JoeMan02 Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 Just now, Friendly said: anyone know if dragon stone can be used in a sw tank? it may be able to but not sure. It is however very expensive + it usually has allot of dirt in it so it must be thoroughly cleaned. there also is always the off chance that it would leach out minerals which would be... bad Quote Link to comment
Pjanssen Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 6 minutes ago, JoeMan02 said: Fake plants, so no need for nutrients. cichlids would tear up live ones Oh wow! Fooled me! . So how do export nutrients then, and keep it so clean? Quote Link to comment
JoeMan02 Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 1 minute ago, Pjanssen said: Oh wow! Fooled me! . So how do export nutrients then, and keep it so clean? I do weekly 50% water changes and the cichlids move to sand around so much that it doesn't build up gas on all other tanks i do monthly 50%. cichlids are messy 2 Quote Link to comment
JoeMan02 Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 8 minutes ago, Pjanssen said: Oh wow! Fooled me! . So how do export nutrients then, and keep it so clean? oh and I've also got a big ol Bristlenose pleco in there that keeps the glass spotless Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 what makes cichlid's tear up real plants but not the fakes? Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 35 minutes ago, Friendly said: Joe...that centre piece. is it stone or wood? if it's stone, what's it called? 'Tis stone, called Ohko or dragon stone. I bought mine from buce plant- it's spendy but I'm happy with splurging every now and then. Quote Link to comment
WV Reefer Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 1 hour ago, Friendly said: what makes cichlid's tear up real plants but not the fakes? Cichlids tear up everything. They chew, dig, collapse rock............ that's why they are a pain. 1 hour ago, Pjanssen said: Oh wow! Fooled me! . So how do export nutrients then, and keep it so clean? Triple the filtration and large water changes. They will keep the substrate mixed up. Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 6 hours ago, Thunder Goose said: @Lula_Mae I'm glad to hear someone else struggles with the "oh, so easy, they breed like crazy" cherry shrimp. I'm trying to removed the lead plant weights to see if that helps. I even tested my water for copper, just in case some was leaching in somewhere along the way [spoiler: nope]. Wanting shrimp is one reason I got into salt water. I wanted to do invertebrates! I have had the same two amano shrimp for around two years now, but I have no luck breeding cherries! I mean, I see a little one here and there, but my population slowly dwindles. Maybe If I redo the tank to be more shrimp friendly, or move them to my other tank I'll have more luck. I need to re stock, because I probably only have 6 now. Quote Link to comment
Thunder Goose Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 @Pjanssen Freshwater plants can be challenging but there are easy options! You need decent substrate (not gravel, although you can get away with that for a while with some plants) and lighting (If you've got fluorescent tubes you can buy plant specific tubes at a Big Box Hardware store) - then pick easy plants: Java, crypts. Aquariumplants.com has a lot of plants with good information about them (kind like LA does). Go for it! 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeMan02 Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 13 hours ago, Friendly said: what makes cichlid's tear up real plants but not the fakes? like WV said, they tear up everything! They eat live plants (mbunas do) and being constantly uprooted would kill live plants as well 1 Quote Link to comment
brandon429 Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 this is my #1 apex self running ecosystem, amazon bowl. I think its 14 yrs now maybe 12 Id have to check the old build threads on reefs.org but either way shes ten feet tall and can dunk without reaching. by self running, I mean topoffs only if you want to run it that way, I did for 7 yrs. It had wild type guppies and had no water changes the first 7 yrs, to load up the special substrate for the long haul. at that point, changed from guppies to fw shrimp and they run the rest of the ecosystem I feed maybe a few times a yr and change water annually pretty much so that I can see them better on the bottom with less detritus. I also choose to add ferts for strong greenery, the system can run without anything other than topoff but the chlorosis is stronger without iron added in addition. There's 4 pounds of powdered laterite at the base of the substrate as a reserve, but with minimal spraying of ferts and adding only ozarka drinking water as topoff that's as stand alone as it gets with moving life inside. Its true you can seal a system with these shrimp and get years, but eventually things have to be replenished its a rule of ecosystem design so I find it easier just to let the plants grow out the top and topoff and feed occasionally. This system has no biological lifespan, it can run for a hundred years. of course that w take some generations to prove, check up w my great grandkids to see I guess! 8 1 Quote Link to comment
.Boris Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 42 minutes ago, JoeMan02 said: like WV said, they tear up everything! They eat live plants (mbunas do) and being constantly uprooted would kill live plants as well Have a look at my tank. I have two different species of Valisneria. They do uproot them every now and then and constantly chomp pieces from them but the growth keeps up with the abuse, so much that I sometimes prune them by taking out the oldest/most abused and letting the new growth sprout. There is one plant that is said to be cichlid proof but I can't remember the name. Don't just believe the interwebb. Have a go and see if your cichlids can live with plants. You may be surprised! Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 3 hours ago, Thunder Goose said: @Pjanssen Freshwater plants can be challenging but there are easy options! You need decent substrate (not gravel, although you can get away with that for a while with some plants) and lighting (If you've got fluorescent tubes you can buy plant specific tubes at a Big Box Hardware store) - then pick easy plants: Java, crypts. Aquariumplants.com has a lot of plants with good information about them (kind like LA does). Go for it! Haha I have gravel in mine that's been there 9 years. Just gave all the gravel a good rinse last night to get rid of 9 years of gunk and dead plant detritus lol. I don't necessarily recommend my methods lol. 3 Quote Link to comment
