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The male Apsito is giving me trouble these days, he has started to "eat" the CO2 bubbles from the diffuser. I know it sounds funny, but it is serious as he seems to eat less and to be more static (as in not moving around and hanging in one spot) that before. I think he likes the buzz that he gets from the CO2.

An apisto that gets high? Far out man

Only in LF's tank...

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Back in the saddle!

Oh,

Just now did I see that this post would make it 1000 entries, so here it is.

Congratulations to myself and all participants to help in the creation of this tank and associated log.

Thanks all,

Ingo

EDIT: AND WHILE I TYPED, NOWHERMAN6 STOLE NO 1000

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

hello ingo,

long time, no post - i think the tank looks great!! i am sure the apistos just love living in it.

i've recently set up a new tank (600mm x 400mm footprint, 100 litres) for a pair of rams, 20 cardinals and 2 sturisoma panamense, all doing well.

and i've also diversified, with a trio of the most magnificent fish i think i've owned - triple red agasizii. even the females are so pretty, but the boy really is special. first batch of eggs hatched but were eaten. hopefully better luck next time.

hope all is well in your life and in tank-land.

justin

Justin

Hey - 100 liters - that's like 26 US gallons, right? That is quite some fish load that you have in there

But if you say all is well then so be it

I think tetratech has the triple red agasizii (or double?). They sure are nice, but from what I have heard a little more aggressive than the cacs and for sure more than the viejitas.

All is well, basically, in my life and tanks, thanks for asking,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Weekly Tank Update - Week 36

Not much to report on the tank this week, all is pretty much the same than it was last week.

The only thing that happened was that I was really low on CO2 and got a refill on Saturday. Upon hooking up the bottle I could not get any bubbles to flow. I was concerned that I broke the needle valve but when I opened the bubble counter the bubbles started to flow again. Long story short, the diffuser was so dirty that it stopped the bubbles from coming out. I have never cleaned it in all 36 weeks. I took it out, put some Excel on top of the ceramic plate, and let it sit like this for about 20 min. Then I placed it back into the tank and all is good.

Here is a full tank shot:

Attached Image:

Tank Now

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a closer look at the right group in the tank, mostly composed of Narrow Leaf Java Fern.

I am thinking about removing this group entirely and instead just have a small group with rocks and Anubias Nana.

Attached Image:

Right Group

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And here is a closer look at the Bolbitis group on the left hill. During the water changes I usually clip one to three leaves of this plant as they are either too long and grow out of the water or they are old and get a layer of brown on top of them (I think it is algae, but nothing bad).

That's it for this week,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Left Group

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Looks good LF, congrats on the >1K posts in this thread.

What's flaotin in the top right?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thanks Matty,

The floating plant on the top right is a group of duck weed. The current filling of the tank and its resulting current pushes all these plants to the area just above the spraybar.

I used to have the duckweed also in the 125 (and still have some left), but the Water Lettuce there is more efficient in eating nutrients and doesn't leave much for the duckweed.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Weekly Tank Update - Week 37

Not much to report except to show a full tank shot from this weekend. I tried to make it a little lighter than last weeks shot, maybe one can see the plants below the tree tops a little better.

I am still contemplating when and what I should do to trim these tops a little more than the occasional removal of a leaf or two.

Here is the tank,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Week 37

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It's hard to make out the tank. Have you tried throwing more light over the tank just to take a pic.

From what I can see it looks like the two main plants compete to much with other. One one the left, one on the right. IMO let one be dominate, probably the fern and reduce the othe one and make sure it's not lined up side by side with the fern. Again it's hard to see.

My Scapes

Have you tried throwing more light over the tank just to take a pic

Actually, I am considering more light over the tank in general. I am wondering if I should get the double unit and have the 2 lights on for maybe 2 hours to start with.

IMO let one be dominate, probably the fern

Hm, I am thinking about removing the entire right group, keeping there only the rocks with Blyxa focussed in and around them. Then, I hope the HC would get more light and become a better ground cover. The problem I could see with such an arrangement would be that I don't have enough plant mass left for a healthy tank.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hm, I am thinking about removing the entire right group, keeping there only the rocks with Blyxa focussed in and around them. Then, I hope the HC would get more light and become a better ground cover. The problem I could see with such an arrangement would be that I don't have enough plant mass left for a healthy tank.

I see what you're thinking about here, but I think the same problem would still apply. It still may give the impression of one tank on the left, one on the right. What tetra suggested - growing out the bolbitus on the right as well as the left - may give it a more cohesive appearance overall. Unfortunately it may also mean that this tank may not be right for HC. They're your tanks of course, and I don't want to sound too pushy or anything, but maybe try the HC carpet in the 29? I'm having great success with HC in average light but high CO2. As long as there's CO2 and direct light, it will do well.

and sorry for taking post 1,000 by the way I think I ruined someone else's log that way too, by saying some stupid thing or another in the 1,000 or 2,000 post...

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Back in the saddle!

No problem NowherMan6

Hey, the 29G is low tech, no CO2 is added

That eliminates the option to put the HC in there. Also - I think the Platies would take it as food.

If I had bolbitis on both hills then the tank may be too boring for words, but I see what you mean with 2 tanks. I guess I will have to think about it a while longer then.

