Turtle's Fairy Tale

SashimiTurtle · Dec 7, 2018

I like doing this...

10/23-12/6

najer · Dec 7, 2018

Nice growth. :)

NY_Caveman · Dec 7, 2018

Robin Haselden said:

Love those. You inspired me to try and do a few this weekend myself.

Fudsey · Dec 7, 2018

Very cool ! !

SashimiTurtle · Dec 7, 2018

Alright, I cleaned the tank up a bit today. Removed my SW4 and scrubbed it. Amazing how much flow algae kills. I have the SW4 flowing almost directly at the red and purple monti caps. They will enjoy the high flow.

Pulled the GHA off the sand, pulled a few rocks out and scrubbed them. Gotta reglue a few corals and I lost one of the pieces of my purple cap behind the rocks... but the horizontal piece that was encrusted already is still there so I'm ok.

Tank is super dusty because I also pulled a tiny bit of GHA off the Fiji mud and found what appears to be a small piece of a plastic shopping bag in the mud. Disturb the mud and the whole tank goes cloudy.

Scurvy · Dec 7, 2018

I have read of people finding odd things in the mud.

SashimiTurtle · Dec 7, 2018

One thing I noticed was on the rocks I pulled out and scrubbed, amphipods were everywhere. Likely copepods also, but I can't see into the microscopic. I've got a seriously healthy microfauna population, it makes me happy.

NY_Caveman · Dec 7, 2018

Robin Haselden said:
One thing I noticed was on the rocks I pulled out and scrubbed, amphipods were everywhere. Likely copepods also, but I can't see into the microscopic. I've got a seriously healthy microfauna population, it makes me happy.

That is awesome. Healthy tanks help feed themselves.

najer · Dec 8, 2018

Robin Haselden said:
One thing I noticed was on the rocks I pulled out and scrubbed, amphipods were everywhere. Likely copepods also, but I can't see into the microscopic. I've got a seriously healthy microfauna population, it makes me happy.

As above, great to hear! :)

SashimiTurtle · Dec 11, 2018

Long time no see, holidays are always busy. Wanted to give a quick update so you didnt think I got stuck in the sump...

I think I pulled too much phosphates. A few of the LPS that almost look like SPS are not doing well. Yea, I need to test I know. I can feel something is off and I was aggressively pulling phosphates so I blame that. My reactor clogged anyway, so it's just chaeto.

Speaking of chaeto, I pulled a gallon bag out of the sump. When I say gallon bag, I mean I stuffed it in this bag.

Oh, I have something else to take up my time too... like I need to add to my hobby any more. It's a 36(I think)gallon bowfront that will be set up as blackwater. Think tea colored water Amazon river basin swamp. Dead leaves on the bottom, driftwood, anubias, java fern, moss.... yea, pretty cool.

The sand, I tried some quikrete all purpose sand because I saw another tank online that used it. It was impossible to rinse and completely clouded the tank. So I ditched it and ordered 40lbs of eco complete for planted tanks.

NY_Caveman · Dec 11, 2018

Robin Haselden said:
Long time no see, holidays are always busy. Wanted to give a quick update so you didnt think I got stuck in the sump...

I think I pulled too much phosphates. A few of the LPS that almost look like SPS are not doing well. Yea, I need to test I know. I can feel something is off and I was aggressively pulling phosphates so I blame that. My reactor clogged anyway, so it's just chaeto.

Speaking of chaeto, I pulled a gallon bag out of the sump. When I say gallon bag, I mean I stuffed it in this bag.

Oh, I have something else to take up my time too... like I need to add to my hobby any more. It's a 36(I think)gallon bowfront that will be set up as blackwater. Think tea colored water Amazon river basin swamp. Dead leaves on the bottom, driftwood, anubias, java fern, moss.... yea, pretty cool.

The sand, I tried some quikrete all purpose sand because I saw another tank online that used it. It was impossible to rinse and completely clouded the tank. So I ditched it and ordered 40lbs of eco complete for planted tanks.

