29G Shrimp Tank

[Kannan Fodder]

I have 3 pieces of mopani in my tank, which I'm pretty sure is what dropped the pH. I soaked it for a year plus, so it doesn't discolor the water, but I have a dark wall behind tank. (Intentionally.) I forgot to check for GH/KH test kits today, but I get mineral buildup and deposits like crazy on my kitchen faucet. My house also has a water softener, which I absolutely hate, so refuse to replenish the chemical pellets it uses. Everyone says the water here is "very hard", so a lot of people have water softeners to " protect" their plumbing. (I prefer to be able to actually rinse the soap off.)

 

[myswtsins]

• I threw my large leftover piece of wood (that I tried in 2 different ways on the final arrangement) into the tank out of the way to keep it water logged. Then I kinda liked where I threw it and then decided it would be a good home the fissidens! So even if it doesn't stay there whatever, I just wanted to get the fissidens INTO the tank.
• The subwrassertang eh, I might just leave that in another tank.
• The guppy grass was just dying, always does, so I removed it from this tank, threw it into the shrimp holding tank and they are enjoying it.
• Java fern is turning darker green and more brown everyday but it is making lots of "adjusted" babies that will eventually be what I CAN keep alive.
• I DO still have the anubias to add though, I just don't know where. Opinions please? I am referring to this anubias, bottom left post 93 and I have a few small clusters of petite that I REALLY don't know what to do with.
• I found some hairgrass and a tiny stem plant in the moss which I planted *shrug* we'll see what happens!
• Have BOTH filters running now. I will take the HOB off soon though.

Pictures are worse than usual, sorry about that. Lights just came on and I did it quick.
I think the new piece of wood makes it too flat or even. And I'm just noticing how centered and perfectly straight that one stick is! That's gotta change! lol

Hairgrass (just guessing that BTW) and tiny stem plant. The front of the tank has become my "plant and see what happens" area. You can see how unhappy the fern is here.

 

[myswtsins]

I have 3 pieces of mopani in my tank, which I'm pretty sure is what dropped the pH. I soaked it for a year plus, so it doesn't discolor the water, but I have a dark wall behind tank. (Intentionally.) I forgot to check for GH/KH test kits today, but I get mineral buildup and deposits like crazy on my kitchen faucet. My house also has a water softener, which I absolutely hate, so refuse to replenish the chemical pellets it uses. Everyone says the water here is "very hard", so a lot of people have water softeners to " protect" their plumbing. (I prefer to be able to actually rinse the soap off.)

Got ya and I get ya. I have "hard" water too, leaves hard water stains and iron deposits everywhere but we have a softener (which I hate and it's no good for the fish and the soap doesn't rinse off lol).

 

[Kannan Fodder]

I really like the final arrangement, and keep in mind that the moss will fill out. (My Christmas moss grew so much faster than I expected!) LOL! Didn't notice the stick until you pointed it out! But if you notice it and it bugs you, change it or it WILL become an eyesore to you. I attached my anubias to a piece of mopani that had holes and grooves I could feed the roots thru, and now it's securely attached itself to the wood. (Even has roots into the sand now.) Do you know what kind yours is? It would look good in the left corner between the rocks, or in the wood, or maybe on the far right on the bare arch of wood. Or where the wisteria is, if you're going to move the wisteria to the back!

I have 3 pieces of mopani, so suspect they drop my pH. I read somewhere that mopani will do that, and it's better for the fish. I keep forgetting to check for the GH/KH test kits. It's been so busy at work, and we've been short staffed lately. I am really trying to get into the weekly maintenance routine, but every 2 weeks is more the reality. I have black aquarium sand substrate, and vacuum the debris every water change. Actually that's how I siphon out water - vacuuming the substrate and moss. I just did a massive water change 50%+, and ended up rearranging my tank because I accidentally moved a piece of mopani and couldn't get it back exactly where it was. LOL! That kicked up more debris, so I refilled the tank and then siphoned out another 3-4 gallons. Waited 24 hours and retested my water. Ammonia was around .25 (I did replace the filter pad because it was nothing but sludge), nitrite was zero, pH had gone up to 7.6 (or higher), but nitrate was still waaaay high at 40+ (the vial was blood red). I consistently get the same high nitrate readings, so am wondering if my reagents might be the culprit, but I've shaken the living s**t out of the bottles. But my fish are acting normal, are active and eating heartily, and seem happy. The water is crystal clear too.

Anyway, your tank is looking great! Can't wait to see how the plants grow and fill out. It's going to be fun watching it come alive once you add critters!

