90x30x30 low maintenance

[SamTheMan]

I've never been a big fan of hill stream loaches for some reason but have you any suggestions?

if you don't like the "stingray" shape of them there is others, like botia loaches. just be careful which species you go for, some of them can be ****heads

 

[chickennublet]

if you don't like the "stingray" shape of them there is others, like botia loaches. just be careful which species you go for, some of them can be ****heads

Mmm i only loaches I like are Ambastaia sidthimunki and rosy loaches. But i'm not familiar with loaches generally.

But no I was wondering if you could suggest any hillstream species actually since you said they might do well in here. The water might be too warm for them though.

 

[chickennublet]

My CW51s seem to be getting better. Starting to see signs of their barbels recovering. The big one who wasn't eating a couple of weeks back is actively looking for food whenever I feed the tank. Will be releasing them from their confinement in maybe 3 weeks.

Went out to buy another breeder box today as I want to get more fish next weekend and will be keeping them in the breeder box for the time being. My LFS has Corydoras hastatus and CW155s in stock so will be going down to check them out. Not sure which one I will end up buying. I really should be quarantining them in their own tank but I'm not sure I want to set one up for them since I only have a very tiny tank on hand and the water would be much too warm for them. I might run a little corner filter in this tank to get some media going in case I want to quarantine, but in all likelihood i'll just pop the new fish into this tank but keep them separated with the breeder box.

Anyway just wanted to share a picture of my Otocinclus cocama. Glad that they are doing ok!

20240427_153304 by Lenny Lim, on Flickr

 

[chickennublet]

One of my Otocinclus cocama died. It was rather unexpected since both of them were eating so well. They were surprisingly not picky at all about what they would eat.

I kinda wonder if that might have contributed to it, since Corydoras and Otocinclus have rather different dietary requirements (I think). Perhaps my Otocinclus weren't getting enough algae based foods? As I tend to give my Corydoras a brine shrimp based pellet which my Otocinclus also gobble up. I'll probably have to throw in algae tablets more often or even better make my own algae based food.

I really, really like Otocinclus cocama, but I'm not sure if I want to try keeping any more of them only to have them die a month later. The first one I kept also died after a couple of months with me.

I've also modded the chiller with an external probe. It does help to cool the water down more, but it also takes very long time to chill the water. It took about 1 hour to reach 1 degree above target temp, but it takes more than 40 minutes for it to cool the water back down. I'll probably undo the mod because my bills are going to skyrocket and then consider getting a brand new, larger chiller in the meantime.

 

[chickennublet]

As I mentioned, I undid the modification yesterday after noticing how long it took for the chiller to cool the water. I mentioned before that it has to do with the placement of the temperature probe. Without the mod, there is usually a difference between the actual temperature of the aquarium and the reading on the chiller since the probe is located in the water tank in the chiller itself. I find that the chiller reaches temp before the tank does, and so the chiller cuts off prematurely, which also results in the temperature reading increasing quickly as warmer water from the aquarium flows into the chiller. Noticed in the afternoon that it got to 26 degrees Celsius at1351, then took 25 minutes to cool by 1 degree. It then went into standby from 1416 to 1444 which is just 28 minutes.

No massive temperature swings which is good, but doesn't seem to be terribly efficient. I swapped it back to the external probe in the end so so that it could have longer periods of standby. I think it also results in more accurate temperature readings and the tank water actually gets cooled to what I set it to because this morning I woke up and noticed a lot of condensation on the tank which has never happened before.

 

[chickennublet]

Got home kinda late. I've been getting home later these days so i've adjusted my lights to turn on half an hour later and turn off half an hour later too. Also adjusted my CO2 to turn on later and changed it to turn on 1 hour before the lights turn on instead of 1.5 hours.

Anyway, just wanted to share a picture of the condensation and a full tank shot of the tank winding down. Messed with the colours so that it would look warmer for the last hour or so so that it would look like the sun is setting

20240502_221019 by Lenny Lim, on Flickr
20240502_225032 by Lenny Lim, on Flickr

 

[chickennublet]

Little update

Went to the fish store today which is at the other side of my little island nation. Takes over an hour by public transport. Found out that they didn't have any Corydoras CW155s left, apparently nobody bought them for some reason, so they ended up exporting them! I should have texted them last week to ask if they could keep some for me, I really wanted them. Thankfully there was another fish that I wanted. The shop recently brought in yet more Corydoras CW51s, but this time they were massive and had some really nice big blotches. They were also selling them at the same price as the previous batch of much smaller CW51s! I bought 2 of them.

