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Update on 75 gallon

35K views 365 replies 18 participants last post by  FishyFishy89 
#1 · (Edited)
I wanted to show y'all an update on my 75 gallon. Everything is going quite well. There are currently 5 angelfish(3 silvers, 1 marble/1 smokey), 3 blue gouramis, 1 bull dog pleco/2 amano shrimps. I am on the fence about getting 2 more gouramis. Right now, the gouamis only chase each other and don't bother the angels. They don't fin nip each other, just a bit of chasing. Occasionally, I find them weaving, circling and swirling together. It's really cute to watch xD

If I do not get 2 more gouramis, I may consider getting some cories. Again, on the fence about those. I also won't be getting the cories until I receive my new canister rated for 100 gallons.

Plant-wise, I have 3 stems of narrow leaf hygros(the angels/goruamis love these plants), corkscrew vals, cambomba(whatever has survived), wisteria, water sprite, duckweed, salivna, asian water grass, ludwiga and a ruffled sword.

I am super excited, this weekend I am adding a DIY CO2 generator. Right now, I don't plan getting too complex with my CO2. I am just adding it just so my plants have a little extra something. If I get moderately good growth with just this 1 generator. I will keep only 1. If not, I will add only 1 more generator. I won't add a 3rd unless I am able to trade my current bulbs for higher lighting bulbs.
The CO2 generator will be 2 2 liter bottles that have the yeast mixture and 1 500ml bubble counter bottle. My diffuser will be a powerhead. Once I get my new canister, I will use it as my diffuser.

The picture shows a working airstone...I have turned it off as of last night to prepare for my CO2 generator.

I am convinced that the duckweed multiples when I am sleeping. I now have double of what is in the photo below O.O







 
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#2 ·
I have a prejudice against CO2 thingies. I bought one that the bubble counter adhered to the tank with suction cups (which pretty much everything that is submerged uses) and tubing ran down to the cannister that contained the yeast. One of my platys got stuck behind it, badly injured (I couldn't find him for 3 days) and had to be euthanized after I could not nurse him back to health. I honestly don't know why I'm telling you this. Just a warning perhaps. Count your fishies hahaha. And if you are adding anything like that to your tank make sure there isn't enough space between it and aquarium that a fish could get stuck. I went on a rampage after that with suction cups. Perhaps my prejudice should be against those rather than the CO2 system haha.
 
#3 ·
my bubble counter isn't inside my tank
I also always count my fish, just some random thing I normally do with them xD
 
#4 ·
It's also quite a small amount of CO2 being produced for a 75 gallon. So it likely won't make much of an impact.
 
#5 ·
I didn't mean to sound condescending if it came off that way. I mainly was just telling my sad story hahaha. Your plants do look great!

I do not know much about CO2 systems and didn't do a whole lot of research when I purchased my cheap one. I figured there wasn't much to it. Get some yeast, mix it with water, let it ferment, have some tubing and a place for bubbles to go and VIOLA! Plant growth booms! hahaha. Didn't work for me so much, but I'm sure that was my fault. Don't think I will go that route again as I killed a fish and my plants looked worse for the wear rather than better.
 
#6 ·
Oh wow! Those are some happy and healthy looking plants!!!

*luffs pretty green things*

I feel like I should know this already, cuz' I remember liking your volcano before, but how long have you had this tank set up and planted? Looks like things are going well - keep us posted on how you do with the Co2. That's an area that I haven't ventured into at all yet, but am very curious to learn more about.

I'm loving your little gourami in there hamming it up for the camera!!! And you're TOTALLY right - duckweed pretty much doubles not only when you're sleeping, but EVERY time you look away from the tank *nods* Pretty sure about that. . .


NFF: Your story makes me so super sad. :( I'm sorry to hear about your traumatic experience. *cries*
 
#7 ·
Very nice setup. Duckweed does that.... I cant recall the rate at which it doubles in volume but it grows like bacteria in that regard.... Doubles or triples every certain number of days. Ive got a bucket just for tossing this stuff now.

Only one comment... I'm sort of in the anti-CO2 camp but not just to be contrary, because it is so often suggested or used when it isn't necessary... and I know I probably already chimed in in your CO2 thread elsewhere.

The bubbler is effectively negating any benefit of the addition of CO2. It forces the water to off gas any CO2 that is over the normal equilibrium concentration faster. If the water could naturally hold 15ppm based on the air exchange and the diffuser could bring it up to 18ppm this additional 3ppm would off gas slowly enough with little surface movement that the plants might benefit. If you bubble it there is so much activity and surface agitation that it will force the water back to 15ppm a lot quicker and the plants will not benefit enough to notice.

If you are getting good enough growth with the bubbler going all the time then you could skip the additional complexity of the CO2 injection altogether.

Jeff.
 
#8 ·
Things are going quite well with the CO2 generator. With or without the bubbler, the growth rate on my plants wasn't that great. The only thing that was growing, was the floaters and my sword. My sword was really only getting a new leaf every time it shed a leaf. It wasn't getting fuller or any taller.

Now that I have the injection going, I am certainly getting quite a bit of growth!

This picture isn't 100% up to date, but it's the layout I have my tank in. I'll snap a new pic when I get my powerhead to stop spewing bubbles -.- Which I think this idea is going to work....hopefully
 
#9 ·
The powerhead issue is now fixed :) Don't mind the random fork. Was taken just before the WC and they were left after veggies were gobbled up.




 
#11 ·
haha xD

I couldn't find a fix to the powerhead I had. Took it apart every which way, examined lines and added silicone to seal the bubble counter/CO2 generators, I still couldn't get rid of those freaking bubbles. So I exchanged it in. I wanted a less powerful powerhead anyhow, the angels weren't really happy with the flow getting created.
 
#17 ·
Well, for a coupla days, he didn't wanna eat. Was very....meh like. And appeared to be pooing clear poo. Fed him some garlic soaked food and he's perked up a bit more. More active/much more of an appetite.
 
#19 ·
Thanks! I really like him. I know you shouldn't pick favs, but I tink he's my fav. Even over my pearlscale smokey. ssshhhh don't tell
 
#21 ·
Got mea canister filter. It's so quiet!!!!
I feel like my tank looks cleaner! I mean, water changes were done yesterday. Could it really have gotten cleaner? O.O
 
#22 ·
How's your wisteria doing? Mine is growing way too fast, even without CO2. not as prolific as the duckweed but almost. I have several other plants that seem to be growing at a nice measured pace. What are you plans for any additional (if any) plant fertilizers? The tank looks really good!
 
#24 · (Edited)
My wisteria, I believe that is the one planted infront of the java moss, is growing quite well. It keeps getting taller and somewhat bushier.
I believe it is the water sprite that is floating. I kinda have them mixed up.
For ferts, I add in liquid ferts once a week, 3 days after my WCs. WCs are done on Mondays and liquid fert is added Weds or Thurs. Root tabs are added every 3 months.



I'm hoping I didn't kill my cycle when filling up the canister. I filled it with unconditioned water /facepalm. But after a few moments, I realized it and added some conditioner into the filter directly. I tested this morning, it appears the cycle is fine. I'll test again tomorrow when it's been a full 24 hours. I'm so paranoid. I have a fish in QT and MTSs on their way. This tank is nearly fully stocked now, I don't need a huge ammonia spike.
 
#25 ·
So, a spike never happened. Thank Dog! I was so worried about it. And the koi got released into the tank today. Uploading the video to YouTube right now. I have dubbed him/her Tig. Tig looks rather confused and lost in the tank right now. He/she cannot figure out why everyone is poking at everything. Tig will figured it out soon ;)
 
#26 ·
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