Setting up Malaysian Biotope(with pictures!)
- Thread starter SchizotypalVamp
- Start date
Thanks so much, noto and inka!
So I was thinking about what to do about water changes since all I can get locally is, ironically, the expensive pellet peat. I came up with this idea:
In my bucket with R/O water run a small insta-cycled internal filter. Keep adding ammonia until the PH crashes. Add hornworth to take out the nitrates.
Basically on-purpose OTS.
Do you think this will work?
Obviously, I am not adding the gouramis until I figure out water changes.
So I was thinking about what to do about water changes since all I can get locally is, ironically, the expensive pellet peat. I came up with this idea:
In my bucket with R/O water run a small insta-cycled internal filter. Keep adding ammonia until the PH crashes. Add hornworth to take out the nitrates.
Basically on-purpose OTS.
Do you think this will work?
Obviously, I am not adding the gouramis until I figure out water changes.
Gotta say Schiz I'm impressed; that is one hell of an interesting idea! As you said, intentional OTS. Have to think about that one for a bit....
ARGH! I just lost my entire post thanks to a network timeout.
Thanks, Vader
. I'm going to start the experiment either today or tommorow.
Morning Update
The tank is filled with full on tannins now. I added two more Indian almond leaves yesterday.
Current Parameters:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: Unknown
GH:0
KH:0
PH: 6.5 (what?!)
I don't know why the PH was raised. My only supposition is that some tank water was left over when I put the sponge filter in yesterday. I'm starting to suspect the PH test kit itself, and am going to compare with the API master on Thursday.
The crypts are meeeelting, melting. The fact that I haven't gotten a bulb yet is probably not helping. I can't find the right type of bulb and am going to take the ones that came with it to home depot to find the correct type. I can't do this until Friday, unfortunately. I'm keeping the fluorescent kitchen light on and the tank is getting indirect sunlight.
Here is the tank today. It's looking more spiffy, but the outside got accidentally wiped with clorox yesterday:
I'll write a review of the laborett test kit as soon as I double check params with the API test kit.
Thanks, Vader
. I'm going to start the experiment either today or tommorow. Morning Update
The tank is filled with full on tannins now. I added two more Indian almond leaves yesterday.
Current Parameters:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: Unknown
GH:0
KH:0
PH: 6.5 (what?!)
I don't know why the PH was raised. My only supposition is that some tank water was left over when I put the sponge filter in yesterday. I'm starting to suspect the PH test kit itself, and am going to compare with the API master on Thursday.
The crypts are meeeelting, melting. The fact that I haven't gotten a bulb yet is probably not helping. I can't find the right type of bulb and am going to take the ones that came with it to home depot to find the correct type. I can't do this until Friday, unfortunately. I'm keeping the fluorescent kitchen light on and the tank is getting indirect sunlight.
Here is the tank today. It's looking more spiffy, but the outside got accidentally wiped with clorox yesterday:
I'll write a review of the laborett test kit as soon as I double check params with the API test kit.
Very nice setup. I always thought a 'blackwater' type setup would be cool.
For water changes, how about just doing frequent small changes, so as not to adjust the ph too much.
Also I wonder if soaking a tea bag or 2 in your water change water might leach out enough acid to drop the ph of the new water. The tank may smell yummy, but that would be okay, since it appears to be in the kitchen anyway!
For water changes, how about just doing frequent small changes, so as not to adjust the ph too much.
Also I wonder if soaking a tea bag or 2 in your water change water might leach out enough acid to drop the ph of the new water. The tank may smell yummy, but that would be okay, since it appears to be in the kitchen anyway!
Hey bigwave . Thanks! The frequent small water changes idea is a good one. The only problem I see with it is that I would have to make roughly .7 gallon water changes every day, which is nearly a tenth of the total volume, if I want to change roughly 50% of the aquarium water every week. Maybe I could change a bit less than 50%? New things to consider.
Tea tannins, according to wikipedia, actually contain no tannic acid, and are a chemically distinct type of tannin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin
Interestingly, it appears tannins have an anti-viral and anti-fungal affect on humans, also
. Thanks! The frequent small water changes idea is a good one. The only problem I see with it is that I would have to make roughly .7 gallon water changes every day, which is nearly a tenth of the total volume, if I want to change roughly 50% of the aquarium water every week. Maybe I could change a bit less than 50%? New things to consider. Tea tannins, according to wikipedia, actually contain no tannic acid, and are a chemically distinct type of tannin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin
Interestingly, it appears tannins have an anti-viral and anti-fungal affect on humans, also
Updates:
I have been busy the past few days, but the PH has consistently been 6.6, Amm/nitrite 0, and nitrate unknown. This was doublechecked with the API master. However, my parents visited and told me that my landlord most likely would not be happy with another tank in the house. So I'm downsizing to a spiffy cube. I took pictures of the process and the new cube which I'll post soon.
I have been busy the past few days, but the PH has consistently been 6.6, Amm/nitrite 0, and nitrate unknown. This was doublechecked with the API master. However, my parents visited and told me that my landlord most likely would not be happy with another tank in the house. So I'm downsizing to a spiffy cube. I took pictures of the process and the new cube which I'll post soon.
So, as stated before, I had to downgrade my aquarium.
Stirring the substrate so that all of the peat floats to the top:
The dark water from stirring:
The peat, plus the rest of the box:
Sloped Gravel:
You can barely see the woodwork:
Today the PH was down to 6.0.
Also, I started the bucket experiment with a Tetra 3i:
Stirring the substrate so that all of the peat floats to the top:
The dark water from stirring:
The peat, plus the rest of the box:
Sloped Gravel:
You can barely see the woodwork:
Today the PH was down to 6.0.
Also, I started the bucket experiment with a Tetra 3i:
DAVIDFBT
Extinct? Since when?
