Comeback CRS tank

[whq]

Coming back to CRS after a break in other aquarium setup.

Today was the first day of the 1.5ft cube tank set-up. Hope bros here could advice to make it better. Current tank setup is with Eheim 2032 canister connected to undergravel and hailea HC150 chiller. With 1.5ft 32w T5 for 5-6hr lighting period. Did a initial test for pH at 5.5 and ammonia at 2mg/l. Will look at other parameters when i cycle longer (dkh, nitrite and nitrate) Planning to cycle for 2 weeks and do a 50% water change after which will be placing 2-4 pieces of commandos. The substrate was supplemented with bacteria and other powder recommended by ADA. Right now with HC (i know it be hard without CO2), fissiden and christmas moss.

Some FTS below
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Please comment and advise.

[sgshrimps]

HC cannot make it underwater with o co2.People blast co2 for the sake of it surviving under water.At first , you will experience a lot of casualties but after they are use to being underwater , they will cover the foreground very fast.
By the way , Crystal red shrimps with moss is very nice already ,with HC even nicer.
I think you should just forget about foreground plants as it is better for crystal red shrimp to salvage bare ground for food.

[whq]

HC cannot make it underwater with o co2.People blast co2 for the sake of it surviving under water.At first , you will experience a lot of casualties but after they are use to being underwater , they will cover the foreground very fast.
By the way , Crystal red shrimps with moss is very nice already ,with HC even nicer.
I think you should just forget about foreground plants as it is better for crystal red shrimp to salvage bare ground for food.

Thanks bro, was wondering if using of Excel flourish will help with the carbon source. I understand the part on space for crs to scanvage, however the design in mind was to have a lush patch of greens hair grass was not too nice, that's why I decided to try hc (given the fact that it is tougher) .

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[alvinchan80]

The HC growing would need high co2 blasting.. I have tried excel doses but it's not really going to be enough and by the time u have shrimps inside, they might not be able to take the high doses of excel, it's still a chemical...

Those rocks inside would cost perimeter problems in a couple months time...

I had a rock scape with HC before so i can roughly see what the problems might be coming up... So right now I have a plain bare slope tank with soil, moss and rotala.. I do carry on doing co2 emission even though I am not heavily planted now..

It's still a challenge to accomplish what people has said that it's not good.. But try it out yourself.. Haha...

[whq]

The HC growing would need high co2 blasting.. I have tried excel doses but it's not really going to be enough and by the time u have shrimps inside, they might not be able to take the high doses of excel, it's still a chemical...

Those rocks inside would cost perimeter problems in a couple months time...

I had a rock scape with HC before so i can roughly see what the problems might be coming up... So right now I have a plain bare slope tank with soil, moss and rotala.. I do carry on doing co2 emission even though I am not heavily planted now..

It's still a challenge to accomplish what people has said that it's not good.. But try it out yourself.. Haha...

Thanks, this is good info for me. I will likely try for 2-3 week and make a decision to keep hc before I start stocking of crs. Right now will try low dose of Excel once every 2-3 days. For sure I will not introduce co2 system SD I like to keep it as simple as possible. Crossing my finger. As for the rock, could you advice more on what parameter might be affected ( so far I read that might alter kh)? however this rock is inherited from my old tank (maybe 2 years old) will it still have leech any other chemical?


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[alvinchan80]

Thanks, this is good info for me. I will likely try for 2-3 week and make a decision to keep hc before I start stocking of crs. Right now will try low dose of Excel once every 2-3 days. For sure I will not introduce co2 system SD I like to keep it as simple as possible. Crossing my finger. As for the rock, could you advice more on what parameter might be affected ( so far I read that might alter kh)? however this rock is inherited from my old tank (maybe 2 years old) will it still have leech any other chemical?


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I used to be double dose amount of excel daily and shrimps are fine but based on the quantity of fauna and flora I guess as well...

Rocks will cause problems to the PH & GH mainly... What I experience in my previous tank is that my PH is quite hard to bring down lower then 6.5-6.8... And the GH will be greatly increase to approximate 8dgh.. But that is based on weekly water change to maintain it like that.. I had hit a GH of 14dgh before and it's not good for shrimps...

[whq]

Thanks bro, will closely monitor the dkh for this 2 week. If it is high will take it out as soon as possible. Right now ph at 5.5... will also see if it shoots up.

Also you was saying that you double dose Excel for your tank. Can I ask if you are rearing crs too?

Really afraid to dose. Was looking through the net and see the relationship of kh and ph will affect the amount of co2 present in the water. So in other words if I control this 2 parameter can it also determine the present amount of co2? Is it reliable to depend on this?

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[whq]

Just checked. Ph is 5.0, kh is 0 and ammonia is about 1-2 ppm.

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[alvinchan80]

Thanks bro, will closely monitor the dkh for this 2 week. If it is high will take it out as soon as possible. Right now ph at 5.5... will also see if it shoots up.

Also you was saying that you double dose Excel for your tank. Can I ask if you are rearing crs too?

