Well I have some updates! I got my regulator and diffuser in the mail today and they arrived in GREAT shape!
. I plan on adapting it to a paintball cylinder, but I can't get the regular cylinder piece off (the piece on the reg that attaches to the normal cylinders). I will by the end of tonight though, hopefully.
I have my DIY hooked up to the diffuser right now, and the bubbles all rise up into my powerhead which circulates them around the aquarium. I think it will be a good setup
.
As for the soil... I am going to continue the wet/dry cycling to mineralize it, but I might not add it to my aquarium until September, when I go back to school. I don't really want to add more weight to it to move around again :/.
I added two more ottos yesterday- man what an idiot I was too. I bought them but then had an unscheduled visit with a friend. To make sure they had air I put them and the plants I bought into a bowl- same water but out of their bags. But they didn't have quite enough water since the plants took up all the swimming room- I mean all of it. So I just added more water. It wasn't for another 3-4 hours that I realized- I ADDED CHLORINATED WATER! So I finally got home, and since the temperature of their water and of my tank were very close (my fingers could tell no difference) I just put them in to the tank. I was worried about the shock they would go through, but I was more worried about the chlorine they were sitting in. They are still here! Thank God. I got a big one and a little one and they are both looking healthy, an with full stomachs (as if I didn't have algae or something
).
The plants I added were added because they caught my eye for one reason or another.
Heteranthera zosterifolia aka "Stargrass", caught my eye because of the dense growth and the bright green of the leaves.
Ludwigia arcuata aka "Needle Leaf Ludwigia" was added because it is red, and I can't seem to have rotala macranda survive in my tank so I wanted to try a different red species. But this plant was almost purple- it is pretty cool
. I also added
Ludwigia repens aka "Red Ludwigia" because I love the shape and colour of the leaves! I don't know why but I find it to be an amazingly beautiful plant!
Unfortunately it was very late last night when I got home and I had to be up real early, so I didn't bother washing the plants. I guarantee I added a bunch of snails to my tank. I don't mind right now- I feel like the algae all over my tank would be easier for them to eat then the plants themselves. But I will still be killing each and every one I see.
Ever since I upped my fert dosage, my plants have been becoming more vibrant colours- my bacopa has a red tinge to it and the rotala is growing much more densely and with longer leaves. My hairgrass is also starting to grow finally! It is green again and growing kind of tall and good. 'Bout time too!
. However, it was too late for my java ferns. I lost almost all of it. The rhizomes and roots are still there and still looking healthy. But I lost almost every leaf from them due to a N or P shortage- could have easily been either, but more likely N. Either way, they are starting to send up new leaves all over the place again, so It shouldn't bee too long with this fert routine and pressurized CO2 that they will be good and full again.
My guppies are having babies again. I have a bunch of babies again... I need to get rid of these bloody females again :/.
Anyways, that is roughly everything. Once June is over I will post pics- I promise!!