Finally! Some tank pics and info!

Geo

Large Fish
Oct 22, 2002
102
0
0
geo-san.dyndns.org
#1
This has been a while coming, but I might as well post some now while it is starting to look good.

Info on tank first:
6 Gallon Eclipse system, DIY PC lighting 2x13w 6500k bulbs
DIY CO2, Fourish added 1x a week, lights on for ~11 hours a day
Weekly water changes, RO Water, flourite substrate
Water params:
PH: 6.4-6.6
KH: 3º
GH: 5º
Nitrite/Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrate: <10ppm

Inhabitants:
4 Amano Shrimp
2 Ottos
7 Neon Tetras

Plants:
Java Fern
Java Moss
Glosso
Ambulia (barely surviving in that dark corner methinks)
A couple small cryp leaves from the first setup of the tank - gonna see if they start spreading naturally!
Anubias Nanas
And various forms of algae!
::)

This is roughly the 3rd month of operation for the tank, started with a fishless cycle - have lost 1 otto, and 1 shrimp total in the process.
Just got done with an outbreak of BBA and Staghorn algae, it's all dying now and my shrimp are readilly gobbling it up, along with the various MTSs, and some other Snail type that is being eatn by the MTSs!

I am looking to get the hang of the small scale system management, and I really like the way the roots are growing on both my anubias.  Everyone is well fed, my ottos are plump as can be, shrimp are always picking at something, and my neons are fed once a day, but they eat everything and all are constantly on the hunt for anything edible (makes them look more natural to me) and are otherwise healthy!

I want the glosso to carpet the bottom of the tank, the java moss to cover the one peice of driftwood, and to have the anubias spread with the java fern along the logs - this is a real slow-growing tank, but I think the end result will be worth it.  On such a small scale, who wants to do pruning all the time anyways?  *laughingcryingsmiley*

Ok, now for some pics!  

(don't mind the glare)


Right now I am weighing on whether or not I wish to keep the neons there, and go for a dwarf cichlid, or replace the Ottos with something that will more readilly attack the algae on the driftwood (Bristlenose cat had been considered, but would probably get too big as an adult - sad because they are so cool!  But I am weighing options)

Comments are welcome, sorry for not having the tank at it's cleanest - for the next batch I'll make sure to /really/ scrub the front of the aquarium!  *crazysmiley*

Cheers!  *celebratesmiley*

p.s. a short 4.1meg 15 second movie can be seen of my fish and the tank in general here:  http://homepage.mac.com/geo_san/movies/tank.mov
 

Gnome

Large Fish
Oct 22, 2002
211
0
0
Shadow Moses Island
#2
Nice job Geo...
This is really natural.
ohh man where did you get that drfitwoods? they are so nice and really decorated very well..how many driftwood you got there? I'm guess there are 3 separate driftwoods, right?
Actually I really like the algae on the middle driftwood, you don't need to remove the algae on the driftwood it looks nice *thumbsupsmiley*...maybe you can have the java moss grow on your driftwood more easily, I read the krib that someone using algae on the back glass of the tank to make a wall lawn :eek:...an alternative way of using the canvas thing...well anyway I can see all 7 neon tetras in your sec pic!...also I like the light only lits the front side of the tank which make the neon on the back or on the bottom tank looks like Cardinals!! you might want to trim down your glosso.
Great JOB! *thumbsupsmiley*
 

Geo

Large Fish
Oct 22, 2002
102
0
0
geo-san.dyndns.org
#4
Alrighty!

First off - Yes, it's a 6 gallon tank - but it is bowed in a trapezoid fashion as well, so it looks a lot bigger than it is - great for displays though! Also - yep, 3 peices of driftwood, the side ones are mopani (my personal favorite as well) and the middle is just plain "driftwood"

I am also waiting for the the glosso to grow up just a little more, then I will cut and plant the cuttings to help with the "lawn" effect.  

With these comments on the algae on the driftwood, it sure is swaying my mind a bit on whether or not to keep it.  I'll give it some more thought and get back to ya though! ^_^

Oh for those that were concerned (Some talked to me about it) I have decided /against/ the Bristlenose cat, just get too big.  If I do decide to switch out the Ottos, I would either go for more Amano shrimp, or a small clown pleco most likely (but that is still on the decision table as well)

Perhaps some more amano shrimp wouldn't hurt, 7 is always a good number ya know!  ;D
 

Gnome

Large Fish
Oct 22, 2002
211
0
0
Shadow Moses Island
#6
[quote author=Geo link=board=freshwatergeneral&num=1034740101&start=0#3 date=10/16/02 at 10:49:51]
Alrighty!

First off - Yes, it's a 6 gallon tank - but it is bowed in a trapezoid fashion as well, so it looks a lot bigger than it is - great for displays though! Also - yep, 3 peices of driftwood, the side ones are mopani (my personal favorite as well) and the middle is just plain "driftwood"

I am also waiting for the the glosso to grow up just a little more, then I will cut and plant the cuttings to help with the "lawn" effect.  

With these comments on the algae on the driftwood, it sure is swaying my mind a bit on whether or not to keep it.  I'll give it some more thought and get back to ya though! ^_^

Oh for those that were concerned (Some talked to me about it) I have decided /against/ the Bristlenose cat, just get too big.  If I do decide to switch out the Ottos, I would either go for more Amano shrimp, or a small clown pleco most likely (but that is still on the decision table as well)

Perhaps some more amano shrimp wouldn't hurt, 7 is always a good number ya know!  ;D
[/quote]
good deal man.. I think you should preserve the algae and don't put too much algae eater, just put enough to let it controlled and I bet it'll look great when your small pleco or shrimp gathers around the algae, eating, it is just like cows gathering  at the lawn, eating ;D
 

Geo

Large Fish
Oct 22, 2002
102
0
0
geo-san.dyndns.org
#7
Hey Gnome -

Funny thing, for the first time yet I have seen my shrimp gather on the log "grazing like cows"  It's pretty cool!

Decided wholly against the small pleco - would rather add more shrimp (I LOVE THESE GUYS!) So I'll be weighing that now.

Also decided to experiment with lighting a bit, see if it helps growth, I'll report back if I get anything!

Thanks for all the comments everyone, this is my first tank in a long time and the comments make it all the better!  Thanks ^_^ ^_^ ^_^  *celebratesmiley*