George's Nano Journal

[three-fingers]

Cant wait for the pictures!

Personally i would go CRS instead of galaxies because i think they would be slightly happier in a smaller tank. I think I've decided not to put many fish in my 5.5gal...maybe an otto or two(because they wont eat the baby shrimp. I would be getting some CRS, but £10 each! . So I'll either go tiger shrimp or bee shrimp.

 

[karuna]

Oh mah gawd, just read through 11 pages and it's not finished yet.

But seriously, one phrase that keeps popping into my mind is 'dayam!'. The set-up looks fantastic, big kudos.

Had a look at some of your other photo's from your previous 33 gallon and again 'dayam!'. If in 10-15 years I can plant a tank that looks half as good as yours do I'll be a happy man.

Always wondered how these awesome pictures of planted tanks in the Baensch Atlases were done. Never really looked in to it before but good to finally find it explained nicely in detail here.

One small thing I don't remember seeing or reading though is; when you mixed the compost and quartz was it a straight down the middle 50/50 mixture or was there some other ratio?

Can't wait to see the finished article and I hope PFK pay you well for the pics.

 

[George Farmer]

One small thing I don't remember seeing or reading though is; when you mixed the compost and quartz was it a straight down the middle 50/50 mixture or was there some other ratio?

Thanks Karuna.

The compost was 5-10mm depth topped with the gravel (see first post, 5th photo).

Here's a couple of recent photos. You can see the algae. It doesn't look like staghorn, more like a fine light brown thread algae that forms balls and webs amongst the plants. It's very easy to manually remove. Unfortunately the Amano shrimp aren't touching it yet, but they're doing a good job on the green algae forming on the stones. I'm hoping they'll give it a go when they get hungry enough. Meanwhile I've dropped lighting to 5 hours and stopped dosing to see any effect that has. CO2 is running a 1 bubble every few seconds and the shrimp seem fine.



As you can see I've removed some of the worse affected HC.



I've had some very constructive critisism from a fellow aquascaping enthusiast, Steven Chong, who gives an excellent critique. I'm sure he won't mind me sharing it with you -

Continuing my spew of honest critiquing, I'll just say it . . .

George, I love ya, and I think that you underestimate yourself constantly, but I do think that these rocks just lack much in the way of visual interest. Maybe I'm wrong, but they just don't seem to have much in the way of texture.

Well, these rocks, other rocks, any rocks, in any case, I think the scape would benefit from not having a straight row of hair grass all along the back, but rather have hair grass in only parts of lay out and in some spots (maybe one area) have it thick and also in the midground.

Like, make it thickest and tallest by the main rock and thin out as it moves to the right, eventually having none behind the right side rock.

Or something like that. Point is that it's kind of dull to have an even row of hairgrass all along the background. It's not very natural because it's like a picket fence.

That said, it looks like things are comin' along great!

And my reply -

Hey Steven,

Thanks for the critique, as always your suggestions and insight are very welcome indeed.

My first priority is sorting this algae. I don't think its staghorn, it's almost like a really fine cotton that forms webs and balls amongst the plants, light brown in colour and actually very fragile easy to remove. So far the shrimp have cleaned of the green algae from the stones but haven't really made an impact on the brown/hair stuff. I hope they'll get hungry enough soon.

Aquascape-wise the stones, as you say, lack texture and power. My romantic notion of using collected rocks from the Falkland Islands exceeded my aesthetic sensibility I think, and I agree that a change may be order. My LFS has some nice darker, almost black rocks with white "lines" running through.

The hairgrass is too orderly too and I will adjust this.

To be honest if this algae doesn't clear up over the next couple of weeks or so I'll be tempted to start from scratch again. This doesn't bother me at all and I can use all I have learnt so far and create something hopefully better. I'll probably go for an ADA Aqua Soil substrate too with a much steeper slope. Much of the planting can be re-used and the shrimp can be temporarily re-homed in my 33 gal. that is now a low-tech planted in my daughter's bedroom.

This is a last resort of course and I remain positive that this algae bloom is temporary and a result of my neglect - something that is severely punished in a tank so small with high-growth.

 

[karuna]

The compost was 5-10mm depth topped with the gravel (see first post, 5th photo).

Guess that would be why I didn't notice a ratio getting mentioned.

But now that I know that, did you have to make sure you planted through the gravel to the compost or will the roots be fine until they work their own way there?

 

[Themuleous]

So you're getting some algae hey? I'm sure its just from, say you say 'the neglect,' that's the trouble with small tanks, such little room for error. From my own tank, it seems that even going away for a weekend can play havoc with its balance.

Sam

 

[George Farmer]

So you're getting some algae hey? I'm sure its just from, say you say 'the neglect,' that's the trouble with small tanks, such little room for error. From my own tank, it seems that even going away for a weekend can play havoc with its balance.

Sam

Indeed, very little forgiveness in such a small volume of water.

When it's hopefully running algae-free again I may try to keep it "ticking over" for lower-maintenance i.e. short photoperiod, minimal ferts, maybe even no CO2 - just Excel perhaps. Just enough growth to keep the plants healthy and algae away - if that's possible. One way to find out!

It's certainly been a steep learning curve and of course the learning will never stop. Have plants, have fun!

 

[Themuleous]

When it's hopefully running algae-free again I may try to keep it "ticking over" for lower-maintenance i.e. short photoperiod, minimal ferts, maybe even no CO2 - just Excel perhaps. Just enough growth to keep the plants healthy and algae away - if that's possible. One way to find out!

