Very nice.. when you have finished would you like to come and do mine :D :)
Printable View
Very nice.. when you have finished would you like to come and do mine :D :)
Hi pink66, thanks for the nice comment.Already added 2 more before I read your post. Don't know if the hike in ammonia is due to the additional prawns, or if it is just part of the process I have to wait through.Quote:
Originally Posted by ILUSN
Day 1: 21.07.08 Ammonia: 0.25
Day 2: 22.07.08 Ammonia: 1.00
Day 1: 21.07.08 Ammonia: 0.25
Day 2: 22.07.08 Ammonia: 1.00
Day 3: 23.07.08 Ammonia 2.00
wow TW it looks fantasic , love they way you have set it all up , nice work
Another 25% water change.
Day 1: 21.07.08 Ammonia: 0.25
Day 2: 22.07.08 Ammonia: 1.00
Day 3: 23.07.08 Ammonia: 2.00
Day 4: 24.07.08 Ammonia: 2.00
Thanks Scott, appreciate the nice comment.
Anyway, I'd like to discuss my error number ????. Well I lost count - too many now.
I didn't know before about the issues of sand becoming anaerobic when the depth is over 1". I think I am fine along the front border, but I obviously have a problem in the middle section. In that area, the sand is much deeper. Been trying to think of solutions, and here are my choices:-
1. MTS snails to keep the substrate churned up. They may not be enough though, to do the job.
2. Temporarily remove the sand from the deeper area. Replace most of the sand with a thick layer of sand coloured gravel, to within an inch of my desired substrate level. Place sand on top of the gravel, ensure it's only 1 inch thick.
3. Temporarily remove the sand from the deeper area. Have some sort of perspex or glass wedge made that fits in the space, so that it reaches to within an inch of my desired substrate level. Place sand on top of the gravel, ensure it's only 1 inch thick. I think the wedge is more likely to slide around, so might have to fix it to glass bottom in some way. If tank was empty, I'd silicone it. As it's not, I thought of marine cement - but that seems too permanent. At least silicone can be scraped away - but I can't bring myself to empty the tank, shut-off the filters & wait days for the silicone to cure. Marine cement can be put in place while the tank is full of water.
The most attractive option to me is option 1, but I am clueless as to whether or not this would solve the issue. Would the grains of sand simply work there way down through the gravel & I'd eventually back to square one.
Any ideas thoughts, anyone?
I am no expert when it comes to sand, but if you need a solid base under your sand at the rear would a large river stone help?
They can come with flat bottoms and nicely rounded tops.. should be easy to mould sand around it... though unsure if this would solve your prob or not..
I feel your pain in not being able to finish and put fish in and the thought of emptying the tank is horrible :-{
with the prawns in, how often are you doing water changes? I will need to do some too as I now have 3 rather attractive ones sitting in my sump!!!!
Sorry, I meant to say option 2 with gravel bed was the most attractive option to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by TW
Hi Sharon - I have just replied to your pm.
Because I have ADA in there, it's recommended to do daily 25% water changes, for around the 1st 10 days in the life of a new tank, to avoid algae blooms. I usually haven't bothered to do this in the past with my smaller ADA tanks & I've never had an issue. But just the thought of battling an algae outbreak in a 7ft tank scares me - so I'm following the recommendations of 25% daily as a precaution. I normally don't water change a tank before the cycle finishes, but the ADA, coupled with my high ammonia levels, has made me think I should do the wc this time. I'm not gravel vacing though, just changing the water.
Thanks for the suggestions for the river rocks. I will wait to see what other suggestions & then will decide. I do have some nice flat pieces of granite - but the disadvantage I thought of with the idea of rocks is that none will fit exactly. There will be gaps & the sand in the gaps will be deep. That's why I thought of the silicone wedge or a layer of gravel. But I am a bit lost really.
Thanks, Robyn
Hi Robyn... I have a 120 gallon with pool filter sand along with plants and driftwood.. so some areas of sand are definitely deeper than one inch.
I don't have access to the snails but find that whenever I do my vacuming I just use either the python or a chopstick or whatever I have handy to poke and gently stir the substrate a bit and that works fine. Pool filter sand is not as fine as the sand in which some people have had nasty pockets form . If you combo the gravel and sand by layering the sand will filter down . Unless you are going to have an area that you want 4 or 5 inches of mound, I don't think you will have a problem. I have not found issues in any of my tanks with pfs as long as I stir on occassion. HTH Sue
Such a simple solution - brilliant. That's what I love about this forum. Someone always comes up with info.Quote:
Originally Posted by SusieQ
Thanks SusieQ :D
Another 25% water change.
Day 1: 21.07.08 Ammonia: 0.25
Day 2: 22.07.08 Ammonia: 1.00
Day 3: 23.07.08 Ammonia: 2.00
Day 4: 24.07.08 Ammonia: 2.00
Day 5: 25.07.08 Ammonia: 2.00