Thanks for the input NowherMan6,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

If I had bolbitis on both hills then the tank may be too boring for words, but I see what you mean with 2 tanks. I guess I will have to think about it a while longer then

Just for the record, I wasn't suggesting having the fern on both hills, just leaving the one fern as your main plant and supporting it with other plants and hardscape.

My Scapes

Just for the record, I wasn't suggesting having the fern on both hills, just leaving the one fern as your main plant and supporting it with other plants and hardscape

Sounds good to me, so I should remove one hill?


Anyway:

Weekly Tank Update - Week 38

Again, not much change since last week, except for additional growth in the forest. I really have to take action soon as the shading for the lower level plants is getting too much.

That's it,

Have Fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Week 38

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It does look like a very nice healthy forest in there - with heaps of hiding places for apisto & shrimp (I think you have shrimp in this tank???).

How do your apistos go now. No breeding action - or is it just that someone keeps eating the eggs?

Cheers
TW

Robyn,

The tank has breeding action, I even show pictures of eggs on page 39. But I am certain all is eaten.

Yes, the tank has shrimp, 7 Amanos (counted 6 the other day). I also added Cherry Shrimp a while back, but they have become Apisto food

The male Apisto is strange these days, he is still eating CO2 bubbles.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yep, I think it's definitely time to trim now. The pic is too dark to make out a lot of the other plants. I'm not sure that I would like the tank with only one hill, but I'd have to see to find out.

If you do take out a bunch of NL fern, keep me in mind

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I think I would have to take a whole day off from work in order to properly redo the tank, in particular if I should decide on removing one of the hills.

Matty - I will keep you in mind for the NL Fern, I had no idea that it is so hard to get up there where you live. I will try to add a shot sometime soon that shows the fern a little closer as I am not quite certain that it is NL Fern in the first place. I added some from my 125G and placed it in the middle of the hill. It is much narrower than the ones growing on the sticks but it could be because their roots are closer to the light.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It's hard to get any plants up here that haven't been established in the hobby for quite some time. Blyxa, nana petite, NL fern....just anything that's new. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in the western new york that's seen nana petite in person. Our supplier is great for everything that's been around a while, though. My boss just doesn't want to order through anyone else, I would guess because he's lazy or doesn't want to fix what isn't broken or somesuch. So anything interesting and new I have to get online. I can't afford the real internet stores on my poor college student budget, so I have to bug other hobbyists like you, sorry LF. Oh, and that doesn't mean I'm not willing to pay.....I do have some fish money set aside.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

It's hard to get any plants up here that haven't been established in the hobby for quite some time. Blyxa, nana petite, NL fern....just anything that's new. .... I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in the western new york that's seen nana petite in person

I didn't realise some of you guys in US suffer from lack of availability as well. These plants are rarely seen here. I've never found NL Java fern in LFS, on-line or on ebay. Found blyxa in LFS once (at $30 a plant & broke the budget & bought 2). I've seen blyxa listed on-line, but if you try to buy it, it's always out of stock. Riccia - I've only ever found that on ebay and it's pricey. Example, here's a batch recently sold http://cgi.ebay.com.au/RICCIA-8x12cm-on-glass_W0QQitemZ290084674964QQihZ019QQcategoryZ66794QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemIt's a 4" x 3" patch @ $9.95 + postage $8.50). Now that's why I'm so excited that my blyxa & riccia have multiplied - no need to buy more (unless I kill it during my tank move). I've never seen nana petite in person either.

Until I read your post Matty, I thought how lucky you guys in the US are, with everything fishy at your finger tips & cheap (compared to Aus anyway).

LF, I wish I lived somewhere you could sell / post me some NL Java fern, even if it was just to see the plant in real life - but our customs wouldn't like that idea much

Cheers
TW

Matty,

Once when you have a tank in which not everything dies then I will send you some NL Java Fern

Robyn,

The patch of Riccia does not seem that expensive to me. It should be enough to cover a few smaller rocks and then you grow out the rest yourself. The Blyxa, on the other hand, seems outrageously expensive to me, at $30 one plant. Now here is your opportunity to convince the hubby completely that your hobby is profitable. You are doing really well with your blyxa so go ahead and auction some off. You should make enough money to buy some lights or a canister filter, or a present for the husband's reef tank

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So riccia costs about the same for you in the US too? Seemed dear to me (although without the postage costs, it wouldn't be so bad).

I have thought about the whole selling on ebay thing, but that means having to time the trimming to when someone wins the auction - then finding the time to go to the post office the very next day. Life is just way too busy for that hassle.

Like you, my work keeps me up all hours (it's 12.21am & I'm still working). The only good thing is that I can sign on remotely from home into my work's computer system - so at least I am at home & my planted tank is sitting next to me). The replies to threads email advice goes to my work email address - so while I was working here at home - I received the email advising of your post - so I'm taking a quick break to read what you say & reply.

