Brandon Everett's Blog (8)

Acclimating new lighting...?

Hi all,

So a few weeks ago I "upgraded" my tank light from a single 32W T8 bulb to a four bulb fixture adding to a total of 128 W. it's a 55 gallon tank. The sudden change in lighting caused an algae bloom and I honestly haven't seen great improvements in my plants due to the lighting. I've been converted to dirt for over a month by the way. So I have great substrate and nutrients.

Anyway, I think I'm going to go back to my old light. A single T8 bulb. I think it'll be plenty… Continue

Added by Brandon Everett on January 17, 2013 at 12:09am — No Comments

Anyone ever kept broad leaf sagittaria? Or Brazillian pennywort?

Hello, today I went out to find some more plants for my dirted tank. I bought some broad leaf sag and a brazillian pennywort.
I have some dwarf sag in my tank now. Is the broad leaf much different beside leaf shape and color?
Also any info on pennywort would be cool. I planted it in the mid ground of my tank in front of a vertical piece of driftwood. Anyone ever kept this plant before have any info on it?
Thanks all!

Added by Brandon Everett on January 12, 2013 at 8:03pm — 1 Comment

Algae bloom in dirted tank:(

Hi everyone,

Well as you read I have an algae bloom...green water:(

My tank isn't too new. I converted my tank to dirt a month ago and all is going good. All water parameters are great, fish are great. Plants are reproducing and growing like crazy. I recently updated my lighting, I had only 32 watts on my 55 gallon. Less than 1 watt per gallon. The bulb was a florasun bulb 6500 K.

Now I have 128 watts over the tank and has been for roughly a week. And of course the lighting… Continue

Added by Brandon Everett on January 8, 2013 at 5:42pm — 3 Comments

Check out clown barbs!

Hey everyone! I just wanna tell y'all about a really awesome fish that I've come to love!

Dun dun dun....the clown barb! Puntius everetti

Also known as Everett's barb (which is super awesome since that's my last name!):D

Active, schooling barb that is colored much like tiger barbs. Instead of striped clown barbs more so have spots! They also have the brightest iridescent shine under the right light. Gold and green colors shine off their peachy color.

Oddly they are shaped… Continue

Added by Brandon Everett on December 27, 2012 at 12:56am — No Comments

Which of my fish is eating my plants?

Hey,

So I recently dirted my tank and planted it heavy! My Italian val is reproducing already yay! Except, problem, my new vals that are popping up keep disappearing..ugh. Fish are eating them. Along with the young leaves of my taller plants. So here's my fish, can you tell me what the most likely vegetarians are in my tank that are enjoying my plants so much...

-clown barb

-tiger barb

-clown loach

-tiger loach

-rhino pleco (that's the one I… Continue

Added by Brandon Everett on December 26, 2012 at 7:48pm — 4 Comments

Fish not to keep in dirt...

Hey,
So I'm guessing that some fish are bad to keep with dirt. Like burrowing species? See I have a spiny peacock eel...awesome fish, love him, but he burrows. See I'm converting my tank to dirt. This coming weekend to be exact...so excited!
Do you suggest to give up the eel? I'm okay with it, I'll just exchange him for plants!
Also, any other fish you really shouldn't keep in a dirt tank? I'm aware to stay away from Raphael catfish. Any others?!

Thanks!
Brandon

Added by Brandon Everett on December 8, 2012 at 11:14am — 1 Comment

So what about "prewashing" dirt?

I read somewhere that dirt should be repeatedly soaked and squeezed out before adding to a tank to reduce mud.
However I notice that Dustin just dumped the dirt from bag into tank. And suggestions? Thanks!

Added by Brandon Everett on December 5, 2012 at 2:41am — 2 Comments

So I'm gonna "convert to dirt"...

Hey everyone, I really want to see my tank with awesome live plants but I feel like they will be so much better with dirt! My tanks established for over a year now and I know how to move all my fish and stuff around but I have a few questions regarding dirt.

Basically, I don't know what kind of dirt to use. I guess I could use organic potting soil? Like miracle gro organic choice? I've used that before to plant stuff in like flower pots and it lacks those little fertilizer balls and… Continue

Added by Brandon Everett on December 2, 2012 at 11:27am — 3 Comments