Budget - 20G Long - Planted

[silvak]

At long last I have a 20G Long, and it's planted. Semi-Low Tech.

Specs: 20G Long, 24" Odyssae Dual Pro T5 light, Tetra Whisper HOB filter (20-30), concrete block/2x4 stand, play sand substrate, rocks from local dry river, drift wood, plants (amazon sword, weeping moss, bulb plant?, dwarf sag, water sprite?, mystery plant and a red plant?) and is currently being cycled with 2 Marigold Variatus. I tried to scape it with the desert/dry river in mind.

It's destined to be a community tank with platies, otos, possible cherry shrimp, random guppies or mollies.

[Ursus sapien]

very nice!

[CACAdmin]

Cool. Interesting aquascape. I like it.

[silvak]

Here is a clearer pic from this morning. You can see things a bit better.

[calebj]

Nice tank setup. I really like the touch of java moss on the end of the log. The rocks with the grass is really cool as well. I want to make a floor in one of my tanks now.

[silvak]

Thank you! I like the weeping moss at the tip too! I keep trimming it so it fills out a bit better, more bushy and less stringy.

I've already seen new growth and it hasn't been a week yet! I still need to get some root tabs for the swords and I've been looking for a bushy fast growing plant. Suggestions?

Been toying with the idea of doing a DIY CO2. What do you all think? Would it work with a 20G? Is there a risk to the fish? Would a regular airstone be sufficient? How long does one batch last?

[calebj]

airstones never hurt and if you just get something to regulate the c02 it won't be an issue.

[silvak]

How would you regulate a DIY system?

[vince0]

I would regulate using a needle valve on the outlet tube of your DYI CO2 canister.

Something like this

http://www.bigalspets.ca/Red-Sea-CO2-Needle-Valve/dp/B0017694T4?ie=UTF8&id=Red%20Sea%20CO2%20Needle%20Valve&field_product_site_launch_date_utc=-1y&field_availability=-1&field_browse=3098470011&searchSize=12&searchNodeID=3098470011&searchPage=1&class=quickView&refinementHistory=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Ccolo r_map%2Cprice%2Csize_name&searchRank=salesrank

Then, in order to calculate wether your regulating properly, I would use a bubble counter. Something like this

http://www.bigalspets.ca/Red-Sea-CO2-Bubble-Counter/dp/B000N36XTG?ie=UTF8&id=Red%20Sea%20CO2%20Bubble%20Counter&field_product_site_launch_date_utc=-1y&field_availability=-1&field_browse=3098471011&searchSize=12&searchNodeID=3098471011&searchPage=2&class=quickView&refinementHistory=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Ccolo r_map%2Cprice%2Csize_name&searchRank=salesrank

Personally, I wouldn't use an airline/airstone in a CO2 infused tank as the air bubbles would break the top of the water, cause air exchange, which will render your CO2 near useless. The air exchange would essentially let the dissolved CO2 escape, and replacing it with oxygen.

I may be off a little though, as I use pressurized cannisters rather than a DIY system.

[silvak]

You have a really good point Vince. It would just increase the oxygen in the water if it's breaking the water.

[Kimr]

When I used pressurized CO2, I would turn an airstone on at night, it helped the fish/plants. Then I just turned it off during the day. I didn't seem to ever have a problem with it.

That being said I never used DIY. Your tank looks great.

[silvak]

To my utter embarrassment this was the tank that crashed. I ended up rescaping after I removed the dead. I need to post some new pics. I didn't like how the filter was positioned and the outflow was interacting with the scape. I'll post some new pics later.

[Sanctum38]

Curious if you ever got this tank going again. Looked very nice from the beginning photos. Sorry to hear about a crash. :frown:

[silvak]

Time for an update!

As a reference, I entered this tank in the 2011 Aquascape Contest (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10508&page=4) and it won the Small Tank category! Which was why I purposefully didn't update this thread until then. After that I procrastinated.

I can officially say that I have spent more on plants than fish in this tank and I have spent more on shrimp than plants. The only new plants are a some "Purple Bamboo" which isn't really bamboo, but it looks like it. Some blynx or however you spell that. It a shorter variety and has a maroon tint to it. My cories love to dig it up! Also the mystery purple root and leafed plant I'm trying to ID in the plant section. I've been calling it "Fountain of Death" and "the Zombie Plant" in my head, as it's purple leave look dead, but are actually quite healthy.