I'd love to have more Corydoras, but I don't think I could house any more of them so I  probably won't be getting other species unless the shop brings in CW155s or CW004s again. I have a 30cm cube that I intend to take down in the later part of the year. I'll get myself another 90cm tank and keep more Corydoras species in that one instead. Thinking of another tank with the same height as this one but 45cm width instead.

I'll be keeping my CW51s in their little boxes for maybe a month. After that I'll probably look into getting a small-ish group of tetras and just maintain this aquarium long term.

Here's a picture of the CW51s I bought today:
20240504_214812 by Lenny Lim, on Flickr

 

[chickennublet]

The two big CW51s appear to be settling in fine. I am keeping them in a rather small box for observation so I don't think they are too pleased about their living arrangements at the moment.

Fed the tank frozen bloodworms on their first evening with me, they ate these readily which I think is a good sign. Yesterday I tried a pellet food with Artemia (brine shrimp) in it from a German brand called DiscusFood. My other Corydoras like it a lot but the new additions didn't finish it all. A little concerning but I think they will come around eventually.

Will try JBL Novotabs tonight. Have also ordered some Australian Black Worm pellets so that they have a variety of food to eat and will try that when it arrives.

 

[chickennublet]

My Corydoras sterbai are spawning right now. They just deposited eggs on this Bucephalandra which I mean to propagate soon:

20240511_104432 by Lenny Lim, on Flickr

I won't be collecting these eggs to hatch them, but i'm just happy that they're spawning. Corydoras sterbai aren't particularly rare or difficult to spawn, but I love them all the same.

 

[chickennublet]

Did maintenance today. Big water change and a tiny bit of re-arranging.

One of the CW51s in the box seems to have injured his snout. Not sure if he got that during water change earlier as I had to move the box around a little. I feel really bad for him. Will start running a corner filter in the tank for a week to sort of seed it with bacteria and then if no signs of recover move it to a proper QT tank this weekend. If it starts recovering, I'll leave them.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

One of the CW51s in the box seems to have injured his snout. Not sure if he got that during water change earlier as I had to move the box around a little. I feel really bad for him.

I'd definitely put them in the tank, I don't like "breeding boxes"or bare quarantine tanks.

I particularly wouldn't keep a bottom orientated fish, like a Corydoras, in a breeding box for any extended amount of time. When I say "extended" I mean more than a day.

I quarantine new fish, but I have a spare planted tank, it is exactly the same as the other tanks, it just doesn't have any permanent residents.

Cheers Darrel

 

[chickennublet]

Hi all,

I'd definitely put them in the tank, I don't like "breeding boxes"or bare quarantine tanks.

I particularly wouldn't keep a bottom orientated fish, like a Corydoras, in a breeding box for any extended amount of time. When I say "extended" I mean more than a day.

I quarantine new fish, but I have a spare planted tank, it is exactly the same as the other tanks, it just doesn't have any permanent residents.

Cheers Darrel

Thank you Darrel

Perhaps I shouldn't have kept them in the box at all then and just let them all loose. They will probably be happier.

I'm running a little corner filter right now and I think it will be ready for a bare hospital tank in a couple of days. The only spare tank I have is very small though so I will have to do quite a lot of water changes on it, which I will have to anyway if I end up having to medicate. Unfortunately it probably won't be able to handle all 6 of the CW51s though. Am a bit at a loss as to what to do. I could let them all loose now and hope for the best? Here are all the CW51s I have and a bit of info on them

1. There are 2 small ones now that appear to be completely healthy. 1 I bought on 13 April, so it's been 4 weeks now. The other one I've had since September last year, but the barbels eroded so I caught him and put him in there. It's barbels have grown back for the most part. Not fully, but they look healthy now. Perhaps I ought to let them loose now.
2. I have 1 which I've had since July last year. It was doing very badly not too long ago, refusing food, barbels eroded, lethargic and clamped fins. It is now eating very well and active, but has kind of taken on a strange hue. It's face is rather dark and the body is not completely white. Barbels are growing back, but I still want to be able to observe him up close. So I will probably leave him in there for a bit longer until hospital is ready.
3. I have 1 which I also bought on 13 April. It's barbels are all there and it has a healthy appetite but I am worried about it's snout, as it looks like it has injured itself or something. There is something there, but it is very small and not fuzzy so I do not think it's fungal. Tbh, I want to observe him for longer to make sure his snout is healthy.
4. 2 massive ones which I acquired only 4 May. 1 is active and eating and pooping well, but it is the one which also appears to have scratched his snout on something. Also saw a little growth on his pectoral fin. Very small and not fuzzy, I cannot tell what it is. It might have already been there from the start. I've heard that Corydoras can develop fat/protein deposits and I'm wondering if this might be one. Probably will move him to hospital when ready.
5. The other one, face is dark and breathes rather fast. Inactive most of the time, will have a burst of energy and then stop. This is the one I'm the most worried about. It does not show much interest in food. I don't think I can release him just yet.

