Hopefully my water is better now.... what next..?

[Pete]

Thanks for all your replies and help with diagnosing the problem with
my tank water.

Here's where I've got to now.. (with a few questions, if anyone can
lend a hand please..)
I removed all plants and discarded all those that were not healthy or
had algae (i.e. most of them).
Pulled out the undergravel filters/powerheads.
Hoovered all the gravel over the last 4 days causing a 25% water
change/day (a bit drastic I know) and it looks pristine.
One thing that crossed my mind - I've got on average about 2" gravel -
is that about the right amount?

Replanted, cleaned glass and flouro tubes and replaced mylar (posh
baco foil) reflector on lid.

I put all the driftwood & bark into a fairly strong bleach solution
for a day then have left it on the shed roof to wash in our great
British weather - can I re-use the bark/driftwood ?? It's been well
washed over the last dew days!

Today I installed an Eheim 2329 wet/dry (bio) filter (what fun that
was! and why do they supply such short hoses? I had to spend £14 to
buy new ones), the biggest surprise was how much the water level goes
up and down as it 'breathes' - I'm hoping this, in conjunction with
the Eheim 2217 and removal of the UGF's will keep my water sweet.

I've ordered a pair of 150W metal halide lights that'll help with the
plant growth. They're 2nd-hand and I'll have to replace the bulbs,
does anyone know what I should be looking for in terms of K rating? -
for freshwater tropical, so the MH is mainly there for the plant
growth.
Should I also continue to run the 3 x 36W Triton's in conjunction with
the MH lamps for about 10hrs/day?

At the time of writing the fish all seem very happy - such lovely
smiles - and with all the manky plants gone, there's so much space!

Thanks in advance for your continued help
Pete

[Gail Futoran]

"Pete" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for all your replies and help with diagnosing the problem with
> my tank water.
>
> Here's where I've got to now.. (with a few questions, if anyone can
> lend a hand please..)
> I removed all plants and discarded all those that were not healthy or
> had algae (i.e. most of them).
> Pulled out the undergravel filters/powerheads.
> Hoovered all the gravel over the last 4 days causing a 25% water
> change/day (a bit drastic I know) and it looks pristine.
> One thing that crossed my mind - I've got on average about 2" gravel -
> is that about the right amount?

I have 2-3" in my planted tanks. Actually I have
mostly profile with a thin layer of gravel over.
But I had a 10 gallon that was strictly gravel
that managed to grow C. wendtii like weeds.

> Replanted, cleaned glass and flouro tubes and replaced mylar (posh
> baco foil) reflector on lid.
>
> I put all the driftwood & bark into a fairly strong bleach solution
> for a day then have left it on the shed roof to wash in our great
> British weather - can I re-use the bark/driftwood ?? It's been well
> washed over the last dew days!

How strong a solution? I'd be tempted to soak
it in water in a bucket until I could no longer
smell any chlorine (sniffing the driftwood, not
the water).

> Today I installed an Eheim 2329 wet/dry (bio) filter (what fun that
> was! and why do they supply such short hoses? I had to spend £14 to
> buy new ones), the biggest surprise was how much the water level goes
> up and down as it 'breathes' - I'm hoping this, in conjunction with
> the Eheim 2217 and removal of the UGF's will keep my water sweet.
>
> I've ordered a pair of 150W metal halide lights that'll help with the
> plant growth. They're 2nd-hand and I'll have to replace the bulbs,
> does anyone know what I should be looking for in terms of K rating? -
> for freshwater tropical, so the MH is mainly there for the plant
> growth.
> Should I also continue to run the 3 x 36W Triton's in conjunction with
> the MH lamps for about 10hrs/day?

http://www.thekrib.com/Lights/

I'm pretty casual about lighting - using the
hoods that came with the tanks (at least
they're fluorescent!). My plants don't mind
low light. I think the amount of light partly
depends on the kind of plants. E.g., more
colorful plants require more light.

> At the time of writing the fish all seem very happy - such lovely
> smiles - and with all the manky plants gone, there's so much space!
>
> Thanks in advance for your continued help
> Pete

Good luck in your pursuit.

Gail

[Pete]

On Thu, 25 May 2006 03:11:30 GMT, "Gail Futoran"
> wrote:

>"Pete" > wrote in message
...
>> Thanks for all your replies and help with diagnosing the problem with
>> my tank water.
>>
>> Here's where I've got to now.. (with a few questions, if anyone can
>> lend a hand please..)
>> I removed all plants and discarded all those that were not healthy or
>> had algae (i.e. most of them).
>> Pulled out the undergravel filters/powerheads.
>> Hoovered all the gravel over the last 4 days causing a 25% water
>> change/day (a bit drastic I know) and it looks pristine.
>> One thing that crossed my mind - I've got on average about 2" gravel -
>> is that about the right amount?
>
>I have 2-3" in my planted tanks. Actually I have
>mostly profile with a thin layer of gravel over.
>But I had a 10 gallon that was strictly gravel
>that managed to grow C. wendtii like weeds.
>
>> Replanted, cleaned glass and flouro tubes and replaced mylar (posh
>> baco foil) reflector on lid.
>>
>> I put all the driftwood & bark into a fairly strong bleach solution
>> for a day then have left it on the shed roof to wash in our great
>> British weather - can I re-use the bark/driftwood ?? It's been well
>> washed over the last dew days!
>
>How strong a solution? I'd be tempted to soak
>it in water in a bucket until I could no longer
>smell any chlorine (sniffing the driftwood, not
>the water).
>
>> Today I installed an Eheim 2329 wet/dry (bio) filter (what fun that
>> was! and why do they supply such short hoses? I had to spend £14 to
>> buy new ones), the biggest surprise was how much the water level goes
>> up and down as it 'breathes' - I'm hoping this, in conjunction with
>> the Eheim 2217 and removal of the UGF's will keep my water sweet.
>>
>> I've ordered a pair of 150W metal halide lights that'll help with the
>> plant growth. They're 2nd-hand and I'll have to replace the bulbs,
>> does anyone know what I should be looking for in terms of K rating? -
>> for freshwater tropical, so the MH is mainly there for the plant
>> growth.
>> Should I also continue to run the 3 x 36W Triton's in conjunction with
>> the MH lamps for about 10hrs/day?
>
>http://www.thekrib.com/Lights/
>
>I'm pretty casual about lighting - using the
>hoods that came with the tanks (at least
>they're fluorescent!). My plants don't mind
>low light. I think the amount of light partly
>depends on the kind of plants. E.g., more
>colorful plants require more light.
>
>> At the time of writing the fish all seem very happy - such lovely
>> smiles - and with all the manky plants gone, there's so much space!
>>
>> Thanks in advance for your continued help
>> Pete
>
>Good luck in your pursuit.
>
>Gail
>
Thanks Gail - interesting weblink. I was wondering which type of bulb
to use in the MH setup and now I think I know.

Thnaks again & best wishes
Pete