5 Gallon Planted Journal - Page 3

Karackle · 06-05-2008, 06:20 PM

And a couple nice shots of the Betta
With Flash:

And a couple without the flash so you can see closer to the color that I see when I look in the tank:

Sorry...he got camera shy after the first one so he's kind of hidden by plants :-P

Karackle · 06-10-2008, 01:47 AM

Very quick happy update on the 5g....plants are all starting to show signs of NEW growth instead of dying on me! WOOHOO!!! mini-ish cycle is chugging along, should be good as new soon, and the pH is holding at a steady 7.2...I believe it's time to start thinking about getting my sad lonely Oto a new friend soon!

Karackle · 06-17-2008, 07:53 PM

Quick update...plants continue to grow in nicely! WOOT! Parameters have been stable for about a week, ammonia and nitrIte are finally back to 0 and nitrAtes are rising, pH is steady at 7.2-7.4, GH is about 8, KH is about 2-3. Phew. So with more stabilized parameters I decided at the end of last week it was time to add back Oto friends for my one tough little guy that made it through all the turmoil. I got 2 in case one didn't make it, but both are doing well! So i have 3 active, fat, happy, healthy looking Otos in my 5g now. Might be too much bioload to add back the little cories, not sure. They might have to wait until the next tank I set up

Or possibly i'll put them in the 20g. They're so cute, i'm absolutely in love with them now so I need to get them for SOMETHING!

:-D

Need to do a little trimming and replanting now that the plants are healthy again and then i'll post pictures.

So many projects now that both tanks are happy again! :-D

Karackle · 06-19-2008, 07:53 PM

I did a bit of rearranging in the tank today, I switched which side the cabomba and wisteria were on and moved the large crypt from behind the driftwood to in front of it. And I shifted the driftwood to the right (if you're facing the tank) a bit. I'm not sure if I like it, I think I do but i'll have to wait until it grows in a little more, and "fluffs back" up....plants never quite want to stand straight and look nice right after they get moved around do they?

I took a couple pictures but the water is a bit murky. I'll take some more when the water clears and the plants are (hopefully) no longer leaning in weird directions!

As always, input of any kind is more than welcome!

Thanks!

Karackle · 06-23-2008, 10:04 AM

Well, I am happy to report that after a weekend away, instead of a disaster, I came home to find my tank looking quite lovely. The very crooked (tallest) wisteria on the right has straightened out nicely, some of the other wisteria plants appear to have grown a bit, and the cabombas have straightened out and grown as well! All three Otos are frolicking around the tank and the betta is doing his thing

Finally, i can breath a little easier about this tank as it seems to be stable. (the mini-cycle is also over, back to 0 ammonia and nitrIte, ~10 nitrAte

)