Tranquility - My low tech 186L journey

[Wookii]

dialled back the light to 4 hours

Seriously mate, don’t do that, all you’ll be doing there is restricting the plants ability to grow properly and giving algae the upper hand.

Brown diatoms are perfectly normal at startup and once you add your clean up crew, it’ll disappear in no time.

Dial the lights down to 20% by all means, but keep the lighting period to 8 hours minimum.

 

[Spartacus]

Seriously mate, don’t do that, all you’ll be doing there is restricting the plants ability to grow properly and giving algae the upper hand.

Brown diatoms are perfectly normal at startup and once you add your clean up crew, it’ll disappear in no time.

Dial the lights down to 20% by all means, but keep the lighting period to 8 hours minimum.

Thank you Wookii as always I really appreciate the help! - Sorry for the bit of a wobble!

I have put the lights back up to 8 hours with intensity at 20%. Sorry for being dramatic - Been a long week 😃

Will be cool to get the clean up crew sorted - Found one Ramshorn that must have come in with the plants 😊

 

[Spartacus]

Hello World,

Wanted to provide a small update on the tank which has some new inhabitants!

I have put in around 22 Ramshorn snails & 23 Bloody Mary shrimp. Drip acclimatised last night they are doing a fantastic job munching the algae (just like you said Wookii!) The amount of poop they produce though! 🤣

I’ve even got ramshorn snail eggs on the glass already and it seems a decent amount of the shrimps are in the early stages of being berried.

Sponge inlet covers are in - I like there function not sure if I will keep them long term but they will fix the problem of worrying about the little ones.

Just like to publicly thank everyone here t UKAPS for sharing there knowledge / kindness and willingness to help.

It’s a refuge in a world of questionable info - Priceless 😊

Now to wait and hoover up some poop at the weekend using the new Dennerle substrate vac 😊 Just need to buy a backup heater in case the built in one goes.

Stay awesome!

Thanks,

Murray

 

[Wookii]

But am contemplating going back to Livingston to get some Otos but unsure if the tank will be mature enough to feed them? Especially with a 1 week holiday coming up. I have algae wafers and a friendly neighbour if that helps.

Like I say I over think everything I’m a little bit concerned that my clean up crew is under staffed? I may just go back to Livingston and get those Otos if it’s a wise idea I don’t want to be cruel / careless with this project but indecision gets the better of me.

Sorry missed this is my previous rush to stop your 4 hour lighting period lol

Oto's are lovely little fish, but I don't think they should be considered part of a clean up crew as such. Sure they do a great job of helping to prevent algae on glass and plants and hardscape, but they have very specific requirements of their own and require direct care and feeding like any other fish we add to our tanks. They can't just be left to their own devices like shrimp and snails can for the most part.

If you are lucky they will eat algae wafers (I have found the Hikari wafers to be one of the better ones) , but many wont, so you have to find something they will eat. Mine love chunks of cucumber (as do the shrimp), and to a lesser degree chunks of courgette. I know other folks have fed them blanched spinach and other greens too. They also like algae based pastes such as Repashy Soilent Green, or you can make your own similar to my recipe here: Guide: DIY Shrimp/Snail/Oto Jelly Food . . .

but unsure if the tank will be mature enough to feed them?

I'd would say no, not really. If you are only just seeing diatoms - though Oto's seem to love chowing down on diatoms - it's a sign that you are only at an early stage of microbial maturation and the forming of the 'aufwuchs' that Oto's more naturally feed on.

Wait a month or so to give them a better start if you can - if you can't wait, then at least hold off until you get back from holiday and introduce them without the rush.

Also bear in mind that they are gregarious shoaling fish (in shoals of thousands in the wild), so plan for at least 6-8 fish, as they will hang around together. They are also quite sensitive fish that often arrive at the LFS in poor condition, so try and pick fish from the LFS that have been in the tanks a while, are a decent size with nice plump bellies.

It does stress me out though 🤣

The last tank I hardly thought anything about it - This one I’m over thinking at every step

Try not to let it - I know it can be stressful at times when you first start a tank up, but just try and relax and enjoy it. You've given it a text book ideal start up, so just sit on your hands for a bit and let it settle in and mature.

Consistency is key, so try to change as little as possible now - sit on your hands for a couple of months, and let things play out.

I’m going to get some Corydoras so hopefully that will also keep the gravel “rotated”

Good shout - they are super cute little fish. Any particular species in mind?

 

[Spartacus]

Sorry missed this is my previous rush to stop your 4 hour lighting period lol

No need to apologise Wookii it is I that should apologise to you for taking up so much of you’re time! Lights are on 8 hours a day at 30% 👍🏻

Oto's are lovely little fish, but I don't think they should be considered part of a clean up crew as such. Sure they do a great job of helping to prevent algae on glass and plants and hardscape, but they have very specific requirements of their own and require direct care and feeding like any other fish we add to our tanks. They can't just be left to their own devices like shrimp and snails can for the most part.

