Growing out in planted tank... again :P

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned... it's been ... sh**... like 15 or 16 years since my last confession? I mean, sorry Padre, but I left the Catholic church in 2007 but last confession was, uhmmmm... "

"Shut Up, Elliot... I mean, child. Let's cut to the chase --- what the hell did you do this time?"

"Sh**, what haven't I done since last confession? But I don't regret much of that... and they're always funny stories... but I can't confess to my wife,... ... ... that I 'may or may not have' purchased 2 new discus that she doesn't notice because this time they are the same strain as the others and her level of attention-to-detail (visually) is as bad as Stevie Wonder's"

"Doesn't matter, Elliot,... you're a ding dong for this being the one petty thing compared to all of the crazy crap you always confess to her anyways -- plus she doesn't ever assist you with her dumb Amazon purchases that she puts on your Capital One travel card anyways."

"Good point, Father... never mind... I take my confession back. Tell the big guy I still love'm, just have my own opinion on the Vatican ... time for a beer, fireball, cigarette, & water change!"

<end of donut's corny story confessing he got 2 new RR's and wife hasn't noticed... knocking on wood... and I'll tell her eventually!... when she's drinking, happy, and acts like she's listening... a year from now>

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

Sorry, red background lights aren't the best contrast (but seems to soothe them).

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

I'll admit, I love wondering when I'll find my next discus pair that not only spawns in the tank and gets them to wigglers, but is dedicated enough to raise them + protect them.

This current pair... not a chance in hell. Might as well compare them to 2 spring breakers doing it and parting ways

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

I <3 Pat

Few pics. My new Brown based red pair are cleaning a site (only spawned once so far). Then my female Heckle X has a young, upcoming RR male flaunting his stuff for her. He's trying hard







.

[Second Hand Pat]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

Hi Elliot, I like your scape
Pat

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

DEFINITELY not going to be the layout for long. Replacing wood with new wood and different layout as soon as I find "The Piece" (large, long single piece).

However, I took away the "left corner hide out" which proved my assumption that they'd be more out and about... and dear God they are. "Holy crap... I can see them again!"

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

Just rearranged most of the wood tonight.... and... hate it. I never should've gotten rid of the huge, perfect trunk I had between around 2012 to 2017. I just haaaad to change it up (DOPE!).

.... so I will have to target next weekend or the following to go hunting for "The Wood ... Part II".

I'll take pics of current crappy arrangement maybe tomorrow

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

LMAO... that may or may not be accurate (actually, bullseye)

[jpm995]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

I picture you having a few too many drinks, spilling booze into into pool, doing a water change and having to deal with a bunch of drunken discus.

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

Jim, I never said I was smart! Didn't do it since I remembered something stupid I did in Iraq a long time ago on the same lines and realize all the damn Christmas lights weren't plugged in anymore so the breaker didn't trip. That little thing amazed the hell out of me. It was high 40s last night (cold for Charleston folks... I turned into a wuss when I moved South and I'm not ashamed!). Water was 61 in a 100 gallon, loose lid covered rubbermaid tub (filled 1 inch under brim). Water was 85 degrees in approx 1.5 hours.

I'm planning on getting a little kiddie pool and putting it in my wife garage. Then telling her while she's teaching at school that we have a new hot tub. I'm going to leave that damn thing plugged in for like 5 hours or more. Hell, I'll be in there drinking a cocktail when she gets home and hits the garage door opener only to see my fat *** loving it up in a nice redneck jacuzzi

[jpm995]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

Tom,
I might give them a try. And I'm glad you emphasized "black line through tail"! I never knew that

LOL on lights... it's actually backlit with a cheap RC multi-colored led light behind the tank, facing upwards. Then I put a frosted film over the back so "grabs onto" the lights. I love it.

Now the heater is not an aquarium heater. It's like this rapid, psycho hot device (with no control... just on or off). It warmed up a 5 gallon bucket of 62 degree water I had (left outside at night in high 40's for air temp) to 89 degrees in 4 minutes before tripping the breaker. I'm trying to get it to not trip breaker because then I can warm up my aging barrel (100 gallons) before each WC by throwing it in maybe an hour beforehand. Even if just getting the water to 75-77 degrees. Thoughts?

Also, I might use my 220v outlet with 220v generator cable extension cord. I just thought about that.

Not sure i understand, you're not going to plug a 120v device into a 220v outlet, are you? It will cook the heater. If the heater is tripping the breaker, it could be a few things. The heater is defective and drawing too much current. The circuit is too low power. Is it a 15 amp breaker? Try another outlet or look for a 20amp one. The breaker could be defective, again try another outlet [on a different breaker].

[Iminit]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

It’s hard to remove that algae. Try the mister clean dry erase bars with nothing in them. They can get into the cracks.

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

Starting to rearrange. Soon hoping to do a partial (approx 40-70% scape modification by reducing current DW pieces and getting "the right" large, intricate, DW piece. Seems like when I have the right "base piece", fish are more active & less shy. Until then, I rearranged current pieces to allow more light to central, bottom plants.

Hey, any recommendations on scrubbing algae off front glass where there are scratches from previous owner of tank? (He had a damn alligator in it).

[pastry]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

Tom,
I might give them a try. And I'm glad you emphasized "black line through tail"! I never knew that

LOL on lights... it's actually backlit with a cheap RC multi-colored led light behind the tank, facing upwards. Then I put a frosted film over the back so "grabs onto" the lights. I love it.

Now the heater is not an aquarium heater. It's like this rapid, psycho hot device (with no control... just on or off). It warmed up a 5 gallon bucket of 62 degree water I had (left outside at night in high 40's for air temp) to 89 degrees in 4 minutes before tripping the breaker. I'm trying to get it to not trip breaker because then I can warm up my aging barrel (100 gallons) before each WC by throwing it in maybe an hour beforehand. Even if just getting the water to 75-77 degrees. Thoughts?

Also, I might use my 220v outlet with 220v generator cable extension cord. I just thought about that.

[Iminit]

Re: Growing out in planted tank... again :P

Hey Elliot! Yes BBA is the algae you’ve got growing on your wood. Yes SAE are Siamese algae eaters. They will eat the BBA. Get at least 2. I’ve got them in all my tanks. When buying the black line goes through the tail. A flying fox has the line stop at the beginning of the tail. A CAE Chinese has a suction cup mouth. All 3 are commonly sold as SAE. But only the one with the black line through the tail is an SAE . Funny I though I answered this last week! Guess I forgot to press reply .
What’s up with the lighting on your tank? It’s red and now it’s blue? I like the blue better.
As to your heater being it’s cold out it’s running at full power to keep the water warm so it’s life expectancy is being reduced. Probably why it’s tripping. Is your outside bucket insulated?