Had to trim again.

Well the day before yesterday I had to trim the plants again. this time I cleared them so there is more light on the front of the plants, with the hope of them growing more evenly. Now my banana plant (which I don't know the actual name) has a stem that is coming off of it about 4 inches. I have never seen one of these plants as large as this one.

All the plants are pearling, but with the current in the water the bubbles don't stay on the leaves.

I am needing to add KNO3 every other day now, but my phosphates are staying at 2ppm. Tonight I am going to re-do my Co2 with the new bulkhead fittings I got yesterday. I am hoping this helps with the leaks.

I am still amazed at how nice everything looks. I am going to be building a light for my 2.5gallon so I can plant it with some of the trimmings I am getting from the 29.

Just checking in

I know I have not written for a while, but with building the upstairs and all this week has been rather busy.

The tank is still kicking, the plants are going to all need trimmed tonight. I had to treat with KNO3 twice this week, but the PO4 has staid at 2ppm. No algae anywhere, and the fish look great. I am going to be doing a full blown cleaning on the two small tanks, and a 50% water change on the 29 tomorrow. I am going to take some pictures tonight, and I will try to post one or two tomorrow.

New Fry!!!

I was trimming the overgrown plants in the tank the other day, and I noticed something swimming. Yep a fry! Now I know I added 2 female Platy last week, but there is no way this fry could be from them, it is just to big. I am thinking that it may have been a luck Cory egg attached to one of the plants. I am going to keep a close eye for it and maybe I can figure out what it is.

Anyhow I trimmed back everything that has grown to the top of the tank, and thinned out some others. I didn't do a water change, because my tests were all good. I will try and do one tonight.

Water Tests and CO2 changes

OK, yesterdays water tests were
Temp 76.4
Amm=0
Ni = 0
Na = 20
Ph = 6.6
Kh = 4
Gh = 9
Po4 = 2
Co2 = 30

I only added CSM+B, as the Na and the Po4 were already in the upper side.
I am wondering if the fish are keeping the readings were they are.

Anyhow I did change the second Co2 bottle, and I did not do a water change, since I did a big one Wednesday I felt I was good.

Lots of new growth, but I have noticed the Ludwigia repens leaves have doubled in the past few day, I will be asking planted tank forum if that is normal.

Things are growing and growing and . . .

I can not believe how fast things are growing. I did a water change the day before yesterday, and I did not have the chance to check the water today. Fridays are my water change days anyhow, and I will be recharging bottle number 2 tonight.

Algae seems in check, but I am still worried about my PO4. It always seems to be on the rise. This week I am not going to add my KH2PO4. I am going to see if that keeps the PO4 in check.

Little air bubbles

Last night I noticed little air bubbles coming from one of the plants I trimmed the other day. The bubbles were coming from the top of the stem where I trimmed the plant.

Water test kit

OK, I talked about the importance of testing the water, and how much I get into it. Well today I took a couple of pictures while I was doing it just to show how nice I have set it up.

Even my friend who is color blind can do the test. He said it is all about the contrasts.

Anyhow my CO2 is showing high, but I am not going to worry about it yet, because the fish are doing well.

today's tests are as follows

Temp = 76.5, Am = 0, Ni 0, Na = 10, Ph = 6.6, PO4 = 2, Gh = 9, Kh = 5

I fertilized the water the other day, and the plant growth seems to be the same as before. This would have disappointed me, but the plants were growing at an unbelievable rate anyhow. I do think that the ground cover seems a little more green.

After 1 Week

Well 1 week down, and everything is looking good. I received my dry ferts, and I used them last night. I also changed the recipe in CO2 bottle #1, changed 10gallons of water, trimmed plants, removed sword and tall grass stuff, moved the Whistiria, and lastly I spread out some of the other plants.


Here are some pictures.

Water test for Thursday

OK, I tested my water today, and noticed my Gh, and Kh are on the rise.
Amm=0
Ni=0
Na=10
Ph=6.8
Gh=9
Kh=7
PO4=1

I am hoping the rise in Gh and Kh is from the new gravel.

My 29gallon Planted Tank

I figured I would post a picture so everyone knows what I am talking about

Stepping up to the plate

Today I ordered my fertilizers from Greg Watson's (sorry about the spelling). I ordered Potassium Nitrate, Mono Potassium Phosphate, and CSM+P. I am going to use it twice a week at the following dosage.

KNO3 3/8tsp, 1/16tsp of KH2PO4, along with 1/8 tsp of CSM+B. I also found a link to The Fertilator, and I am going to use that to keep me in check.

I am starting to feel like I am getting on top of things.

Well I did it

I tore my tank down over the weekend, and changed the substrate. I am now using Eco-complete. It is very nice to plant in, and the Corys seem to like it. I took everything out, replaced the substrate, and heater, and reset everything in about the same place it was in before I started.

I also started using 2 Diy Co2 bottles. I am still just using an air stone, and it is working well.

Temp 76.5
Amm = .25
Ni = 0
Na = 10
Ph = 6.6
Kh = 4
Co2 = 30
Gh = 6
Po4 = 1

After I got everything going I treated the tank with Bio-Spira, expecting the tank to cycle again.