tyrophagus
Member
Re: Swamp Creek - updated 10/2010
Garuf and Ray thanks for prompting me to update! Worklife gets in the way of the important things in life like aquascapes. Ray the Vortech runs really quiet even at high speed which it only does while the lights are on.
I recently had my folks visit the UK for a few weeks and had to leave my other half in charge of Swamp Creek. She did a good job but when I got back I found the flow through the spray bars was reduced due to a poor connection in the tubing in the tank.
Ray the growing pains are still present it's just hurting in different places! I'm stil enjoying the scape but I am struggling to nail the variables that might be causing me problems.
1. I have a long standing problem with a film that develops on the surface of the water over a week.
2. I have had a major melt of my cyrpts - I've even lost some some completely. The new leaves grow well then suddenly melt.
3. I have algae, I'm managing it but it's not gone. It's a black hair like algae on the margins of leaves.
4. I've lost some inverts - not sure why but may be associated with the use of easycabo.
5. A single stem of my pogostemon stellatus has started to grow in a spiral. Recently it appears the same stem has straightened out.
So I've done a few things to try solve these problems, the changes took place about two weeks ago and I think they are making a difference.
1. I've reduced my lights from 100% to 70%. This gives me a PAR reading of about 25 at the substrate level. I reduced the photoperiod to 7hrs from 9hrs.
2. I've increased my water changes to 50% twice a week.
3. I've replaced 30% of the siporax in my filter.
4. I remove all algae infected plants every week.
5. I have removed my spray bars which I realise are a useful tool to improve flow, however my problems started when I switched to spray bars (and increased lights so there are other factors...) I replaced the spray bars with a Lilly pipe and I installed the vortech mp10 which had been removed when the spray bars were installed. I have better flow now although the back right corner is a bit of a dead spot either way.
So the other things which remain constant are a CO2 at a rate of 10 - 15 bubbles per sec, 700 lph eheim (rated at about 1500 lph), EI dosing of ferts, easycarbo approx. twice a week.
I thought it would be easier than this to be honest and the scape is stalled as I try get the crypts to grow.
Here is the twisted pogostemon
Ray said:
Garuf said:
Garuf and Ray thanks for prompting me to update! Worklife gets in the way of the important things in life like aquascapes. Ray the Vortech runs really quiet even at high speed which it only does while the lights are on.
I recently had my folks visit the UK for a few weeks and had to leave my other half in charge of Swamp Creek. She did a good job but when I got back I found the flow through the spray bars was reduced due to a poor connection in the tubing in the tank.
Ray the growing pains are still present it's just hurting in different places! I'm stil enjoying the scape but I am struggling to nail the variables that might be causing me problems.
1. I have a long standing problem with a film that develops on the surface of the water over a week.
2. I have had a major melt of my cyrpts - I've even lost some some completely. The new leaves grow well then suddenly melt.
3. I have algae, I'm managing it but it's not gone. It's a black hair like algae on the margins of leaves.
4. I've lost some inverts - not sure why but may be associated with the use of easycabo.
5. A single stem of my pogostemon stellatus has started to grow in a spiral. Recently it appears the same stem has straightened out.
So I've done a few things to try solve these problems, the changes took place about two weeks ago and I think they are making a difference.
1. I've reduced my lights from 100% to 70%. This gives me a PAR reading of about 25 at the substrate level. I reduced the photoperiod to 7hrs from 9hrs.
2. I've increased my water changes to 50% twice a week.
3. I've replaced 30% of the siporax in my filter.
4. I remove all algae infected plants every week.
5. I have removed my spray bars which I realise are a useful tool to improve flow, however my problems started when I switched to spray bars (and increased lights so there are other factors...) I replaced the spray bars with a Lilly pipe and I installed the vortech mp10 which had been removed when the spray bars were installed. I have better flow now although the back right corner is a bit of a dead spot either way.
So the other things which remain constant are a CO2 at a rate of 10 - 15 bubbles per sec, 700 lph eheim (rated at about 1500 lph), EI dosing of ferts, easycarbo approx. twice a week.
I thought it would be easier than this to be honest and the scape is stalled as I try get the crypts to grow.
Here is the twisted pogostemon
[Malcolm and Isabel are keen aquascapers and never far from me when I'm tweaking the setup]
