7.5g Cube Journal

Jacko

New Member
Thought I should start with a journal of my new cube, picked the tank up from Jimmy at Aquarium Plus... great place and thanks Jimmy! Started on 7/15 and forgot to start up a diary then lol

12" cube tank
Lighting- 1 7w 7200K cfl and 1 23w 4600K cfl (eventually end up with either t5 or halide)
Substrate- Red Sea FloraBase
Rock- just some random ones from midway, im guessing quartz of some sort
Plants- Eleocharis sp. Belem and Syngonanthus sp. Uapes
Fauna- Crystal Red Shrimp

The tank, sitting on the floor in midway while I got what I needed :p
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Rocks in:
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Water and plants are in:
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7/17 I got my shrimps! FTS:
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some random shots of said shrimps
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Yesterday I added some flame moss to the back wall:
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Pressurized CO2 later this week! As well as more plants!

Not the prettiest at the moment but once it grows in I hope it'll turn out good
 

sandnuka

New Member
I love these journals.... Just keep them updated weekly... so we can see the progress.... i shouldve done this with my first planted tank instead of doin it in the plant section.... Oh well, next time i do something crazy with a tank I will defintly be makin a jornal....

Your tank will look so awesome... i love how you made the substrate on a hill.... freakin sweet idea. :) You gonna toss in some fishies too? Just some friendly tropical guys that dont mess with the shrimp?
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Looks good man! I really like those rimless tanks. Awesome job!
 

Jacko

New Member
Thanks all! These are probably my favorite shrimp I've got, and I have 11 different kinds, super active and super bright.

@Sand... no fish, I have a 20 gallon full of micro fish and really don't feel like getting any more :lol: I might add some crystal black shrimp down the road or maybe a fish or two that really stand out, but nothing fershur yet

Added more plants the other day, Syngonanthus something and a little downoi plant

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Hopefully I'll be getting the co2 system tomorrow, goin up to Aquarium Plus again :D
 

Digsy

New Member
Looks sweet! I bought the 10" cube from Jimmy last weekend. I didn't walk in there intending to buy one but, how can your argue with cheap, rimless cubes?!?! Definitely keep us updated with your progress!
 

Jacko

New Member
Lol, they're definitely good price for a rimless tank, his bigger rimless tanks are what I really want... wish I had the space :(
where's your diary Digsy!? :p

Got the CO2 setup yesterday, another great trip to Aquarium Plus, learned loads of stuff I'd have never thought of before...
 

jlo

New Member
you tank looking very good, you make me what to start one too. Keep up the good work, NICE
 

Jacko

New Member
Hey! You should, especially with your contacts on the rocks... I want your ohko stone from your display lol

Sad news, had a big shrimp die off... not enough oxygen for them to survive on the first night of co2... threw an extra filter on and they perked back up, but not before I lost 6 shrimps. Means a trip up to Aquarium Plus again later this week! :lol:
 

flo77

New Member
Jacko, don't try to buy other CRS. I admired your set-up but it's not suitable for CRS. I don't think the tank is fully cycled and the CRS are very sensitive. I know that will be some guys who will not agree with me but I think the tank is too small to keep CRS. In a 7.5 gal is very difficult to keep the water parameters constant. CRS love soft water(kH under 3) and adding CO2 without pH controller can result in large pH fluctuation. Not to mention that is not a good ideea to put CRS in a less than 1 month old aquarium.
 

Jacko

New Member
Yeah, I know the recomended size for most caridina is 10 gallons because it's easier to maintain water conditions... these are far from my first shrimp and definitely not the first time I've kept CRS, just the first time I've used pressurized co2. Filter was off of another tank, old tank water/RO, didn't even experience a cycle... I've been checking everything and I'm averaging 10 ppm n/ate which I have to dose to keep it at. I learned my mistake and I'm now running an airstone at night.

I respect your opinion though. I don't plan to keep this as my main CRS tank, that's gonna be a 10-15 gallon tank elsewhere in my room, these guys are more my canary testers to see if the tank is all good before I get my more expensive shrimp. Possibly a designer crystal or black tigers.
 

Jacko

New Member
Yeah... anybody know what compact flourescents have in them? The powdery grit stuff? Whatever it is... not good for tanks after they fall in and explode, tank turned a bit brighter green than this in a couple hours. :|

Lost eveything except one CRS which I threw in another tank, don't think it made it but I can hope, haven't seen it :x and a quarter of the plants melted off... it's rough but things are coming back now, had the co2 upped now that no creatures are in there and plants are doing even better.

Dunno when I'll get a pic up again, I've had alot to deal with lately... so other than turning on the lights and fertilizing I'm not paying much attention to any of my tanks right now
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Thats mercury and its very toxic. I would clean the tanks out completely before adding anything living to it again bro. Sorry about the accident.
 

icer711

New Member
hey they sell light tube covers so that they will be contained if they break.. they have to use these in the supermarket for the reason of mercury... sorry i dont remember the name currently but i have seen the t-12 size sold at homedepot mabey even the t-8 but didnt look that close and i know they make a t-5 used to ship them out by the box full to the supermarkets
btw that sucks hope all gets better for you
 

Jacko

New Member
Yeah, cleaned it out a couple weeks ago, hated the Red Sea FloraBase so I replaced it with ADA amazonia II...
got myself a fixture that actually fits on the tank that clamps to the sides so I shouldn't have issues with it falling in lol

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And then I need to do a bit of trimming today, will post an updated picture of it then...
 
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