If ever I find more time in my life, I might do it though, as in theory, it is an excellent idea

Cheers
TW

If ever I find more time in my life, I might do it though, as in theory, it is an excellent idea

I hear you, and I am in the same boat, way too busy (or lazy, LOL) to pull something like this off. But there is a problem with waiting. You are probably not the only one with success in Blyxa culturing. I would assume that rather sooner than later the marked will go down as more and more Blyxa is homegrown Down Under. And then I would wish I had taken the chance when it was there to make at least some money.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Weekly Tank Update - Week 39

Before I talk about the tank I will spend a little time on the male Apisto. I think he is not gonna be around that much longer. He still eats CO2 bubbles once in a while, but mostly hangs in one or the other spot, motionless, for longer durations. He prefers dark places. Today, I found him like this:

(sorry, bad focus)

Attached Image:

Apisto Tail In Center

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I didn't even think he can get out of this narrow ap between rock, plants, and wood by himself, but after turning off the light briefly he came out.

Here he is afterwards, and bad focus again.

Attached Image:

Apisto

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On to the tank:

Just to have a good comparison, and because I don't remember if the shot from last week is right above or on a previous page, here is the tank last week:

Attached Image:

Last Week

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And,

With the explanation coming in the next entry, here is the tank from this weekend.

Attached Image:

This Weekend

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So,

For one thing, I trimmed off some Bolbitis and some Fern that was approaching the middle of the tank, this made the gap a little more visible again.

As another measure, and as a result of me not using the PC on the 20G anymore (see that thread for details), I added a second glass over the top, placed the 96w PC closer to the one side of the tank (the front in this view) and added the 65w PC from the 20G more towards the other side of the tank.

I don't know how well this will work out, but it is worth a try.

That's it,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Do You See The Light?

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Sorry to hear about your male. I hope all turns out well.

The tank looks much better with the trim.

I don't think you will have any problems with the extra light. After running 5.26wpg on my tank I don't have much fear of high light any more. My next step is going to be MH lights. Some day down the road.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

So sorry to hear the male apisto isn't doing so well. I hope he comes good for you. These seem to be such sensitive fish (I've had several deaths, tetratech lost his & your beautiful male orange flash is in fish heaven now too. I may have shared this quote I found on another forum before, but it seems to me so true of these fish.

I may be more cynical than most but certain generalities seem to apply to Apistogramma. One partner of a pair always dies if you have spawned them and not salvaged any fry. One partner of a pair often kills the other, because no replacements are available. Something they eat disagrees with them and some die. If you really like a certain species and lavish it with the best of everything, it will die. These fish are perverse; sometimes those you ignore the most live the longest.

I like the tank so much better after it's trim & especially like the tunnel that has formed in the middle.

Good luck with your light experiment.


Cheers
TW

Thanks Wings and Robyn for the comments on the tank

Yeah, I am not certain what I will do when the male gives up. I am somewhat reluctant to search for another male and keep this cycle going. On the other hand, I feel sorry for the 3 girls. I doubt that I could put them with the viejitas.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

You won't know if putting the girls with the viejitas would work or not, without trying. I looked them up here http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=416 The Temperament is described as

Temperament toward other tankmates that are of a different species: Peaceful
Conspecific Temperament: (describes overall demeanor toward other tank-mates of the same species - mildly aggressive

I think it would depend if the female cac's look sufficiently different to the female viejita, so that they recognise each other as a different species.

But still, lets hope it does not come to that and your male pulls through. Is he still eating?

BTW, forgot to mention that besides liking that tunnel through the middle of the tanks, I also like how your rocks are much more visible now, since the trim.

Cheers
TW

Thanks Robyn,

I did not see him eat last night, instead he was all the way inside one of the hills for the entire time of feeding and staring at the tank (like 10 to 15 min), almost motionless. I had to shine a flashlight in there to even make sure that he is still alive. I can tell you one thing - if he dies in there it is going to be really hard to get him out

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I have to say it does not sound good for the poor little guy. This not eating & being motionless usually brings nothing good with it.

Cheers
TW

Looks good with the increased light LF. Sorry to hear about the male, but we all know what eventually happens to substance abusers.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

but we all know what eventually happens to substance abusers

So true Matty



Maybe the girls were too much for him, and their constant bickering drove him to succumb to the CO2 hell.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I know I couldn't handle 2.....1 is tough enough (hides post from gf).

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Same here


Aaaaaanyway - last night after feeding the male came out from the darkest cave and his first trip was straight to the diffuser. He took in a few bubbles and then went to look for any food that was left (although the 3 females ate most already).

He is a nutcase

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

This is a very attractive tank and I think it could be really amazing if your up for a makeover (I know you like them).

I like the right mound because I could see more rocks, but on the other hand I like the wood and the bobitus, so I think you need to cut back the fern more to expose more wood. For the bigger part of the makeover I would add more rock to both mounds enough to hold back the eco. I would then remove everything from the foregound. Everything, the eco, the plants, everything. I would then fill with sand. A few random placed rocks mabye some with moss and possibility. This would give really good contrast to the green. Right now I think the Blyxa and the other foregrounds distract from the beauty of the mounds.
Just the way I see it from New York

My Scapes

He is a nutcase

That seems so. One minute, he has no energy to do anything, but stay near the bottom almost motionless. That is until his next fix of C02

Anyway, you guys have so much energy - always talking of makeover's & what not. Yet, your tanks are all so nice as they are

Cheers
TW

Yet, your tanks are all so nice as they are

And so is yours. The difference is:

The owner of the tank sees it in 3D, with all the ugly sides exposed. And he/she sees the tank 24/7 and as such the tank looses its interest much faster.

