myswtsins
Global Moderator
I just picked up a piece of black poster board from the dollar store for .69 cents if you're looking.
My 75 Gallon Planted Tank Journal
- Thread starter kimbm04r
- Start date
Friday, June 21, 2013
Slight set back tonight. I cleaned the filter (Rena XP2) last night (it needed it very badly, may be why the ammonia is a little higher). Everything was fine when I went to bed and when I dosed the Micro this morning. When I got home tonight I was checking out the tank to see how the plants were looking. I suddenly realized that I could here the water from the spray bar going back into the tank (this shouldn't be noticeable if the tank is full :huh:). I looked at the water level and it was missing 5 gallons of water. I checked the filter compartment and it had a small amount of water in it, after further investigation I realized it was coming from the filter. I shut it down and when i picked it up my hands got wet from the water that was sitting under the motor in the hand hold space. I took it to the sink and removed the motor, it was full of water. :22_yikes:
I made sure the air stone is running to make sure the fish have plenty of air in the tank. While we were setting eating dinner we decided we better go get another filter so we headed to Petsmart (15 minutes before closing). The only filter that looked like it would work for a 75 gallon tank was a Marineland C360 Canister Filter. They said if it didn't work out after we get it running they would take it back for a full refund.
I am using the ceramic media from the Rena since it is already seeded and will make it less likely to have to start the cycle process all over again. I also am using the ceramic that came with the Marineland to make sure the basket is full enough. The Marineland came with Bio Balls and Activated Charcoal as well. I am using the same inlet and outlets from the Rena as I like the spray bar and the Marineland just had a diffuser. I did have to use the tubing that came with the Marineland because the Rena tubing is a little smaller and didn't fit the Marineland quite right.
After working on this thing till 2:00 am and basically getting nowhere, I am giving up for the night, turning up the air and going to bed.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
I had to fill the canister with tank water because I couldn't get it to fill with the prime button. After pumping it for what seemed like forever, I finally got it to flow into the outlet hose but it would take forever, if at all, to get it into the aquarium using the prime button like they said, so I turned on the filter and using the prime button "helped" it reach the aquarium. I took a bit to do it this was and it got air once but once it worked its way out it is running fine. I am concerned about how it will be when I have to do my first filter cleaning and re-priming it but since the hoses are already filled it may not be to bad. I am going to perform a "cleaning" on the filter tomorrow to see how it works out. If not, I am going to order an XP3 and take this one back. I have a DIY in-line reactor for the CO2 ( CO2 still not running) so I don't know if this is why I had trouble getting this primed or not but at least it is running now.
Today is water change day for the EI dosing regimen I am following, I guess I will have less water to remove since the Rena removed some of it for me. :nilly: Be back later, time to get my hands wet, again. I will post a picture after I get the water change done.
Slight set back tonight. I cleaned the filter (Rena XP2) last night (it needed it very badly, may be why the ammonia is a little higher). Everything was fine when I went to bed and when I dosed the Micro this morning. When I got home tonight I was checking out the tank to see how the plants were looking. I suddenly realized that I could here the water from the spray bar going back into the tank (this shouldn't be noticeable if the tank is full :huh:). I looked at the water level and it was missing 5 gallons of water. I checked the filter compartment and it had a small amount of water in it, after further investigation I realized it was coming from the filter. I shut it down and when i picked it up my hands got wet from the water that was sitting under the motor in the hand hold space. I took it to the sink and removed the motor, it was full of water. :22_yikes:
I made sure the air stone is running to make sure the fish have plenty of air in the tank. While we were setting eating dinner we decided we better go get another filter so we headed to Petsmart (15 minutes before closing). The only filter that looked like it would work for a 75 gallon tank was a Marineland C360 Canister Filter. They said if it didn't work out after we get it running they would take it back for a full refund.
I am using the ceramic media from the Rena since it is already seeded and will make it less likely to have to start the cycle process all over again. I also am using the ceramic that came with the Marineland to make sure the basket is full enough. The Marineland came with Bio Balls and Activated Charcoal as well. I am using the same inlet and outlets from the Rena as I like the spray bar and the Marineland just had a diffuser. I did have to use the tubing that came with the Marineland because the Rena tubing is a little smaller and didn't fit the Marineland quite right.
After working on this thing till 2:00 am and basically getting nowhere, I am giving up for the night, turning up the air and going to bed.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
I had to fill the canister with tank water because I couldn't get it to fill with the prime button. After pumping it for what seemed like forever, I finally got it to flow into the outlet hose but it would take forever, if at all, to get it into the aquarium using the prime button like they said, so I turned on the filter and using the prime button "helped" it reach the aquarium. I took a bit to do it this was and it got air once but once it worked its way out it is running fine. I am concerned about how it will be when I have to do my first filter cleaning and re-priming it but since the hoses are already filled it may not be to bad. I am going to perform a "cleaning" on the filter tomorrow to see how it works out. If not, I am going to order an XP3 and take this one back. I have a DIY in-line reactor for the CO2 ( CO2 still not running) so I don't know if this is why I had trouble getting this primed or not but at least it is running now.
