12L Micro Tank

[Mamashack]

I've seen some lovely LED's on a plate that sits under the tank - however they are a "lovely" price too - way outside my budget!
Thanks Xzavier! Do you have any tanks at the moment?
Still a bit of a learning curve for me with these cherries as I've only kept amanos before and they seem pretty much to take care of themselves!

 

[Zikofski]

haha yea i was looking at the ADA lights not led but they are way to pricy where as my LED's are costing me less than £100 

 

[Mamashack]

Don't laugh  but until I've found an LED lamp to do the job I've got an LED torch with 12 LED lights flat on top of the tank, shining down on the dwarf vallisneria tortifolia. It had looked like it was starting to melt (probably because of the intermittent nature of the lighting) but now it's looking a bit better over the last couple of days. Might be wishful thinking on my part tho I really do think it's looking a bit better.
It's sat about 2 ft from the window and I think in total it was getting about 4-5hrs with the desk lamp on intermittently because of the heat it generates, but I'm aiming for 6-8 when I've got the led lamp purchased. 
Does it matter to the plants if the photo-period is split? My other 2 tanks have them to coincide with when I'm at home which is normally every morning for about 4½ hrs and then out to work for 12.30 and when I'm back another lights-on session of about 3 hrs. 
 
I noticed this morning one little shrimp on the flat grey stone in there and it almost was invisible it was so pale. Will observe and see if it colours up over the course of the day. Have read somewhere that they tend to be pale when the lights first go on and then they colour up over an hour or so. Wonder if that's a nocturnal predator thing or just purely the influence of light - anyone got any theories or experience with this?

 

[Mamashack]

Sorry just checked and it's actually a 24 LED torch!

 

[Zikofski]

yes i have read that having a break between lighting periods helps against algae, so my lights are on for 4hr break for 2hr and then on for another 4hr that is my usual routine, BUT due to algae which happened before i started this, so my lights are only on for one  of those 4hr patches.
 
and with your vallis it could well be melting, if the conditions inside the tank are variable vallis prefer stable conditions as they do melt easily

 

[Mamashack]

Well the water stats are steady apart from the nitrite blip a few days ago (which I am now convinced was spurious as it's been 0 ever since!)
The only thing that varies really is the photo-period.
I'm doing a search for LED desk lamps as the tank wall with the top brace in place is quite thick at 11mm and I can't find a clip-on to fit. They all seem to be 8 mm or less that I've found so far - other than the very expensive plate-under-tank one that I can't afford!
I'll keep looking! Can feel a shopping trip coming on! lol
If I can't find anything to suit it looks like I'll have to buy AA batteries in bulk! 

 
Have decided to miss adding food to the micro tank as I read that if your shrimp don't get excited at feeding time that they are over-fed. There is definitely something very attractive on the moss-ball and Fissidens mat so I'm not too worried about skipping the odd day now I know they aren't being starved!
 
Was hoping to add something about the colour, but they are hiding so I can't do that update for the time-being.

 

[Mamashack]

Just found this on eBay.co.uk :
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waterproof-Small-Nano-Tropical-Aquarium-Fish-Tank-LED-Light-36-LEDs-New-FD-L3-/310520349433?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item484c7482f9
Any thoughts or comments?

 

[Mamashack]

Just managed to get this picture of one of the new shrimp:

That is standard aquarium gravel in the foreground next to the rock it is standing on!

 

[fm1978]

Good shot there, David Bailey!
 
Yours are that little bit bluer than mine but where yours are coloured more brightly at the top and bottom, mine are an all over colour but it's not as bright as in your pic. It's a lovely shade of blue, one of my favourite colours ever, baby blue!

 

[Mamashack]

Thanks, fm! Took that with my phone as I can get in much closer without my face looming behind a camera and scaring the poor things half to death! lol
How are yours coming along? Have they settled in ok?

 

[Zikofski]

very nice picture mama 

 

[fm1978]

Yeah, mine appear to be doing just fine - big sigh of relief after a traumatic start.
 
I can see most of them including the wee tiny ones so I'm sure they're alright. Presumably the rest are hiding in the tangled mess that is my moss. I've removed all 10 CPDs as I thought the reproduction of the shrimp was quite low and it just wasn't the perfect environment where they felt they could breed in peace. So at least I know they've not been eaten by someone

 

[Mamashack]

Thanks, Zik I'm happy with that one too!
Glad they are doing ok, fm, especially after the terrifying journey they must have had!
Have you been able to ascertain gender yet? Probably not so critical for you as I believe you got more than I did
I'm still not 100% sure on my original one being male altho he is more slender than the new batch tho that could be an age difference I guess
 
Have ordered the lamp and it should be here by the end of the week. The torch batteries are hardly lasting more than a few hours so the sooner it gets here the better! I think it should be ok as the rim width at 23 mm has quite a bit of room for manoeuvre and 36 LEDs so hopefully will help the vallis.
Out of all the vallis. tort. plants I got, the ones in this tank seem to look more healthy than in the other 2 tanks and I would have expected the opposite to be honest with this being an immature tank and all.

 

[fm1978]

Have you been able to ascertain gender yet?

 
Do you know, I've not even given it a thought... Just had a look at the ones I'm able to see and I just can't tell. 1 or 2 seem to have deeper and broader belly areas and slightly darker saddle shades but I'm not even sure that's how to differentiate genders. I always figure if I get 6 or more there's bound to be a wee female in there somewhere. 
 
Your LED lights looked just fine to me. No wonder you ordered them, you can't be doing with renewing batteries every day! Give us a wee look when they come in!

 

[Mamashack]

Will do, but here is the advert picture to be going on with.