1. Welcome to Aquarium Space! We are a friendly online community for aquarium owners all over the world who love their tanks including their fish, reefs, corals, invertebrates and their aquatic livestock. If you haven't joined yet, we invite you to register and join our community!

My Planted Endler Tank (Virginia)

Discussion in 'Freshwater Aquariums & Fish Photos' started by Anthony, Jan 15, 2009.

Page 3 of 10
  1. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    :) I bet the Endlers would love it though, especially the fry.
     
    Anthony, Jan 17, 2009
    #41
  2. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

    Messages:
    3,588
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    I would think so. I was going to move some into the 20 gallon tank I was planning on using for them for that reason.
     
    LemonDiscus, Jan 17, 2009
    #42
  3. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Okay so here's a video of my new tank. I checked my Purigen and it's turning brown already so it is absorbing the tannis from the driftwood. I think the "cloudy" look is from the light. It's a 10k and Actinic fixture so I think because of the lighting there's a lot of the Actinicness (I know that's not a word) being reflected off the background/substrate. If you look at the top view of the tank it looks pretty clear. I'll be replacing the bulb with a dual 10k soon so that should fix the issue, hopefully. I'll finish buying new plants sometime this week.

    If you cannot read that one part in the middle of the video here's the direct link. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeDCwIIBoQw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeDCwIIBoQw</a>

    [youtube]<object width="225" height="144"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DeDCwIIBoQw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DeDCwIIBoQw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="225" height="144"></embed></object>[/youtube]
     
    Anthony, Jan 17, 2009
    #43
  4. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Was that a bristlenose pleco and a siamese algae eater I spotted in your vid?Hey Anthony, how come your using 10,000K despite having plants? You probably should be using 6,700K full spectrum to stimulate photosynthesis.
    On a side note my lfs was telling me you don't count the actinics when you use them over a planted tank for your wpg lighting...is this true? Just curious.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 17, 2009
    #44
  5. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    No, there are only Endlers and Otto Cats in the tank.

    I'm not big on 6700 bulbs. On my Vermont Endler tank I'm running the same lighting setup currently on this tank. It's a dual PC bulb (10k and Actinic) and as you can see from that tank the plants look pretty good, to me at least.

    I would say yes, that's true.
     
    Anthony, Jan 17, 2009
    #45
  6. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    good to know, I currently have 6700K cf bulbs on my 90 (4 to be exact)...I was always told not to use any other type of bulb over a planted tank. Good to know/hear that someone else has and has had success in doing so. Especially since I was considering using 2 67000K or 10000K and then using 2 50/50 actinics on the back. I think for now I'll stick to the 6700K's, but if I start to have issues I'll definitely change it up. In the past I was having a real issue with spot algae and this very short hair like algae that would come off the edges of some of the leaves. LFS said to add the siamese algae eaters to take care of it...wouldn't know if they worked since the hubby did me the "favor" of bleaching my plants which killed them. Reason for all of the new ones.
    What do you think the cause of that type of algae could be from so I can try to avoid it this time?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 17, 2009
    #46
  7. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    This is just my way of thinking because I avoid 6700 bulbs but I'd say that's the cause of the algae. The Endler tank in VT had very minimum tank maintenance done on it while I was away and the only algae problem was on the back of the tank and that was just your normal green algae.
     
    Anthony, Jan 17, 2009
    #47
  8. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Not sure if you saw Lemon's post from a few days ago but he's having an algae problem running 5000, 6700 and 2800's and maybe another type.
    <a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.theexoticfish.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1023" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1023</a>
     
    Anthony, Jan 17, 2009
    #48
  9. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    yeah, I did catch it..cyanobacteria is a bit different (I dealt with that when I had saltwater-excess nutrients and phospates were said to be the cause...water changes, turkey baster blasting the stuff off the rock, turning lighting back, etc.)...I hate lighting issues! It's such a grey area as to how much, what type, Co2 expense or not. It's literally driving me nuts! I'm sure lemon can second that sadly.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 17, 2009
    #49
  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    Anthony, what are the color of the background and the substrate? It looks like theres a crucial reflection comming from both.
     
    Anonymous, Jan 17, 2009
    #50
  11. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    White background and white crushed coral substrate.
     
    Anthony, Jan 17, 2009
    #51
  12. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

    Messages:
    3,588
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Yes Dawn I can.... Like you I have been told and read large amounts that say 5000 - 6700 Lights are what you need for 8-10 hours a day. Also 1.5 watts per gallon! I did all of that and wound up with algae. There is something that I missed. Fixing my lights on the new timer setting seems to help a bit
     
    LemonDiscus, Jan 18, 2009
    #52
  13. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Top Poster Of Month

    The recommended lighting is between 6700 and 10000k although I have found that it really is just aesthetics. 1.5 wpg will work for low light plants but not ALL plants. Algae is usually attributed to something being out of kilter within the tank, CO2 helps with algae control also. I also think it is important to remember that the WPG rule doesn't work on smaller tanks or larger tanks.
     
    Anonymous, Jan 18, 2009
    #53
  14. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Mine have always been on a timer. I originally was told the algae was from phospates and sold some Seachem Phosgaurd to stick in the emperor grey cartridges---let me tell you this stuff does find it's way out of those grey cartridges! And the little balls fall under the filter wheel and jam it. PLUS I really didn't notice any difference whatsoever after using it. I still have a big bottle of it so I figure it can't hurt much (but I am going to get a fine mesh media bag to put it in and just drop it in the back of the emperor 400's so it's easier to change out.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 18, 2009
    #54
  15. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    I use that in my saltwater tank and I can say that it works for me. I kind of hope I begin to have a small algae problem in this tank because I have the 4 Otto's in there. I've been opening the blinds to let the sun shine on the tank for a few hours during the day. Right now I'm supplementing their diet with sinking wafers but they don't seem to be paying attention to them.
     
    Anthony, Jan 18, 2009
    #55
  16. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

    Messages:
    3,588
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Yeah, ottos really prefer the algae. Again, I can give you some algae if you want too! :) I got plenty of it!!!
     
    LemonDiscus, Jan 19, 2009
    #56
  17. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    :) Just scrape it off into a baggie.
     
    Anthony, Jan 19, 2009
    #57
  18. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    So I've got some good news amongst the horrific experience I've had with my saltwater tank lately (Am I over exaggerating ? :)) I've finally got the Otto Cats to eat the wafers ! Just when I get them interested, some small areas of algae start to grow on the substrate. :confused:

    Also, most of the daughter plants on my Mellon Sword have grown roots. Now I have to figure out how to remove them so I can get them planted.
     
    Anthony, Jan 25, 2009
    #58
  19. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Here's the first picture from the new 30 gallon long Endler tank. It's one of the new fry that's less than 24 hours old.
    DSCF1117.jpg
     
    Anthony, Jan 29, 2009
    #59
  20. Anthony

    Anthony Thread Starter Active Member

    Messages:
    5,728
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Here are a few more pictures. I've got a lot more plants to get still. :confused: Sorry about the reflection on the tank, the sun is out today and is shinning right in the windows in the sun room.
    DSCF1002.JPG DSCF1119.jpg DSCF1121.jpg DSCF1122.jpg DSCF1125.jpg
     
    Anthony, Jan 29, 2009
    #60
Page 3 of 10