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Little 20l AIO

Another engine room post.

Added a UPS for power backup in the event of a power cut.

The room gets very cold in winter at night (1930’s detached house exposed to wind across fields). This should keep the heater and pump working for about 2 hours.

See post in thread 'Non DIY Backup Power for Heater and Pump - Any recommendations l?'
Non DIY Backup Power for Heater and Pump - Any recommendations l?

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Quick full tank shot.
Been four months and the tank is really progressing nicely. I decided to add some more stuff.
I put a mini Java fern in the back left attached to a little shrimp cave.
Also added an Anubis Pinto to the back of the tree.
Lastly I moved the ledge up higher and have the Ricca a savage haircut as was blocking too much light.
Betta fish still a little shy. He comes to eat but tends to stay hidden behind things most often.
Tank must have 30+ Bloody Mary shrimp pottering around so it seems they are doing very well.

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bazz said:
How is the Hobbit faring?
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The longer hair grass swamped and killed most of it. A few leaves poke out here and there but it’s struggling.
I planted a new bit on the far front right where it’s less likely to get overgrown. Fingers crossed.
It’s definitely a harder plant than I hoped.
 
I've tried again, I split the pot into three, put one in high tech which has practically disappeared and two in a small low tech which seem to be just about holding on at the moment, I can only assume (probably wrongly) that they need high light and lots of CO2. I would imagine it would fare a lot better in a shallow high tech aquarium. I think I'm going to dig one up and leave it floating, see if that makes any difference.
 
I think overcrowding may be an issue.

The here is the “best” surviving hobbit. I think it just can’t outcompete the chaos I have around it. I have not seen any new leaves in months. I don’t think it will survive.
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Here is my new one, I put in more recently. The leaves are transitioning currently. I hope to keep it a bit less overgrown in its corner. This is also the side that gets hit with the most co2 and light.
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Definitely a very fussy plant, but I love the leaf colour and size.

Please let me know if you figure out how to make them thrive.
 
Little said:
I think overcrowding may be an issue.

The here is the “best” surviving hobbit. I think it just can’t outcompete the chaos I have around it. I have not seen any new leaves in months. I don’t think it will survive.
View attachment 218691
Here is my new one, I put in more recently. The leaves are transitioning currently. I hope to keep it a bit less overgrown in its corner. This is also the side that gets hit with the most co2 and light.
View attachment 218692

Definitely a very fussy plant, but I love the leaf colour and size.

Please let me know if you figure out how to make them thrive.
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Those are nice! I tried some a while back but killed all of them hahaha
 
Little said:
The here is the “best” surviving hobbit. I think it just can’t outcompete the chaos I have around it. I have not seen any new leaves in months. I don’t think it will survive.
Click to expand...
Could you not clear a small space for it at the front, from your photos it's a lovely little plant that would be worth it?
 
I did try to keep the helanthium tenellum red a bit away from the Hobbit (and Parva) by removing bits each week at water change… but the stuff is super vigorous.
It’s starting to go red since I reduced my ferts, maybe that will slow it down.
I also thought perhaps I should cut the helanthium but thought that would look weird?
I’m new to all this so just fumbling through.
 
Just implemented my fish food organisation and odour management.

It’s smell proof bag (carbon lined case) with smell proof glass jars with humidity control bags inside.

I used the jars to mix different types of foods and a chalk pen to label them.

The jars came with some little airtight bags, I used them to store some other bits and bobs.

Lastly I have an odour neutraliser in there too.

I’m sure at least some of you would recognise the bags / jars as “herb guard” to keep recreational dried herbs in 🚭.


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Little said:
Just implemented my fish food organisation and odour management.

It’s smell proof bag (carbon lined case) with smell proof glass jars with humidity control bags inside.

I used the jars to mix different types of foods and a chalk pen to label them.

The jars came with some little airtight bags, I used them to store some other bits and bobs.

Lastly I have an odour neutraliser in there too.

I’m sure at least some of you would recognise the bags / jars as “herb guard” to keep recreational dried herbs in 🚭.


View attachment 218696
Click to expand...
This is cool!
 
Update on the Cryptocoryne Lutea Hobbit.
The one on the front right one had a growth spurt. It was given its own space, is right in the flow (and co2) and has the brightest spot in the tank:
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Really love the colour of this plant.
However, size wise…. I think it’s reverted to its standard form… it’s becoming massive. Much bigger than I hoped.

The front left one that survived the tank drama… it’s alive, but barely. However the leaf size has stayed miniature.
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This one is constantly being overgrown by the carpet and gets the least flow / co2.

If I was to have a do over, I would try a full hobbit foreground with nothing competing with it.
 
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Also, I have a few more plants coming to squeeze in so here are a few current tanks shots before they arrive and are planted. IMG_2491.jpegIMG_2489.jpegIMG_2490.jpeg
I should really learn how to take proper pictures. Random point and click on an iPhone is probably not the way.
 
Just a little video.

I think the tank is effectively moving to maintenance mode so likely to be the last post.

The longer term plan is to move to a custom size Aquariums4life AIO 600 next year.

 
The betta feels like he has outgrown this tank so will be breaking it down soon for a 60cm AIO. Some final pictures for prosperity. Was my first tank but the transition from ponds was pretty smooth thanks to the advice here (just grow the plants). IMG_2753.jpegIMG_2757.jpeg
 
This was an impressive project, particularly with the organisation of your equipment and supplies! Hope you do a journal for the next tank.
 
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