The stock is 3 green cories, 7 Japanese algae eating shrimp, 2 platy, 1 swordtail, 2 variatus and a plethora of platy, swordtail, molly and guppie fry.

Here is a pic of the tank today......

[fishinwilly]

Love the look of this tank, what kind of lighting are you using on this one?

[silvak]

It's a 24" Odyssae Dual Pro T5 light. I got it super cheap online with free shipping, and was an amazing investment! I love it!!

EDIT: Oh I forgot to mention that there is a tetra/barb fry in there too. I got it from the local petsmart. And appears to be one of those foil looking with a black dot on the tail. I was amazed to find it in the bag when I got home!

[CACAdmin]

The tank looks very nice and rather different now. Japanese algae eating shrimp? Are they Amano? or?

[silvak]

I'm guessing Amano, but I can't be certain. I haven't moved any of the hardscape, only the plants.

[mollybawn]

Love the little plants popping up around the rocks in the tank. You're tank reminds me of spring!

[CACAdmin]

I haven't moved any of the hardscape, only the plants.
That's the fun of an aquatic garden. A few changes and the overall look changes. Now if only you could figure out the "purple plant mystery".

BTW, congrats on the tetra/barb fry that hitched a ride to your tank. Surprises like that are neat.

[silvak]

Yes, changing a few plants can make a world of difference......if only the cories realized the plants need to stay put for a little while or they die. :twitcy:

Love the little plants popping up around the rocks in the tank. You're tank reminds me of spring!

I did that for that exact reason, I'm glad someone noticed!

[wes&sam]

I don't use anything on my diy co2 in my 20 gallon, I turn my air pump to that tank on at lights out and it's been running that way for about a year now. I do run the co2 through a small bottle with water in it to trap all the crap before it gets to the tank. I use a 2 ltr bottle on the 20.

[silvak]

It's been a while. Life crept in and never seemed to want to leave. Since my application for a US Greencard cost so much, my fish budget has been completely non-existent. I have literally not spent even a cent on my fish since December 1st. I did get to the December fish meetings, but didn't buy anything. Didn't get to any of the January meetings either, as they were on special days to allow for the Super Bowl. Thankfully I'm getting to the February meetings tomorrow and Sunday! Now there is a reason for all this info. Two weeks ago, I was getting kind of restless. Nothing new, fishy wise, had happen in several weeks and I don't know about you all, but I things to be happening. Something to grab my attention with my fish. So I decided to move every one of my fish tanks.

The 10G had been sitting on the dresser in the Bedroom. It would move to an end table. Much lower for easier water changes, and easier for my nephew it look at. Lots of little energetic juvies who beg mercilessly. I had moved it in the new apartment, so that was easy and the scape didn't change.

The 15G moved to the dresser from a low filing cabinet/dresser thing in the living room. Hopelessly high, but looks great from the hallway. It also didn't need a rescape thankfully.

And lastly the 20G which had been on the cinder block/2x4 shelf. Moved to the the low filing cabinet, which was moved out of the corner. It couldn't be moved until I had emptied it completely. Thus I got to rescape. The scape accentuates it's length with the wall, stand/cabinet and tank all being the same length and by have the wood stretched out in front. Fewer rocks in this scape and I added some hornwort on the right. Note the vinyl lettering in the second pic.......that touch was done by my wife.

So that is the great fish move of 2012.........with a possible repeat in late August when the lease is up.

[CACAdmin]

The new aquascape of the 20g looks awesome. Nice spot for the tank too.

You're more energetic than I am, moving tanks around... lots of work... but as you say, you needed something to be happening. Changing things up may help. I wonder if the fish have noticed their new locale.:skeptical:

[Kimr]

I do love the 20's new scape! Wow moving all your tanks, you have more energy then me, but its always nice to change things up.

[silvak]

Jay, I think the fish have noticed a difference in where the tanks are. The 10G is right next to the bed, and the juvies are food w****s, so they like the attention. And the killis in the 15G like being out of the way. Then they can do their own thing.

Normally I don't have the energy either, but without some place to vent it........it sort of built up.......and I did it over 2 days.