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[pdavis41]

Not sure if this is really the right place to post this but here it goes:

I have been reading the forums for about week now and loving the information available and the knowledge base of the community. I'm looking forward to getting more involved as I work with my tank.

A little of my background. I have been keeping fish for a number of years. I stopped while in college though. About three years ago I started up again with just fish and some plastic plants in a 10 gallon tank I took from my parents. About 2 years ago I made the jump into a larger tank (29 gallon) and began keeping plants. I have had no real clue what I've been doing or even what plants I have. 3 weeks ago I upgraded to a 75 gallon tank and found this forum.

My plants as of right now aren't doing the greatest as I don't have CO2 running yet (waiting on the DIY reactor to dry and be pressure tested) but that will hopefully be up and running soon.

I will get some pictures up of the tank this week and compile my plant and equipment lists. Thanks and looking forward to interacting with everyone!

 

[Biollante]

Welcome

Hi,

Welcome.

Do you have specific plans for what you wish to do?

Do-it-yourself CO2 can be a bit of a challenge, I keep an 80-gallon, a 55-gallon and a few smaller tanks diy CO2. I have a NeighborWhatIsABiggerNutThanI that keeps large tanks diy CO2.

Sorry I missed you along the way, really we are quite friendly to newcomers, it is once you have been here a while...

Planning is the most important part, people succeed or fail before they start... Seriously, read the "Pick a plan and stick to it" sticky.

Once again welcome.

Biollante

 

[pdavis41]

Thanks! Its been a bit crazy for me right now so I haven't had the chance to get photos or lists together.

CO2 Cylinder is sitting waiting to be hooked up. My DIY Venturi failed so I should be receiving a premade one in the mail tomorrow or Thursday. Once that is going I can get that up and going.

As of right now, I don't have a plan besides CO2 and PMDD pre-mix ferts. Once I get that going I will start to look at getting new plants up and going.

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,

There is no reason not to have healthy plant growth w/o the use of c02 injection...You can work on that while your c02 plans come together. Ya know, multi-tasking

Bio asks a pertinent question re: your goals.

I think that will drive a lot of advice.

My questions are much more basic, alas, in that I ask for as much info as you can provide for the following:

1). Tank dimensions
2). Substrate - type, enriched or not, DIY, etc
3). Lighting fixture, type, # bulbs, how mounted, etc
4). Filtration - make, models, etc
5). Additional flow via powerheads or such
6). Your plans for c02. How to diffuse, models, etc. What size pump to run what size reactor?
7). Plants - what types and how many?
8). Plumbing details - are there plans for an in-line heater or UV?

These all play a role in an enclosed environment such as we have, no matter the size.

These details along with your goals should drive some discussion.

Goals:

1). Do you like fiddling/testing the tank?
2). Are you pressed for time?
3). Do you want a fast growing, high tech setup?
4). Do you want less maintenance, less growth?
5). Are you interested in more of the science behind things, or are you more the layperson type?

These are the types of things you need to articulate so you can get better advice.

Hope this helps.

 

[Biollante]

Aside From Being Obnoxiously Nosey…

Hi,

Well we know you are doing pressurized CO2 (life will be simpler)…

Obviously you are under no obligation to answer these questions, just as you are under no obligation to follow the excellent advice Gerry gives or the questionable advice I might proffer.

If there is a significant other in your life, are they onboard?

How much time and effort do you want to put into this project? I mean sick puppies like me, if I could this is all I would do, but I have folks around me that seem to think I ought to have a life (silly them).

How patient are you? Be honest at least with yourself?

Emphasis on plants or critters?

What is your tap water like? Often you can get your water reports online; posting that helps everyone understand where you are starting.

Are drilling the tank?

What types of filtration are you looking for?

Type of plants? Honestly, among the biggest mistakes I see are people who are learning the basics (nothing wrong with that) run out and by plants and/or critters that experienced aquarist types have a hard time keeping. Or trying to “force” plants and/or critters together that simply have widely varying needs to get along.

Have you thought about substrates? If not that is okay, many of these questions answer themselves. In fact I see folks stressing over substrates when they haven’t a clue as to the plants they want.

Lastly what kind of a budget are you on, it is not my place or anyone else’s to tell what you do with your money; however this hobby can turn into a money pit fast if you are not careful.

