2018 Fluval Spec V Aquarium Journal

I’m posting here the Journal I kept last year (2018) to record maintenance and happenings of our Fluval Spec V aquarium.  I have done this in past years (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017).

For myself, keeping a journal is very helpful.  It helps me check when and how major events occurred (when fish were added, when the tank was rescaped, etc.) and it  helps me remember dates, such as how long it has been since the last water change.

Not much happened this year, with one notable exception.  We moved!

Move Spec V Aquarium

The tank hasn’t been in great shape as it was overdue for a rebuild, so I didn’t stress too much about messing it up in the move.  We traveled a grand total of 1/2 a mile – it went well.

Planted Spec V during water change

Other than that, the setup was the same as what we setup in the fall of 2016: Fluval Spec V Tank, Hardscape is Ohko stone, substrate is Up Aqua Aquasand, Finnex Planted+ 16″ light, Pressurized paintball CO2 system; Plants are Rotala Rotundifolia, Staurogen Repens, Blyxa Japonica, and Hemianthus Hallitrichoides ‘Cuba’ (HC).

Our Spec V Journal: 2018

1/7/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Heavy trim of repens. Pulled up all the rotala – it hasn’t grown in weeks and seems dead. Replanted a few sprigs but not hopeful any of it will grow. Trimmed the HC.

1/14/2018:
50% water change.

1/31/2018:
Refilled CO2 tank. Only 49 days since the last ‘fill’ so it looks like they did not sell me a full tank last time.

50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Heavy trim of HC. The rotala is starting to come back in small bits.

Set CO2 flowrate to 135 bpm (bubbles per minute).

2/1/2018:
Set CO2 flowrate to 102 bpm.

2/13/2018:
50% water change.

Trimmed repens near glass.

2/20/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Small trim of rotala. We are down to a single green neon.

Fluval Spec V Planted Tank

3/3/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Heavy trim of HC. Heavy trim of repens.

3/18/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

3/25/2018:
50% water change.

4/1/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media (but did not siphon out pump/filter section).

Light trim of HC.

4/8/2018:
50% water change.

4/17/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Ripped up all the blyxa japonica (very full) and replanted three small plants. Trimmed the HC. Major trim of the rotala – it was all over the surface.

4/22/2018:
50% water change.

5/1/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

5/9/2018:
50% water change.

5/17/18:
Refilled CO2 tank. I now have a spare tank to swap out.
Last tank lasted about 3-1/2 months.

Set CO2 to 102 bpm.

5/19/2018:
Adjusted CO2 to 111 bpm.

5/23/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Ripped up all the Staurogyne Repens. Replanted 10 sprigs.

5/29/2018:
50% water change.

Trimmed rotala.

6/14/18:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Heavy trim of HC.

6/17/2018:
Refilled CO2 tank. This tank only lasted 1 month. I noticed it didn’t have teflon tape on the threads. Maybe this made it leak faster. I put teflon tape on this time. New plastic washer (as I alway do).

Adjusted CO2 to 114 BPM.

6/18/2018:
CO2 bubble rate was much lower today (no adjustment since yesterday).

Adjusted CO2 to 120 BPM.

6/22/2018:
50% water change.

7/4/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

7/16/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Ripped up all the rotala. Replanted 4 stems. Ripped up all the blyxa japonica. Replanted 5 sprigs.

7/23/18:
50% water change.

8/1/2018:
50% water change

8/11/2018:
Moved the aquarium to the new house.

Moved fish (uno) and as many shrimp as possible in a 1 gallon Tupperware. Drained as much water as possible from the tank – about 1/2” in the bottom.

90% water change. Fully rinsed media in tap water.

8/15/2018:
Filled CO2 tank. Had trouble with first tank that got filled. They emptied and refilled. Filled the second and it worked fine. When this one is empty we will see if the other tank works.

8/16/2018:
50% water change.

Light trim of Repens. Heavy trim of HC (it was long overdue).

8/17/2018:

CO2 is set at 135 bpm.

8/20/2018:

CO2 is set at 129 bpm.

8/26/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Light trim of HC and repens.

9/10/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

9/16/2018:
50% water change.

10/2/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Trimmed HC. Light trim of Repens and Rotala.

10/23/2018:
Replaced CO2 tank. Didn’t replace washer in regulator.

10/23/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

10/24/2018:
Set CO2 to 141 bpm.

11/4/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Trimmed HC

11/12/2018:
50% water change.

12/12/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Heavy trim of HC. Ripped out all of the rotala and replanted a few small stems. It had quit growing – covered in algae and brittle.

12/23/2018:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Trimmed HC a little. Ripped out all the sturgeon staurogyne repens and replanted about 10 good pieces.

Refilled the CO2 tank. Set to 159 BPM.

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