my edge

[Tener ds]

hi,i,m thinking that a fluval edge is not to good if you wont lots of live plants.
ive noticed that all but 3 javas in my edge and all off the cypts are dieing.
the leaves are falling apart and some have melted.i pulled up 1 on the cypts and the roots where brown and mushy and a bit smelly :wb:
not sure wot the hell is going on,the tank gets ferts once a week and easycarbo 2 x a week,half dose.water change 10% every day.the fish are fine and get feed every 2 days.
standerd lights and no co2.water test shows all ok :wb:
i,m thinking on re starting this tank with only a small amount plants.
will change the tank around over 2 weeks so not to stress out the fish.

 

[bigbird]

maybe you are not aware, Java fern does not get put in the ground and the crypts also just get a small covering of sand. Maybe do not ferts so often, as the plants also get nutrients from the fish. just in case you are not aware.
cheers jk

 

[Tener ds]

Hi bb, I am aware lol. All my javas are on bog wood or slate. The crypts only have a dusting off sand over there roots too, don't know what the hells going on in there.

 

[bigbird]

yup thought you were. do you have a co2 system ? Maybe temp to high ? I find that after initial set up with ferts etc, that after 2 months I use none of these anymore as the fish provide enough. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Tener ds]

No co2 and the temp is 26c. I did think maybe something in the tap water that's is stored but i use the same water in the other tank, no problems there.

 

[Tener ds]

i also have large bits of flat slate on the bottom of the tank,with sand filling the gaps.ive noticed some of the gaps have gone black,would this be related?

 

[bigbird]

maybe the dead zone. stir this up and do a gravel clean and water change.

 

[Tener ds]

well i got home this morning at 6am to fnd a note next to the tank saying " there is a bad smell coming from this tank"
not kidding,it was bad.so ive just finished cleaning it out.removed all the slate from the bottom,lots of black stuff and a very bad smell, and gravel cleaned the rest of the sand,and removed just under half of the water.
sorted the plants that are ok out,all fit on one bit of bogwood,added some new washed sand.i didnt clean the tank walls or the filter cos i wont some BB left.
the fish seam ok,still nice and colourfull and swimming around ok.
should i up the water changes or wait to see what happens??

 

[bigbird]

i do not use slate as a base, just my view that with sand you can stir this, but with slate the detrius can gather under this, maybe that was the cause. Did you take the slate out completely ? I would do a 10% water change every day, just to get the water parameters stable again. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Tener ds]

i do not use slate as a base, just my view that with sand you can stir this, but with slate the detrius can gather under this, maybe that was the cause. Did you take the slate out completely ? I would do a 10% water change every day, just to get the water parameters stable again. cheers jk :thumbup:

yes bb,i removed all off the slate.i think the slate bottom idea was a bad move,well you live and learn,well some do...:whistle:

 

[Tener ds]

ok,here are some pics of the edge now,gone for the minimal look cos his where the best plants i had left:
front

left

top

right

fish

 

[D-MAC]

I like it :yes: Should be easier to keep clean :thumbup:

 

[xingu]

I LOVE spotlighting on tanks, looks so much better than flouros

 

[jessonthenet]

looks nice and tidy. If you like slate would lots of small pieces not work.

 

[bigbird]

stunning and well done. I am sure the galaxys now love this as well. well done. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Tener ds]

looks nice and tidy. If you like slate would lots of small pieces not work.

i did think about puting small bits in.i did a drawing but it looked over the top so i only used 4 bits.i think it works well.

 

[Tener ds]

stunning and well done. I am sure the galaxys now love this as well. well done. cheers jk :thumbup:

cheers bb.im glad it came out ok,shame i had to do it in the first place tho.
p.s with the tank looking like this i can see the fish eating now,never could before!
on the lookout for 2 smallish MTS to keep the sand turned over now.

 

[jessonthenet]

if you need mts I have loads although I would send more like 200 than 2. They have managed to get into my other tank too.

 

[Stan]

Tank looks great mate!

 

[Tener ds]

update:
found a MTS in my big tank so he now lives in the edge.
for the last week and a half ive been adding Flourish Potassium,0.5ml,half the dose
2x a week and already there is new growth on 60% of the leaves and some
off the browning has fadded away.
also will get a nano heater cos the fluval one cant keep the temp stable,hovers around
24c -26c.