tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72004539263527439442024-03-14T01:39:14.314+05:30Aquariums, Flora, Fauna, Equipment and more...My passion for aquatic life quantified in text format.SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-3788709463732007142021-05-02T23:53:00.006+05:302021-05-03T00:01:29.038+05:30Flooded Forest Aquarium Scheduling using Smarteefi<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPy-VB0xo08/YI7t_PNoUcI/AAAAAAAAfO8/rdJDo5E2x6ASzDqE9WV0iTo3_9K7s7SuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2338/Snip20210502_19-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="2338" height="462" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPy-VB0xo08/YI7t_PNoUcI/AAAAAAAAfO8/rdJDo5E2x6ASzDqE9WV0iTo3_9K7s7SuQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h462/Snip20210502_19-2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Screen shot from the smarteefi device scheduling configuration page that shows all the 3 control port settings. Port is nothing but one of the switch plug points on the smart strip. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am using Switch S1 for the CO2 solenoid, S2 for Surface Skimmer and S3 for the Night Lights. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The switch off time for S1, CO2 Soleniod was changed from 4 PM to 5 PM giving additional hour for CO2 injection. This is required because the Lights are on full power till 6 PM and then tapers for Switch off by 7 PM. </span></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-37045444792046185492021-05-02T16:17:00.002+05:302021-05-02T16:17:52.270+05:30CO2 Already Dialled In, But Rechecking<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">CO2 was already dialled in, but the buffering capability of the Tropica Soil seems to be spent. The scape is now 8+ months. Another round of pH logging to check if the CO2 is still dialled in. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vR1xS4AtX4JXYKcTxXfRY0PRYy_hAduMB1HFiCkVwdkp6HzCFe9HWR0JwiauyYU8CxGg4jjgTRbeQS4/pubchart?oid=571452662&format=image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="600" height="429" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vR1xS4AtX4JXYKcTxXfRY0PRYy_hAduMB1HFiCkVwdkp6HzCFe9HWR0JwiauyYU8CxGg4jjgTRbeQS4/pubchart?oid=571452662&format=image" width="694" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-72875108179955202102021-04-27T14:41:00.011+05:302021-05-03T16:37:03.772+05:30Growing Monte Carlo as a Carpet - My Experience so far<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How did it go so far?</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">An <b>Epic Failure</b> followed by <b>Lot of Patience, Work and a Rebound</b>. <b>Success</b>, yeah but <b>Hubris followed</b> which resulted in <b>Epic Failure Again</b>. Read on for the details. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Flooded Forest is my 50L planted aquarium that was scaped in a concave layout. The tank was scaped in Aug 2020. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/HnB0PGel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/HnB0PGel.png" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Phase 1 - Just planted</span></h4><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monte Carlo was used as the main carpeting plant species from the start. Height of the COVID-19 lockdown, sourcing materials and plants was tough. </span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plants sourced from FinsNFlora was of poor quality - Transit damage. <a href="https://aquabang.blogspot.com/2020/08/shoddy-packaging-poor-job-by-finsnflora.html" target="_blank">More on this</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">All of the 3 pots were bunched into may be 15 bunches. I should have made 30-40 bunches with 2-3 stems a bunch. This way I could have covered more ground. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">At least one of the pot or may be more was planted upside down. </span></li></ol><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/j8PNiLHl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="405" src="https://i.imgur.com/j8PNiLHl.jpg" width="539" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The entire bunch wilted away in no time. </i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Phase 2 - Replanting</span></h4><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another cup, this time an ADA Tissue Culture cup of Monte Carlo was sourced from http://aquaticplants.co.in. This was planted about the last week of Aug 2020.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/yPPA6ZAl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/yPPA6ZAl.jpg" /></a></div><br /><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plants were of good quality and much better health. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Self picked so no transport stress. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bunching technique was improved. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">CO2 injection was 3-4 bubbles per second</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">CO2 drop checker was bright yellow, was fun. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lighting was very bright and photoperiod was bit too much. </span></li></ol><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="425" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/340HMB8cP0I" width="511" youtube-src-id="340HMB8cP0I"></iframe></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monte Carlo plant growth picked up, carpet formation started to get better. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">But the tank got an algae outbreak in general. </span></i></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Phase 3 - Balancing the triangle</span></h4><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Photoperiod, light intensity, CO2 Injection rate and Nutrients. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/LIRZWqNl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/LIRZWqNl.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">First green hair like algae outbreak and then diatoms. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had to cut back on the photoperiod and the light intensity. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I did not fiddle with the nutrient levels. Was dosing Tropica Specialized 1mL per day. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Manually removed as much algae as possible. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scrubbed the rocks and Driftwood</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Frequent water changes some times 30-40% every day or every other day. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Was going crazy. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Introduced Algae eaters - Nerite snails. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cut back the CO2 injection to about 1 bubble per second. </span></li></ol><div><h4><span style="font-family: verdana;">Phase 4 - Carpet, finally</span></h4></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monte Carlo spread enough, grew enough and the foreground carpet started taking shape. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/6wpw7gkl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/6wpw7gkl.jpg" /></a></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monte Carlo carpet requires regular trimming. Every 2-3 weeks</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do not get caught in the excitement of seeing the carpet take shape. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I cut the Monte Carlo in the extreme foreground may be once, but then failed to cut back for a good 2-3 months. </span></li></ol><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/RmPzDMOl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/RmPzDMOl.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My Monte Carlo carpet looked nice but unwieldy. </i></span></div><div><h4><span style="font-family: verdana;">Phase 5 - Cut back, a bit too deep? </span></h4></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One reason I was afraid at cutting at the Monte Carlo carpet was the amount of floaters and the mess with all the stem plants. A day arrived where I decided that it was enough and took out the wave scissors and went hacking</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/dh68u16l.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/dh68u16l.jpg" /></a></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The carpet was cut back to the substrate level. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was hopeful that the carpet would come back stronger. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of the carpet was yellow, means the plants are dying or already dead (I did not know it at that time)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summer had set in, the water temperature was rising. I was getting less CO2 dissolution for my injection rate (I didn't realise this as yet). </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 bubble per second may not be able to make the cut. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reasons could be endless... </span></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">With a lot of tiny fish, shrimp and one snail, it did not take long for the yellowed stems to come out. My aquascape took a back seat as my other hobbies took priority. I was negligent on maintenance for a while. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/SO8i3CNl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/SO8i3CNl.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My Monte Carlo carpet was now destroyed. But I am not giving it up... </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Quoting from the 2 Hr Aquarist: https://www.2hraquarist.com/blogs/hot-topics/which-carpet-mc-or-hc</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">"</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(63, 57, 57); color: #3f3939; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Both MC and HC require pruning (in a CO2 injected tank with strong light, every 2 weeks if not 3) to remain in good form. With MC you can get away with pruning less frequently, while HC requires a much (repeat) higher level of discipline and regularity.