Not a newbie, but re-entering the hobby after 10 years away...this is my first post coming back and now I need your help

Thanks, yes, the rings I have, mostly the ones for attaching hose to the Fluval bangers, were already HomeDepot bought...got a new box.

The chloramine thing really bothers me...and in general, I see that I am going to face a challenge with water chemistry. The tap water is very hard (around 210ppm and heavily CaCO3) with a pH around 7.8 - 8.0. I checked the online tap water analysis local govt puts out and yep, it's right in line with that.

I have always been a software aquarists...even keeping cichlids, at least I knew how to get my water from soft to hard. Now I think I'm faced with not trying to fight reality and go with a hardwater tank - a different kettle of fish (literally). Good news is I guess I won't have to worry too much about pH fluctuations and my Java Ferns are gonna love it. Now that CO2 system is looking a bit more high priority.

Another thing...and this is why I asked about the latest books... the internet is FILLED with crap that is just plain wrong....talking about species habitat and needs that is the very opposite of the truth...oh well, shouldn't be a surprise.

Anyway, today's update:

1) Tank is live, plants only at this point. Fluval 404 with top compartment polishing, second and third running Fluval BioMax media, last empty in case I need to do chemistry adjustments through solids/resins. One 200 watt heater. Plants are as stated above: Java Fern (std and narrow), cardamine, ludwigia, crypt wendtii and lutea, sag subulata. We'll see what likes takes but seems like the Ferns are gonna be a snap.

2) Substrate is CaribSea EcoComplete black, 60 pounds.

3) Temp is now a consisten 77 and rock solid.

Now, the hard part - don't get the fish yet, don't get the fish yet....I hate waiting.
 
If you want internet information that is accurate, try fishbase or seriously fish.

I would probably suggest Amazonas magazine if you want something printed.

The big problem with books is that information changes, nonclemature changes, new species are discovered, etc. So books generally are a slice of history; if you are buying farmed fish (I'm not saying you should or should not . That depends on a fish by fish basis, and whatever works best for you) they are unlikely to care about living conditions and parameters.

If you are looking for accurate information and a way to point yourself to the good information, try to join a club locally... They can be worth their weight in gold.
 
dougall said:
if you are buying farmed fish (...) they are unlikely to care about living conditions and parameters.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you didn't mean it that way? But all fish, farmed or not, care about living conditions and parameters.
Actually, mass farmed fish are generally weaker as wild ones.
 
the loach said:
I'm sure you didn't mean it that way? But all fish, farmed or not, care about living conditions and parameters.
Actually, mass farmed fish are generally weaker as wild ones.
Click to expand...
Let me rephrase, they are not likely to care about their wild habitat as much as their wild caught counterparts. They will still care as much about the cleanliness of the water, but not as much about

They are not likely to care about hardness, pH etc. But there will always be differences between riverine and lake dwelling fish, as their need for water flow and amount of dissolved oxygen.
 
I've spent two weekends now checking out LFS in Houston...the results are disappointing to say the least. I'm checking the local clubs too, but I guess I'll have to go to a meeting because the forum posts are mostly from 2017 and prior.

Seems like there are not a lot of good LFS here anymore...and half of the ones that do exist have gone salt only.

I've been on the links you've posted, and a couple others...those are good ones. But it's shocking to see Neon Tetra as a soft, acid, black water fish on one page and on another a hard-water fish...that was youtube...jeez. I don't mind "snapshots in time" books...stuff like Axelrod's reference books are pretty comprehensive...and right now, I'm not at the point where I have multiple tanks and am investing in new fish...

One of the better stores in my area had their annual sale today, so I grabbed some very red dwarf crypts, some Christmas moss, two tubs of microsordium and two bunches of rotala indica(which may crap out but I need RED). Their view was that the fish their are acclimated to the water....while I'd like to think that's true, most fish turn pretty fast at a store and I'd be surprised if they've adjusted yet.

Here's a pic, please be kind. The tanks getting that haze, so I know we've got bacterial activity going on, that's good. Yes, the plants need to acclimate and some will need moved and the substrate needs a bit of leveling.... Yes, the prefilter is off the intake and there's no background (I'm looking for white and can't find it) and my outflow looks weird facing the side of the tank(but the flow is awesome around that rock and all the way around in a circle.

I'm open to ( but dread) suggestions and comments, I'm here to learn.

New 30gal June8.jpg
 
I like your start! I think you need to break up your clumps of microswords? Nice rock placement too.

Personally I like a dark background. A cheap & easy way to check is to use trash bags or fabric in white, black, gray or brown etc. I like to hide my equipment as much as I can. But I also become blind to it after a while or when plants fill in. I have terra cotta colored walls behind 2 tanks & can barely see them anymore, lol.
 
Thanks, great idea on background. I'm hoping the rotala and ludwigia eventually hide in/outs and heater, but I'm also not sure about inlet placement so that may move. Sometimes I use a coarse foam over the intake and plant java fern or java moss on it, that has worked fantastically for me in the past, but I'm fast growing a list of little side projects - inlet placement and type first.

Yes, Micros need unclumped but my back got tired from planting LOL, I just had to get them in......more split up today, plus planting the Christmas moss that's not in the pic.

And obviously it will look better once the plants acclimate and turn their leaves toward the light, hopefully begin to propagate. I forgot how very much like gardening this is....the selection and placement of plants and items for an end product that will
 
I hear you on the tired landscaping back, arm & neck, it's just part of planted tanks. I try to pace myself...my tanks are jungles, but I like that, lol. I try to hold off major weeding until a plant/fish meet...

Really, I can't stress enough the value of going to local-ish meets even a couple times a year. You're near a big city, it's likely awesome & if you join you can sell excess plants too (at least that's what I've seen in clubs I've been to). You can chat fish, buy fish, plants & equipment, a fun day trip once in a while & check out food options either at or near meets! Sometimes there are talks by interesting speakers. Check them out!!

Let your java ferns produce plantlets on the leaves before you weed them out, it won't be long.

I think it's a reddish rotala? on the far right side, but I don't see you ludwegia. Is cardamine similar to hydrocotles? That looks those to me...
 
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I'm in Houston...been looking and made some contacts. If anyone can recommend a good one, please let me know...

Ludwigia is far right and far left, very thin right now and back in the corner. The Rotala is Rotala indica, gets much more red than it has now.

Good question on the cardamine..I'm not familiar with this plant and don't know what it is, but really love it so far...it looks elegant and seems to have almost immediately adapted. I'll try to post pics that show more detail later tonight.
 
Oh, the ludwigia doesn't look happy if that's what I'm seeing...there are many species. I have good luck with L. repens x arcuata cross in a no ferts, medium light 75g tank. Green tops & red undersides, longish leaves too. It can be a weed in some cases...I take some to meets...But in my club, we mostly just give plants away, I love it!! This is not "the usual" in other clubs...but it's all fun!

& a good excuse to check out not so local shops & restaurants too.
 
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