 

[fishorama]

Try as I might I couldn't see the fissidens, darn bifocals. I like Kannan Fodder's suggestions for the anubias or the bare wood angling left front.

Can you remove the straight up wood without all heck breaking loose with the zip ties? I hadn't noticed it either.

KF, try feeding less & more WCs. 40+ is almost scary but it may be from the really cruddy filter in part. Have you tested you tapwater for nitrates? Some people have 10ppm+, bleck.

 

[myswtsins]

I really like the final arrangement, and keep in mind that the moss will fill out. (My Christmas moss grew so much faster than I expected!) LOL! Didn't notice the stick until you pointed it out! But if you notice it and it bugs you, change it or it WILL become an eyesore to you. I attached my anubias to a piece of mopani that had holes and grooves I could feed the roots thru, and now it's securely attached itself to the wood. (Even has roots into the sand now.) Do you know what kind yours is? It would look good in the left corner between the rocks, or in the wood, or maybe on the far right on the bare arch of wood. Or where the wisteria is, if you're going to move the wisteria to the back!

Anyway, your tank is looking great! Can't wait to see how the plants grow and fill out. It's going to be fun watching it come alive once you add critters!

Thanks! It's anubias nana and I think left (like where I had it in the reference picture?) would be best.

Try as I might I couldn't see the fissidens, darn bifocals. I like Kannan Fodder's suggestions for the anubias or the bare wood angling left front.

Can you remove the straight up wood without all heck breaking loose with the zip ties? I hadn't noticed it either.

Hehe the fissidens is freshly tied down so it's just green fuss for now, it's on the top most piece of wood on the right side. The next lowest and diagonal piece has the tiny bit of flame moss on it and everything is supposedly x-mas moss, we will see! There is supposed to be weeping moss in there but I don't know about that, I'm not even sure the christmas moss IS christmas moss but whatever, it's green! lol That piece of wood got zip tied and threaded into place but I think if I remove the zip tie and can finesse it a bit.

 

[fishorama]

Thanks! It looks like the other mosses are starting to grow Is that tiny cabomba in front? most of the hairgrass doesn't look too good but I hope it gets happy for you. I tried it in pool sand, no co2 & it grew sparsely & then got algaeified so I took it out.

I'm not loving the front java fern leaf (sorry). I'd probably let it float a while in this tank or another if you want to save it.

 

[myswtsins]

I wouldn't say the moss is growing yet but they have popped a bit from their flattened state, good sign! Nothing is really growing yet except the buce has a new leaf coming in but most of it hasn't died yet so I'm pleased with that!

Yes, some small cabomba pieces there. The hairgrass was in that 10 days in the mail package buried in a clump of mixed moss and then it took me awhile to actually plant it too, I'm surprised it is green at all! lol I've never tried hairgrass before so I am unsure what will happen, which is fun!

Not loving the front java fern leaf cause it looks unhealthy or cause it droops? Either way I have a response. All the java fern is dying so that guys not alone. And the drooping bugs me, I need to tie it up or something.

 

[Kannan Fodder]

KF, try feeding less & more WCs. 40+ is almost scary but it may be from the really cruddy filter in part. Have you tested you tapwater for nitrates? Some people have 10ppm+, bleck.

I tested tap and tank last night when I got home from work. Zero for tap, same bright candy red again for the tank. The tank has been consistent on the reading - even after a 50% plus water change! Which is what boggles me. I expected a drop after a big water change, but it was exactly the same as before the change. Someone told me that the plants are why I have such high nitrate, but that just doesn't sound right. I'm planning on another big water change tomorrow.

Thanks! It's anubias nana and I think left (like where I had it in the reference picture?) would be best.

Yup, the reference picture is about where I was thinking. There's a nice niche for it there!

I've had a very difficult time with hairgrass. Might be a light issue, but it also tends to get uprooted very easily. Best luck I've had with it is the stuff that gets uprooted and floats at the top of the tank!

 

[fishorama]

Jen, I guess it's the lone unhappy java leaf right in the front I don't care for. Is it just a leaf or is there any rhizome? Like I said, I'd just let it float, it'll never be happy planted in substrate but may produce plantlets.

KF, it's the opposite, plants should help lower nitrates, even slow growers help some. My best advice is to do 2/week WCs with vacuuming to get a grip on nitrates, then you can see if you can go 2 weeks before they get "blood red" (probably 40++). Shoot for 20ppm max. It's a PITA to have to test & WC more than usual but you tank will be better for it. & once you figure out the "minimum" WC schedule, you can skip testing much...I rarely do but know I should since I've cut back WCs during our drought & my general laziness.