Hi Jen! Sorry for my hiatus, not much has happened up until today.
Thanks for the great info and resources yet again. That diagram you linked will prove to come in quite handy! I hope your paint job has been going good and hope you are setting up your tanks by now!
I had to recap a little to see where I left off, and it was me thinking on customizing my light's different intensities at respective times of day... I'm happy to say I decided to not venture down that road and since the last time I gave an update that gross brown stringy algae has mostly transformed into greenish stringy algae and now mainly resides on my driftwood. This being the case, from my research, proves I don't have that dreaded silicate issue you were describing. The brown hair is per usual in new tanks, and will turn green in time. Not to mention, my snail outbreak is ever-growing. They have done wonders on the diatoms, so they are still welcome. I'll eventually have to get some assasin snails bc these things are reproducing like mad. If the diatoms start to return thereafter, I'll get those otos. You had me shook with your silicate horror story! Now that the hair algae is green and predominately on the wood, it actually doesn't bother me that much -- still, I have ordered the eheim pre-filter and plan on adding some amano shrimp next monday who will likely eat it up regardless.
Also, I've FINALLY installed my GLA reg and, let me tell you, it is amazing. Quality is top notch, and I've finally finally finally got a tank pressure of 800psi, and a DEAD STABLE reading of 40psi on its working end. What a load off. I have a feeling my plants are going to go bananas now that it's stable. I'm almost already ready for another propagation session. Here is a link to the GLA in action:
So sweet. I also finally took a little trip down to my LFS Blake's Aqua Den -- if anyone lives in the central CT area, a must visit. Picked up my first batch of livestock: 10 cherry barbs. I know, 10 is a lot for a starter crew, but I've been only doing weekly 50% water changes and by water change day I'm steady between 20-40ppm nitrate. My habitat seems completely rounded off so I decided to take the chance on 10 cherrys instead of a recommended 4-5 for starters. Floated them for 20 min, released them into the tank with lights out for 4 hours and they seem to be loving their new enclosure. I've also taken your advice for the past week+ and my dosing regiment is now:
Mon - water change, 1/2 recommended dose of easy green
Tues - trace + iron
Wed - off
Thurs - trace
Fri - iron
Sat - trace
Sun - off
and it's been working wonders. I think it's had a hand in my hair algae transformation and my plants are looking vibrant and healthy. Lighting cycle is still the stock finnex planted+ 24/7 timeline. Plan on going back down to the LFS next Monday after my water change if all goes well with these cherrys and adding in a group of amano shrimp to start on the green algae. Again, sorry I've been away - but until today nothing much to report. Check out the cherry barbs in their new home!
Thanks for reading! Let me know how you are doing! Until next time
Thanks for the great info and resources yet again. That diagram you linked will prove to come in quite handy! I hope your paint job has been going good and hope you are setting up your tanks by now!
I had to recap a little to see where I left off, and it was me thinking on customizing my light's different intensities at respective times of day... I'm happy to say I decided to not venture down that road and since the last time I gave an update that gross brown stringy algae has mostly transformed into greenish stringy algae and now mainly resides on my driftwood. This being the case, from my research, proves I don't have that dreaded silicate issue you were describing. The brown hair is per usual in new tanks, and will turn green in time. Not to mention, my snail outbreak is ever-growing. They have done wonders on the diatoms, so they are still welcome. I'll eventually have to get some assasin snails bc these things are reproducing like mad. If the diatoms start to return thereafter, I'll get those otos. You had me shook with your silicate horror story! Now that the hair algae is green and predominately on the wood, it actually doesn't bother me that much -- still, I have ordered the eheim pre-filter and plan on adding some amano shrimp next monday who will likely eat it up regardless.
Also, I've FINALLY installed my GLA reg and, let me tell you, it is amazing. Quality is top notch, and I've finally finally finally got a tank pressure of 800psi, and a DEAD STABLE reading of 40psi on its working end. What a load off. I have a feeling my plants are going to go bananas now that it's stable. I'm almost already ready for another propagation session. Here is a link to the GLA in action:
So sweet. I also finally took a little trip down to my LFS Blake's Aqua Den -- if anyone lives in the central CT area, a must visit. Picked up my first batch of livestock: 10 cherry barbs. I know, 10 is a lot for a starter crew, but I've been only doing weekly 50% water changes and by water change day I'm steady between 20-40ppm nitrate. My habitat seems completely rounded off so I decided to take the chance on 10 cherrys instead of a recommended 4-5 for starters. Floated them for 20 min, released them into the tank with lights out for 4 hours and they seem to be loving their new enclosure. I've also taken your advice for the past week+ and my dosing regiment is now:
Mon - water change, 1/2 recommended dose of easy green
Tues - trace + iron
Wed - off
Thurs - trace
Fri - iron
Sat - trace
Sun - off
and it's been working wonders. I think it's had a hand in my hair algae transformation and my plants are looking vibrant and healthy. Lighting cycle is still the stock finnex planted+ 24/7 timeline. Plan on going back down to the LFS next Monday after my water change if all goes well with these cherrys and adding in a group of amano shrimp to start on the green algae. Again, sorry I've been away - but until today nothing much to report. Check out the cherry barbs in their new home!
Thanks for reading! Let me know how you are doing! Until next time
Well worth the extra $ to have a working product and peace of mind!
Just make sure your plants aren't deficient in the PK. Remember, NPK are the macros. Much needed by the plants.
Good job Mike!