Thanks tetratech for the suggestion on what to do - basically you ask me to do a major makeover, something I haven't done on the larger tanks in quite a while. Once concern of removing the surrounding plants is the removal of plants per se, meaning the reduction of plant mass to the point where the tank becomes less stable. And right now it is pretty stable.

The current light construct cannot be a permanent installation either. It does not look great, it is a pain in the neck to get water out of the tank to mix ferts (just a small gap on one side left, the rest is covered with glass), and overall the light is not even. I may go with a Teck light afterall, just hanging it a little higher should reduce the intensity. Will see ...

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hey LF, I try to keep an eye on all of your logs but this is my first time posting I think. Looking at your tanks a couple of months back is what has made me want to try keeping plants. I really hope your male apisto gets better. Apistogramma seem like really great fish and the pair in your other tank has made me want to get some but they're VERY hard to find around here. But all around many to you.

Looking at your tanks a couple of months back is what has made me want to try keeping plants.

Oh thank you so much, imrandy85

I am always happy when I can help in any shape or fashion with getting someone into this side of the hobby. It is not easy, but it for sure extends the activities someone performs with his/her tank(s) and as such is an enrichment in experience.

Have fun,

Thanks for the input with regards to the tank as well,

Ingo

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Weekly Tank Update - Week 40

Nothing special happened with this tank during this week. I don't know if I mentioned it before, but since weeks I am down to 2 fertilizer rounds per week, from the initial 3. So far so good, but I can imagine that with the additional light I may need to go back up to 3.

Here is the tank this week:

Attached Image:

Week 40

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Oh - did you spot the male Apisto in the top left corner of the tank in the last shot? I have not seen him perusing the tank in at least two weeks, so this was a surprise to me.

Here is the last shot of this tank for today, showing the change in coloration of the Blyxa in just one week of direct light. The new leaves are a nice orange/brownish color.

That's it,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Blyxa Changes Color

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Beautiful as always LF.

The new leaves are a nice orange/brownish color.

So is that how blyxa is meant to be with sufficient light. Mine are all bright green?

Cheers
TW

Here is the last shot of this tank for today, showing the change in coloration of the Blyxa in just one week of direct light. The new leaves are a nice orange/brownish color

Nice LF, I forget are you just dosing TMG for FE, or are you adding something else. I don't understand my Blyxa. It's got 3.6wpg on a 72g it's in open space and I could barely get the stuff to grow. I'm not dosing alot of FE, I'm wondering if my water is to acidic or soft.

My Scapes

tetratech,

my water is very soft, with 0 Dh for KH and GH naturally. I add some baking soda and equilibirum to get these values up a little, to maybe 3 or so (don't know exactly as I don't measure ).

I only add TMG, or its new replacement (plant nutrition or something) by Tropica, and only twice a week about 15ml each.

The difference in color came when I moved the light pretty much directly over the blyxa, so about 16 or less inches away from it, vs. the maybe 20" it was before.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks LF. Well the Flourish only gives me about .10ppm FE at 10ml, but I do that 3 times a week, so I should be alright. Maybe the 65watt bulb is too weak to reach the 22" or so to where the Blyxa is. I swear this stuff grow better with the two 96watt bulbs at 2.7 then at 3.6wpg.

My aromatica is also not well and does coincide with me changin the light. I might try putting back the 192watt 3ft strip and see if anything changes. Very strange. Also I have two very deep thick groups of rotala and they are looking good all the way down, no melting or blackness on the steams even though the groups are very thick, which doesn't make sense if the light wasn't penetrating.

My Scapes

Hi LF

Sorry, this is a question for tetratech - hope you don't mind.

too weak to reach the 22" or so to where the Blyxa is

How deep is your tank?

Cheers
TW

How deep is your tank?

Hi Robyn, the 72g is 22" deep.

My Scapes

Weekly Tank Update - Week 41

No major action this week with this tank either, except for some "above normal" trimming of the Bolbitis during maintenance this weekend. I took quite a few leaves out that were beginning to show some brown algae coating, that happens to them in my tank once they are around for a while.

Here is the full tank:

Attached Image:

This Week

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And here is a look at the tank from the other side, the one that has only the 65W lighting over it. You may notice the much greener color of the Blyxa.

Also, the male Apisto is on the left in one of his favorite "non-hiding" spots.

Attached Image:

Back View

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He like to be in that area as it is only a short swim to get his fix, aka CO2 bubbles.

Granted, this shot is not the best, but the light in that area is not favorable for taking photos.

Attached Image:

Drug Addict

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a shot of one of Matty's hostages, eh female Apistos

I don't think that any more breeding is going on in the tank as the females have taken over the role of aggressors against each other. This used to be the case when there was no male in the tank (when the first male died and the second was in QT).

And - there is an Oto as well

Attached Image:

Apisto and Oto

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Last shot for now, another close-up of the Blyxa that is getting the most light in this tank, the one on the right entry of the gap between the hills.

I am most sure that light is the key ingredient to Blyxa coloration, as simply the fact of moving the light and maintaining all other tank parameters made the difference.

That's it for now,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Blyxa "Light"

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,
Your tank looks, good. Almost makes me want to try a fern-type tank. I could see the discussion now with my wife.

