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Fluval Flex 34L

Rich1867

Member
Joined
26 Dec 2019
Messages
26
Location
Hook, Basingstoke, Hampshire
Hi everyone.

As I wrote on my introduction post I acquired a fluval flex 34l tank after my wifes adopted gold fish suddenly died. Over the Xmas period I managed to gather all the items needed to turn it into a planted tank and re-discover the hobby I left 6 years ago. I work away a lot and my wife doesn't have the time to manage a high maintenance tank so finger crossed if this goes well, and doesnt cause havoc, I can persuade her that we NEED another, bigger tank!!

Specs
  • Fluval Flex 34L (9G) 33x33x35cm
  • 3 Stage Filter unit built in back containing foam, Carbon and Biomax media.
  • Original pump replaced with 450 lph unit with dual outputs heads.
  • Standard 7W 7500K LED light runs 6 hours a day on white and magenta with the white light now set at 80%.
Hardscape
  • Tropica aquarium soil
  • Redmoor wood
Ferts

  • EA The Aquascaper Complete Liquid Plant Food. 1.8ml per day
  • Floragrow Carbo. 1ml per day
Plants
  • Micranthemum Monte-Carlo (Tropica 1-2-Grow)
  • Helanthium Tenellum Green (Tropica 1-2-Grow)
  • Cryptocoryne Usteriana (Tropica)
  • Ludwig Palustris (Tropica)
Pictures straight after planting.
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2 Days later one of the wood pieces developed the usual white fur and during water changes I'm vac'in as much off as I can, but mainly waiting for it to sort itself out.

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On 30th Dec the Xmas decs came down and the tank was moved into it's permanent position in the living room whilst having a water change.

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I have been carrying out 3x water changes a week of about 20-30% and still continue to do so. Most plants seem to be doing well but the Monte-Carlo isn't looking the greatest the pics below were taken yesterday (9 days, after planting). I reduced the lighting 3 days ago from 100% to 80% but now wondering if they dont have enough light? Can anyone offer advice on whether they are deficient anything or if this is part of a bedding in phase?

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Thanks for looking and excuse the poor pictures. I appreciate any help you throw my way. :thumbup:
 
Hi guys, picture of tank tonight just before the lights went off. Do I have anything to worry about regarding the Monte-Carlo/tank set up. Next water change tomorrow......
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Hi, nice looking setup especially the wood. Hopefully someone with more carpet plant knowledge will chime in but you normally see some dieback when you first plant it as the plants are transitioning from emersed growth to submerged. I also hope that I'm wrong but I'm not sure you will have enough light to create a strong healthy monte carpet as it tolerates lower light levels but better when it has co2. Ideally, for a compact lush carpet, you'd have moderate to high lighting and co2 levels. So if it doesn't settle in you may be better swapping it out for something easier.
 
Hi, still not had much advice in the way of the MC..... . Also think that BBA is breaking out in the tank. Hoping if it is, I've caught it early enough to save it, but need advice what to do. I thought it was just the same fur that appears of newly waterlogged wood but now not so sure.
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31 day point, taken yesterday. 4 yellow shrimp and 3 Amanos added. I'm throwing in a stick of Shrimp King complete every other day and all the shrimp go crazy for it!!!

Plants seem to be healthy enough and the white fur growing on the wood has all but gone. I did have a period where black spots were forming on a lot of leaves but slightly increased the liquid Co2 dose and they've gone.


The Monte-Carlo is being a nightmare though, and I'm considering taking it out. Every time I trim it, huge clumps lift out, which are near impossible to replace.
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Hi all,
Can any one advise how to the Helanthium Tenellum? Do I just cut it short like grass, or is there more to it than that?
I'd just pinch the biggest leaves off near the base. It is a bit like Vallisneria, if you cut the leaf 1/2 way up, that leaf will die back and you don't ideally want decomposing, leaky leaves in the tank.

It can be quite a rampant grower and, depending on which form you have, you might find that it grows too quickly for your tank. You can can give it a severe hair-cut at that point, but you may eventually get fed-up with continually pruning it.

cheers Darrel
 
Tanks coming along nicely and easy to maintain at the minute. Added Bacopa Amplexicaulis to the background to try and fill it out a little and also some Danio Tinwini. They're not something I've seen much of before and went to the shop to buy CPD's but when I saw these beauties I was convinced to change my mind. They move so fast in a shoal though, and are near impossible to photograph on a phone.
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I have had instances of the crypts losing the ends of leaves, almost as if they have been eaten by something, but as far as I know there's nothing in my tank that would. Any suggestions? Could it be from a deficiency of something?

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Nice Flex :)
(note these are fairly low light so I just leave the lights full on)

I might add a few Clithon sp snails to clean the plant leafs (think I see some film/algae that shrimp are missing - perhaps as you’re offering such better foods ;))

I have grown some MC in the Flex, but it does much better in this tank with CO2 - if you’ve left remnants they may surprise you and slowly fill in; that it was lifting when you tried to trim suggests your scissors weren’t sharp enough (tugging at plant) and that your MC had not rooted yet (I wait to trim until the MC roots)

Is the crypt leaf damage happening to grown out leafs, or is it perhaps from some “nibbling” of the budding leafs (then I’d suspect the Amano’s)

If you’ve noticed this only after the new fish addition, I’d suspect them of having bitten off leaf bits - as they look for some excitement... and dropped them
(I’m not a fan of danios in these Flex (or similar small tanks), as they tend to be active swimmers, I consider a 60cm length the minimum I’d keep them)
 
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