Earlscapes
Member
Corys are great, constantly gardening for you Nd keeping stuff some settling. I'm going to get more rummynose just for the movement I think.
I also added 2 very cute Apistogramma Macmasteri 'Red Mask' from @shangman . They're really healthy, colourful and so inquisitive. I've always loved how dwarf cichlids swim in that start-stop motion. "At the moment" none of the other fish are bothered by them, including the shrimp. In fact at one point I saw one of them less than a few cm face to face with an Amano and the shrimp didn't even flinch. Hopefully it stays that way!
RIP to your Angelfish, you gave it a fabulous long life, and if you're gonna go, eating too much tasty food has gotta be one of the best ways to go.Very sadly my Angelfish died this week. I suspect it gorged itself on food which is probably my fault. It's weird how after so many years you can still make mistakes like overfeeding. I saw that fish day in, day out for 8 years and now it's just... gone. It's a little weird.
Some big updates!
Very sadly my Angelfish died this week. I suspect it gorged itself on food which is probably my fault. It's weird how after so many years you can still make mistakes like overfeeding. I saw that fish day in, day out for 8 years and now it's just... gone. It's a little weird.
With every bad thing comes something good however, since the Angelfish's passing the tank has really come alive. All of the shrimp that were hiding are now out and destroying algae. All the other inhabitants just seem more relaxed.
I haven't touched the CO2 for a good while. It's running at roughly 3 bps and turning the drop checker a vibrant emerald green but not lime green. When I had it higher and turning lime green the fish didn't like it and they're the most important thing at the end of the day.
I've been trying to optimise the flow trying all manner of things but since I'm not using a spray bar I've put all the outputs and powerheads on the back wall, firing at the front glass. The 2217 that has the inline atomiser is facing 45 degrees shooting across the tank and one of the powerheads is pointing up at the surface to give some agitation. It seems to be working and probably the best setup I can achieve with what I've got.
The plants seem happier and I'll tell you what I've noticed since adding the CO2;
- The Amazon Sword is growing leaves about 10 inches in size rather than 6 inches and the stems are literally an inch thick rather than the thickness of airline tubing. None of the new growth has visible diatoms on it whereas the old growth does.
- The Hydrocotyle Leucocephala has slightly bigger, greener and healthier leaves and is throwing down plenty of roots.
- The Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown is now vertical rather than flat against the substrate and the new leaves are lighter, almost beige but it's too early to see if the leaf pattern has changed.
- The Bucephalandra is a bit more sparkly and putting out leaves quicker.
- The vallisneria looks much much healthier and is now reaching the surface.
- The Cryptocoryne Balansae is looking greener and putting out more leaves.
- Still no algae to speak of.
I've added 9 Clithon snails after a message from Green Aqua they suggested that they aren't as bad for egg laying as Nerites so I'm giving them a go. The Amano shrimp have also grown crazy quick, most are close to if not adult size already.
I also added 2 very cute Apistogramma Macmasteri 'Red Mask' from @shangman . They're really healthy, colourful and so inquisitive. I've always loved how dwarf cichlids swim in that start-stop motion. "At the moment" none of the other fish are bothered by them, including the shrimp. In fact at one point I saw one of them less than a few cm face to face with an Amano and the shrimp didn't even flinch. Hopefully it stays that way!
If you're thinking TL😀R, things are going well lol.
Right?! Went out like a rockstar.if you're gonna go, eating too much tasty food has gotta be one of the best ways to go.
I like the long updates, would love to see some photos of the whole tank and how it's developing now with the CO2!
Thanks, I think the Angelfish was comfortable in the surroundings but you're right in that the elevated CO2 levels probably exacerbated the situation for it.Sorry to hear about your Angel. It may well have been the stress of moving into a new environment, and getting used to elevated CO2 levels perhaps, that may have contributed too? It’s a good age for a fish, nonetheless.
I hope this doesn’t appear a stupid question, but I assume the drop checker, in the picture above is usually under the water level?
Not a stupid question at all! In the picture the drop checker is actually out of the water. I took a picture whilst I was doing a water change when I suspected the CO2 was too high. It's normally submerged and gets to this colour still though.
I've started looking up bucephalandras too... I mean there are so many beautiful varieties of them it's tough to stop wanting more than you have. I can't blame you for for getting more, it's definitely something I'll look more into once I've managed to establish mine.Also received some great Bucephalandra 'Crocodile Land' from @Horizon Aquatics and some unknown species from @Steve Buce . Somehow in the last month I went from never having grown Bucephalandra in my life to become a buce collector. I think there's about 7 different varieties minimum in there now!
My rule with getting Buce is I'll only buy a new variety if it looks significantly different from one I already have. For instance Green Velvet and Wavy Green look the same to me so I don't personally see the value. Whereas Buce red, Kedagang, crocodile and wavy all look distinctive enough from each other.I've started looking up bucephalandras too... I mean there are so many beautiful varieties of them it's tough to stop wanting more than you have. I can't blame you for for getting more, it's definitely something I'll look more into once I've managed to establish mine.
It's looking great, loving the new buces and other plants, it's starting to get proper green now I can't wait to see it in 2/3 monthswhen it goes really mad!
Fabulous news! I've been a bit paranoid that they might drop dead on you in case I did something wrong when raising them and didn't realise! Glad to hear they're all good. Have they got red faces yet? Mine have started going red when I drop food in and they bicker over who gets it first, and the fins are slowly getting more orange. In a few months when the plants are popping from that CO2 and the fish are grown and fully colourful this tank is gonna be 🔥🔥🔥Thanks! Me too
The Apistos are doing great too, their bodies and fins are getting longer and they're becoming more colourful. Still bickering with each other though haha.
Fabulous news! I've been a bit paranoid that they might drop dead on you in case I did something wrong when raising them and didn't realise! Glad to hear they're all good. Have they got red faces yet? Mine have started going red when I drop food in and they bicker over who gets it first, and the fins are slowly getting more orange. In a few months when the plants are popping from that CO2 and the fish are grown and fully colourful this tank is gonna be
Also... might have to get that crocodile buce ooooh it's SO NICE!