journal 2ft Bonsai Tree Cherry Tank

[jzang]

This tank I decided to go with ADA Amazonia Type I and had some issues with brown and cloudy water at the beginning. So I got impatient and cleared out the bad batch and replaced it with cycled ADA substrate from another tank.
Tank specs:
-64L
-61cm(L) X 30cm(W) X 38cm(H)
-Pro Z LED 60cm light
-100W Aqua One heater
-DIY CO2
Filter:
-Eheim classic 2213
-Seachem Matrix
-Seachem Purigen
-Aqua One Ceramic Noodles
-Eheim standard filter sponges
-EBay Lily pipe
-EBay filter guard
Substrate:
-ADA Amazonia Type 1
Hardscape:
-Random rock I found while walking around the creek
-Driftwood
-Tantora Montmorillonite Mineral Stone
-2 small shrimp feeding bowl
Plants:
-Dwarf Baby tears
-Lilaeopsis
-Spiky Moss
-Unknown floating plant that hitched a ride when I bought my shrimps
-Bacopa (Temporary Only)
Fauna:
-21 Crystal Red Shrimp (A-SSS)
-50+ Fire Red Cherry Shrimp
-7 Neon Tetras
Food:
-Dymax Shrimp food
-Aqua One Vege pellets
-Oak Leaf
-Kale
-Spinach
-Cucumber
-Fish Food (for neons)

 

PHOTOS
DAY 1-7:
The results of my water test will shock some, I know it shocked me, so behold.
Using an API test kit, just letting you know so you know the colour range.
PH: 6.5
Ammonia: 4-8ppm (it was really really dark green)
Nitrite: about 3ppm ( it was quite purple but not really dark purple)
Nitrate: so this is the one you probably wont believe. 80-160ppm!!! :o ( it was extremely dark dark red) Is that even possible???
It was because of this result that triggered me to throw out my ADA.

 

DAY 10-12:
This was after I decided to change out my bad ADA pack with already cycled ADA from my unused tank. The clarity improved substantially. Also note the colour difference, the darker pellets are the cycled one and the light brown ones are the bad batch and crumbles extremely easily.

 

1 Month Mark:
Tested the water and results were good so I added the Purigen.
PH: 6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10-15ppm
GH: 4
KH:2
TDS: 100

Added the mineral rock and neon tetras.
Started to add in the cherries over a period of 1 week. I also purchased 20 mixed grade CRS from ACE they were very healthy and active when added in. Highly recommend him.

This is my favourite picture of my shrimps so far, don't know why.

My second favourite picture, CRS.

 

[buck]

Looks like a neat little tank man!

[Squiggle]

Very cool dude, well done! Can't wait to see more updates.

[OzShrimp]

Thats looking  good mate :),  Is this your first time keeping shrimp? With the tank being two foot when the crs breed keep an eye on your cherry shrimp as they tend to breed alot more then CRS you may find that you will lose some CRS shrimplets due to being outcompeted for the food :)

[jzang]

Nah actually this is my 4th tank. Yes I have realized that the Cherries breed almost 4 times faster than my crystals. But that isn't an issue because I am constantly culling them. But in my first tank I had a crystal carry its baby to full term but none of them survived. But then again my tank back then was only 27L.

The pictures are actually a little outdated. The tank is already 3 months old. But I will be posting update photos soon.

[Ace027]

Thanks for the recommendation Zhang. I suggest that you remove the Neons so the shrimps can breed in peace :)

[buck]

3 months old! You've been holding out man!

[jzang]

3 Months later:

I removed the neons a few weeks are i got the Crystals as they were fighting with the shrimps for food.

The Bucopa has also been removed, as the water parameters has become steady. I also removed the Lilaeopsis as it was having a black algae issue. My first Crystal berried on the 26th of Feb and was soon followed by another 4.

 

Photos: