6 entries · Page 1 of 1
Swapped the heater out for a new fluval e200 since the old one started acting up with temp swings. Install itself was more annoying than expected, had to drain down further than planned to get the old bracket off without disturbing the sand. Tank's cloudy again from the disturbance but should clear by tomorrow. Been a long week at work so this took longer than it should have.
Moss has filled in a lot and the hygrophila pinnatifida is finally pushing new leaves, but the bucephalandra is not happy - a couple rhizomes are melting and I can't tell if it's flow related or just adjusting still. Everything else is filling gaps nicely, carpet's mostly closed up now. Keeping an eye on the buce before I move it to a different spot.
Added the first fish today - a small group of harlequin rasboras. Floated them a bit before letting them out and just watched them explore for a good hour. Tank feels completely different with actual movement in it, even with plants still pretty sparse and patchy. Work's been slammed so this was a nice reset watching them settle in tonight.
Two weeks into cycling now. Been ghost feeding a small pinch every couple days and dosed some bottled bacteria early on to speed things along. Water's crystal clear, plants are still tiny and the substrate is mostly bare - moss barely clinging to the wood at this point. Ammonia and nitrite both reading high still so no fish for a while yet.
Filled it up and got the eheim running. Set the fluval e200 to 78 and figured that's a safe middle ground for the cories and cardinals down the line. Water's still a bit hazy from the sand but nothing alive in there yet so not worried about it.
Picked up the spiderwood and sand this weekend and the wood alone put a dent in the budget. Spent way longer than planned arranging it dry in the mr aqua before committing to anything - kept second guessing the layout. No water yet, just looking at the hardscape trying to decide if it needs another piece or if less is more here.