Me: Can I do another tank?
Wife: &#$%
Me: But it's going to be a fern tank
Wife: I'm calling the doctor
Me: You'll never understand will you
wife: I'm calling my attorney


My Scapes

Thanks tetratech for the compliment on the tank. I find the right group too strong, btw, and I am considering making it much smaller.

Your conversation with your wife should be more like this:

tetratech: I found a great way to make money
She: let me hear
tetratech: we could sell load of easy to ship aquarium plants on the internet
She: really?
tetratech: yeah, and the best thing is, all we need is a grow-out tank



Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ah,

Albeit of not-so-good quality, I finally caught him in the act. Here he is, the crazy guy, eating his bubbles

Attached Image:

Bubble Mania

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I already tried that one...
Susan instantly asked, with some hesitation in
her voice.. "How big a tank?"

Oh, not big.. maybe 240 gallons.

And Susan looking at my 30 gallon tank and instantly
doing the math, and knowing how manipulative the three
boys had been.. Instantly responded with "NO!"

Maybe I was thinking too big?

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

And here he is again, chasing the youngest female away as she got way too close to his source of free dope.

All girls in the tank are clearly showing interest in him, but he has nothing else in mind than bubbles, mad man!!!

Attached Image:

Go Away

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Frank,

Just saw your entry.

Yeah, you may have pushed it a little too far, with the 240G

You should have said 50G, and then worked your way up reasoning that a 125G is more profitable, and then showed up with the 240 claiming the 125 was no longer in stock

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Frank


Beautiful tanks, and it sounds like the
cories are going to settle in quite nicely..


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

The drug addict seems quite recovered from his sickness?

Cheers
TW

The drug addict seems quite recovered from his sickness?

I don't know, it really depends on the moment. Some time I think he is doing all right as he peruses the tank, other times he has me worried again as he is hiding or eating bubbles. I am most certain though that he doesn't make a good "male" anymore, I see zero courtship behavior from him although all females show willingness when he gets near them (or they get near him, which is more often the case).

Ingo

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Hi,
I was just wondering... What would happen if a competitor
suddenly appeared on the scene? Or, perhaps it is time
to put him "out to pasture" (a different tank) and bring
a younger bull into the field?

Perhaps a shift to a different tank for a month or two
and then returning him at a later date?

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Perhaps a shift to a different tank for a month or two and then returning him at a later date?

I was thinking about that, like sending him to Rehab

But the problem is that all other tanks would not allow me to re-catch him when trying to put him back, and the QT is housing new fish, plus Platy fry.

I saw a fully grown male of his species in the LFS this week and I have to say that he most certainly would "eliminate" the current male, so that is not an option either.

In addition, I don't know how many more times I would like to go through the cycle of buying "replacements" for failures or fish that died off

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks tetratech for the compliment on the tank. I find the right group too strong, btw, and I am considering making it much smaller.

Duh! I believe that's what I was telling you.

Your conversation with your wife should be more like this:

tetratech: I found a great way to make money
She: let me hear
tetratech: we could sell load of easy to ship aquarium plants on the internet
She: really?
tetratech: yeah, and the best thing is, all we need is a grow-out tank

My Scapes

I finally convinced my girlfriend to let me buy a 20 gallon tank for our apartment so we went out to the local fish stores looking at 20's and stands and all the equipment. We got to one store and acted unsure about the 20 and then he told us the 29 was only $15 more and then he gave me a really good deal on a 38 so we ended up bringing the 38 home.

LF, could you take a look at my post in the cichlid forum about sexing apistos. I know you had some trouble with yours a while back so I thought maybe you could offer some insight. Hope your male keeps getting better.

Nice story on how to double the original size of a tank there, imrandy85

We all know that the best tanks are the largest one can afford (in size and cost).

I also added an entry to your thread, but I am not sure if it helps.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Looking at the front and back pics, i have to say i'm not sure which side is better looking. Which is a good thing. I would just send the apisto to quarintine after the new fish have left, so that he can experience a CO2 Free zone.

-Vincent

Vincent,

Thanks for the comments and compliments on the tank and fish. I personally prefer the front view as I like the valley opening between the hills and the fact that all equipment is on the other side. Overall, I am rather pleased with the fact that not even one side of the tank is really ugly.

Thanks,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,

The tank really looks nice. This is by far my favorit tank of yours. The Flash looks like he is doing better but still looks a little funny. Kind of thin looking I guess.

Hope all is well.=!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Thanks Wings for the compliment on the tank.

Yeah, he is rather thin (not skinny yet) and rather small for the time that I have him already. Actually, the female I bought with him (the pair) is also smaller than Matty's females, by quite a bit.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Maybe you should start feeding frozen food or even live black worms. That will thicken them up!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Weekly Tank Update - Week 42

Nothing at all to report about the tank, all is the same bla bla, meaning fish eats bubbles, growth is good, considering redo, ergo nothing new.

Here is the one and only shot for this week:

Attached Image:

Week 42

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ergo nothing new.

Looks good though , eh? I'm a big fan of this tank I've decided.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I'm a big fan of this tank I've decided

Oh no, , just in time when I decided that it needs change

During the water change I only had the 96w unit on in the middle of the tank. It seems sooooo dark now as the tops are really tall and wide.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It's ok, It will live on in the pictures.