</span></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(63, 57, 57); color: #3f3939; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><b>What happens if we do not prune? The top layers shade the lower layers which start to deteriorate</b>, as shown in the picture above. With MC the process is more gradual. With HC this happens far more quickly. You cannot substitute regular pruning with better or more nutrition / fertilisation. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(63, 57, 57); color: #3f3939; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 15px;">As a general rule, <b>trim sooner and earlier, rather than later. It is far better to trim aggressively, rather than leniently. </b></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(63, 57, 57); color: #3f3939; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>Once the bottom layer deteriorates, you need to replant healthy parts of the top layer.</b></span>"</span></div><p></p></div></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-21577739196293715732021-04-25T23:34:00.003+05:302021-04-25T23:47:21.711+05:30The hunt for La Plata sand<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: left;">Taking inspiration from tons of aquascapes on the net, my friend Vijay and me were sure that we wanted to finish the scape with ADA la Plata cosmetic sand. However given the covid situation and the embargo on imported goods all the good stuffs are hard to come by. </span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The good people at Still water aquatics, Mumbai had one last 8 kg bag and we lost no time in shipping the bag to Bengaluru. Costed more but la plata looks very nice and compliments ADA Seriyu stone very well. The dark and blue tones on the Seriyu vs the white soft tones on the cosmetic sand.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The bag of ADA la plata sand arrived week of 19-23 Apr along with 4 pots of Monte Carlo, 1 pot each of Java fern narrow leaf and Bolbitis mini. Unfortunately for us Karnataka is under curfew during weekends and we had to finish the scape over a video conference.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We started the finish this Saturday, 25-Apr. The tank was emptied, the glass was scrubbed and everything was made ready. firstly some loose stone and driftwood was glued together using tissue paper and liquid super glue every thing was then rock solid. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The la plata sand was scooped in a mug and sprinkled in the open bottom area of the tank, completely covering the island. Since a sand flattened was unavailable, a ruler was used to flatten the sand and make it even. At the junction to the stone at the island and extra thickness of sand was used and made even.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Bp_lhjO1k0/YIWxnmy_FVI/AAAAAAAAfKQ/1PzPI7UfiWgHonpRSl84tpmfojq-eu2_QCPcBGAsYHg/s954/afd8c169-f45e-4c76-9f54-50fc69bce2d0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="954" height="191" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Bp_lhjO1k0/YIWxnmy_FVI/AAAAAAAAfKQ/1PzPI7UfiWgHonpRSl84tpmfojq-eu2_QCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h191/afd8c169-f45e-4c76-9f54-50fc69bce2d0.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The java fern and Bolbitis was placed into the layout, the java fern in the rear facing side, inserted between two rocks to create more green. The bolbitis was placed very close to the sand in the middle of the layout. It added a deep dark green into the otherwise bare part of the layout. Both placements came out well.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finally the Monte Carlo was planted into the sand, at couple of places where the stone meets the sand, just to make a contrast and add some detail. The Monte Carlo may grow slow and leggy, but carpet is not the idea over here.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wanted a sense of a small hedge or shrubs at the edge of the sand beach before the hillock starts. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgIqk_uolRc/YIWxnso8pOI/AAAAAAAAfKQ/-EdFF1GapgcdbBuHu6bZJ9k8WMqHmdGogCPcBGAsYHg/s807/fc236405-9341-46f5-afca-a644c116068f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="746" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgIqk_uolRc/YIWxnso8pOI/AAAAAAAAfKQ/-EdFF1GapgcdbBuHu6bZJ9k8WMqHmdGogCPcBGAsYHg/w370-h400/fc236405-9341-46f5-afca-a644c116068f.jpg" width="370" /></a></span></p><p><br /></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-32946581798595590992021-04-14T09:19:00.005+05:302021-04-14T09:25:24.050+05:30Display tank for my friends new home<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: left;">The display tank separates the living area from the dining area. This needs to be a show tank. The tank needs to be viewable from all three sides, with the other side facing the wall adjacent to the lift entrance. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Mr and Mrs Vijay were clear that they wanted a planted tank aquascape for making the show tank. They picked from options of planted tank, discus tank, cichlid rock scape, community aquarium and so on.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We picked a nice tank, 90 x 45 x 45 cm, clear glass 12 mm, factory made with very clear pasting. This kind of tank is ideal for planted tanks with open top.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oh9v48nX0Dc/YHQPx6UYaNI/AAAAAAAAd5I/N3GZs_Nt_9oe1vbkZ3nabpXDFmIV2jhUgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_8333.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oh9v48nX0Dc/YHQPx6UYaNI/AAAAAAAAd5I/N3GZs_Nt_9oe1vbkZ3nabpXDFmIV2jhUgCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h225/IMG_8333.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">We use scape.it to design an island layout using branch wood, seriyu stone and easy plants. The island was centered at the focal point leaving almost half the tank with open water for school of small tetras. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-deWYaoSbIec/YHQQWylWFaI/AAAAAAAAd5Q/lBQQ37nACkM6vKrFfEIW2EpbrUJ5B5enwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/6CB04B4F-9368-417D-A7A7-FE8B44047226.jpeg" style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-deWYaoSbIec/YHQQWylWFaI/AAAAAAAAd5Q/lBQQ37nACkM6vKrFfEIW2EpbrUJ5B5enwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6CB04B4F-9368-417D-A7A7-FE8B44047226.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had already sourced 3 nice pieces of driftwood, some 9-10 kgs of ADA mini landscape rock, ADA Amazonia 2, Super 4 and so on. For the rocks we looked for all medium sized pieces, all of them had some nice white lines on the grains, superb textures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tank bottom was marked to centre the island around the 2/3 line. Super 4 was used only at the island and covered with Amazonia soil. We put in the stones roughly to make the island. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d0rxV8BS_Ns/YHZhL860c5I/AAAAAAAAd54/JHt92Y381c4e6hYCIMLyQeeOwlodw3nHwCPcBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_3912.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d0rxV8BS_Ns/YHZhL860c5I/AAAAAAAAd54/JHt92Y381c4e6hYCIMLyQeeOwlodw3nHwCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/IMG_3912.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">The stones were laid out such that the grains/ lines on the stones were pointing roughly outwards and downwards to create an idea of the natural flow in the tank. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLqebfGltqE/YHZhL6SPtHI/AAAAAAAAd54/gkUYRyDgRrM1nSl2qWsD8LPmW60iR_b5gCPcBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_3913.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLqebfGltqE/YHZhL6SPtHI/AAAAAAAAd54/gkUYRyDgRrM1nSl2qWsD8LPmW60iR_b5gCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/IMG_3913.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We started building out towards making a focal point at the golden ratio. We used more stones to elevate the height at the focal point. Standing the stones without any supports was tough and several times there was banging on the glass, oops. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wCkdxDcPivs/YHZhL6RTa3I/AAAAAAAAd54/gjvggxAyRdstkf2WwAUM1n_fd2mHBtCxQCPcBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_3914.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wCkdxDcPivs/YHZhL6RTa3I/AAAAAAAAd54/gjvggxAyRdstkf2WwAUM1n_fd2mHBtCxQCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/IMG_3914.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Few more stones added to add to finish the island, among the selection of stones was one longer pointed piece that was inclined along the background to create some diorama. This stone was beautiful from both sides so was ideal for viewing from the main side and the other side as well. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xK-CDpM6SpY/YHZhL5eqfdI/AAAAAAAAd54/56oWX6u18U0PIyJ3W_fmkmaGN7Rsc0RKACPcBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_3916.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xK-CDpM6SpY/YHZhL5eqfdI/AAAAAAAAd54/56oWX6u18U0PIyJ3W_fmkmaGN7Rsc0RKACPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/IMG_3916.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rock work done, moving on to the driftwood, the idea was to follow the sketch to make the driftwood pointing outwards and upwards radiating from right to left when viewed from the front side. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MIit7SnJM88/YHZhL57myHI/AAAAAAAAd54/ZWME3TZQya0HrfTgaua1X8w0F_HAdulsgCPcBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_3922.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MIit7SnJM88/YHZhL57myHI/AAAAAAAAd54/ZWME3TZQya0HrfTgaua1X8w0F_HAdulsgCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/IMG_3922.