Been busy lately

School and life have taken a toll on this blog. I haven't had the time to keep up with it like I should.
However, a friend of mine donated me the plants in his 10 gallon and also his fish so I now have some new additions (look for pictures in the next few days).

New plants: 2 java fern, large red crypt, val, anubias, another red lotus
New Fish : another large SAE, a cardinal tetra, 2 glowlight tetras, 1 neon tetra, 1 gold CAE

Since I added the fish and the plants my tank looks awesome. Have been adding flourish and KNO3 to my tank every few days (2-5). Need to figure out a better dosing schedule. Doing water changes every 8-14 days (the python is awesome).

Yesterday had 2 random cardinal deaths. Found them floating, did checks on the parameters all were normal (pH = 6.8, NO2=0, NO3=10).

Replaced 1/2 of the peat in my filter, rest will be replaced next week at water change time.

Rinsing flourite

The flourite package says that it may have “some dust” in it. Yeah well I don’t know what they call “some dust” but the one time I didn’t rinse it I had a 5 day dust storm in my tank. Yes chocolate yoohoo water is good at times (like when I’m whitewater rafting) but I don’t want it in my fishtank.

So what is the not new way that I rinsed my fluorite successfully?
Take a gallon milk-jug and cut the top off leaving the handle intact. Make the hole large enough that your hand will fit through with plenty of room. I next filled the jug with about a half bag of fluorite. I then placed the jug under the faucet in my sink and started pouring in water, moving it around with my hand and pouring it out. At first the water was as dark as mud, and then slowly began lightening up. After I was able to pour out all the water, and see through it (though still had a darkened tint) I figured it was ready. I then placed it in the tank. The bottom of the jug was covered in a mud like substance, I left that in the jug, b/c I figured it was just dust.

Next I planted my tank without water in it. I then poured the water down the sides of my tank and off my driftwood so that it would gently fall onto the fluorite rather then splash it around.

First impressions of the 29 gallon

Well the move was made. Kinda dusty at first, cleared up over night, more pics will be put up tomorrow. After seeing it after it cleared up a few plants need to be adjusted. I found a nice way to rinse flourite though. The next post will go into more detail.
Oh and after measuring the tank I realized its only a 29 gallon, oh well I'll still have fun with it.

Here are some pics of my 20 gallon and its occupants before it gets torn down this weekend (hopefully).


- Black phantom tetra
- SAE
- Zebra Loach

Beginnings

I have a fairly well established 20 gallon high tank already. It has been running for approximately a year, and I have learned much from it. However, the opportunity for me to obtain a 30 gallon came and I’m going to go for it. It will allow me a few more options for stocking, both in plants and fish. It will also allow me to add a few more fish without my bio-load increasing too much, and (hopefully) overstocking my tank.

I’m going to use this blog to chart my tank as it matures, grows and transforms before my eyes. Here goes nothing…….