The spare tanks I have

1. Right now, a bare tank which is only 30cmx20cmx20cm. Empty at the moment
2. Fully planted 30cm which is probably very unsuitable for Corydoras

I don't have any other spare tanks or the space for a bigger tank right now until I tear down the 30cm cube, and there are 4 fish at least that need close watching, 2 of which are massive and 1 of medium size. 1 is probably in dire straits. I had hoped it was just an adjustment issue.

I am worried about the size of the tank and the size of the filter I have compared to the fish. I have used it to quarantine 3 Corydoras sterbai and it went fine but the CW51s are another story altogether. I could also hook up a Biomaster 350 on the quarantine tank. The other worry I have is heat. I will not be able to keep this tank cool. So I am thinking of having just 2 fish in there first, being number 5 and number 2 that I've listed above, as these two seem to be in the worst shape. The other two can stay in their boxes for a while even though not ideal. The first two I mentioned will be let loose into the main tank.

The other alternative is to let loose the 2 healthy ones, the other 2 relatively healthy ones, and move the 2 iffy ones to hospital in a few days.

I would be very, very grateful for your thoughts on this.

 

[SamTheMan]

Hi all,

I'd definitely put them in the tank, I don't like "breeding boxes"or bare quarantine tanks.

I particularly wouldn't keep a bottom orientated fish, like a Corydoras, in a breeding box for any extended amount of time. When I say "extended" I mean more than a day.

I quarantine new fish, but I have a spare planted tank, it is exactly the same as the other tanks, it just doesn't have any permanent residents.

Cheers Darrel

I completely agree with this

 

[chickennublet]

I completely agree with this

I will bear this in mind. I had thought the box would make observation easier but I think it's probably stressing them out a lot.

Will have a hospital tank set up for them in a few days and probably release the healthy ones into the main tank soon. I would also be grateful if you could let me have your thoughts on my earlier post. I have not had to deal with sick fish in a very long time now and have never had anything serious ever so am a bit out of my depth.

 

[SamTheMan]

I will bear this in mind. I had thought the box would make observation easier but I think it's probably stressing them out a lot.

Will have a hospital tank set up for them in a few days and probably release the healthy ones into the main tank soon. I would also be grateful if you could let me have your thoughts on my earlier post. I have not had to deal with sick fish in a very long time now and have never had anything serious ever so am a bit out of my depth.

clean water and frequent water changes, (at least 3x a week) is the best cure, for stuff like that, and if it gets worse/nothing happens, does aquarium salt at 1tbsp to two US gallons, plus methalyne blue at a low to medium dose

 

[Conort2]

Those ziss boxes are far too small to keep a decent sized corydoras in for any amount of time. Hence why you are finding they are injuring their snouts, they’re bashing their faces into the sides trying to get out. As they’re sharing the same aquarium water as your other corydoras I’m not sure what the benefit is in keeping them in the boxes. Any diseases or water quality issues will affect them the same as your other fish if they’re in the same aquarium.

As mentioned by @SamTheMan the best thing for issues like you have mentioned are frequent water changes and good food. Live blackworms are amazing for getting corydoras into good condition.

Cheers

 

[chickennublet]

clean water and frequent water changes, (at least 3x a week) is the best cure, for stuff like that, and if it gets worse/nothing happens, does aquarium salt at 1tbsp to two US gallons, plus methalyne blue at a low to medium dose

Those ziss boxes are far too small to keep a decent sized corydoras in for any amount of time. Hence why you are finding they are injuring their snouts, they’re bashing their faces into the sides trying to get out. As they’re sharing the same aquarium water as your other corydoras I’m not sure what the benefit is in keeping them in the boxes. Any diseases or water quality issues will affect them the same as your other fish if they’re in the same aquarium.