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we were both happy with the placement of the driftwood (such that the elements on the stone that we wanted so show was not hidden), it was time to glue the whole hardscape. We used pieces of make up remover and liquid super glue to glue the contact points between stones and stone to wood interface. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This makes sure that the the layout remains strong and sturdy during maintenance. Another layout guide to ensure is to have at least 2-3 cms of gap between the hardscape and the glass to make sure that the layout is maintainable. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The plant selections: Pinnatifida UK, Anubias var. nana, Abubias var. gold, Brazilian grass, Spiky moss, Crypt wendtii var brown, Crypt wendtii var Pink Panther, Java fern narrow leaf, Java fern Windelow, Bolbitis fern. All easy plants, low to medium light requirements, slow growing to make sure that the owners do not have to do tons of maintenance every week. </span></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0tKIkzWxo8/YHZhL9cNgRI/AAAAAAAAd54/8KFNf97m6QMOVJbcsMBQvOkfuf79z_J0QCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_3931.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0tKIkzWxo8/YHZhL9cNgRI/AAAAAAAAd54/8KFNf97m6QMOVJbcsMBQvOkfuf79z_J0QCPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/IMG_3931.HEIC" width="300" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WExa79Q1w3A/YHZhLzKIF2I/AAAAAAAAd54/seHgemFqs54qOaxTpg-dK-ZIFIkW7RfkgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_3932.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WExa79Q1w3A/YHZhLzKIF2I/AAAAAAAAd54/seHgemFqs54qOaxTpg-dK-ZIFIkW7RfkgCPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/IMG_3932.HEIC" width="300" /></a></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Moss was tied to specific points on the layout to driftwood using ADA moss cotton. Moss was also pasted to hide some of the not so nice looking surfaces of the stone. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cVPqA01imOE/YHZhL_1l4iI/AAAAAAAAd54/QbuPP9mz_P8Q9q1zbEJxj8XX2WdzF5qewCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_3937.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cVPqA01imOE/YHZhL_1l4iI/AAAAAAAAd54/QbuPP9mz_P8Q9q1zbEJxj8XX2WdzF5qewCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/IMG_3937.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Anubias was also glued into some of the rock surfaces using a gel type of super glue. The other epiphytes ferns, Anubias was just inserted into the rock crevices and between the rocks and driftwood. The larger ones Java ferns and Bolbitis was inserted into the right hand side (when viewed from front) where the rock work is also taller, the idea being that the larger leaves of these plants once they grow out would gracefully orient from right to left along the flow from the canister filter. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCHzm5zVlJ0/YHZhL6bMRII/AAAAAAAAd54/2nVl6pZ9VG49uxnGFbJDPXO8rBp4tYLCwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_3946.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCHzm5zVlJ0/YHZhL6bMRII/AAAAAAAAd54/2nVl6pZ9VG49uxnGFbJDPXO8rBp4tYLCwCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/IMG_3946.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Crypts were planted into the soil, the pink panther exclusively from the front of the layout. The brown in the centre of the island such that the rosettes are hidden by the driftwood and the leaves grow outwards and upward, emerging out of the centre creating a feeling of calmness emerging from the island. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pinnatifida UK was attached to the driftwood using a ADA wood tie. The placement was at the focal point and this should grow a nice color being closer to the light and should be a good contrast to the dark green of the moss. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uqFLpf4V_U/YHZhL3akaCI/AAAAAAAAd54/r0UTAEs0kgIvNAaADAJRWjDZEwikdpooACPcBGAsYHg/s3983/IMG_3953.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2111" data-original-width="3983" height="340" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uqFLpf4V_U/YHZhL3akaCI/AAAAAAAAd54/r0UTAEs0kgIvNAaADAJRWjDZEwikdpooACPcBGAsYHg/w640-h340/IMG_3953.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The completed layout there is so much of open water, the bottom glass will get covered in a thin layer of cosmetic sand either la Plata or Colorado. This open water will provide a nice contrast to the tension created by the hardscape. The lighter colour of the sand should also be a good complement. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVbWecVyRfs/YHZhL6_El4I/AAAAAAAAd54/iueF6RMVhoQcRPc75GoCdI7wBS2YyxWBwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_3954.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVbWecVyRfs/YHZhL6_El4I/AAAAAAAAd54/iueF6RMVhoQcRPc75GoCdI7wBS2YyxWBwCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_3954.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-12395621409226537802021-04-05T15:27:00.010+05:302021-04-19T10:02:34.590+05:30Aquascaping for Vijay Sriram<p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Checklist for embarking on aquascaping for Vijay Sriram</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Toolkit</span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">ADA Moss Cotton</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">ADA Wood Tight</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Liquid Superglue</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Regular superglue</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Makeup remover</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Planting Pinsettes</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sprayer</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">pH tester</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">TDS tester</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cup</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Measuring spoons</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whiteboard marker</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Aquascaping scissors</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sand flattener</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Suction hose</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Brush</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Consumables</span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Soil Powder</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">ADA Seriyu stone collection</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spare driftwood collection</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plants</span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bolbitis trimmings</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rotala stems - trimmings - 20-30 nos</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anubias nana and Java fern plantlets</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">(these needs to be treated with peroxide dip, bleach dip and then re-floated with CO2 injection for stabilisation (at least 2 days)</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plants list to be sourced</span></div><p></p><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spiky Moss, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anubias Petite (bulk 8-10 pots), </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Crypt Brown, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pinnatifida UK, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Crypt Pink Panther, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lileiopsis brazilensis</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Java fern narrow</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Java fern Windelow</span></li></ol></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-30802771747241553762021-02-19T19:20:00.005+05:302021-02-19T19:20:58.282+05:30Microworm culture updates dt 19-Feb<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Microworm culture maintenance day today. Culture MW1 which was started 25-Nov-20 has been discarded. This culture was still yielding but slightly but the depth of the bottle made harvesting difficult. I am going to restrict culture to the small plastic containers that look like this one. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cKGrX-O3_oc/X74QEL2TPJI/AAAAAAAAdJs/VODObxe_oXs0t7-zSqIKVcPSoF9PJK9qgCPcBGAYYCw/s4032/C599803B-746D-4268-ABC8-EB3C50344E4C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cKGrX-O3_oc/X74QEL2TPJI/AAAAAAAAdJs/VODObxe_oXs0t7-zSqIKVcPSoF9PJK9qgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/C599803B-746D-4268-ABC8-EB3C50344E4C.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Culture MW3 had gone bad earlier and the contents were discarded. I started a new culture in this container. Added some small portion of fish food into the culture. The idea is that commercially available fish food has a more balanced content and some of of this nutrition should also be available through the cultured microworms. </span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hoping for the best. </span></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-84331412080171101282021-02-19T09:32:00.002+05:302021-02-19T09:34:19.054+05:30Massive trim on the Monte Carlo carpet<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">A massive trim was due for the Monte Carlo carpet. The last trim was done in Dec' 2020 and its been two months now. Another week or two and I am sure parts of the carpet would have lifted off the substrate. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The new pair of Viv Wave scissors was put to good use. Arjun and me have trimmed the carpet back to almost the substrate level. Some of the decorative dragon stones/ pieces in the foreground have now become visible. