It has been awhile.
Did some minor changes and here's the latest update to the tank. I had some BBA issue in early Dec. The BBA problem had since been resolved (
https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/my-journal-for-dealing-with-bba.48003/). Have not seen any BBA growth. I have since increased aeration in the sump, added a small bag (about 300 grams of oyster shells), added a small in-tank filter and another small bag of ANS media. I have also reduced the light intensity from 85% to 70% at a duration of 5 hours. Also tone down the blue, deep blue, violet and UV lights.
Buce Plant 1 ( please see post #51) - Sadly, it did not make it. The entire rhizome rotted away.
Buce Plant 4 (See picture below) - Based on the greenish roots, the assessment is that it is slowly recovering from the initial wilting when I planted it emersed in post #44.
The rest of Buce plants Number 2, 3, 5 and 6. Not much changes. I think very slow growth.
One of the more upsetting news was the death of my male Macmasteri apistogramma while I was away. My mum told me that he refused to eat the following day after I left for vacation. He just sulked at the bottom until he died.
🙁 It was as if he knew it was not me that was feeding him...... I think it was a mistake to train him to eat from my hand....
Anyway kickoff 2017 with 40 gold tetras, two mountain shrimps and a zebra pleco (could not find a good shot of him - he went immediately into a dark corner and I could not find him ever since he was released).
Picture above: One of the two mountain shrimps positioning itself new the outlet catching the micro particles flowing out from my sump. Have to be careful where I dose my excel.
Picture above: 40 new gold tetras schooling in their new home.