My Adventure with F.W.

[mls3371971]

http://www.fishforums.com/forum/albu...pictureid=5427

[mls3371971]

Ok, so today I bought some plants. I bought a bundle of Anacharis and a bundle of Mondo Grass. I think once they take root it will look nice..

http://www.fishforums.com/forum/album.php?albumid=698

[mls3371971]

Well, found out that Mondo Grass is not an aquatic plant...ugh... Lessons learned...

[mls3371971]

I tested the water today.
Ammonia, 0ppm
Nitrites, 1ppm

[mls3371971]

Today, May 5, I talked to this landscaping business outside of my town and the guy was pretty cool. He traded river rock for all of my fiji rock. My daughter and I also went out to the lake and got a chunk of drift wood that looked really cool. I have my tank set up differently now. I need to get a pic of it in here... But my nitrites are still at 5ppm. I did do a 20 g. water change. Hoping that helps it a bit. Boy,,the water was a greenish yellow...I think in a few more days I will do another... So happy that I have the tank looking good now I really just want to get some fish!!!!

[Obsidian]

Just as an FYI- the wood will release tannins, and those will turn your water the color of tea, but not that dark. This is NOT a bad thing, just just need to know that's what is happening when your tank water changes colors LOL. It will lower your Ph so make sure the fish you get will be happy in the Ph it supports.

And if it is fishless I would do at least a 50% water change to cut your ammonia in half. If it gets too high it will hinder your cycle. And 5ppm is getting near that point.

[Ladayen]

Anacharis is more of a temperate climate plant. It wont do well long term with the temperatures needed for tropical fish.

[mls3371971]

Well It says anywhere from 55 to 78..My tank is always at 75 so that should be alright then right?

[ZebraDanio12]

It'll do fine. My tank is around hmmm....75-80. And the anachrias took over. At first I loved it. Then it started to look like a jungle.. Still like it, looks much better when thinned out. But it will completely cover your tank in no time. (provided you snip new growth off and and re-plant in the gravel.)

[mls3371971]

That is what I have been doing, my lights that I have though I am unsure about. I have T5/Ho. They were for my saltwater...That could be the problem... But I am thinking its more the chunk of driftwood I found. Even though I cleaned it. It could still be releasing tannins... Which could cause the water to be green right? Thinking I should use my uv just ion case but then I dont want to kill my nitrates... just not sure what I need to be doing...

[mls3371971]

May 8th, I ran my UV sterilizer for just 24 hours, and my green water is cleared up and I have .25 nitrites...will check it tomorrow. I just can't wait for them both to be 0. I am ready to buy my angels...

[mls3371971]

Well, my plants are growing, yeah I believe that is a good sign, my nitrites are still present. .025. I don't know if it will ever go away... anyway another day tomorrow...someday I might be able to add fish to my planted tank...

[mls3371971]

Finally, I can add some fish. My ammonia is 0ppm, and my nitrites are 0ppm also. So very glad. I will be going on saturday. Tomorrow night doing some maintenance. situating plants and driftwood and some rock to make it look right. and a water change.

[mls3371971]

May 19th. On wednesday this last week I bought 5 angels. 2 goldies, and 2 marble/zebra striped and 1 leopard veiled. All are about 1 inch size. I also got the Blonde bulldog pleco. They are doing very well. I think the snails that I have in my tank are going to have babies. I keep finding little egg sacs everywhere. That is cool, but then again I am going to have an explosion if they all hatch. I am thinking of adding a few tetra just to have some more in the tank.