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tZGhKmpvaE/YC82Qzvx-3I/AAAAAAAAdYI/Pg3Rn_9zfZkYQOJl1lC39YdobDAHrG_OwCLcBGAsYHQ/s562/4ygu05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tZGhKmpvaE/YC82Qzvx-3I/AAAAAAAAdYI/Pg3Rn_9zfZkYQOJl1lC39YdobDAHrG_OwCLcBGAsYHQ/w356-h400/4ygu05.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>The amount of yellow closer to the substrate is stark. It is very clear that the carpet was not doing well. In some of foreground areas where the carpet was completely done, trimmings were replanted. These show are green on the foreground area closer to the front glass. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A lot of debris and waste organics was trapped in the carpet area. All of this was vacuumed out in a water change. I will keep doing water changes twice a week till the carpet settles back. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also the tank got a dose of Green Care and Flora Ace so make sure that enough of humic substances and other plant growth triggers are available for the trimmed carpet to get back to growth. The CO2 was checked and still we are running at 2 bubbles/second. CO2 and Photo period are all unchanged. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Overall, if you have a Monte Carlo carpet you should be ready for trimming maintenance at least every month or so. </span></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0Bengaluru, Karnataka, India12.9715987 77.5945627-15.338635136178846 42.4383127 41.281832536178847 112.7508127tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-27615402619500247362021-01-25T08:06:00.002+05:302021-01-25T16:21:47.297+05:30Flooded Forest becomes a Dwarf Rainbow tank<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Threadfin rainbows, Spotted Blue eye/ Gertrude rainbows and Red Neon Blue eye/ Paskai rainbows. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All of them are dwarf rainbows 1.5 to max 2 inches of total length. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The males of the blue eyed (Psuedomugil) are incredibly cute with their breeding/ dominance displays </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They are from the northern parts of Australia and the Papau New Guinea islands. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iadWKD5AKwU/YA6ivOmL1TI/AAAAAAAAdVg/lBLd2Pbr8e4wwefy69nuVPGehnsQqcPjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/E32FFA57-AFFD-442B-9C61-77C3037C8514.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iadWKD5AKwU/YA6ivOmL1TI/AAAAAAAAdVg/lBLd2Pbr8e4wwefy69nuVPGehnsQqcPjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/E32FFA57-AFFD-442B-9C61-77C3037C8514.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-35976169581193243702021-01-18T11:24:00.002+05:302021-01-18T12:16:30.931+05:30Jan 2021 update<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Flooded Forest</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the end of December we were out for 4-5 days and during this time the CO2 and Lights were both out with only the filter running. Not much damage, one of the Gertrudes had jumped to its death but the plants were mostly fine. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Degassed pH still is at 6.7-6.75 and CO2 is at 2 bps for the most part. At peak CO2 injection the pH drops to about 6 at max. The CO2 and Light schedules, Light intensity are unchanged from before. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Staghorn algae is almost completely gone, BBA is unconquerable but remains mostly inconspicuous. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apart from that, the maintenance routine of weekly 50% water changes continue. Sometimes I scrub the glass sometimes I don't. The filter is due for maintenance, it had gone for 2 months now. The skimmer gets an occasional maintenance but the skimmer sponges are cleaned on a daily basis or they clog. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The stems are trimmed almost once every month and the carpet also needs a trim on a monthly basis. It is not very much work, but trimming maintenance do take a longer time to get done. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kOOPtkWl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/kOOPtkWl.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rest of the <a href="https://imgur.com/gallery/3jAcm4E" target="_blank">pictures</a></span></div><h2><span style="font-family: verdana;">Drifthorn</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Has been in a slightly bad state since December. The DIY CO2 has gone bad and I have lost patience, I just ordered for another ISTA CO2 system, I already have the cylinder (Face up) and just ordered for a matching regulator with a dual gauge, solenoid valve control and needle valve. I also have a smart power strip ordered and delivered for this tank. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The java fern used to do very well when the CO2 was being injected. This has just cut back now and is very dormant after the last trim. The Crypt is doing well and without CO2 the leaves are small and quite nicely set. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maintenance wise the HOB filter had a complete maintenance done just prior to my December down time. The flow is very good now. The water changes are 50% mostly done every week, sometimes I do two weeks. I am getting a bit lazy with this tank. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/ojsHulfl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/ojsHulfl.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rest of the <a href="https://imgur.com/gallery/zs9RTwf" target="_blank">pictures</a> </span></div><div><h2><span style="font-family: verdana;">Crypto Black Tank</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is my least maintained tank, just water changes and cleaning of the filter inlet hosing during the water changes. I think a complete cleaning of the filter media is due some time soon. I am also thinking about retiring this tank. Except for me the house hated this tank from the start!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you are in the Bengaluru area and able to adopt couple of Black neon tetra and some Lemon tetra, leave me a comment.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/6xkG04Tl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" src="https://i.imgur.com/6xkG04Tl.jpg" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rest of the <a href="https://imgur.com/gallery/gxvrsqx" target="_blank">pictures</a></span></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-25694087783590584552020-12-14T09:39:00.002+05:302020-12-14T09:39:54.402+05:30Sunday maintenance day update <p><span style="font-family: verdana;">50% water change for the Drifthorn, regular glass pane scrubbing and water change. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was time for the HOB filter deep clean, pulled everything out, rinsed the media. This filter has pumice stone and few ceramic rings for media and a some filter floss for mechanical filtration. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The filter chamber was scrubbed and the inlet parts were disassembled and cleaned. The motor was taken apart and the impeller and chamber were cleaned. The oring was greased and the impeller was lubricated with silicon oil. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All the parts were assembled back and lo we have brand new like filter. This filter had a bag of peat moss which was thrown away since I am using packaged drinking water and TDS is constant 50-60. </span></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-19611953649670383752020-11-26T18:23:00.002+05:302020-11-26T18:23:23.549+05:30Breaking Seriyu stones for nano aquascapes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YghJ5kcU5lE" width="320" youtube-src-id="YghJ5kcU5lE"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-14827128480594133812020-11-25T13:55:00.003+05:302021-02-19T19:13:31.292+05:30Microworm culture updates dt 25-Nov<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today discarded two existing cultures since one had gone bad and for the other one the bottle shape was not rounded and hence not easiest to scoop out the worm harvest for feeding. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">However the not-gone-bad one that I had to discard - this one has seeded a new culture in a new rounded bottle. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XisecQkkxek/X74QEE__72I/AAAAAAAAdJU/B_gmF7nxdIk-gn-7Ku7jRS6BD8C9CWNjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/4604D6B5-4914-4576-9502-F11C8754D6E9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XisecQkkxek/X74QEE__72I/AAAAAAAAdJU/B_gmF7nxdIk-gn-7Ku7jRS6BD8C9CWNjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4604D6B5-4914-4576-9502-F11C8754D6E9.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">New bottle</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can observe the layers in the culture:</span><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">bottom most layer of soaked oats, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">a sprinkling of dry yeast on the bottom layer and </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">finally the seed (culture) on the very top. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Along side the bad one which was discarded, a new culture has been started in that container as well. The new cultures would start yielding in 2-3 days, but the weather being very cold may take longer as well. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JyUfteHg7r0/X74QFKRVzTI/AAAAAAAAdJk/25L2Si9IZ6wGDAGR65ChzKGOW09D5eA0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/CAAD54B7-AEE3-4E11-8CB6-2B404B1CC212.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JyUfteHg7r0/X74QFKRVzTI/AAAAAAAAdJk/25L2Si9IZ6wGDAGR65ChzKGOW09D5eA0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/CAAD54B7-AEE3-4E11-8CB6-2B404B1CC212.