This is after all a hobby, not, well, er… golf, it should be a recreational outlet, not a source of family conflict and stress, in my ever-humble-potted-plant opinion.

Biollante

 

[pdavis41]

Well I can start a list of what I know off the top of my head:

--Tank dimensions: 48" x 18" x 21"
--Tank size: 75 Gallons
--Substrate is a mixture of CaribSea Floramax and CaribSea EcoComplete
--Lighting is a 48" Coralife compact fluorescent fixture - 4 Bulbs @ 65W each. 2 50% 10,000K Daylight, 50% Actinic 03 Blue bulbs that run ~10 hours a day and 2 10,000K Daylight bulbs that are currently off but will run ~3-4 hours for peak light.
--Filtration is a Rena Flistar xp3
--Additional powerhead in the tank, Koralia Nano towards the top to create a little surface agitation.
--CO2 will be in a separate pump system (not inline with the Rena) that is rated at 296 gph. The reactor is a slight modification of the http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/3444-Dual-venturi-DIY-External-CO2-reactor one that Tom shows here. Just waiting on the venturi to come in for that.
--Plumbing: right now no plans for inline heater or UV.

Plants:
Ones I know for sure:
2 Anubias Nana
couple of bunches of Cryptocoryne wendtii
3 large bunches of java fern
some java moss
1 Red Flame Sword
~12 Chilensis
4 or 5 stems of Hygrophilia corymbosa

Unsure:
I believe a few bunches of Telanthera Rosefolia
One other that I got from my future father-in-law that I can't remember what it is. Stemed plant. Using it for mid-ground right now

Goals:
--I like to fiddle and test.
--Pressed for time....yes and no. I have time to dedicate weekly to trimming and water changes and for daily upkeep. But not sure, right now how much more I can put into the tank.
--I don't mind a fast growing, high tech tank. I have (i believe) the equipment for this so, I think this was the route I was planning on going.
--Right now I am a layperson type but I am starting to get more into the science side of it. I want to learn more, which is why I started searching for a forum like this one.

That is all that I can think of for right now.

 

[ibanezfrelon]

if I could this is all I would do, but I have folks around me that seem to think I ought to have a life (silly them).

Oh yes... ...i know what you mean...:gw:gw:gw

Welcome pdavis41!!

 

[pdavis41]

Water quality report for my area:
http://www.glendaleheights.org/PublicService/WaterQualityReport.pdf

Water source is Lake Michigan, not well water.

Noteables from the report:
Barium (ppm) 0.0208
Copper (ppm) 0.032
Lead (ppb) 6.07
Nitrate (As Nitrogen) (ppm) 0.384
Total Nitrate & Nitrite (ppm) 0.384
Chlorine (as CL2) (ppm) 1.15
Fluoride (ppm) 1.28
Sodium (ppm) 7.82


As far as the other questions Biollante put forth:
Significant Other: Yes. Fiance.
Plants or Critters: I like to find a balance of both. My tank if fairly well stocked (well if the angles would stop eating my neons....but thats another story)
-- 2 Silver Angles
-- 6 Neon Tetras (for now)
-- 8 Black Fin Tetras
-- 4 Harlequin Rasboras
-- 1 Siamese Algae Eater
-- 4 Cories
-- 2 small (under 3/4" bristlenoses)
-- handfull of Nerite Snails
-- handfull (and growing but father-in-law-to-be has fish that will eat them) Malaysian Trumpet snails

Patience: I am fairly patient. I don't mind starting out slow and letting the plants grow in. Using cuttings to fill out the tank. Ect....
Budget: As of right now little budget. I have spent a bit in the last few weeks getting the new tank up and going. Until I sell the old tank spending is a bit on hold. Long Term....there is room to grow and spend.
Drilling: No. its a tempered glass tank.

Time: If I could win the lottery and spend all my time working on tanks. that would be heaven. Reality though....I have time just not my central focus. It is the main piece of our living room though so it is a priority in that sense. If I could start a company doing this, I would love to. However I need to get a lot more experience and background before I could fathom doing that.

Thanks for the responses so far!

 

[pdavis41]

Well finally got around to breaking out the camera and taking a few pictures.