I think it's neat because it's really contrasty. Super bright green, almost black in the dark areas. Just neat. It would probably bug me though if I had to take care of it. Just knowing that the darkness keeps encroaching on everything else.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Like the tank too, but still want to see the right side reduced

My Scapes

I seem to remember a couple/three years ago commenting
about what one does when a tank reaches this point.

You and Tetra seem to have postponed the dilemma by
simply putting your energy into creating more and
more beautiful tanks rather than having just one.

If the scuttlebutt holds true that some of these plant
friendly substrates wear out over a year or two, then
you guys are all set. About the time the tank reaches
maturity and you grow "bored" with it, it would be time
to tear it apart and start anew.

Actually, you are probably right. As the tank unfolded
over these months, I personally lost track of the fact
that it is supposed to be a "Breeder Tank" and not just
another beautiful show tank. If you were to breed some
fish in this tank that eventually required you move the
parents to another tank, rear the fry, and then you had
to catch the fry to sell them, or move them, you would
have the devils own time trying to net any fish in that
beautiful, planted tank.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Like the tank too, but still want to see the right side reduced

That's what I would be going for, but it is a major undertaking. The ferns on the 3 main branches, plus the NL Fern that I just tossed into the middle between them, plus the various Anubias Nanas in there have all formed one major major major net of rhizomes and roots. If you pull on one end the whole hill comes alive with movement, all interconnected.


Frank, Breeder is just the name of the tank shape, like Long for another shape. I am not too much hung up on the idea of using it specifically for this purpose, although it would be nice if the Apisto would show some productivity. I selected this tank shape because it has the greates depth compared to the lenght and height of an standard tanks that do not cost a fortune. Depth is very important for scaping, just think about front- middle- and background. The fact that this tank is a walkaround makes the depth even more important as each side (at least the long ones) is a front. This would have been impossible to do in a 55 with its lousy 12" of depth.

If I had a choice, I would have a tank of 36" long, 24" deep, and 18" heigh. That would be awesome

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I would have a tank of 36" long, 24" deep, and 18" high

I know it's on the dark side, a place where we usually venture not - but that is almost the size of hubby's marine.

It is 36" long, 24" deep, and 24" high - perfect for building nice coral reefs - although we are not as talented as Matty & the others, it still looks quite nice.

Cheers
TW

I should try and take a picture of our reef tanks from work sometime. LxWxH : 48x36x18 I would love to have them take one down so I could set it up as a planted tank! Odds of that happening any time soon?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

You guys are too much, trying to get me to get a bigger tank, aren't you?

Anyway:

Robyn - your husband's tank is too high for me, 24 inches don't lean themselves to pruning maintenance etc. Plus - you need quite some light over that baby.
Wings - that is a whopping 135G, . 36" deep is awesome though, but overall way too large.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yes, but his corals don't need pruning & the height & depth mean that a nice reef reef could be built on a gentle slope, ensuring good light to all the corals.

Still, I may go 22" in my 3ft planted (not yet ordered - still undecided). Yes, yes, I know - not your favourite height. But that's the height of tetratech's 72G & his tank always looks pretty darn good to me.

Decisions, decisions - I hate them.

Cheers
TW

If I had a choice, I would have a tank of 36" long, 24" deep, and 18" high. That would be awesome

LF, check it out:

http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2

It's called the 65 wide, 36 X 24 X 17, available in glass or acrylic. It's pictured with euro bracing, but I'm sure you could get it with standard bracing. About $300 will get the acrylic shipped right to your door, the glass would have to be picked up somewhere.

Now I'll be on my merry way...

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Back in the saddle!

Oh NowherMan6,

Now you get me fantasizing about a new tank again

I have seen that site before and looked at several of their tanks, but never could convince myself that going to some pickup place is the right thing to do.

Plus, the tank in the picture is really ugly, with that glass bracing being in the way like mad, .

That is Eurot**** bracing,

I am very concerned about an Acrylic tank though, it is like owning a new car and getting the first scratch in it, just horrible. And I will get scratches, with kids and stuff (the cats died).

Also, I didn't find a stand for this tank on their site, I guess I would have to call Matty down from the mountains to help me with the handy work and built one myself (BTW, an object that is wider than 20" in its narrowest dimension would have to be assembled in the basement, the walkway - and door - would not permit larger stuff).

I noticed that some of their dimensions seem to be off when referring to their supposed volume. Like the one they call 40 Long with 36 x 18 x 13. That doesn't seem right at all as my 40 Breeder is 36 x 18 x 16. And what exactly would make theirs a 40 Long? I find it rather short

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Their volumes are off, for the most part they're approximations (my 65 is technically 63.6) - they mention at the top of the page to go by the dimensions, not the listed volume.

And yes, that eurobracing is god awful But I don't think it's standard, thankfully.

As for the acrylic, it's not as bad as some make it out to be. It's VERY clear for one thing, and whatever kind they use to make their tanks, it's better than the stuff those little 2.5 G bowfronts are made off. I've been tinkering around in my tank with driftwood for a few months now, without a scratch.

Anyway, it's just an idea - the tank of your dreams is out there.

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Back in the saddle!

Anyway, it's just an idea

It is a great idea, NowherMan6

I didn't want to give you the impression that it did not strike me as an option, just have to get my act together first.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi.
Must be the old age... Ever since you started this thread
I've taken the title literally and as the tank progressed
you kept speaking of the fish and their fry. Ah well, at
least that explains (to me) why your "breeder" tank is so
lushly planted.