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Re-seeded culture</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The on going cultures</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cKGrX-O3_oc/X74QEL2TPJI/AAAAAAAAdJY/grDZVnAoi5Q7qywzrNdGrwCMwPa3U2vnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/C599803B-746D-4268-ABC8-EB3C50344E4C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cKGrX-O3_oc/X74QEL2TPJI/AAAAAAAAdJY/grDZVnAoi5Q7qywzrNdGrwCMwPa3U2vnwCLcBGAsYHQ/w225-h400/C599803B-746D-4268-ABC8-EB3C50344E4C.jpeg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCl8HHX-_N8/X74QEcwPApI/AAAAAAAAdJg/tJDHTPU7LcwC6tTtTGW915EeE4G9-1y5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/4544512A-7001-493D-A95E-E16B0A4EEC43.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCl8HHX-_N8/X74QEcwPApI/AAAAAAAAdJg/tJDHTPU7LcwC6tTtTGW915EeE4G9-1y5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w225-h400/4544512A-7001-493D-A95E-E16B0A4EEC43.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cultures have tight fitting lids and need to be opened and closed once every day. I have a timer set to remind me at 8 am. This is about the same time that I do my routine checks on my tanks. </span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tracking sheet on <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LpJRJvFui2cmc_KcQLNHQbc9ISHpduOGhZQ4_ph8_KE/edit?usp=sharing">Google Drive</a></span></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-84592690001120551532020-11-10T09:04:00.002+05:302020-11-10T09:22:24.174+05:30Preparing the Drifthorn as an aquascape<span style="font-family: verdana;">After a round of maintenance, trimming and water changes</span><div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/1WYk3QO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/1WYk3QO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a week of grow out the following pics are from the photo session. The first picture was submitted to TGIAC 2020: https://tgiac.adaindia.in</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ej3stowHyYo/X6oNHt5p7iI/AAAAAAAAdFo/2OezOHSoQsYBDraM04_TQxkJSc_YkSwFQCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ej3stowHyYo/X6oNHt5p7iI/AAAAAAAAdFo/2OezOHSoQsYBDraM04_TQxkJSc_YkSwFQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Contest Picture</div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Following pictures taken during the photo shoot. Some experimentation with different light intensity in WRGB channels of the Chihiros WRGB A Plus lights. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pSmY5GeSbZo/X6oNHoutMkI/AAAAAAAAdFo/fUisgBuECy4ZtYseVR03edOoKil3m4AmgCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8620.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pSmY5GeSbZo/X6oNHoutMkI/AAAAAAAAdFo/fUisgBuECy4ZtYseVR03edOoKil3m4AmgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_UuzWhrHUs/X6oNHi0AE4I/AAAAAAAAdFo/x_Tc4UVfZQgW0dW5Czlu2CKkB53btqhlQCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8619.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_UuzWhrHUs/X6oNHi0AE4I/AAAAAAAAdFo/x_Tc4UVfZQgW0dW5Czlu2CKkB53btqhlQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDQcZC3LA58/X6oNHrHYPeI/AAAAAAAAdFo/cc2er8ArdPkxEldUrM3A_Y4NkAEdQDUeQCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8618.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDQcZC3LA58/X6oNHrHYPeI/AAAAAAAAdFo/cc2er8ArdPkxEldUrM3A_Y4NkAEdQDUeQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8618.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s9vmUmziCTA/X6oNHrk6auI/AAAAAAAAdFo/sVOTLiGuyz0m-9QfQ7Bf5q4V8RjpRx9yACPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8617.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s9vmUmziCTA/X6oNHrk6auI/AAAAAAAAdFo/sVOTLiGuyz0m-9QfQ7Bf5q4V8RjpRx9yACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8617.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WB4qql78KIs/X6oNHl30toI/AAAAAAAAdFo/2oriLqpkdRE_Rd1T11x-5TnAFe0hq0XkQCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8616.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WB4qql78KIs/X6oNHl30toI/AAAAAAAAdFo/2oriLqpkdRE_Rd1T11x-5TnAFe0hq0XkQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFsQd57HZrQ/X6oNHqVdouI/AAAAAAAAdFo/DnIxEyAOOhMt44UpDXaeevp2B4Kst4aDgCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8615.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFsQd57HZrQ/X6oNHqVdouI/AAAAAAAAdFo/DnIxEyAOOhMt44UpDXaeevp2B4Kst4aDgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8615.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-enJx78SwAqY/X6oNHlJhdnI/AAAAAAAAdFo/XmTcBKMGvIw4_8TyBCaKS1qLs5ps_aBOwCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-enJx78SwAqY/X6oNHlJhdnI/AAAAAAAAdFo/XmTcBKMGvIw4_8TyBCaKS1qLs5ps_aBOwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8614.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AddRZzV1mTY/X6oNHk_vk4I/AAAAAAAAdFo/BWk90bePOoEhvrjCrI8YN_hsw2RnE7mKACPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8613.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AddRZzV1mTY/X6oNHk_vk4I/AAAAAAAAdFo/BWk90bePOoEhvrjCrI8YN_hsw2RnE7mKACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8613.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_FmLBnbfag4/X6oNHgdX1OI/AAAAAAAAdFo/ybiFNSu83GQwuF4bCMig33_N06THMbw7gCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8612.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_FmLBnbfag4/X6oNHgdX1OI/AAAAAAAAdFo/ybiFNSu83GQwuF4bCMig33_N06THMbw7gCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2r8F9CbtCg/X6oNHsxBDBI/AAAAAAAAdFo/ew-eQb6oOrUcL9SNQcGCCEMoJTqQ2FFFACPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8611.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2r8F9CbtCg/X6oNHsxBDBI/AAAAAAAAdFo/ew-eQb6oOrUcL9SNQcGCCEMoJTqQ2FFFACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wpQIIfc9Pwo/X6oNHuingGI/AAAAAAAAdFo/_i3NbBdRj_o3fYZj0Rdkukcymm_30zWmQCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8610.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wpQIIfc9Pwo/X6oNHuingGI/AAAAAAAAdFo/_i3NbBdRj_o3fYZj0Rdkukcymm_30zWmQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7IP3qsPYLM/X6oNHs7ITkI/AAAAAAAAdFo/6S9p1pQS2lQ8JMmJxFCsQli3RD_dW17kQCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8609.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7IP3qsPYLM/X6oNHs7ITkI/AAAAAAAAdFo/6S9p1pQS2lQ8JMmJxFCsQli3RD_dW17kQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8609.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWF5T731A5U/X6oNHvti5_I/AAAAAAAAdFo/WkPptFzyi-g66h47xb_QJDDGi9ndmJwZwCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8608.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWF5T731A5U/X6oNHvti5_I/AAAAAAAAdFo/WkPptFzyi-g66h47xb_QJDDGi9ndmJwZwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96CtVhCJ6Fo/X6oNHlrLWtI/AAAAAAAAdFo/AClEK_MgkconkU_kMXJo1lI2jYyPBYW_QCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8607.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96CtVhCJ6Fo/X6oNHlrLWtI/AAAAAAAAdFo/AClEK_MgkconkU_kMXJo1lI2jYyPBYW_QCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mJE2LZ4CP_A/X6oNHjOPjXI/AAAAAAAAdFo/wrr0y2_6AjYoe4Y-CJINGRTANtz9dOVZQCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8606.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mJE2LZ4CP_A/X6oNHjOPjXI/AAAAAAAAdFo/wrr0y2_6AjYoe4Y-CJINGRTANtz9dOVZQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8606.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AFO9TUKDS0/X6oNHitTqxI/AAAAAAAAdFo/C0T1ISPysRwOagCa9b8Xqo2WJcpsNm4XACPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AFO9TUKDS0/X6oNHitTqxI/AAAAAAAAdFo/C0T1ISPysRwOagCa9b8Xqo2WJcpsNm4XACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8605.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sMnyvVEJxdk/X6oNHmC-XjI/AAAAAAAAdFo/-TKn8pWb6DI6fJfRzKqj6uKNotYwf0hcgCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8604.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sMnyvVEJxdk/X6oNHmC-XjI/AAAAAAAAdFo/-TKn8pWb6DI6fJfRzKqj6uKNotYwf0hcgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8604.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rOtEXqNx1Dc/X6oNHjMMrRI/AAAAAAAAdFo/Y7AsNYn1unYyvnH72JJsKbM__WNMZDTUgCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8603.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rOtEXqNx1Dc/X6oNHjMMrRI/AAAAAAAAdFo/Y7AsNYn1unYyvnH72JJsKbM__WNMZDTUgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8603.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTnn5juVTMs/X6oNHo4skuI/AAAAAAAAdFo/xX_dS7MU8sYadn-JgVtFVqBr96uDg4QvwCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8602.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTnn5juVTMs/X6oNHo4skuI/AAAAAAAAdFo/xX_dS7MU8sYadn-JgVtFVqBr96uDg4QvwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e61Ia3psXa8/X6oNHuT5_bI/AAAAAAAAdFo/lLDHtTPKMUgPERui9TUIQpMGAwqvwNE5QCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8601.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e61Ia3psXa8/X6oNHuT5_bI/AAAAAAAAdFo/lLDHtTPKMUgPERui9TUIQpMGAwqvwNE5QCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8601.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zXRA3w6jd0/X6oNHhZx24I/AAAAAAAAdFo/XqGvsIWASdYzre1yoGqpUP6e2xdrNqvTACPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8600.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zXRA3w6jd0/X6oNHhZx24I/AAAAAAAAdFo/XqGvsIWASdYzre1yoGqpUP6e2xdrNqvTACPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8600.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhf3f4rux5g/X6oNHlHDfDI/AAAAAAAAdFo/684yWrg5X4oSCbvkYxKF3bPLYTIGySOUQCPcBGAsYHg/s2592/IMG_8599.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhf3f4rux5g/X6oNHlHDfDI/AAAAAAAAdFo/684yWrg5X4oSCbvkYxKF3bPLYTIGySOUQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_8599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-13551280916354914492020-11-08T16:42:00.007+05:302020-11-09T09:38:47.457+05:30Maintenance day Sunday <p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Flooded Forest </span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">All four inner glass pane scrapped till substrate level using algal scrapper</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Regular maintenance during water change. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Topup: Added a cup of tropica soil at the left rear - HM area. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trimmed and reattached the weeping moss. </span></li></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZ8FgRIkL7Y/X6fSdZFHe4I/AAAAAAAAdE4/kHVCzenrgXQlvlmV2P177LU00aFUERQYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZ8FgRIkL7Y/X6fSdZFHe4I/AAAAAAAAdE4/kHVCzenrgXQlvlmV2P177LU00aFUERQYQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Drift horn</span></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trim was due but did not do any trimming. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scrapped the front and left inner pane with scrubber. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">50% Water change</span></li></ol><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmmuB-T9tck/X6fSS_7Eg4I/AAAAAAAAdE0/gu8ScMgngEo5uzH7sRdLfc1ml1h1VcaFACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmmuB-T9tck/X6fSS_7Eg4I/AAAAAAAAdE0/gu8ScMgngEo5uzH7sRdLfc1ml1h1VcaFACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-90250691960039053942020-11-05T22:39:00.001+05:302020-11-06T17:42:21.704+05:30Dialling in CO2 in Flooded Forest - Update<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am using the pH drop measurement method to dial in the CO2. Dialling in CO2 means getting an understanding of how much and how quickly we can get CO2 injection working in a high energy planted aquarium setup. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Current</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 0px;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><colgroup><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.375}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">9:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.4166666666666667}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">10:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.4583333333333333}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">11:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.5}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">12:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.5416666666666666}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">13:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.5833333333333334}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">14:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.625}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">15:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.6666666666666666}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">16:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.7083333333333334}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">17:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.75}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">18:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.7916666666666666}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">19:00</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 19px;"><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.7}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.70</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.7}" style="border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(255, 0, 0) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-style: solid double solid solid; border-width: 1px 3px 1px 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.70</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" style="border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(255, 0, 0) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-style: solid double solid solid; border-width: 1px 3px 1px 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;">6.70</td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.5}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.50</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.35}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.35</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.2}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.20</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.15}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.15</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.15}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.15</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.15}" style="border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(255, 0, 0) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-style: solid double solid solid; border-width: 1px 3px 1px 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.15</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.15}" style="border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(255, 0, 0) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-style: solid double solid solid; border-width: 1px 3px 1px 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.15</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.31}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.31</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once there is CO2 injection starting at 11:30 am, the pH gradually decreases till it reaches 6.15 which is steady state. Steady state means that the plants are uptaking CO2 to the level at which it is being injected. At this point my understanding was that since I have a good surface movement created by flow from the canister output. The CO2 at a pH of 6.15 seemed to be the equilibrium point. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All this was at a bubble rate of 1 bubble per second. My animals in the tank were happy, the drop checker never went out of the green range (to yellow). </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However the tank has had a major outbreak of Staghorn algae. I have downed the lights (about 30-40%), made large water changes. Spot treatment with H2O2 has helped, but the Staghorn algae is all over the place. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/mle2VkW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/mle2VkW.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Insufficient</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> CO2 is the no 1 reason for a Staghorn algae infestation. I needed to diffuse more CO2. I cranked up the CO2 today. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Latest</span></h3><div><google-sheets-html-origin><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; width: 0px;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><colgroup><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col><col width="45"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.4583333333333333}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">11:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.5}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">12:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.5416666666666666}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">13:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.5833333333333334}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">14:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.625}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">15:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.6666666666666666}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">16:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.7083333333333334}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">17:00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":6,"2":"h:mm","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":0.75}" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">18:00</span></td></tr><tr style="height: 19px;"><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.7}" style="border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(255, 0, 0); border-style: solid double; border-width: 1px 3px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.70</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.4}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.40</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.15}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.15</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.00</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":5.9}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">5.90</span></td><td data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":5.85}" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">5.85</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":5.9}" style="border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(255, 0, 0) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-style: solid double solid solid; border-width: 1px 3px 1px 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">5.90</span></td><td data-sheets-numberformat="{"1":2,"2":"0.00","3":1}" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":6.05}" style="border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(255, 0, 0) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-style: solid double solid solid; border-width: 1px 3px 1px 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6.05</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><span style="font-family: verdana;">BPS is close to 2, I counted between 105-110 bubbles per min. The higher rate of injection of CO2 is visible with the pH dropping to a peak of 5.85. My nerite snails were clearly at stress, the bigger one was at the water line with half its body out of the water. The rest of the animals were ok. The drop checker was yellow like the starting out times. </span></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></google-sheets-html-origin></div><div><google-sheets-html-origin><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am </span></google-sheets-html-origin><span style="font-family: verdana;">going to adjust the start - end times of CO2 a bit. Will start by 11 am (i.e. 1 hour prior to lights on and 2 hours prior to lights reaching max target setting). Will turn off the CO2 by 5 pm. Lights are out by 7 pm and then I will aerate the tank through the surface skimmer. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">First Positive Signs against the Algae</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l5r7ZIgdOXM" width="320" youtube-src-id="l5r7ZIgdOXM"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-65507896262365659002020-10-29T13:53:00.003+05:302020-10-31T11:01:39.158+05:30Making aqua decor<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> Material list:</span><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Epiphytes:: I used the Anubias and Java fern that was harvested when the riverside tank was <a href="https://aquabang.blogspot.com/2020/10/riverside-taken-down.html">retired</a>.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pebbles, preferably smaller and flat ones </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Aquascaping glue, I use ista aquascaping glue </span></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Steps 1 - Preparation:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Section the rhizomes into portions</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I use a sharp blade or scissor to do this. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Remove all roots from the rhizome (they will grow back anyways)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Best to have at least one leaf on each of the sectioned rhizomes</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trim all unshapely, torn or deficient leaves. </span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Step 2 - Gluing</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Select pebbles that are small and flat for better gluing. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apply very small portion of aquascaping glue on the bottom side of the rhizome. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Keeping the rhizome facing downward, press the pebble firmly on the rhizome.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wait for 5-10 seconds</span></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRgAWkC10lk/X5pxJNBJEaI/AAAAAAAAdCs/y9oZnfIjPSA40PHUa-A-lJ0x-6mkho7wACLcBGAsYHQ/s2100/BE422A48-22CB-4657-92C3-F0938283CA28.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="2100" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRgAWkC10lk/X5pxJNBJEaI/AAAAAAAAdCs/y9oZnfIjPSA40PHUa-A-lJ0x-6mkho7wACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BE422A48-22CB-4657-92C3-F0938283CA28.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1985" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BkH6AJRK_4o/X5pxKZX_O9I/AAAAAAAAdC4/UR35Etcbn5kraD3TpIw3RCjW_nced3T1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DDFDD815-A8BB-4C3C-97BE-EE58C131F544.jpeg" width="320" /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And viola, your aqua decor is ready, position them at spots in your scape, if you do not like them move them around. The glue will turn white under water, that is normal as the rhizome grows and grows roots, this white patch will be completely covered. </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NUdb1AGEUuo/X5pxKEYeRJI/AAAAAAAAdC0/f1WbjYtf85wA6EcCUpkB4Vudd0k1sVGmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/67F4918C-F90A-4704-9A0D-C32538604DC9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NUdb1AGEUuo/X5pxKEYeRJI/AAAAAAAAdC0/f1WbjYtf85wA6EcCUpkB4Vudd0k1sVGmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/67F4918C-F90A-4704-9A0D-C32538604DC9.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0jN0k677cU/X5pxJcmqpTI/AAAAAAAAdCw/7U7P4QGHT5oMC0mBvU6tRiOHTk5A7uc0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/64C54DB8-23AD-4E24-B21C-C449C7521166.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0jN0k677cU/X5pxJcmqpTI/AAAAAAAAdCw/7U7P4QGHT5oMC0mBvU6tRiOHTk5A7uc0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/64C54DB8-23AD-4E24-B21C-C449C7521166.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">When you need to remove the rhizome from the gluing, use a sharp knife to wedge the rhizome out of the glued portion. Make sure you trim all the roots before taking the rhizome off. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Good luck. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We made a video of this preparation. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OVTQuqll1IA" width="320" youtube-src-id="OVTQuqll1IA"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-1389625002652704362020-10-28T08:55:00.005+05:302020-10-28T11:23:58.246+05:30Visit to aquaclub<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Aquaclub are mostly into planted aquarium wholesale. Been in touch with them for the last 3-4 months. I have already visited them 3 times. Now they are launching an online store that will sell from their warehouse. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://aquaclubonline.com/">https://aquaclubonline.com/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Visited them yesterday, as usual Naresh was very helpful. I got the ISTA 1 L co2 bottle refilled. They had some selection of seriyu stone, I spent a lot of time looking at the collection, the stones texture the size etc and picked out 8 kgs of stone. Most of the pieces are bigger than what I have in mind. Some of these pieces I will need to break out further into shapes and sizes that I have in mind for the scape. It is possible with people reporting mixed results. Some details here: </span><a href="https://www.plantedtank.net/forums/120-aquascaping/1314605-breaking-seriyu-stone.html"><span style="font-family: verdana;">https://www.plantedtank.net/forums/120-aquascaping/1314605-breaking-seriyu-stone.html</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also sourced 5 nos of Otos, they were bag floated for temperature acclimatisation and then dripped acclimatised. All are doing fine for now in the flooded forest. </span></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-1308485958174336252020-10-26T00:07:00.003+05:302020-10-26T00:07:26.623+05:30Riverside taken down<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The scape was setup about 14 months ago. Aug 2019. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/nKmtXCQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/nKmtXCQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Few pics from this scape - Sep 2019</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/OhEH9YJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/OhEH9YJ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Full of Algae</span><p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Kg5ln5N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/Kg5ln5N.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apr 2020 - About a Month of no light</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DuG8Yhd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/DuG8Yhd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Final shot before take down</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/ButohxE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/ButohxE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-66735215654121992892020-10-25T15:36:00.005+05:302021-05-03T20:12:24.111+05:30Microworm starter culture from microworms.in<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Starter culture costs 199 including shipping. The packaging was done properly including enough air for the culture and wrapped in a styrofoam envelope for better temperature protection</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/ikfFTcy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/ikfFTcy.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They had also sent a small portion of dry yeast</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> for starting the first culture using the starter. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/MOP53qF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/MOP53qF.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have used oats as the base about 1 inch. Enough water such that the oats soak. Sprinkled the yeast such that the entire surface was covered and then added the starter from the pack. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Made three cultures, two of them are tiny containers. All containers have plastic lids that were holed and placed in a cool and dry place. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/SFDx7q2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/SFDx7q2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 Month update: <a href="https://aquabang.blogspot.com/2020/11/microworm-culture-updates-dt-25-nov.html">here</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-29933251213516607882020-10-23T19:34:00.002+05:302020-10-23T19:35:57.604+05:30Spotted blue eye rainbow fish<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-idiLr8bjG7c/X5LjOcByglI/AAAAAAAAc-s/oyaDjwqKqR0T5Us0ESNCQpUo24ISP94ZACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-idiLr8bjG7c/X5LjOcByglI/AAAAAAAAc-s/oyaDjwqKqR0T5Us0ESNCQpUo24ISP94ZACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">10 numbers of these miniature fish were sourced from avreus aquatics. Temperature and TDS acclimatised slowly and introduced them into the flooded Forest where they will be with the threadfin rainbows and mountain minnows. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Super excited. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CclO2DfhdxA/X5LjBFDVXUI/AAAAAAAAc-k/ET8kiR5lqNkH2TtxmQgnIWAjntQrA-krwCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/30757EE9-5113-421F-8173-F3E5E11A1F25.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CclO2DfhdxA/X5LjBFDVXUI/AAAAAAAAc-k/ET8kiR5lqNkH2TtxmQgnIWAjntQrA-krwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/30757EE9-5113-421F-8173-F3E5E11A1F25.