Really afraid to dose. Was looking through the net and see the relationship of kh and ph will affect the amount of co2 present in the water. So in other words if I control this 2 parameter can it also determine the present amount of co2? Is it reliable to depend on this?

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Yes, I am keeping CRS... Your tank is very new which is why the ammonia is so high... But it's better to measure GH and not KH.. The rocks will gradually change the GH..

I never really control or monitor the PH just blast my co2 away, as long as my co2 checker shows the right percentage of co2 in my water then it's ok..

By the way, 1-2 ppm is how many mg/l ammonia?

[whq]

Thanks, will get gh test kit soon. Was wondering if the test strips from api accurate? 1-2 mg/l is same as 1-2 ppm. Seems like there is a slight drop in my ammonia from 1st day.

However I have one small question on cycling. I see online people actually add ammonia or raw prawns to kick start the cycle. I understand that that will give the ammonia that is needed. Here comes my query, when I started my tank, it already consist of 2ppm was wondering will this amount of ammonia enough for cycling? Or will I need to supplement more ammonia?

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[alvinchan80]

Thanks, will get gh test kit soon. Was wondering if the test strips from api accurate? 1-2 mg/l is same as 1-2 ppm. Seems like there is a slight drop in my ammonia from 1st day.

However I have one small question on cycling. I see online people actually add ammonia or raw prawns to kick start the cycle. I understand that that will give the ammonia that is needed. Here comes my query, when I started my tank, it already consist of 2ppm was wondering will this amount of ammonia enough for cycling? Or will I need to supplement more ammonia?

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Don't use a test strip because the accuracy of the reading is never there.. If you just want a rough reading is fine but better to have liquid test kits..

The soil which you are using for your tank should have the sufficient ammonia to kick start the cycling process..

What I did before was adding liquid ammonia to the 'already ammonia' soil.. Which end up having to cycle the tank for a slightly longer process.. Took me approximately 4 weeks to get 0-0.25mg/l but also I think it's best not to add anything to let the tank cycle and let it be natural..

Just keep testing the ammonia readings and once it drops to 0.25mg/l, you can start to introduce commandos.. These commandos should be creating more ammonia (shrimp poo) to feed the BB.. After a week or two, u can gradually add more shrimps..

That is how I feel & did before but it's still your call on how to go through the process..

[whq]

Yup, my plan is quite similar except that I am not planning to dose ammonia. Will wait till the level drops to 0.25ppm then do partial water change, observe for 2-3 days before introducing 4-6 commandos. Once no casualty and proper molting observed then slowly stock up a little more. Less that 20 to start then slowly select them.

Hopefully tank will beyond soon as I had prerun my canister in my old established tank for a week or so and dosed some bacteria in the tank that is recommended. But stocking will strictly depend on the parameter read out.

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[whq]

Very slow wait, hand starts to itch. But cannot do anything but wait. Just did some measurement on ammonia and still at 1ppm. Was wondering how do people see if the plants is doing well? Have been observing my HC, seems to be growing but i find that the green is too bright pale color.

Currently dosing excel, 6 hr of lighting (2 x 16w) and temp within 24-25c.

[whq]

Checked parameter today before and after water change

Before
Ammonia 1ppm
No3 50ppm
pH 5

After changing 50%
Ammonia 1ppm (never dropped, abit puzzled)
No3 25ppm
pH remains

Will measure parameter tonight, as I added bt9 powder and bought sera test kit for dhk too. Planning to double dose bt9 day 1, 3, 5 as shown by the manufacturer

One question regarding presence of nitrate. Since there is presence of high nitrate level , does it mean that the bacteria has been established? Right now I just need to wait till ammonia drop below 0.25 ppm and I am ready?

[alvinchan80]

Tank is not ready.. Just wait till the ammonia drops to 0.25mg/l or below.. Patience...

[whq]

Tank is not ready.. Just wait till the ammonia drops to 0.25mg/l or below.. Patience...

Yup I will... tough though. Measure parameter again.

Ammonia @ 1 ppm
Nitrate @ between 25 to 50 ppm
pH @ 5
Dkh @ 7

[eviltrain]

Agree with bro alvin chan. Wait till the ammonia goes to 0.

[alvinchan80]

Yup I will... tough though. Measure parameter again.

Ammonia @ 1 ppm
Nitrate @ between 25 to 50 ppm
pH @ 5
Dkh @ 7

You can measure every 3-4 days.. Better..
By the way, if your KH is 7 meaning your GH is at least >14?? which is very high...

[whq]

Oops typo, my gh is 7. My kh is 0. Yup just curious with parameter that's why I measured, since I can do nothing by the tank except looking at the fauna.

[alvinchan80]

Oops typo, my gh is 7. My kh is 0. Yup just curious with parameter that's why I measured, since I can do nothing by the tank except looking at the fauna.

I see... 7dGH is quite ok.. But it will be good if it can be maintained at 5dGH..
I have been through your situation where I have an empty tank cycling with nothing inside but plants.. It's a kind of a frustrating situation but think of the long run where the tank will be good for your tank's inhabitants..