About my fish keeping. If you've ever read my log in this section of the forum then you know I started off like most people. I didn't have a clue about the nitrogen cycle. Now I know it by heart.
I also started knowing zilch about growing plants, but now I am embarrassed by knowledge.
Basically over time, I found what worked for me. Reading threads on this site and around the web, I took what advice and information was applicable and disregarded those that were not.
For the first six months I tested every other day, check temps and CO2 levels. 1 year later I dumped the thermometers and just use my hand. My plants communicate to me by telling me their needs. They communicate by either growing well, melting, browning, or going green (in case of red plants).
As far a cycling now. I usually set up a tank, plant and seed it (with old media/plants) , then let it run. When I feel things are going well I add Yamato Shrimps. After that I usually move fish around from other tanks, but usually by a couple of my favorites if I feel the tank needs more fish. I never over stock, just accentuate.
My favorite fish are:
Neon Tetras
Rasboras
Abeni Puffers
Ottocins
Mini Plecs
Green Neon Tetras
and Yamato Shrimps.
If I had the space, I would love to keep an Albino Tiger cichlid and Discus
(not together).
I use my own concoction of over the counter hydroponic fertilizers using a modified estimated dosing system. I also have a few CO2 tanks for pressurized injection. BBA used to be my bane until I read that ferts and CO2 should be steady. I let them run, and the BBA is gone. (well from my plants anyway, it can have my spray bar)
Lighting is nothing special. I have NISSO real inverter light that has three 20watt florescent bulbs in it. I switched them out for PLANTMASTER bulbs. RICCIA is growing very well.
The JEBO has two 8watt florescent bulbs that I switched out for some generic plant growing bulbs. (only ones I could find in that size)
The salty has the standard NISSO two 20watt bulbs. I switched the bulbs for
Carribean blue and Ocean clear?? bulbs. Plan on buying another one to set up on the tank for a total of 80 watts.
On my 60cm clear stingray I have an eiheim 2213 with mostly ceramic rings inside. And a NISSO compact mini filter (external canister) with mostly ceramic rings inside.
My GEX 10L uses a desk lamp (with a twin florescent bulb) 13watts, and has two Kotobuki mini fit HOB filters, with a few ceramic rings in each. Nothing more than that. It is filled with dressing sand.
The salty has sand grade Sango suna (サンゴ砂） which is probably crushed coral. After reading the sticky in the marine forum and big sweat drop formed on my temple, but I have no plans of taking it out. That crap cost a fortune.
The Clear Stingray and JEBO has ADA Amazonia and probably some leftover AFRICANA mixed in as well.
The GEX 10 liter has ADA BRIGHTY SAND in it. The wabikusa is homemade. During the summer I like to my trimmings out on the balcony. RICCIA, TENELLUS, LUDWIGIA, GLOSSO, likes to be grown outdoors.
Too hot in May in Nagano to start putting your plants out doors. But what I do, is start putting them out around the beginning of the rainy season. On really hot days I move them to the shade. Then I just give them away or use them later. The rainy season is good because I don't have to worry about keeping them moist also Japan is humid as hell in summer so it all works out. When I find mosquitos in the tray, I do a water change.
Speaking of water changes.... I change out 8 liters of water from my JEBO and STINGRAY twice a week. Wednesday and Saturday. For my salty I change 14 liters once a week on Saturday.
Oh .... and in my sand setups, I use dirt from outside, from my compost heap!! just a thin layer under a deep layer of sand (BRIGHTY SAND). When I rescaped my stingray, I had no more ADA powersand, so I used a thin layer soil from my compost heap. and put ADA AMAZONIA on top of that. No algea blooms, and no fish deaths. Just good plant growth. But that just me.
In this hobby, you will learn what works best for you. If you are intent. Everyday I spend 2 to three hours doing something for my tanks. I love it. I feel my tanks and know them by heart. This helps a lot.