If you are lucky they will eat algae wafers (I have found the Hikari wafers to be one of the better ones) , but many wont, so you have to find something they will eat. Mine love chunks of cucumber (as do the shrimp), and to a lesser degree chunks of courgette. I know other folks have fed them blanched spinach and other greens too. They also like algae based pastes such as Repashy Soilent Green, or you can make your own similar to my recipe here: Guide: DIY Shrimp/Snail/Oto Jelly Food . . .



I'd would say no, not really. If you are only just seeing diatoms - though Oto's seem to love chowing down on diatoms - it's a sign that you are only at an early stage of microbial maturation and the forming of the 'aufwuchs' that Oto's more naturally feed on.

Wait a month or so to give them a better start if you can - if you can't wait, then at least hold off until you get back from holiday and introduce them without the rush.

Also bear in mind that they are gregarious shoaling fish (in shoals of thousands in the wild), so plan for at least 6-8 fish, as they will hang around together. They are also quite sensitive fish that often arrive at the LFS in poor condition, so try and pick fish from the LFS that have been in the tanks a while, are a decent size with nice plump bellies.

I have decided to scrub the thought of Otos for the mean time of not at all. As you said the Ramshorn / Cherry shrimp are making short work of the small amount of algae! It will be great when hopefully both colonies grow bigger. At the moment I’ve had one shrimp die but hope that the berries ones will help make up the numbers and the ramshorn snails have laid eggs so just waiting and watching 😊

Try not to let it - I know it can be stressful at times when you first start a tank up, but just try and relax and enjoy it. You've given it a text book ideal start up, so just sit on your hands for a bit and let it settle in and mature.

Consistency is key, so try to change as little as possible now - sit on your hands for a couple of months, and let things play out.

Thanks Wookii yes you are 100% right as always I do tend to get myself in a bit of a flap when something is going wrong. That is why I don’t want to go down the route of trying to fix a problem I don’t even truly know exists.

I like the idea of the duckweed index - Simple to identify and simple to resolve. Nice and simple! 😊

Good shout - they are super cute little fish. Any particular species in mind?

Probably some Pygmy and Sterbei - Not in massive numbers but I’m thinking the 30x chilli Rasboras and 30x celestial Pearl danios shouldn’t put to much of a bio load on my setup which the two filters also.

My small LFS had some rummy nose tetras which were very attractively shoaling. Just in a self imposed livestock lull for the upcoming holiday as you say gives it some quality time to mature.

My Anubias seems to not want to live - Rest of the plants are doing grand. Other half wants a Betta tank so it’s going in the living room but that’s a TBC project with regards to when 😊

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Stay awesome.

Thanks,

Murray

 

[Spartacus]

Popped into Pets @ Home in sheer curiosity as was next door. Wonder how this plant fairs on the duckweed index?

Going to Horizon Aquatics in around 1 week - Going to be so nice to be in a good store 😊

 

[FrozenShivers]

Popped into Pets @ Home in sheer curiosity as was next door. Wonder how this plant fairs on the duckweed index?

Going to Horizon Aquatics in around 1 week - Going to be so nice to be in a good store 😊

Probs the same one I visited…wasn’t impressed. HA is class and the staff are very helpful.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Popped into Pets @ Home in sheer curiosity as was next door.

That was always going to be the potential issue <"with these sorts of plants">. They may have a long shelf life, but it isn't infinite.

Wonder how this plant fairs on the duckweed index?

I'm going to say "not suitable", but <"who knows">?

Cheers Darrel

 

[ElleDee]

Popped into Pets @ Home in sheer curiosity as was next door. Wonder how this plant fairs on the duckweed index?

Going to Horizon Aquatics in around 1 week - Going to be so nice to be in a good store 😊

Yeesh, I feel like Tropica would not be happy to see their products in such a state. I'm American, so humor me here - is Pets @ Home a big box pet store where quality is often a bit questionable?

 

[Spartacus]

Yeesh, I feel like Tropica would not be happy to see their products in such a state. I'm American, so humor me here - is Pets @ Home a big box pet store where quality is often a bit questionable?

Hi ElleDee yeah I think the American equivalent would be a Petsmart? It’s generally high price and poor quality with very poor range.

We went to Horizon Aquatics to get some hardscape for the other half. It was a very long drive (5 hours) but for a hardscape trip it was well worth it. Never seen such nice showtanks and hardscape - Think I will take a trip down again in the distant future for my next rescape.

I am looking forward to getting some fish in just over a week will be strange seeing some little ones in the tank.

I must say for a method of setting up a new tank it’s been fantastic just taking time and going slow and steady 😊

 

[hamfist]

Its a great project, going really nicely ! You have done far better than I ever have at avoiding algae issues in early stages. Impressive.

I wondered if you had considered just adding a few little bits of rock/hardscape to break up the clean "island" look you have going on. My eye desperately wants to see something break up that clean expanse of sand around both sides of the island and all along the front. I guess I'm looking for something to break up the slightly unnatural (to my eye) shape of a circular island surrounded by sand. Please forgive me if the isolated "island" look is exactly what you are aiming for.

