Another newbie with 2ft planted intentions

[happydanio123]

You should run "stimulation tests" on these rocks by placing them into a bucket of fresh aquarium water and then compare the parameters of the water before and after soaking the rocks in the water for about 3-4 days (Don't want to be fined for breeding mosquitoes). If the parameters like pH, Ammonia, Nitrite or Nitrate change, then these rocks are not safe as they are reactive. However since you have so many rocks, if the parameters change you won't know which one caused it.

[jackychun]

I understand the feeling of working on fish tank and your child is around. I love seeing my kid interested in aquascapeing. I just let her play with the soil substrate the whole day. Hehe. I only can do it freely when she went to sleep.


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[exo]

I let my eldest help me. No.2 did not borther much even when he saw some action going on. No.3... No way...she is a destroyer.

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[exo]

I just completed the hardware and house laying setup. Now 1 more crucial pc left.. Lighting...40cm height... Can't find any thing that I like accept for the Chihiros A601. Green element evo looks are too bulky for me not to mention the price... Headache....

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[happydanio123]

Hi there! You can do a bucket test by placing the rocks in aquarium water for a few days and testing the parameters before and after before comparing them. If the parameters change, then the rocks are reactive and don't use them.

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[Gregg]

With the air bubbles I am sure I see in the rock it looks like an igneous rock, volcanic in origin, to me. If it is heavy, it would be lava rock, if light, cinder. That goes for the top 2 images especially. If it is, it is super safe. I use native cinder, common where I live, to attach my Anubias sp. and java fern to. I may be mistaken. <a href="http://s1049.photobucket.com/user/lv2crp/media/009_zpsnib1az9y.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s392/lv2crp/009_zpsnib1az9y.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 009_zpsnib1az9y.jpg"/></a>
One of mine with an Anubias tied to it.

Gregg

[Gregg]

That looks like an igneous rock to me. Lava and cinder in my area common. If so it is completely safe unless it has road salt, highway junk, etc., on it. This is an anubias tied to one (if it is).http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/...psnib1az9y.jpg

Gregg

[exo]

Thank you all for your inputs and knowledge..since I tested the rocks(greyish) to have no pH change to water it was soak in, I decided to go with it.

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[exo]

Just a update with pics to keep track of tank progress
Attachment 52652

Day 0 - everything completed @0130hrs 27 march 2016 all tank system hardware working well with no leaks.

uploadfromtaptalk1459063930822.jpg

Day 1 - cloudy water from initial start up has subside. Noted Co2 reactor has no more air pocket. Fine bubbles can be seen exciting outflow pipe. Tank water parameter to be tested later.

[exo]

On a side note: Planting HC is harder then I thought.... Hair grass mini was easier though

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[jackychun]

Congratulations, exo! Finally the day has come! Enjoy the progress daily!

Everything looks good!


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[exo]

Haha.. Thanks to u too... Your blog your post and with UA advise along with all the other sifus here was able to make it... Jus not too satisfied with the HCs I planted... Hope they will take root and flourish

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[Realcaster]

Looking good ... Should zoom in a bit more

[exo]

Wife saying that I dun look at her anymore... So faster grab a pic and go

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[kermit13sg]

put wife inside tank, best of both worlds.

[exo]

put wife inside tank, best of both worlds.

Lol... Good one.

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[exo]

I was observing my HCs yesterday and I saw this white wispy looking thing. Can anyone tell me what this is. For fear of algae. I had removed it muploadfromtaptalk1459132389622.jpganually.

[exo]

Looking good ... Should zoom in a bit more

uploadfromtaptalk1459132437291.jpguploadfromtaptalk1459132449820.jpguploadfromtaptalk1459132487703.jpguploadfromtaptalk1459132505658.jpg

[Urban Aquaria]

I was observing my HCs yesterday and I saw this white wispy looking thing. Can anyone tell me what this is. For fear of algae. I had removed it manually. uploadfromtaptalk1459132389622.jpg

Yeah, those are a form of filamentous algae or diatoms, you can physically remove them. When your tank is cycled, the introduction of algae eaters like shrimps will help to clear it up too.

[exo]

Thank you UA for the confirmation. Unfortunately I'll have to remove it manually, can't use livestocks as they would probably mess up the HCs that has yet to take root.anyway tank isn't cycled so it's a no go. I did do a anti snail on it but not anti algae quarantine. The price for being impatient.

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