2017 Fluval Spec V Aquarium Journal

It’s a little overdue, but here is the Spec V aquarium journal for 2017.  It’s a little monotonous for reading, but for those interested, it sheds some light on maintenance schedule .  It will give you an idea of maintenance, changes that I’ve made, etc.

Not much notable happened.  This tank was ‘scaped in fall of 2016 with my paintball CO2 system installed at the same time.  I’ve maintained the same setup, only tweaking a few things, notably adding potassium phosphate (KH2PO4) to the  fertilizer dosing as I was getting some yellowing of plants.  I think it was caused by the AquaSoil substrate getting depleted over time.  Keeping an aquarium journal helps in some decisions like that – keeping track of what I’m observing; what works and what doesn’t.

green neon tetras in a Fluval Spec V Aquarium

Water changes have been lax, stretching from the ideal every week to more like every two or three weeks.  What can I say, it was a busy year.

Each plant species has to have a major trim (or thin and replant in the case of the blyxa japonica) every three weeks.  I rotate so that I don’t do all the plants at once.  This saves time and reduces system shock to the tank.

Our Nano Journal 2017

1/2/2017:
Just got back from Christmas Vacation – 9 days away. Looks good.

50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

1/7/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Major trim of HC. Ripped up one of the Blyxa bushes – thinned it down (it was huge) and replanted two smaller sprouts as replacement.

1/10/2017:
30% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

I just did this as I still have many HC leaves floating around and jammed in the filter – trying to get them out.

1/12/2017:
CO2 is at 103 BPM.

1/16/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Ripped up the other bunch of blyxa; replanted and threw 3/4 of it out. Major trim of rotala and repens as well.

1/23/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

No plant trimming. I’ve never seen so little detritus in the filter media. It’s either very clean or not working.

1/28/2017:
50% water change.

Trimmed some of the repens.

1/29/2017:
CO2 is at 103 BPM.

2/7/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Uprooted all of the Rotalla. Cut off and replanted about 5 small stems. Light trimming all over of HC.

2/15/2017:
Added (3) new green neons. They are so little! Seem to do fine in the CO2 (I turned it off before adding).

2/17/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Uprooted all of the Japonica (it had gotten huge) and replanted 4 small sprigs. Major trim of repens and HC.

2/26/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

3/1/2017:
Noticed that the CO2 gauge is below 500 psi. Tank nearing empty. Lasted about 3 months and 3 weeks.

3/2/2017:
Went to fill the CO2 tank but Dicks Sporting was low so only put in 13 of 20 oz. Will probably be getting low in April.

Adjusted valve and counted 103 BPM.

3/4/17:
CO2 is at 113 BPM.

Fluval Spec V Aquarium with Green Neons

3/8/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Major trim of all HC.

3/10/2017:
Turned up CO2 a few days ago.
CO2 is at 136 BPM.

3/16/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Trimmed rotalla. It had almost made it back to the surface.

3/23/2017:
50% Water Change

4/8/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Tore out all the blyxa japonica and replanted 3 small sprigs.

Trimmed back rotala and HC.

4/9/2017:
CO2 pressure is down to 500 psi, so that tank is almost empty.

4/10/2017:
Filled up CO2 tank (all the way this time).

Adjusted needle valve to 131 BPM.

4/21/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Major trim of repens.

5/3/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Trimmed rotalla.

5/13/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Major trim of HC.

5/20/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

5/31/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Trim rotala. Pulled up most of the blyxa and replanted to thin out.

6/13/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Heavy trim of repens.

6/18/2017:
Refill CO2 tank.

6/25/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

7/7/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Pulled up all of the repens as much of it was dying and not growing. Put down a thin new layer of substrate and planted select good pieces.

Heavy trim of the HC.

7/16/2017:
Had some excitement today. I have been bumping up the CO2 over the past few days – not sure of the final bubble rate. Early afternoon, I turned the outflow nozzle downward to see if getting the CO2 bubbles down to the plants would help. A few hours later noticed all the fish gasping at the surface. Quickly did a 50% water change to get them some oxygen and turned off the CO2. Put the nozzle back up.

In the process of the water change. At least one fish swam up the tube. I had no idea until I saw one of the green neons laying in the sink. Put him back in and he is fine. Only have 5 now (was 6) so one may have been lost in the tube or died.

7/17/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Adjusted the CO2 to 130 BPM.

7/19/2017 to 8/4/2017:
Away for China Trip. Best of Luck Fish.

8/7/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Pulled up all the Rotalla and replanted a few good sprigs.

Starting today I am adding Potassium Phosphate as it seems something is deficient. So every other day:

Tues. Thurs. Sun. = 1 smidgen-KNO3, 1 Drop KH2PO4, 1 smidgen KH2PO4.

Also I have increased light duration to 8 hours a day.

8/14/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Heavy trim of the HC.

8/20/2017:
Checked CO2 – was at 97 BPM

8/22/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

8/28/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

9/5/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Pulled up all of the blyxa; replanted three small sprigs to thin out.

9/13/17:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Half trim of HC and totally.

9/22/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Tried out new algae scraper.

The CO2 tank reads 500 psi so it’s about time to replace. That was just over 3 months use on that tank.

Blyxa Japonica

9/24/2017:
Refilled the CO2 Tank.

Adjusted to 124 BPM.

9/25/2017:
Checked and the CO2 is at 74 BPM. I didn’t change the valve so I don’t know why it’s less today than yesterday.

Reset at 119 bpm.

9/29/2017:
Checked and the CO2 is back down to 90 BPM. I don’t know why it is changing.

Turned the main (upstream) valve closed a bit – might make the needle valve adjustments less sensitive.

Adjusted higher to 125 bpm.

9/30/2017:
Checked and CO2 is at 118 bpm – pretty close to yesterday.

10/3/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

10/12/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Major trim of HC. Rotalla got trimmed back as it is now at the surface and very large.

10/19/2017:
Bought 4 new green neons. We were down to 3.

10/22/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

11/9/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Trimmed HC. Rotalla is very full and tall and needs trimming every week.

11/25/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Trimmed Repens.

12/1/2017:
We’ve lost 4 of the 7 green neons. They were acting strange / sick after the last water change. I don’t know if the temperature was too far off, if the % change was too great, or water was added too fast.

12/3/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

12/12/2017:
Installed new light, Finnex Planted + 24/7 SE.

12/13/2017:
Filled the CO2 tank. After filling the tank only says 700 psi; doesn’t look like they got it filled.

Set to 114 bpm.

12/14/2017:
50% water change. Rinsed out filter media.

Trimmed HC.

12/22/2017:
50% water change.
Put back on the old light (finnex planted +) as it works with the automatic fish feeder. Leaving town tomorrow for Christmas.

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