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vK9IoKQ_vdc/X5LjBPWn9hI/AAAAAAAAc-o/eZJJTB1Df7Q6fyvEXSHCgg_SfhaaLJa9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/AC891C51-0D89-4679-9705-8C6CA1F545DE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vK9IoKQ_vdc/X5LjBPWn9hI/AAAAAAAAc-o/eZJJTB1Df7Q6fyvEXSHCgg_SfhaaLJa9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AC891C51-0D89-4679-9705-8C6CA1F545DE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-28397557956674645292020-10-18T15:03:00.003+05:302020-11-09T09:43:03.989+05:30Photoperiod and co2 injection schedule revision<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">CO2 on at 10 am. Lights on at 12:30 pm. CO2 off at 4:30 pm and lights off at 6:30 pm. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7Arf9k38cc/X4wTgSHXpDI/AAAAAAAAc8U/H-JdnsVABlM-2O8N0fSPFYWm3VbvA4P7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1237/2FABBAE9-6D86-4509-B47B-311DE0B0EC82.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7Arf9k38cc/X4wTgSHXpDI/AAAAAAAAc8U/H-JdnsVABlM-2O8N0fSPFYWm3VbvA4P7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2FABBAE9-6D86-4509-B47B-311DE0B0EC82.jpeg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Effective 2-Nov, the light channel intensity remain the same. CO2 increased to 2 bps (115-120 bubbles per min). CO2 on at 11 am. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lights on at 12:00. CO2 off at 5:00 pm and lights off at 7:00 pm. Sunrise 12:00 - 1:00 pm and Sunset 6:00 - 7:00 pm. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">pH drops from 6.70 degassed state to peak of 5.85 with CO2 injections. Fishes and shrimps are doing fine. Nerite snail is slightly distressed. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-63584370534847810152020-10-17T21:55:00.001+05:302020-10-17T22:27:44.619+05:30DIY citric acid and baking soda reactor co2 system<span style="font-family: verdana;">Had sourced this system from a friend. The system looks like this picture below. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXBOzdj4zMo/X4sYhK_xwnI/AAAAAAAAc68/JzZpBsMQgiMS6syykAOPUHlMwIGyIpFXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/61ebpDyEkBL._AC_SL1000_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXBOzdj4zMo/X4sYhK_xwnI/AAAAAAAAc68/JzZpBsMQgiMS6syykAOPUHlMwIGyIpFXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/61ebpDyEkBL._AC_SL1000_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After about 3 refills both sets of rubber washers that came with the set had worn out. The quality is substandard and does not seem to withstand the pressure in the system. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The washers are flat type of rubber/silicon material with outer diameter of 30 mm. These washers look like this picture below</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfxQT0XbWjc/X4sZOmjHD3I/AAAAAAAAc7E/yTdZjyK4YtsKcSuh7dmAlbP6pzj4NPz2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1220/TB1DpSNHVXXXXc0XFXXXXXXXXXX_%2521%25210-item_pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfxQT0XbWjc/X4sZOmjHD3I/AAAAAAAAc7E/yTdZjyK4YtsKcSuh7dmAlbP6pzj4NPz2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/TB1DpSNHVXXXXc0XFXXXXXXXXXX_%2521%25210-item_pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tried sourcing this type of washer from local hardware shops. Not available. Then tried online. Not available again. The closest that I could find is from AliExpress:</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> White Black 1/2" 3/4" 1"Rubber Ring Silicon PTFE Flat Gasket Sealing Ring for Shower Nozzle Hose Pipe Bellows Tube Washer Ring</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtEUZTD. This will take about 2 months to reach me.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9uI6oQ2YiU/X4sZxkIlJZI/AAAAAAAAc7Q/SK8fV78nYT0gZ2x0x_Huha7loUx56Rw8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s896/Snip20201017_30.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="896" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9uI6oQ2YiU/X4sZxkIlJZI/AAAAAAAAc7Q/SK8fV78nYT0gZ2x0x_Huha7loUx56Rw8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Snip20201017_30.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">For current need I had sourced an oring from amazon: </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">CHETANORING ID 25 mm x CS 4 mm, Pack of 12 Pieces https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07V9SBWFS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_YXs88rucAkZa6</span></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TlP8vv4xsWk/X4saina2fHI/AAAAAAAAc7Y/g4F4T1NBp4wL029YmUGTwXtKctFT_QxtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s818/Snip20201017_31.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="818" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TlP8vv4xsWk/X4saina2fHI/AAAAAAAAc7Y/g4F4T1NBp4wL029YmUGTwXtKctFT_QxtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Snip20201017_31.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is not a perfect fit. But when I cut about 2-3 mm out of it, It was easy to slide it in place with a bit of pressure from a sharp object and get this into snug fit. Thankfully it holds the pressure and there is no leak so far. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wanted to write this up so that fellow aquarists with DIY reactor based system unable to source the washers can use this technique. </span></div>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-62381343938641142642020-10-09T08:56:00.004+05:302020-10-09T08:59:58.072+05:30Threadfin rainbows and Mountain minnows<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">6 nos of each of Threadfin rainbows and Mountain minnows was sourced from <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/HX6qU7hHWYa4N37r9">Aqua Club</a> (yesterday)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBpOZMVKDDc/X3_Y0zSTc5I/AAAAAAAAc0s/QcJkLABDjwU6MQl0AFW6ONd_Z1zQu6pPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s654/Snip20201009_23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="654" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBpOZMVKDDc/X3_Y0zSTc5I/AAAAAAAAc0s/QcJkLABDjwU6MQl0AFW6ONd_Z1zQu6pPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Snip20201009_23.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tPlbqOzPKnE/X3_ZAgmiKCI/AAAAAAAAc0w/ZySsDONSm4kVnU2A8OWpJnPptSkoTqxIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s732/Snip20201009_24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="732" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tPlbqOzPKnE/X3_ZAgmiKCI/AAAAAAAAc0w/ZySsDONSm4kVnU2A8OWpJnPptSkoTqxIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Snip20201009_24.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>They were in holding tanks with TDS of ~130 which was a perfect match for my tank where the TDS is 120. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Still I went ahead with acclimatisation and them introduced them into the tank with the tank lights out and very dim lighting in the room. I maintained this dim lighting thought out the night lest they get spooked out. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The minnows were in great shape right out of the holding tank in the shop. The rainbow tank was mixed, there were some dead and some pieces were in bad shape. The delicate ones are the hardest hit from the transportation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We still went ahead with getting them and picked out the best looking 6 from this tank. I think we picked out a couple of males, possibly three. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is room for more numbers in the 50L tank. This is the first time for me in keeping and caring for both minnows and the rainbows. I would like to observe how much I am able to take care of them and then go from there. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For feeding them, I have an ultra small pellet (Aquatic Remedies), I have a flake food (Tetra) that I can crush and use. I also have some Hikari fry food (powder). I understand that threadfins are picky eaters. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since the threadfins are from slower waters, I stopped the surface skimmer which throws the flow right across the middle of the tank.</span></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200453926352743944.post-53670570978830572252020-10-07T09:54:00.002+05:302020-10-07T09:58:52.980+05:30Staurogyne repens - the plant that I have not been able to keep alive<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Quoting from https://tropica.com/en/articles/staurogyne-repens </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Staurogyne repens (more about it here) is a fresh green, compact and hardy plant for the foreground of the aquarium.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">"</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My first order of S. repens from FinsNFlora was mush. Read more <a href="https://aquabang.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-night-of-10th-aug-2020.html">here</a>. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;">I still went ahead and planted S repens in the midground hopeful of a turnaround. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">It stayed mush for two weeks.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Z3gtFunm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/Z3gtFunm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finally I pulled them all out since they were just adding waste organics into the water column. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About 3-4 weeks ago I got another cup of S. repens. This was super healthy to start with. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/REdvgb2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.imgur.com/REdvgb2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I planted then carefully in bunches as recommended in the midground both the left and right handed sections. Now about 4 weeks later I can see that most of the leaves are already disintegrated and there is nothing much left of S. repens in the tank. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not sure whats going wrong. Will check this out in Forums and find some solutions to this problem. </span></p>SudhirRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14514553974227123388noreply@blogger.com0