You can get a python water changer, but it might be overkill on this tank size, maybe not.
I like TNC, there are others out there and everyone has their favourite; but it'll yield good results used sensibly
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Low tech, zero skill
- Thread starter mrhoyo
- Start date
You can get a python water changer, but it might be overkill on this tank size, maybe not.
I like TNC, there are others out there and everyone has their favourite; but it'll yield good results used sensibly
mrhoyo
Member
I looked at a Python but, because of where this tank is, it would need connecting to the shower and I couldn't find what adapter I'd need. The fact it's about £55+adapter+hook put me off a bit too.
I went with TNC purely because I'd heard it mentioned on YouTube or something and it seemed simple. I know EI works out cheaper in the long run but I think the TNC will only be something like £15 a year on their basic dose.
JBL makes a Python-like thing; if you buy the 'big' package it comes with a multi adapter. Big package includes 8 m hose I believe.
I have one it works fine.
mrhoyo
Member
hypnogogia
Member
Hello, how many litres is your tank, and how many litres per hour is your filter rated at?
Yes, you’ll notice the crypt leaves dying back. Leaves turn yellow and die.
Regarding the urine smell, I’ve never experienced this, but it would point to ammonia, and if you can smell it, I’d suggest your ammonia is pretty high.
Yes, you’ll notice the crypt leaves dying back. Leaves turn yellow and die.
Regarding the urine smell, I’ve never experienced this, but it would point to ammonia, and if you can smell it, I’d suggest your ammonia is pretty high.
mrhoyo
Member
70l, filter is rated up to 1000l/h but adjustable down to 20% i.e. 200l/h.
The odour was just when I was right over the tank but did smell like a particularly small tom cat had been around. It isn't noticeable now I've changed the water.
hypnogogia
Member
I’d put the filter to about 70%. That way you’ll have about 10x flow, which won’t be too much.
mrhoyo
Member
That's about where it is now so should be fine then.
mrhoyo
Member
Certainly smells like it.
Day 4 update:
Pump and hose arrived so I now have powered water changes. Is it quicker? Maybe a bit. Is it safer than lugging buckets? Hopefully.
Had a bit of a problem today, I thought I'd give the inside glass a wipe and ended up knocking over the wood. Which then released / uprooted about 5 plants. I have no idea how I got it like in the previous pictures, I swear the wood has changed shape. It will have to stay as is for now.
Also had a decent delivery of other fishy bits:
Heater
Intake sponges (so I don't end up making shrimp soup)
TNC Complete
Seachem Prime.
I don't know if I need the Prime until I get fish but if chucked it in anyway.
When should I fertilise? Tropica app says something like week 4 but it also only says to change water days 3, 7, 10.
Ray
Member
If you follow the Tropica app water change schedule then the urea and other goodies will last until week 4. If you do more water changes then you can bring forward the dosing.
The Prime will also protect your filter bacteria from chlorine in your tap water.
The Prime will also protect your filter bacteria from chlorine in your tap water.
mrhoyo
Member
Hi.
The information given out on the Tropica app is interesting as its in an app, but I can't help think that it hasn't been updated in a while (years)?
Pretty sure that George Farmer advises water changes every day for the first week in more than one of his vids, scaling down the changes as the weeks go by.
He also advises Fertiliser from day one.
Its quite confusing.
We should get some solid advice from these guys and write it up in calendar form?
Yeah Tropica advises shrimp/snails early on!
Hmmmm?
Simon.
The information given out on the Tropica app is interesting as its in an app, but I can't help think that it hasn't been updated in a while (years)?
Pretty sure that George Farmer advises water changes every day for the first week in more than one of his vids, scaling down the changes as the weeks go by.
He also advises Fertiliser from day one.
Its quite confusing.
We should get some solid advice from these guys and write it up in calendar form?
Yeah Tropica advises shrimp/snails early on!
Hmmmm?
Simon.
Ray
Member
Absolutely, the Tropica app seems to be off - when using that substrate the urea OP smelt would likely kill livestock on day 3.
You can safely dose from the start - I did in my Betta tank with the same Tropica substrate and had no issues. It means you know any problems are not nutrient based which is one less thing to worry about.
If you start to see significant algae on your plants the most likely cause will be too much light for available CO2 while the plants transition from from emerged to immersed growth and adjust to conditions in your tank. Solutions to that would be to keep your light to just 6 hours/day, consider adding a liquid carbon supplement and/or improve flow and maybe dim the light a little to say 75 or 80%. You don’t need to do that right away - you could wait a bit and see how it goes. I’ve no experience of your tank size and light so I can’t say for sure.
With a low tech tank you are basically trying to find a balance between the lights and the available CO2. Once you get that right the plants will slowly but surely grow. If you are lucky that will just work, if not we’ll need to tweak to get there.
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Ray
Member
In my low tech Betta tank I was doing every 2 to 3 days initially, then twice weekly. At one point I had horrid surface scum and was sucking that off daily. 2 months in I’m now down to weekly.
Re. Surface scum, if you get it and you have crypts in there then snip all the leaves they had before you put them in the tank (leave the new ones they are putting out) as crypt leaf melt seems to contribute to surface scum.
Since this is no CO2 being added make sure there is good surface agitation for well oxygenated water and to break up surface scum. I think this tank has a HOB so that’s perfect.
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Re. Surface scum, if you get it and you have crypts in there then snip all the leaves they had before you put them in the tank (leave the new ones they are putting out) as crypt leaf melt seems to contribute to surface scum.
Since this is no CO2 being added make sure there is good surface agitation for well oxygenated water and to break up surface scum. I think this tank has a HOB so that’s perfect.
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Hi all,
It would only be when the soil was wet that microbial action converted urea (CO(NH2)2) to ammonia/ammonium.
cheers Darrel
It may well do, it would be cheaper than the other ammonia containing options (ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4) etc) and safer to handle.
It would only be when the soil was wet that microbial action converted urea (CO(NH2)2) to ammonia/ammonium.
cheers Darrel
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mrhoyo
Member
On another thread I was told:
Week 1 daily 50%
Week 2 every other day
Week 3 every 3 days
Shrimp in week 3
Snails week 4
Presumably change to weekly changes week 4-6
mrhoyo
Member
Day 5:
Water change with the new contraption. It's not quicker but its safer and means I can do other jobs at the same time.
Added some TNC, just 1ml and I'll do it daily for a week. It made more sense than dumping 7ml in and taking it all out tomorrow.
Looked to have a bit of grime on the top tonight, the photos are just after turning the filter back on.
Tried to get pictures of some the crypts so someone more knowledgeable can tell me of they need trimming yet.
Water change with the new contraption. It's not quicker but its safer and means I can do other jobs at the same time.
Added some TNC, just 1ml and I'll do it daily for a week. It made more sense than dumping 7ml in and taking it all out tomorrow.
Looked to have a bit of grime on the top tonight, the photos are just after turning the filter back on.
Tried to get pictures of some the crypts so someone more knowledgeable can tell me of they need trimming yet.
hypnogogia
Member
Looking nice. Personally I wouldn’t trim those crypts yet. Let them grow, and they may even throw out some off spring.