Isn't that a neat site Glass cages? Such a variety.

I wonder... how does one get that 400G tank off the truck?


You'd have to have a block party, several "6 packs" and
a boat load of pizzas to move that critter, not to mention
a special, extra wide, door.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Frank,

I can clearly see where the confusion is coming from, as you are right, I always talk about the Apisto fry that does not happen

I think I actually would prefer a lush breeding tank as I like what happened in my 125G when my Espei population jumped from 12 to about 100, all in a natural setting. Granted, the number of survivors is probably less, but it appeals more to me.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

My baby kribs were born in a fairly heavily planted tank - although their home now has been thinned & changed quite a bit from that look. Frank - it is the tank with the offensive silver heater - which I must do something about.

Cheers
TW

Weekly Tank Update - Week 43

Well, I feel like a little review of this tank over the last 30 weeks is in place, only to show the growth that happened over that time period.

Here you can see the tank in week 13, still containing the Micro Sword ground cover. Have a closer look at the Bolbitis leaves that you can see coming out on the left. Also, note the tiny 3 bunches of Narrow Leaf Java Fern (which may or may not be the Phillipine type). 2 are clearly visible, the 3rd is more or less hidden all the way on the right behind a branch. All 3 have been tied a little upwards onto the driftwood.

Attached Image:

Week 13

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10 weeks later, in week 23, the ground cover had been mostly replaced with some other plants, mostly Blyxa. You can see the Java Fern has grown a bit, I also added some "true" Narrow Leaf Java Fern from the 125 into the middle of that hill. You can note its really slim appearance.

The Bolbitis is beginning to grow, it took a little for it to settle.

Attached Image:

Week 23

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

By week 33, both ferns, the Java and the Bolbitis, had truly settled and began to grow on a faster pace. No longer can one make out the individual bushels of Narrow Leaf on the branches, it all has become a unit.

And the Bolbits just keeps on growing.

Attached Image:

Week 33

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is the tank now from this weekend, week 43.

As you can see, the Bolbits and Java Fern have grown even more in the last 10 weeks, now both reaching the surface. A trim may be needed, but I know it will require some major action to do so.

In general, the week was calm and not much happened to the tank.

Attached Image:

Week 43 - This Weekend

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE SMALL TANK HISTORY REVIEW ON BOTTOM OF PREVIOUS PAGE

Ok,

On to some detail shots. The first one is also from a few weeks back, from 3/18 to be exact. It shows the Blyxa in the front of the tank after it received more light for one week. You may note the newest leaves turning yellow/red/brownish.

Attached Image:

Blyxa 3/18

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is the same plant now, 3 weeks later. As you can see, it is much more yellow/red/brownish than it was in the last shot.

I am actually not so sure if I like it this way, the individual leaves seem also to be more curled up than they were when being green, almost as if they were wilting.

Attached Image:

Blyxa Now

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And just to show Matty that I am taking good care of his girls, here is the less dominant one looking for food on the side of the tank. She is being chased by the more dominant one whenever that one gets the chance to do so.

Attached Image:

Female I

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is a shot of the dominant one, as you can see she is a little more yellow than the other one. Unfortunately it all is for nothing as the male shows no interest in mating, he chases her away all the time.

Attached Image:

Dominant Female

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I didn't get a shot this time around of the smallest, non-Matty, female. She is actually the yellowest of all, and hangs most often in the male's area (but not too close, or if so then sideways laying flat in a very devot position).

Here is the male, a little out from his usual hang-out spot close to the diffuser. That spot is the one he is defending, his source of drugs

Attached Image:

Male

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Here is a shot of the cleaner crew of the tank, or at least a few representatives of each. The Amanos actually hold their ground against the Otos, when one of the latter comes to close then it almost appears as if they attack them. The end result is that the Otos flee the battle field.

Attached Image:

Otos and Amano

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Last shot for today is a look at the most disturbing place of the tank, the area behind the gap from the front (viewed from the back). Here, some form of very slow spreading algae has spread all over the wood that closes the gap. It looks rather decorative when contained, I could imagine a whole ground cover of this stuff, if it wouldn't spread all over the plants that is.

That's it for now,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Algae Carpet

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Looking good. Love the bobitus. When I look at this tank, it reminds me of two people meeting on the dance floor and one has to eventually lead, if you get my meaning.

Have you ever giving dropped a wafer in the tank and watched the fish chase the shrimp all over the place for it? It's really funny?

Alot of waste probably accumulates in the middle area, just suck stuff out more often.



My Scapes

Yeah, that algae you can see is feeding directly on detritus it's collected. Otherwise I doubt it would persist. I have a little spot like that in my 50.

Glad to see the females are doing well. I would think that even if the males didn't look so fantastic, I'd still want to keep the females. What other fish is that yellow and so often overlooked?

Anyhow, I really like the progression of this tank. but I think it will most definitely need a trim, just to be able to continue growing. It's like that with the HM in my tank. Every two weeks I throw out about a pound or so.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Have you ever giving dropped a wafer in the tank and watched the fish chase the shrimp all over the place for it?

