Cali Kid Corals

Dream Tank 2 72g Freshwater Planted Tank

Darkxerox said:
Looks great for just a week! Things have changed so much in the freshwater space since I last did it. I always remember nitrite being the problem in FW, how's that looking?
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I agree on changes! Last tank around 2000 there was only info in books and not that much. I did a planted tank but had no idea what I was doing lol's. Plus, technology has so improved. I've had no nitrites. At all. I went right to nitrates. I seeded the canister filter with 2 bags of media from the other tank so I think it almost instantly cycled the tank. The ammonia I'm getting has to be from the soil as I have nitrates. Had cloudy water for about 2 days. In part from the tetra starter I used in the water I think. Fish all seem very happy. I'm seeing some monte carlo stems getting taller. Have to tell myself no trimming yet. I'll let it get a lot more lush first. I think the rotala has also grown and the lobilia
 
a bit of frustration today. took the oase prefilter out to clean the sponges. didn't know that the bottom piece fell out. didn't sound right. took it apart again, and then completely apart. found the piece at the bottom. Put it back together. still not sounding right. this time, took baskets out and on the bottom was the gasket... Now it sounds right. But there is a lot of "debri in the water and I'm watching it bypass the lily intake---goes behind. redid the placements and we'll see but it doesn't seem to be sucking hard enough, though the output is fine.

added the oase surface skimmer from old set up to see if that helps. If nothing, it hadds flow in a different level as the lily pipe aims at surface. This one is good for up to 92 gal. Will give it a try before trying the larger size. If this is still an issue, might have to ditch the lily pipes. Or add a hob filter which I really on't want to do. I do have one but... If I add my other canister filter, I think that might be too much flow. It's a cascade 12 or 1500

I have good flow. Makes a nice circle around tank. With fish and shrimp arriving (amanos tomorrow) I need good filtration

any suggestions or advice gladly accepted.

Oh, got diatoms and a bit of glass algae behind the lily pipes. So tank is progressing and corys picking at algae on driftwood
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Well, 10 amano shrimp in the tank. Good luck spying one! Lost one when it jumped before getting it in. Dang!! They are so small. Might never see them. This pic is proof I have them lol's

tank filtering much better today. Moving the inlet and adding the oase surface skimmer seems to have helped. Might still consider a hob but not sure I want too much more flow. Added some crypt flamingo. Not sure they will survive. Package took way too long to get here and they are not in good shape. Prob. shouldn't have even tried to plant them as most look dead all ready. Have more weeping moss but its not tissue cultured so waiting to hear from the etsy guy if he has pest snails... This might have been a waste of money transaction

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Took my 3 dogs to petsmart to be groomed and brought home some fish... These were planned, not whim. There is a lot of algae and biofilm and the place I'm getting most of my fish is out of octos and the green corys which I think are the 2 I have. So I picked up 6 tiny octos and 4 tiny corys. Resisted anything else lol's Shouldn't add too much to the bioload and already, they are working on the tanks. funny thing, my 2 larger corys have been mostly hiding. The new ones look a bit different except for the green but they are juveniles. 1 of them follows 1 of the big ones so I'm pretty sure they are the same family and should school eventually. The octos have been sucking on plants, rocks, glass, the driftwood etc. and the little corys are tinier than the monte carlos but they are down there foraging!. Got 3 nerites but they haven't moved. Saw 1 amano today...Once...

Will do a small water change in the morning. ammonia is almost undetectable now. I'll do it before the ember tetras arrive so I'll get it all ready before bed. Nice to see so much activity
edit: Lights off. both big corys out swimming all over as normal and the new corys are schooling with them on and off and the octos are all over the tankmostly in pairs or more
 
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I am seriously impressed with Dan's fish online. I ordered 20 ember tetras and they came in 20 bags! And half that many cool packs lol's. I choose them as they quarintin their fish and the fish they receive are not crowded in bags.

So far this morning, all new fish from yesterday accounted for and 1 nerite snail has moved onto the driftwood. The other fell behind. No amanos in sight. I have to say the otos and new corys are busy little worker bees. They are all over the tank. Amost constant motion. Stop to nibble and zip off.The new corys also eating off the driftwood. Going to be fun opening 20 little bags.

And they are in and schooling . I thought 1 wasn't going to make it but I think it was just shock as it recovered in a cup and in the tank, it did the same thng and then recovered. But wow, they look great schooling around the tank. And the tank still looks empty lol's. I'm tempted to add at least 5 more or even another 20 to increase their school as they are awesome.

