25g Tank Journal

[Brent]

The only additive going to be put in this tank is Excel.

[Brent]

I bought some Old Country pure ammonia from Home Hardware today and was going to give Paul at my LFS the list of plants I want to order but the news was there. o.o

I was NOT going to be caught on camera live... especially not since I'm sick (you know 'that sick look').

I'll have to give him the list Saturday or Sunday when I come back to the city. At least I'll still make the weeks order.

[Brent]

I noticed some debris in the tank that I must have missed before. When I went in to clean it up, I noticed something else... a single piece of driftwood had a bunch of clear, filmy algae all over it. Nothing else in the tank was infected with it. I tried to get it off, but really all I did was remove a little, and completely fill the water column with the stuff.

I've since got most of it out, but there is no way I'll be able to truly rid the tank of it without a complete breakdown. ):

[Lil' Swimz$]

Its not algae, its a fungus that grows on decaying wood. Its natural, most DW will have a case it some time or another. After a couple weeks it should dissapear on its own.

You got fauna yet? If not, overdose Excel. That should help. 2 or 3x recommended.

[Brent]

Oh, well that's good to know! And no, I don't have fauna yet. I'll just wait it out though rather than overdose excel. I can't buy it here, so I'd like to save my supply.

Thanks.

[Lil' Swimz$]

You could also try hydrogen peroxide. 3 mL per gallon is good for when you have livestock, I'd go 5 or so.

[Brent]

You're becoming a right ol' freshwater expert.

I'd do that if I was truly bothered by the stuff, but honestly, you can't even notice it unless you know it's there.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Ya right.

I don't notice either, until I see some shrimps rip it off.

And it does make the water smell BAD. But, other then that..

[Brent]

I'm serious!

Well, I'm not exactly smelling my water. Haha

[Lil' Swimz$]

Doesn't taste good either.

[Brent]

Just a quick reply (I know, it's been a while!):

The cycle is done. Has been for a while now. I'm just tiding it over right now until I have my livestock in there. I placed my order on the plants, shrimp and puffer back in August and still haven't gotten anything in yet. I inquire to Paul weekly; so much so that he recognizes my voice. I've been told that it just isn't being sent. I'm going to have to have a serious chat with him this coming weekend to try and resolve the issue.

I'm wondering if the problem arises from the fact that I am trying to obtain freshwater flora and fauna. The variety of freshwater livestock available is seriously lacking in Canada (or at least from what I've seen) and everything seems to be more focused on the marine side of aquarium keeping (excluding the main chain pet stores which have a specific list of what they can order).

But, whatever the case may be, I know I'm not going to wait much longer on this order.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Welcome back dude.

[Brent]

So I just spent $100 at Big Al's online. Ordered some epoxy to stabilize the driftwood (I'm rescaping in a more compact, stacked fashion), Hikari Betta Biogold and a few more plant supplements (I figured I would seeing as I had some... iffy plants for the conditions I previously had). I purchased Seachem iron for the riccia (and now- pogostemon). I also got some phosphorous and nitrogen because, well, what's an extra $20 right?

I'll update with a definite stocking list as soon as I hear back from Paul at my LFS. I cancelled my order on the Leiurus and ordered 6 DPs instead, along with several shrimp species; I'll have to supplement this crew for sure! The plant list hasn't changed much; I've taken a few off and added a couple of new ones. Like I said before, I'll give the definite list as soon as I get word from my LFS.

[Edit] Omgoshh spelling...

[Brent]

Yay for cherry shrimp. c:

Picked up four of 'em from my LFS and stuck them into my 10g for monitoring purposes. I'm using it as a quarantine tank for a few plants as well (amazingly it's the anubias looks the worst...). Anyway, pics in a bit. I'm gone out to collect some leaves now in a minute -- I'll have to make sure I get enough; it's supposed to snow tonight!

[J-P]

What is with the leaf thing?

I see ppl mentioning them all the time on other forums..