As mentioned by @SamTheMan the best thing for issues like you have mentioned are frequent water changes and good food. Live blackworms are amazing for getting corydoras into good condition.

Cheers

Thank you both.

Originally bought the Ziss boxes to isolate my two CW51s so that I could target feed them. I eventually ended up using these boxes to store new fish. But noted the general consensus here not to keep them in there for too long. The only benefit is that it's easier for me to oberve them and make sure they're eating. I'm also worried about being able to keep a quarantine tank cool. Not much I can do about that. Will make sure there's lots of surface agitation. I really should not have kept them there so long!

Have decided not to move them to the tiny hospital tank. I'll get a new 45x30x30cm and use that instead, as the only empty tank I have lying around which I intended to use is only 30x20x20cm. I'd prefer 60cm but I really haven't the space right now.

The 2 healthy fish will be moved from their boxes into the main tank tonight after I get home from work.

Injured fish will be moved to the 45cm when it gets here and given plenty of water changes. It will take a few more days but it should be better than moving them to a tiny tank and moving them again. I'll see if I can get an acrylic one tonight actually, this way I won't have to order online and wait for it to get here.

As for the last two... I really need to observe them for longer. I plan to dose the tank with medication for parasites because I don't see any external symptoms. Perhaps i'll also move these to qt and dose that tank too. The water changes might affect the efficacy of the meds a little but better than nothing I would think.

 

[Conort2]

Thank you both.

Originally bought the Ziss boxes to isolate my two CW51s so that I could target feed them. I eventually ended up using these boxes to store new fish. But noted the general consensus here not to keep them in there for too long. The only benefit is that it's easier for me to oberve them and make sure they're eating. I'm also worried about being able to keep a quarantine tank cool. Not much I can do about that. Will make sure there's lots of surface agitation. I really should not have kept them there so long!

Have decided not to move them to the tiny hospital tank. I'll get a new 45x30x30cm and use that instead, as the only empty tank I have lying around which I intended to use is only 30x20x20cm. I'd prefer 60cm but I really haven't the space right now.

The 2 healthy fish will be moved from their boxes into the main tank tonight after I get home from work.

Injured fish will be moved to the 45cm when it gets here and given plenty of water changes. It will take a few more days but it should be better than moving them to a tiny tank and moving them again. I'll see if I can get an acrylic one tonight actually, this way I won't have to order online and wait for it to get here.

As for the last two... I really need to observe them for longer. I plan to dose the tank with medication for parasites because I don't see any external symptoms. Perhaps i'll also move these to qt and dose that tank too. The water changes might affect the efficacy of the meds a little but better than nothing I would think.

If you believe some of the fish have parasites you need to treat the whole tank so it would be pointless moving some of them. If it was me I’d keep them all together and undertake water changes at least twice a week with heavy feedings of high quality foods such as live foods.

Moving fish and placing them in newly set up tanks will just stress them further and probably cause more issues in the long run.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I had thought the box would make observation easier

That was a lot of people's reservations about having a planted <"quarantine"> tank.

I'd just come from it from a different direction, the question is:

• "What is the best environment for your fish?" and the answer is
• "an established planted tank with good quality water and a variety of food, including some live food"

Assuming that that is the answer? Does it make any sense to put new fish into a less good, more stressful environment so that you can observe them? As far as I'm concerned it doesn't.

cheers Darrel

 

[chickennublet]

If you believe some of the fish have parasites you need to treat the whole tank so it would be pointless moving some of them. If it was me I’d keep them all together and undertake water changes at least twice a week with heavy feedings of high quality foods such as live foods.

Moving fish and placing them in newly set up tanks will just stress them further and probably cause more issues in the long run.

Hi all,

That was a lot of people's reservations about having a planted <"quarantine"> tank.

I'd just come from it from a different direction, the question is:

• "What is the best environment for your fish?" and the answer is
• "an established planted tank with good quality water and a variety of food, including some live food"

If that is the answer? Does it make any sense to put new fish into a less good, more stressful environment so that you can observe them? As far as I'm concerned it doesn't.

cheers Darrel

Thank you both. I will get some metronidazole and give that a try tonight. I am hoping that i'm not dealing with any terribly stubborn parasites. If there's no improvement, will follow up with levamisole.

I suspect parasites for just 2 of the fish but I will dose the entire tank.