Next week I'll get 6 neon and 6 glow lights for my 2 singles. Read cardinal tetras go after shrimp? and that Galaxy rasboras (celestria danios) are murderers. But other places say peaceful/are next too But I think I will add 20 of them unless I really learn they are not good!.Also going to do 10 congo tetras but they'll be later. 20 forktail rainbows prob. last for top swimmers.Need to go over my stocking list and plans
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wondering if this flow is enough. one end very calm for betta and floating plant.debating whether to add bigger oase surface skimmer
hang on back filter or go back to stand in/outs that came with the oase. Keep getting this real fine white on surface. Maybe from the betta bubble nest which is now gone
edit: white stuff seems to be from the betta bubble nest. everytime it disappears, there are all these vry fin bubble on surface that don't last.. Freaked me out the first time... Might have to do one of those corrals in that corner for him


this video is just of the fish
 
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3 weeks today.
-ammonia zero!
-embers are now shoaling instead of their tight school. Means they are comfortable . Even seeing them eating though the food is so small its hard to see lol's
-co2 seems to be getting to the greens. Turned it down just a tad. This still makes me nervios haha

actually seeing a fair amt of growth. Next sun I'll post day one and week 4
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psidriven said:
Some bigger fish will cause tighter schooling behavior. Good excuse to get a discus pair.
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discus prob won't work with my parmeters but I do love them.
I think I'm going for 12-15 rummy's and 12-15 galaxies. Those are next in 2 weeks with 4 hillstream loaches. then 15-20 rainbow forktails. Maybe less if I decide on black bar endlers. Love the neon colors. 8 congo tetras last most likely

tomorrow, 15 fire red shrimp and thur 15 cardinals
 
My tank is a hive of activity. busy cleaners, and swimming fish! The new chrimp are all over doing their thing, and I even saw an amano. Haven't seen any since the first day when I saw 1. Once. Maybe with the reds, they'll be out now.
Pics of the shrimpy gang and signs of new plant growth. Shrimp from TopWaterWonders, our own @Mr. Seahorse

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amano xmas moss
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buce wavy I think. looking really nice lobelia
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monte carlo and 4 leaf clover
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15 Cardinal Tetras and 6 nerite snails going in. Over the weekend, I'll get 5 neon and 5 glowlight for my single fish. Maybe a few black neons so there is at least several of each type. Looking at my 3 zebra danios, I swear thtey've grown or fattened up!

that's it for additions for 2 weeks. Funeral to go to on the 14th.

fat little oto!
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cardinals and ember tetras
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so I think my betta has fin rot. Debating treating him in tank or putting him back in the old tank. I'll use the api melafix or the api fin and tail rot. The tail rot comes today the mela tomorrow Both should be okay for shrimp and snails. I think it would be more stressful to put him back in old tank and then move him back. Not sure if I will remove carbon. It's almost a month old anyway. The fin one says too, the other doesn't. Thoughts?
 
Week 4.
Tank still a bit murky--not crystal clear from the ends. Trying a water clarifier and will see how it is. Did a 5% water change. Need to get a new brute can and wheel base. Saltwater ruined the one I had. Did filter maintenance. I may opt to use media on the 4 bottom trays, then a spong/carbon and then purigen/floss top. So I don't have to unload all the trays. It already has 6 prefilter sponges separate. Goal for this tank is simple and easy

got the replacement parts for the RO so I can use ro water for top off when hubby gets around to fixing it. My EC is high and maybe that contributes to not clear water?

I have 1 shrimp who likes to get into the oase cystal skimmer. I open it and chase him out lol's. Haven't treated betta. He's eating and eating well. I now turn off filter for 5 min. and he comes to me. I use a pippet to feed baby brine and reg brine to the small fish and he will come to the tip and snatch up those brines as I squeeze. I also offer him some flake and pellets. I try to do 2-3 times a day for him.

still have hair algae. been pulling it and today it might be a bit better. I am amazed how much biofilm and algae is done. Maybe I don't need any hillstream loaches. Except I like them.

Added buddies for my single neon, orange glo light and black tetra. 5 more neons, oranges and 3 black. Black tetra has been hanging against back wall. Used to follow the zebra danios but since all the new little fish, been depressed, if a fish can be depressed. Been more active since I added the others. His stripe is real green-blue, the new ones more oranges so hope they color up. and already in the lighting look better. Noticing now all the schools, even small ones, are schooling together or shoaling. They are mixing

week 4
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Day 1 No weeping moss yet so not completely planted
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