and black gravel, and like 5 pieces of decor. Plus pleco and rainbow (not RTB!) shark. Then just keep doing water changes and gravel vacs. Will do. I'm certain the gravel hadn't been vacuumed in quite a lot of months. I made sure to rinse it all in buckets until the water ran clear before setting everything back up again. I know a deep clean like that can be detrimental to the cycle, but there was honestly more poop sludge/food waste than there was gravel.
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Post by lesfromlakeshore on Apr 16, 2016 20:43:55 GMT -5
Keep the faith , you will overcome this and make it a show tank for the ages . Looking forward to the build up .
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Post by gabor129 on Apr 17, 2016 7:54:17 GMT -5
Then just keep doing water changes and gravel vacs. Will do. I'm certain the gravel hadn't been vacuumed in quite a lot of months. I made sure to rinse it all in buckets until the water ran clear before setting everything back up again. I know a deep clean like that can be detrimental to the cycle, but there was honestly more poop sludge/food waste than there was gravel. That sounds like most of the used tanks I had over the years! It will take a while, but I am sure you will make it just as nice of a tank like the 20 gal. Slow and steady, you will have a lot of fun with this! Can't wait until you start!
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Post by Xander on Apr 17, 2016 10:55:43 GMT -5
I'm glad you all have faith in me, it does a lot of good for my own confidence in the matter~ I'm too prone to worry and making mountains out of molehills.
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Post by lesfromlakeshore on Apr 17, 2016 20:51:35 GMT -5
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Post by Xander on Apr 18, 2016 3:54:02 GMT -5
Thank you for the links, Les! Working in a paint shop of sorts, I've got lots of access to that sandpaper; I'll be sure to grab some today. I wonder if that's a job I could do fish-in, followed by a large water change? Nitrates are high in this tank right now and would probably benefit from a 75% change, now that the substrate and filter have been cleaned out.
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