Newman's 10 Gallon Journal

kenny1tothe6 · 10-27-2009, 01:02 PM

How are you going to cycle it? Ammonia? Fish food?

Newman · 10-27-2009, 01:06 PM

By adding an established sponge media from my 40 gal's canister, into the ecco canister filter for this tank. I'll be adding a tiny amount of pure ammonia each week just to be sure that its cycling/established. That is until i get the amanos in there.
Ammonia should be beneficial to the plants right?

kenny1tothe6 · 10-27-2009, 01:10 PM

I would think so just as long as you spread it through the tank and don't overdose [tho if you did, you could just do a WC]

epond83 · 10-27-2009, 02:04 PM

You are planing on DIY CO2 and Excel?

OrangeCones · 10-27-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newman

Ammonia should be beneficial to the plants right?

Most plants will take ammonia first, nitrites 2nd and nitrates last. If its heavily planted with fast growning stem plants from the start, you may never see nitrites or nitrates register if the plants consume all of the ammonia.

Newman · 10-27-2009, 06:17 PM

I take it that would be GOOD lol.
I'm not sure if HC or dwarf sag are fast growers. certainly not as fast as some stems like cabomba i bet tho. so i plan on using a filter anyway, and seeding that with some sponge media from my 40gal's canister, like i said before.

And yes i plan on using the DIY reactor with dosing excel 2x a week. very small amounts (like 2-3 ml) I hear using excel with CO2 injection produces even better results as long as the excel isnt ovedosed. I've been careful doing both of these in my 40 gal, and it has been working out well.
I dose about 5ml of each of my fert to my 40 gal on a regular EI schedule. Since this is a small tank, ill be using less of the ferts obviously.

Newman · 10-27-2009, 06:50 PM

Any good methods out there for combating algae? I want to prevent the algae from even appearing; to not let it get a hold of my tank.
Heres what i was thinking of doing:

When i get all of my plants on Thursday , ill plant all of them, completely covering the substrate (i made sure to buy LOTS of pots of each plant), and ill raise the water level to about half.
Since i still dont have my two 6700K bulbs until monday of next week, ill run the two 10000Ks i have for 4 hours each day until then. when i get the new bulbs ill make the switch, but continue to restrict the light to 4 hours a day for about a week or two.
All this time CO2 will be on, but i wont be dosing anything yet.
If any algae starts to show up within two weeks, ill test my water, and see if its clean enough for shrimp. if its not then ill wait till it is. if it is, then ill throw three amanos in there to keep the algae in check.
The amanos will be temporary and shall be replaced with otos at the end.
Does my plan sound like it might work?
Can anyone suggest anything else i can add to my plan (ie. floating anacharis/cabomba plants to soak up nutrients)?

And also...
Should I leave the tank half full for a few weeks? i was thinking that would give the plants more light...

Thanks for any advice guys

OrangeCones · 10-27-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newman

I take it that would be GOOD lol.

Yes, it's a GOOD thing! It's called a 'silent cycle' and you can instantly add fish.

kenny1tothe6 · 10-27-2009, 06:53 PM

Excel and Co2. Huh? I'm thinking that for my pressurized 55 that is a work in progress. The vals would hate me, but my mom wants them for her 20gL. Obviously, either would trow off the balance of the 29 and probably 52 and other 55.

Newman · 10-27-2009, 07:00 PM

any thoughts on the algae battle plan?

this post is a test of putting up images...

10-27-2009, 01:02 PM	#11
kenny1tothe6 Medium Fish Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 413	How are you going to cycle it? Ammonia? Fish food? __________________ 10gal, 24gal Nano-Cube [Nano-Reef], 29gal Riparium, 35galHEX, 55gal, 125gal, & 5,000gal Pond

10-27-2009, 01:06 PM	#12
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,780	By adding an established sponge media from my 40 gal's canister, into the ecco canister filter for this tank. I'll be adding a tiny amount of pure ammonia each week just to be sure that its cycling/established. That is until i get the amanos in there. Ammonia should be beneficial to the plants right? __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

10-27-2009, 01:10 PM	#13
kenny1tothe6 Medium Fish Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 413	I would think so just as long as you spread it through the tank and don't overdose [tho if you did, you could just do a WC] __________________ 10gal, 24gal Nano-Cube [Nano-Reef], 29gal Riparium, 35galHEX, 55gal, 125gal, & 5,000gal Pond

10-27-2009, 06:17 PM	#16
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,780	I take it that would be GOOD lol. I'm not sure if HC or dwarf sag are fast growers. certainly not as fast as some stems like cabomba i bet tho. so i plan on using a filter anyway, and seeding that with some sponge media from my 40gal's canister, like i said before. And yes i plan on using the DIY reactor with dosing excel 2x a week. very small amounts (like 2-3 ml) I hear using excel with CO2 injection produces even better results as long as the excel isnt ovedosed. I've been careful doing both of these in my 40 gal, and it has been working out well. I dose about 5ml of each of my fert to my 40 gal on a regular EI schedule. Since this is a small tank, ill be using less of the ferts obviously. __________________ Credit goes to Lludu Last edited by Newman; 10-27-2009 at 06:20 PM..

10-27-2009, 06:50 PM	#17
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,780	Any good methods out there for combating algae? I want to prevent the algae from even appearing; to not let it get a hold of my tank. Heres what i was thinking of doing: When i get all of my plants on Thursday , ill plant all of them, completely covering the substrate (i made sure to buy LOTS of pots of each plant), and ill raise the water level to about half. Since i still dont have my two 6700K bulbs until monday of next week, ill run the two 10000Ks i have for 4 hours each day until then. when i get the new bulbs ill make the switch, but continue to restrict the light to 4 hours a day for about a week or two. All this time CO2 will be on, but i wont be dosing anything yet. If any algae starts to show up within two weeks, ill test my water, and see if its clean enough for shrimp. if its not then ill wait till it is. if it is, then ill throw three amanos in there to keep the algae in check. The amanos will be temporary and shall be replaced with otos at the end. Does my plan sound like it might work? Can anyone suggest anything else i can add to my plan (ie. floating anacharis/cabomba plants to soak up nutrients)? And also... Should I leave the tank half full for a few weeks? i was thinking that would give the plants more light... Thanks for any advice guys __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

10-27-2009, 02:04 PM	#14
epond83 Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 470	You are planing on DIY CO2 and Excel?

10-27-2009, 06:53 PM	#19
kenny1tothe6 Medium Fish Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 413	Excel and Co2. Huh? I'm thinking that for my pressurized 55 that is a work in progress. The vals would hate me, but my mom wants them for her 20gL. Obviously, either would trow off the balance of the 29 and probably 52 and other 55. __________________ 10gal, 24gal Nano-Cube [Nano-Reef], 29gal Riparium, 35galHEX, 55gal, 125gal, & 5,000gal Pond

10-27-2009, 07:00 PM	#20
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,780	any thoughts on the algae battle plan? this post is a test of putting up images... __________________ Credit goes to Lludu Last edited by Newman; 10-27-2009 at 07:05 PM..