AllenIsbell's Aquarium Experience.

[AllenIsbell]

Here's my attempt at making a blog.

Tank: 20 gallon extra-tall
Environment: Freshwater/planted
Filtration: Eheim Professional 2 2028 (Custom plumbing - see below)
Lighting: A couple of 26-watt CFL bulbs for now. (Still looking for some 6000Ks)
Substrate: Premium play sand.
Heater: Rena Cal Top Light 100w


So, I got back into wanting an aquarium about 6 months ago. I was set on building a marine aquarium. I changed my mind about 2 months ago. I wanted to first be in the habit of maintaining a box of water before venturing off into a more difficult field. Practice, basically.

A friend hooked me up with a 20 gallon extra tall with lid/fixture and a stand.

First things I did:

I cleaned everything. The stand came with reversible panels--One side wood, the other black. The wood side was out. I like modern, so I swapped them around to black. The frames on the aquarium are plastic, and had a wood design on them. I flipped the aquarium upside down, masked off the front, sides, and bottom, and painted the rear black. I'm a fan of black backgrounds.

I let the paint dry for 3 days in the garage before taking off the tape. While drying, I went to Lowes and picked up some PVC, sand, rocks, and other supplies to make my plumbing.
Rock: http://www.lowes.com/pd_224017-39243...7C1&facetInfo=

Sand: http://www.lowes.com/pd_10392-286-11...and&facetInfo=

Then I rinsed the sand because I hate cloudy water as much as the next aquarist.

(I made a new Youtube channel because I realized that I wanted to make videos specifically related to fishkeeping)

I really enjoy helping people, so I made a guide if anyone is interested in learning how to rinse sand:


Next, I busted the rocks up . PAIN IN THE BUTT. THEY ARE TOUGH.

Took it all into my office where I took measurements for the plumbing. Did all of the cutting/gluing outside.





After that was said and done, I ran the water hose through the window and filled it up. When the water level was at about 25%, I leveled the tank. My tile floors must not be even because it was off a good bit. Primed the filter, and got the water moving. Had to add water after filling up the filter, of course. Added Jungle Start-Right to the tank to get rid of chlorine and cloromine.

After a couple days of making sure that there were no leaks and getting the temperature up, I went to Wal-Mart and bought a Platy and Molly to start the cycle. I also bought a pack of "Hardy Aponogeton Bulbs" to start my plant adventure. I acclimated the fish by floating the bag for 30 minutes and pouring a little tank water into their bag every 5 minutes for an hour. I know some people are against cycling with fish--I'm not. Sorry if that's offensive to anyone. I also got an airstone at this time. The fish lived through it with no problems or signs of distress.

[AllenIsbell]

Had to split this up due to the 6 photo per post limit.........





After a week, I got an Apple Snail and a Red Flame Sword from Wal-Mart.

Made a timelapse video of the Apple Snail:






Waited another 2 weeks, and got some ghost shrimp and a male Gold-Dust Molly. (I can't get good pictures of the fish because they move too fast. I will post video updates of the tank instead.) Somehow the plant and airstone kept floating up, so I got some Eagle Claw eco friendly fishing weights and tied them on to the plant and airstone with fishing line (made of tin and aquarium safe based off of my online research).

A couple of days ago, I realized that my plant was growing pretty dang fast on a 10-hour-per-day light schedule. I propagated the Red Flame Sword to spread the greenery out a little. At this time, I was hoping I was doing it right. I just pulled them apart, tied and weighted the pieces together.



I have been doing 50% water changes weekly since I started this tank. Today I did a water change.

I just noticed that one of the Aponogeton bulbs have sprouted!



After noticing that, I spread the bulbs out so they don't use up each other's nutrients (if that's even an issue with them). These CFL bulbs are doing a great job of growing these plants. The new sprouts in the center of the original Red Flame seem to be growing at least 1/2" per day. Not sure about the longer ones. I do plan on getting some nutrients for the plants, though.

I will be doing a video introduction of my tank tomorrow when the water is settled down from this water change.

More updates to come as I make changes/discoveries.

[steeler58]

Looks like your off to a good start.

[Knightia]

Looks really good so far.

What's the reason you have the intake pipe so short? I would think it would be more advantageous having it longer to draw water from the lower portion of the tank, thus increasing overall circulation?

[AllenIsbell]

Thanks, everyone.

The intake will be longer when I get some more 90 degree PVC elbows and make it how I want it.

I didn't get to do the video update last night. Maybe today. Busy schedule with a little one to look after.

[Cermet]

Fish based cycling is fine if you don't mind large water changes day in and day out for weeks.

[AllenIsbell]

Do you think 50% once a week was fine? I don't mind doing it more frequently if I should.

[Cermet]

Do you think 50% once a week was fine? I don't mind doing it more frequently if I should.

You just need to know what the ammonia level is and nitrite level. Ammonia needs to remain under 0.25 ppm and nitrite under 0.1 ppm.

For example: in a 20 gal, if the ammonia is reading 0.5 ppm, than a 50% water change (10 gal) will reduce it to 0.25 ppm (but by the next day it would be too high and the fish would have suffered all night.)

Rather, a 0.5 ppm would need at least a 15 gal change (75% so the reading is under 0.25 ppm (about 0.125 ppm but kits don't measure those values.)

Two 50% water changes done right away on that same tank would do the exact same reduction (0.5 ppm to 0.125 ppm) but the work would be doubled! So, larger changes (like 75%) are better for high readings than two 50% changes.

As for once a week, that depends - if one fish in a 20 gal, maybe. But most fish based cycling requires large water changes more often; again, it has to do with the ammonia levels and later, the nitrite levels.

[Shidohari]

Nice tank...your friends are happy

[AllenIsbell]

You just need to know what the ammonia level is and nitrite level. Ammonia needs to remain under 0.25 ppm and nitrite under 0.1 ppm.

For example: in a 20 gal, if the ammonia is reading 0.5 ppm, than a 50% water change (10 gal) will reduce it to 0.25 ppm (but by the next day it would be too high and the fish would have suffered all night.)

Rather, a 0.5 ppm would need at least a 15 gal change (75% so the reading is under 0.25 ppm (about 0.125 ppm but kits don't measure those values.)

Two 50% water changes done right away on that same tank would do the exact same reduction (0.5 ppm to 0.125 ppm) but the work would be doubled! So, larger changes (like 75%) are better for high readings than two 50% changes.

As for once a week, that depends - if one fish in a 20 gal, maybe. But most fish based cycling requires large water changes more often; again, it has to do with the ammonia levels and later, the nitrite levels.

Thanks for the tips. Makes a lot of sense.

Nice tank...your friends are happy

Lol thanks