You know, I never added any wafers into this tank. Who would they be for? The Otos? The Amanos?

it reminds me of two people meeting on the dance floor and one has to eventually lead, if you get my meaning.

- Absolutely

What other fish is that yellow and so often overlooked?

Well, when there was no male around, all the females did was squabble with each other and none was yellow at all.



Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Very interesting recap of the tank LF. It all looks so beautiful.

Well, when there was no male around, all the females did was squabble with each other and none was yellow at all.

Yep, in my experience an apisto girl without a male = a dirty brown looking girl. Add a male and that's when you'll see the yellow.

There seem to be a lot of reluctant dwarf cichlid romeos. I have one tank with agassizii male & 3 girls & another has nigerian red pair. In both tanks it seems the girls are keen but the males don't seem interested. What's up with these boys.

Cheers
TW

Hmm...I had a maleless apisto female that was beautifully yellow for quite a while without...too bad I had to take her back to the store when I moved.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Lucky Matty - my females have sometimes even gone brown if the male is there. Yellow showed me she was either in the "mood" or she was guarding. This was with my cac & my bita. You'd swear they were 2 different fish - depending on their mood. My agassizii girls, who I've only had a couple of weeks are always yellow - so it would be interesting to see what happened if the male left the scene (if they'd stay yellow or not).

The Amanos actually hold their ground against the Otos, when one of the latter comes to close then it almost appears as if they attack them. The end result is that the Otos flee the battle field.

That's surprising. My otos held their ground against all my guarding female apistos (cac, bita) and also held their ground against the krib mum too. With the krib mum, it cost them their tails (which have grown back) but they never seemed to care & usually the guarding mum was the one to get frustrated & give up, sick of of her "attack" being basically ignored.

Cheers
TW

With the krib mum, it cost them their tails

I guess mine are a little smarter than

Mine are actually still rather young and not yet fully grown (2/3rd the size of the ones in the 125G).

They have been well groomed by me, flight is better than loosing your tail could be one of my "rules on live"

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Agreed, yours are MUCH smarter. Mine are just plain stubborn and if they didn't want to move, they wouldn't - although you would think 2 otos, 1 mum krib & fry in 20G could find plenty of space without getting in each other's way.

Just plain stubborn.

Cheers
TW

Weekly Tank Update - Week 45

Well, there was no update last week as I went on vacation and did not have time to take a shot of the tank. I took one this weekend though, but I did not perform a water change (as I will do one during the week before our next club meeting - at my place).

The only thing to note is that I am not so certain I like the new Blyxa color and leaf shape, it seems to cause quite a few of them to grow rather smallish leaves and they come loose (the whole plant) much more often.

I cannot find one of the Apisto females (one of Matty's) either, even when looking at the tank with a flash light shining in the caves.

That's it for today, here is the tank,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Week 45

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Can't imagine how you could lose a fish in there :

I'm sure she'll show up.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

No, seriously Matty,

I think I spent about 30min just searching, and that was right after feeding. Doesn't look good I have to say.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Has she turned up? How long has it been? Could she be guarding? If that's not the reason for her absence at dinner time, I agree, doesn't sound good.

I commonly didn't see my female when guarding, particularly in a heavily planted tank. Hope she turns up.

Cheers
TW

Thanks for asking Robyn,

I believe I have seen her two nights ago, but I cannot be certain. Both of Matty's females look alike and I never see two of them at the same time. So my challenge is to know exactly where one is while I search for the other, and in this heavily planted tank that is not easy as the visible female is always on the move.

What I found last night though, when searching in the underwoods with my flashlight, was a Cherry Shrimp. That was kind of a surprise to me.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

With regards to my last entry and the Shrimp that I found:

It gets even better

Last night I found a baby shrimp, maybe 1/3 of an inch long and reddish. I could not take a picture of it as it was in the root system of an Anubias, a wise position as the shrimp would make an excellent snack for an Apisto.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

If you have one, there's bound to be more. Cool, LF!

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Weekly Tank Update - Week 45

I had to do a water change earlier during the week as I hosted the NJAGC meeting yesterday. I used that chance to clean the glass really well, something I haven't done in quite a while and it showed. The result was that people believed my water to be very clear, maybe it always was but I couldn't see it that well through the dirty glass .

I finally had it with the Blyxa, the floating and stunted growth drove me nuts. I removed all remaining stems and now have an almost non-planted surrounding of the hills, something that tetratech suggested all along.

Here is the tank,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Week 45

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi Ingo,
I started with this thread, and worked my way "upward"
through the rest of yours... I suspect that it is a good
thing that you don't host the club meeting every month!
If so, you would be one tuckered puppy.
The tanks all look beautiful
and yes clean glass does help!

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I had to do a water change earlier during the week as I hosted the NJAGC meeting yesterday

and I didn't get an invite. Imagine introducing me to the NJAGC. "And all the way from Long Island. The Self Proclaimed King of Protist Destruction"

Anyway yeah I think it looks better without the distracting Blyxa. I of course would like to see the mounds firmed up with the rockwork and of course the trimming of the right group, but one could only dream.
Funny thing, I took my Blyxa out of my 72G yesterday. I was tired of it. I think you had a similiar issue as I did in that the Blyxa did not put out a big root system. It just wasn't adding anything to me tank. I'll probably try it again in a different setup at some point.

My Scapes