brandon429 Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 If I could give a helpsecret to anyone starting a freshwater tank it would be to use the dirt capping method Walstad method, google it, it works nearly always even for finicky ground plants like baby tears (w melt in all but the best tanks) the #1 reason first go planted tanks fail is due to weak substrate support, and not injecting CO2 gas and from trying all the dosers to offset those important details (which then fuel algae really well via water column dosing) the simplest and most outstanding performance you can get is using the walstad method, have fun. that setup above is stilled, the only electricity it uses is the led lights. no heat, no circulation, stand alone and its using a similar method but its not Walstad, its called don't change the water for seven years with fish in order to build good substrate. 1 Quote Link to comment
Boggers Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Dragon stone is inert and can be used in a reef tank. I would not add much surface area for filtration, but it will work. Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 19 minutes ago, brandon429 said: If I could give a helpsecret to anyone starting a freshwater tank it would be to use the dirt capping method Walstad method, google it, it works nearly always even for finicky ground plants like baby tears (w melt in all but the best tanks) the #1 reason first go planted tanks fail is due to weak substrate support, and not injecting CO2 gas and from trying all the dosers to offset those important details (which then fuel algae really well via water column dosing) the simplest and most outstanding performance you can get is using the walstad method, have fun. I had a 20 gallon FW for years and my plants grew like MAD and all I had was gravel. I didn't inject CO2, but I did add some plant food supplements, but it's been so long, I don't remember what. my understanding is that CO2 isn't needed unless you have a heavily planted tank...usually a larger one than what's referred to as a nano tank now. 3 Quote Link to comment
JoeMan02 Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 52 minutes ago, .Boris said: Have a look at my tank. I have two different species of Valisneria. They do uproot them every now and then and constantly chomp pieces from them but the growth keeps up with the abuse, so much that I sometimes prune them by taking out the oldest/most abused and letting the new growth sprout. There is one plant that is said to be cichlid proof but I can't remember the name. Don't just believe the interwebb. Have a go and see if your cichlids can live with plants. You may be surprised! Your tank looks awesome with those plants! I'm going to make an exclusively planted tank at some point with maybe tiger barbs or neon tetras. My neon tank already has dwarf hairgrass. Quote Link to comment
brandon429 Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 a little half gallon w gas and microinjection system: 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeMan02 Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 Just now, brandon429 said: a little half gallon w gas and microinjection system: holy cow! I dont even get my milk in half gallons!! 1 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 1 hour ago, .Boris said: Have a look at my tank. I have two different species of Valisneria. They do uproot them every now and then and constantly chomp pieces from them but the growth keeps up with the abuse, so much that I sometimes prune them by taking out the oldest/most abused and letting the new growth sprout. There is one plant that is said to be cichlid proof but I can't remember the name. Don't just believe the interwebb. Have a go and see if your cichlids can live with plants. You may be surprised! I've had an echinodorus with mine for over 6 months, and anubias for longer. The anubias is attached to driftwood though. I plan to add more plants at some point. 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeMan02 Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 Whaaatss up guys! tomorrow is wednesday and you know what that means!? My first aquarium centered vlog comes out! Do me a solid and check out my youtube channel, you can almost meet me in person and get a tour of all my aquariums! link below https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4yFUEcq0SGs3_BHxF9q5Ww Tanks ;D 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 I swear the pics don't do it justice... the deep reds and oranges in the rock don't come through at all in pictures, and you can't tell that the ultra clear tank makes for a Super vivid "HD" look. Anyway this is attempt #2, after the tank rescape. I was hoping the tall red plants would have more red than they do, they're kinda pink atm, but I think once they straighten out, the Monte Carlo takes root, and the repents grows bushy it should look awesome. I have high hopes. 6 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Here's what just the rockwork looks like, honestly if these plants bomb again I'm just gonna stick to rocks lol 4 Quote Link to comment
Pjanssen Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 1 hour ago, JoeR said: I swear the pics don't do it justice... the deep reds and oranges in the rock don't come through at all in pictures, and you can't tell that the ultra clear tank makes for a Super vivid "HD" look. Anyway this is attempt #2, after the tank rescape. I was hoping the tall red plants would have more red than they do, they're kinda pink atm, but I think once they straighten out, the Monte Carlo takes root, and the repents grows bushy it should look awesome. I have high hopes. Very nice. What is the black wire rack in the substrate for? Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 16 minutes ago, Pjanssen said: Very nice. What is the black wire rack in the substrate for? Thanks! It's actually aluminum wire that I'm using to weigh the Monte Carlo down until it roots into the substrate. They float a little without the wire 2 Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.