Also, returning to algae wafers and Otos, mentioned earluer, I have found that in all my tanks with Otos, they always readily eat Herons Spirulina algae wafers. they are one of the few properly vegatable-based wafers out there. You don't get any animal-based ingredients until the 10th ingredient on the list ! Pretty much all others out there seem to contain fish meal as 1st or 2nd ingredient. Repashy Super green is always readily accepted by mine too. Otos are lovely little things, its great to know I have reliable prepared food that I know they will eat every time.

 

[AlemBa]

Great project. Hope you will continue to have beautiful algae free tank 🙂 those Mlmosquito Rasboras will look great on this green island.

 

[Spartacus]

Just a wee update:

Back from 1 week off to find a small outbreak of bladder snails / smaller outbreak of Hydra and my first baby cherry shrimp and ramshorn snails.

Bit gutted about the bladder snails and the Hydra - I’m not sure about going down the chemical route or Fish for the Hydra. Bladder snails I think I can control manually.

Going to do a water change of the sand and manually remove some of the snails. It’s a shame I know Gourami etc eat Hydra but also baby shrimp.

Think it’s approaching a stage where I really need to get some fish in the tank as right now it’s a 180L shrimp and snail ghost town and a bit to much trying to keep the little critters you don’t want at bay.

Thank goodness the neighbour only fed twice in the week and that was two tiny nuggets of crustacean and half a pellet of snowflake.

This hobby is awesome but hurts my head 😶

 

[ElleDee]

Bit gutted about the bladder snails and the Hydra - I’m not sure about going down the chemical route or Fish for the Hydra. Bladder snails I think I can control manually.

I had successfully manually eliminated bladder snails several times until this April, so it can definitely be done.

But then I got another infestation from some new plants and despite my efforts I was never able to get them all before they started breeding. But even still, they are kept to such a low level I hardly ever see them. Like, maybe I'll find one once a month, and I remove it and don't do anything else about them. I have them, I probably won't ever be rid of them, and I still don't like them (yeah, yeah, I know they don't hurt anything), but most of the time it's like they don't exist.

 

[Spartacus]

I had successfully manually eliminated bladder snails several times until this April, so it can definitely be done.

But then I got another infestation from some new plants and despite my efforts I was never able to get them all before they started breeding. But even still, they are kept to such a low level I hardly ever see them. Like, maybe I'll find one once a month, and I remove it and don't do anything else about them. I have them, I probably won't ever be rid of them, and I still don't like them (yeah, yeah, I know they don't hurt anything), but most of the time it's like they don't exist.

Thank you ElleDee yeah I will just manually remove them as I go. Going to be careful in general about over feeding.

Think I will pop into pets at home tonight to see if I can get some pannacur liquid for the Hydra.

I could pick up some Dwarf Gourami to see if they would eat it but then they would eat the baby shrimp anyway which is what I am trying to protect.

Hopefully from what I have read thus far panacur is fine with ramshorn snails (not so fussed about the bladder snails! 🤣)

Will be so nice to have some fish in the tank finally at the weekend. Fancy some runny nose tetras but not sure if adding more than the 60x nano fish then runny nose tetras on top is to much at the start.

Anubias are bouncing back from a bit of melt and the Buce are all doing great. I really like Buce!

Happy scaping 😊

 

[FrozenShivers]

Will be so nice to have some fish in the tank finally at the weekend. Fancy some runny nose tetras but not sure if adding more than the 60x nano fish then runny nose tetras on top is to much at the start.

I know many just add lots of fish at a time, but I like to do it incrementally if possible, as well as in reverse order of aggression/territorialism. This helps with the bioload as well as aggression etc, although I'm sure you're already aware of this, why not just add one species at a time? So either your nano's or your rummy nose tetra's as opposed to both? 🙂

 

[Spartacus]

Very true FrozenShivers - I will just get my nano fish first then get other fish in due course.

I have ordered some No Planaria powder which should be here in a few days. I see no planaria kills some types of snails but I THINK Ramshorn snails are OK with no planaria 😊

 

[Spartacus]

The No planaria is killing the hydra I have in my tank nicely which is good. 2nd dose due Friday so far so good.

Still planning on collecting the fish on Saturday as from what I can tell No planaria treatment is safe for the fish.

Shrimp are doing fine and it’s great to see the babies!

 

[Spartacus]

Well today has been a great day!

Popped over to the local fish shop some 8 miles away to collect my Rasboras. Got around 40 Galaxy Rasboras & around 30 Chilli Rasboras for £100 which is a crazily good price.

They are understandably very skittish so trying to take a photo with a potato phone is difficult. It’s amazing to have more life in the tank.

Going to give it around 1 month then get some Corydoras and some Rummy Nose tetras in due course after that.

I have two free two externals running but am conscious that my stocking of numbers will be limited.

Getting a 75L set up for the better half - She wants a Betta tank 😊

 

[Spartacus]

Got a bit of a mass die off of the Chilli and Galaxy Rasboras. Lost about 20 so far - Doing a large water change and putting the purigen in.

Don’t know what’s caused it (No Planaria or whatever)

Whatever caused it I’m pretty devastated I’m not going to lie. This hobby is awesome and cruel