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Full Tank Log
· 26 entriesTrim & reshape
Floaters
There is so much giant duckweed in this tank (and the other two) that I thought it had outcompeted the water wisteria. Turns out that isn’t true. I just found a huge patch of it hiding behind the HOB baffle. I’ve pulled it out and isolated it in a li…
Update
Added crushed eggshells.
Added a small amount of crushed and sterilized eggshell to the filter, attempting to buffer calcium and carbonate hardness. Will test later. Also changed reagent in c02 drop checker. Otherwise everything seems stable today.
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Milestone
Removing handfuls of duckweed
Key moment
Same old story, removing clumps of duckweed and hornwort during a water change. Have added fertilizers (1/4 dose NPK and 1 dose Flourish for micronutrients) plants are no longer languishing at all. In fact they have exploded in growth and vibrancy. I…
Milestone
Progress
Key moment
Man, I was VERY hesitant to reintroduce any of the Hygger NPK fertilizer after the disaster that happened the first time. I’ve added 1/4 the recommended dose over the last 3 days and every thing seems okay. That being said, slow and steady seems to b…
Milestone
Maybe better?
Key moment
Ok total amount of baking soda added was 1/2 teaspoon which is about right for a 10 gallon tank. KH is now throughly normal. The PH concerns me a bit due to how quickly it came back up, I added 1/4 teaspoon baking soda yesterday over a 4 hour period…
Update
KH again
Second 1/4 tsp of baking soda added. Total: 1/2 teaspoon per 10 gal. KH responding well.
Problem
KH issues
One dose of 1/4 teaspoon baking soda mixed with water added to HOB, waiting an hour and retesting the PH and KH.
Update
Updates
Currently still trying to dial in the cycle issues, I’m adding calcium to try and buffer ph and cutting back on both fertilizer and c02 until this is under control. Everything else seems good.
Solution
A resolution
The HOB filter was hopelessly clogged, that’s what was wrong. I cleaned it and put it back. All the movement and suction is normal. I replaced a bit of sponge with some additional media to help get the Cyanobacteria under control and cleaned and repl…
Solution
More Cyanobacteria
Ok, I’ve figured out my problem now. It’s being caused by low phosphate fertilizers and lack of water movement. Ive purchased a new NPK fertilizer for c02 systems and I’m updating my HOB in the hope of fixing some of my issues. Also removed a huge am…
Problem
Cyanobacteria
Still having serious Cyanobacteria issues. The constant fertilizer addition seems to help a lot but I think I need to up the dose. Will be doing a water change to clean up some of the Cyanobacteria.
Problem
Fertilizer problems
I think I’m going to start adding small doses of micronutrient fertilizer to the tank on a daily basis (recommended by another planted tank keeper) due to the huge Cyanobacteria bloom I’m getting. I believe there is a nutrient imbalance somewhere bet…
Milestone
C02
Key moment
Just changed my c02 cartridge for the very first time. Not bad for such tiny cartridges. It lasted over a month running at a very high rate.
Inspiration
Trimming plants
Removed some of the duckweed and plenty of the hornwort because it was a bit out of control. Everything else is coming in really well. I think the c02 made all the difference. Next stop: upgraded lighting. I like the current light bar just fine but a…
Trim & reshape
Trimmed plants
Removed copious quantities of giant duckweed and hornwort. Some algae growth present but mostly taken care of by bladder snails. The amount of bladder snails seems pretty in control at this point. Added fertilizer and some extra tannins. C02 going re…
Update
C02 diffusion
I sort of accidentally received a nano desktop c02 system recently, (specifically the “NovAbyss complete desktop c02 system), so I’m trialing this in my tank. No idea if I will keep it long term but I’m hoping for some serious plant growth in the mea…
Solution
Fertilizer
Added 3ml fertilizer due to plant curling.
Update
Fertilizer
Added fertilizer. I am considering doubling my fertilizer at this time as I am consistently having some issues with plants running low on nutrients. Curling leaves normally indicates a low amount of boron in the water. I may have exceeded my ability…
Update
Pothos!
Added new pothos plants to aquarium, courtesy of plant clips. Had to cut lid to fit. There are currently two of them but may move one to new tank when it’s a little more set up.
Update
Added fertilizer and tannins
Added Seachem Flourish and bottled Tannin tea
Trim & reshape
Trimming plants
Trimmed back hornwort and removed copious amounts of duckweed. Trimmed amazon swords and removed dead Amazon sword fern section. Added pre filter sponge to HOB. Added fertilizer and Prime.
Solution
PH swing
Note: I am fairly certain that the only reason my ph seems to higher today is due to using cheap test strips to test instead of the API freshwater master test kit I normally use. An overnight swing makes little sense otherwise when nothing else has b…
Solution
Rebuilt HOB filter.
Removed carbon filled cartridge and replaced with vast quantities of sponge and floss with some ceramic cones at the bottom. Carbon seemed to be leaching tannins from tank and was not needed long term.
Update
Cattapa leaves and alder cones
Added large whole Indian almond leaf and several alder cones to tank in order to add tannins.
Problem
Hornwort and duckweed
Need to trim back some of the hornwort soon. Duckweed is increasing as well. Lighting seems to be perking up most of the plants now that I have added a proper RGB lightbar. Need to trim back lid to accommodate HOB better.
Update
Plants
Added weekly complete fertilizer. Need to trim plants. Algae is finally reducing.