Resetting 120

[FrannyB]

Because the plants have not filled in on the left side and I feel that it is incomplete and subpar.

[jweis]

What the heck, give it a go. I could tell where you were going with it. It is nice to see others' ideas even if there was a glitch along the way.

[FrannyB]

Thanks for the encouragement. I just can't do it.

[Judi]

I see what you mean --in a couple weeks it will be perfect. How frustrating after all your hard work.

I'm not sure I'd call it a "mess" though. I know it's not where you wanted it to be, but there's a lot about it that really looks good. I wish you'd submitted the picture anyway. As Julie said, it's interesting to see what people's ideas were.

But maybe I'm just saying that so I don't feel stupid for submitting a picture of my little tank when it still needed a few more weeks to mature!

[DonkeyFish]

We just extended the deadline Frannie...send in a picture anyhow. You may be surprised! I know my tank is about two weeks out from where I wanted it but submitted anyhow. You just never know! And, of course, we are always our own worst critics...so the rest of the world might think its great! You are shortchanging yourself! The tank looks great.

[FrannyB]

Oh wow and wow.! Okay.

[FrannyB]

I think my thread algae problem is actually Spirogyra. Will be doing the Excel/H202/wc treatment.

First thing tomorrow, I'll post pics.

[FrannyB]

Ah.. I forgot about ther pics. It ain't pretty

Anyway, I've been battling the algae with Excel. I decided to check my nitrates. The tap and resevior with Prime measured 5.0 ppm. Checked the tank before water change and nitrates measured off the chart. I did a 90% water change and checked it again; off the chart still. Performed a 90% the next day and it measured, off the chart again. I removed the inline reactor and cleaned it. (i wish that I could remove those stupid bio balls) Still measures off the chart. However otos, amanos and the garra are all fine.

The only thing I can think of that is causing this is the action of replanting and siphoning the substrate is pulling up the Osmocote Plus root tabs. I'm thinking I have to cover the substrate with more substrate. Pushing down those little balls with a dowel is tiresome and time consuming. If I add another layer of substrate all I would have to do then is gently pull the plants up.

I'll need used AS. I don't want to add new AS because I'd have the problem of the ammonia spike.....

[jweis]

You could always use Fluval Stratum for shrimp. It does not cause amonia spikes and looks very similar to AS. Plus it is a lot cheaper. I think the best price for it is on Amazon right now -- free shipping with Amazon Prime acct.

[jweis]

You could always use Fluval Stratum for shrimp. It does not cause amonia spikes and looks very similar to AS. Plus it is a lot cheaper. I think the best price for it is on Amazon right now -- free shipping with Amazon Prime acct.

I should clarify. There are two kinds of Fluval Stratum substrate. One for plants and one for shrimp. They are the same thing except the grains are smaller for the Shrimp version -- about the same size as AS. The Plant kind has bigger, pebble sized pieces. The color is about the same (i.e. dark brown).

Also, it does not cloud up as much as AS. So, you could use it as a cap and not worry about an ammonia spike. It is what I use for my shrimp tanks, and both shrimp and plants do well in it.