I will be very interested in the blackwater tank. How high is the hardness of your water? Mine is like 1 KH and 2 dKH which always worked well for my planted tanks. My problem was the 2 ppm Phosphate.

SashimiTurtle · Dec 11, 2018

NY_Caveman said:
I will be very interested in the blackwater tank. How high is the hardness of your water? Mine is like 1 KH and 2 dKH which always worked well for my planted tanks. My problem was the 2 ppm Phosphate.

I've actually got no clue, but I can tell you my incoming TDS is around 80 and I produce 0 tds water from my RO membrane. I'm going to the big fish store(Fishy Business in Columbia) Saturday to pick up more LRS, some driftwood and maybe a few plants if I see something I like. I'll get a test kit for fresh water too.

NY_Caveman · Dec 11, 2018

Robin Haselden said:
I've actually got no clue, but I can tell you my incoming TDS is around 80 and I produce 0 tds water from my RO membrane. I'm going to the big fish store(Fishy Business in Comumbia) Saturday to pick up more LRS, some driftwood and maybe a few plants if I see something I like. I'll get a test kit for fresh water too.

The driftwood and leaves will definitely help soften any hardness.

Brew12 · Dec 12, 2018

Robin Haselden said:
Long time no see, holidays are always busy. Wanted to give a quick update so you didnt think I got stuck in the sump...

I think I pulled too much phosphates. A few of the LPS that almost look like SPS are not doing well. Yea, I need to test I know. I can feel something is off and I was aggressively pulling phosphates so I blame that. My reactor clogged anyway, so it's just chaeto.

Speaking of chaeto, I pulled a gallon bag out of the sump. When I say gallon bag, I mean I stuffed it in this bag.

Oh, I have something else to take up my time too... like I need to add to my hobby any more. It's a 36(I think)gallon bowfront that will be set up as blackwater. Think tea colored water Amazon river basin swamp. Dead leaves on the bottom, driftwood, anubias, java fern, moss.... yea, pretty cool.

The sand, I tried some quikrete all purpose sand because I saw another tank online that used it. It was impossible to rinse and completely clouded the tank. So I ditched it and ordered 40lbs of eco complete for planted tanks.

What are your stocking plans with this tank? I've never seen a blackwater system.

SashimiTurtle · Dec 12, 2018

Brew12 said:
What are your stocking plans with this tank?

I have 2 emerald corydoras catfish. They do the best in a school of 6 of their own species. I havent decided if I'm adding more emeralds, as the two I have are up in age, or starting a new school of a different species of cory and letting my two be happy with close cousins. I've looked at a few different types and haven't completely decided, but corys are a must.

For dither fish, I have decided on a school of around 12, maybe more, ember tetras. These guys are a cool red orange color and only get about an inch long, so you can stock quite a few in a tank like mine.

For show piece fish I want around 3 to 4 German ram cichlids. They stay small, look awesome and tough like they just got done bench pressing with Halfthor Bjornson... but are actually very peaceful and great community fish. Plus, they do best in a small group instead of by themselves.

Brew12 said:
I've never seen a blackwater system.

Blackwater tanks generally have very soft water, low available nutrients and minerals, lightly if even planted at all, contain driftwood, leaves, seed pods, and have tannin stained water. Carbon is a no go, as it removes the tannins that are purposefully added.

The driftwood, leaves and seeds help to keep the tannins up, or you can make a tea from boiling dry wood or leaves. You can add that tea to the tank to stain the water as needed and for water changes. I also have a bottle of "instant amazon" I got at the freebie table at a fish show. It's just commercial tannin tea consentrate. Usually RODI water is used to keep the water soft and acidic.

I'm not trying to make an exact replica of a blackwater river... I'll have fertilized soil, as all the sandy silty substrates I've found will just cloud my aquarium. The eco complete will give me the look I want and help the few plants I have grow.

This is sort of the look I'd like to accomplish.