Today is water change day for the EI dosing regimen I am following, I guess I will have less water to remove since the Rena removed some of it for me. :nilly: Be back later, time to get my hands wet, again. I will post a picture after I get the water change done.
Last edited:
Friday, June 28, 2013
It has been a long week here. We are in the process of getting new countertops and my 20L sets on the countertop at the bar. I started moving the tank this week to get ready for the new countertops. Not only am I moving this tank, but I am moving the occupants of the 20 (mollies) and putting them in the 29 and the occupants of the 29 are going into the 20. But at the same time I am moving all the tanks to the same location (by the 75) so they are all centralized for easier care. So one corner of the living room will now have a 20L, a 29, and a 75.
Now back to the 75. The Madagascar Lace leaves are almost all brown now. There is one central leaf that is green. I think it may be a new leaf but I am not sure. Is this normal for this plant when being placed into a new scape? Should I trim all the brown leaves off of it? I lost all of the Ludwiga the day after the filter failed, not sure if this had anything to do with it or not. Not much going on with the Sag, the leaves are turning brown on the tops of ones on the right side of the tank. The ones on the left side don't seem to be growing at all and the tops are melting on some. I think the parva has new leaves. I am doing the same daily dry fert dosing as I started. I think I may start the CO2 up this weekend to see what improvements, if any, that will do. I will try to get another picture posted after the weekly water change tomorrow.
TILL TOMORROW...............
It has been a long week here. We are in the process of getting new countertops and my 20L sets on the countertop at the bar. I started moving the tank this week to get ready for the new countertops. Not only am I moving this tank, but I am moving the occupants of the 20 (mollies) and putting them in the 29 and the occupants of the 29 are going into the 20. But at the same time I am moving all the tanks to the same location (by the 75) so they are all centralized for easier care. So one corner of the living room will now have a 20L, a 29, and a 75.
Now back to the 75. The Madagascar Lace leaves are almost all brown now. There is one central leaf that is green. I think it may be a new leaf but I am not sure. Is this normal for this plant when being placed into a new scape? Should I trim all the brown leaves off of it? I lost all of the Ludwiga the day after the filter failed, not sure if this had anything to do with it or not. Not much going on with the Sag, the leaves are turning brown on the tops of ones on the right side of the tank. The ones on the left side don't seem to be growing at all and the tops are melting on some. I think the parva has new leaves. I am doing the same daily dry fert dosing as I started. I think I may start the CO2 up this weekend to see what improvements, if any, that will do. I will try to get another picture posted after the weekly water change tomorrow.
TILL TOMORROW...............
Well, more problems. Our well just went out (in the middle of giving our 120# dog a bath). Should I continue to dose the aquarium as normal if I am not able to do the water change or wait until I can actually do the water change and start the dosing again?
I would continue to dose but at a much smaller dose. The point of the wc is to reset or clear the tank so it doesn't build up too much.
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myswtsins
Global Moderator
This is a long thread so I may have missed something so excuse me if I did. Those doses are a little higher than EI guidelines, which could be fine if you have the lights and CO2 balanced but under your conditions (still no CO2 yet right?) you should be dosing less. And what about KH2PO4? With that much of the other nutrients (N & K) and NO KH2PO4 (P) or CO2 it's rather unbalanced.
With you saying there is only 60gs of water you could use either of these guides.
40-60 Gallons
1/2 tsp KNO3 3x a week
1/8 tsp KH2PO4 3x a week
1/8 tsp K2SO4 3x a week
1/8 tsp (10 ml) traces 3x a week
60-80 Gallons
3/4 tsp KNO3 3x a week
3/16 tsp KH2PO4 3x a week
1/4 tsp K2SO4 3x a week
1/4 tsp (15ml) traces 3x a week
Once we get pictures of the brown we can further evaluate it but thought I should mention this. And I agree, trim the brown.
myswtsins
Global Moderator
I'd say that those are pretty clears sign of phosphate deficiency.
"Older leaves yellow and parts of the leaf is reabsorbed leading to dead patches, the leaf falls off rather quickly, looks similar to early nitrogen deficiency; green spot algae on older leafs."
The one central leaf that is still green on the lace plant is the newest leaf, your stems are dying from the bottom which is the oldest again and it is hard to tell from the photos but it looks like you may have green spot algae on the glass too. So, why aren't you dosing phosphates and why are you dosing the others so high? Also the bubbles in the tank deplete the tiny amount of CO2 your fish are producing, once you get the CO2 going this will be even more counter productive.
"Older leaves yellow and parts of the leaf is reabsorbed leading to dead patches, the leaf falls off rather quickly, looks similar to early nitrogen deficiency; green spot algae on older leafs."
The one central leaf that is still green on the lace plant is the newest leaf, your stems are dying from the bottom which is the oldest again and it is hard to tell from the photos but it looks like you may have green spot algae on the glass too. So, why aren't you dosing phosphates and why are you dosing the others so high? Also the bubbles in the tank deplete the tiny amount of CO2 your fish are producing, once you get the CO2 going this will be even more counter productive.