Indeed there is only one way! Whats the reasoning behind that? Almost seems a shame to keep it ticking over when there are so many possibilities.

BTW I like those rocks, if I could find something similar in ANY LFS I would be pleased! Ended up having to go to a wholesale rock murchant for mine and not even sure if they are safe for fish tanks!

Have plants, have fun!

Indeed so, hopefully when I move house next year Im gonna set up a 100G and have some fun seeing what I can do in a larger tank, prob keep it lowish light, but will be nice having far more wiggle room!

Sam

 

[lljdma06]

When it's hopefully running algae-free again I may try to keep it "ticking over" for lower-maintenance i.e. short photoperiod, minimal ferts, maybe even no CO2 - just Excel perhaps. Just enough growth to keep the plants healthy and algae away - if that's possible. One way to find out!

It's certainly been a steep learning curve and of course the learning will never stop. Have plants, have fun!

Well, well, well..considering no CO2 That made me do a double-take when I read the above. I tell you, George, it is a nice world, the low-maintenance tank. I enjoy it thoroughly, especially in my nanos. I gradually went off CO2 with my 8g and I haven't looked back; no algae either. Except some small patches of diatoms, but my platies eat them, so I don't mind, but none of the annoying kinds of algae. But my tank doesn't have the lighting yours does. Keep us posted on what you do. I would love to know if your experiment works. Be great if it did.

llj

 

[Dubby]

Hi George,

Guess I'm a bit late on this scene. Your tanks looking gr8 and its nice to see you going down the compost route. Its a pity you didnt mix it with vermiculite (like me) otherwise I could have taken some credit

Also interesting to see your comparison of wpg and lux (lumens/sq.m). Need to do more research on that.

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh I agree with Llj on the CO2 front, would be interested to see how you get on. I have wondered if its a waste of time running it on my low-light main tank, but do as due to its supposed algae preventing properties.

Sam

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Welcome to planet NANO George

Steven has given you some great advice on your nano, in a round about way the same as some of the regular TFF plant heads just wraped up in one statement.It all make sense.

From my experiance, water changes on the nano's are the most important part of maintainance that you MUST do!! Soon as you start slacking the algae starts growing. I would say try your hand at making it low maintainance with a short photo period etc and if that fails go for a water change ever other day @ 50% and see how that changes things.


R,
Graeme

 

[George Farmer]

Well it all started off so promising.........

But due to a combination of factors, all of which entirely my fault, I've removed all of the HC. It became choked with a brown, slimey, hair algae that was too difficult to remove manually and algae eaters wouldn't touch it. Obviously I am disappointed but as with every mistake(s), there are the valuable lessons to be learnt. Here are my four -

1) Don't skimp on water changes (as Graeme says). A small volume of water is "balanced" on a knife edge, especially with the high lighting, CO2, nutrients. Water changes help acheive stability. Now I change over 50% water per day using 100% tap for ease. The tank is in the kitchen so it takes literally a minute.

2) Keep CO2 stable and at safe levels for any animals. My Amano shrimp were are killed by me overdosing CO2 as I left it on 24/7 at a too high a bubble rate over a weekend whilst away. I've just bought an Aqua Medic solenoid.

3) Dose nutrients appropriately. Some days I didn't dose, others I dosed too much to compensate. A small volume of water is very unforgiving. Find a routine and stick to it.

4) Examine water circulation characteristics. The algae in my tank was most severe in the rear right corner where there was minimal water movement. I could see this from the CO2 mist dispersion pattern.

So what now?

The hairgrass is doing well as the algae was very easy to remove from the strands (in contrast to the web-like HC). My maint routine is set and the water changes, stable CO2/nutrients etc. are helping to kill off the algae.

The filter has been moved to improve all-round circulation. I am even considering a small external filter to replace the HOB.

Aquascaping and plant wise - I've removed the stones and intend to replace these with darker ones, probably in a greater qty. too. I think I have more of a feel for stone arranging now so look forward to a more complex arrangement.

For now I think I'll let the hairgrass carpet fully and prune it strategically. I may add some Riccia at some point too. I've always loved submerged Riccia with it dazzling bubbles but have never really used it effectively. The hairgrass/Riccia combo is a classic and the action of the hairgrass forming runners over/between the Riccia nodes helps to keep it anchored. It's a high maintenance plant so I don't imagine it will be a long-term layout. By that point I'll have some new ideas I'm sure.

 

[Themuleous]

Doh! Its started so well too, welcome to my world! And that of several other nano people on here. I think you're right about the water changes I do it weekly, but I think I should be doing at least twice weekly if not more. Its the one thing I've noticed with all the professional tanks, regular, large water changes. Perhaps I should give that a go! Lazy sod that I am!

Sam

 

[voo]

It's a big shame that things have gone so bad, it started off so promising and looking good. Still, if it all went perfect you wouldnt learn anything.

Upside is, it's nice and encouraging to know that even the more advanced planters aren't perfect and get algae. Some beginners will be put off when it goes wrong and algae appears.

Can't wait to see the next attempts and new plants!

 

[George Farmer]

Thanks guys.

Yes indeed, even I am not impervous to algae! It's been a steep learning curve and a very interesing one. I was lured into a false sense of security in the early weeks with no signs of algae, got lazy and BANG - it bites you on the behind.

Neglect your plants and algae will punish you, even more so in a nano.