148.6L (39.2 gallon) aquarium journal

[elephantnose3334]

Today's photos with the iPad.

 

[MaloK]

I found out that the colour of the camera has impact, If the camera is silver that would scare my betta in hiding and if the camera was black there was no problem.

 

[elephantnose3334]

I found out that the colour of the camera has impact, If the camera is silver that would scare my betta in hiding and if the camera was black there was no problem.

The camera I have is black.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's photo of the tank. The silvertip tetras spend most of the day on the bottom-left corner of the tank except for feeding time.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's full-tank shot. It's almost 180 days since it was first set up. I might need to trim the Ambullia as it's grown a lot.

 

[Colin_T]

Are you replanting the bits of Ambulia you cut off the main plant?

I would just let it grow until it hits the end where the filter is, then trim it and plant the cuttings in pots.

 

[MattW]

The silvertip tetras spend most of the day on the bottom-left corner of the tank except for feeding time.

I saw similar behaviour in my ember tetras when I kept them in that "iwagumi" attempt of mine, staying low and to one side, grouped. Byron pointed it out to me and suggested having the top of the tank covered with plants.

The Ember Tetras are near the bottom for good reason--they are stressed by the overhead light. This is common with most forest fish species. Floating plants solve this problem, I suppose taller plants might too, depending.

Colin's idea is good too. If you don't want more pots, lead plant weights will do fine as well. All the stems in my 90l aren't even planted in the substrate. I just let the roots find their own way down

 

[elephantnose3334]

Are you replanting the bits of Ambulia you cut off the main plant?

I would just let it grow until it hits the end where the filter is, then trim it and plant the cuttings in pots.

I will eventually replant most of the cuttings. I have a few spare pots and gravel for the plants to anchor on.

 

[elephantnose3334]

I saw similar behaviour in my ember tetras when I kept them in that "iwagumi" attempt of mine, staying low and to one side, grouped. Byron pointed it out to me and suggested having the top of the tank covered with plants.


Colin's idea is good too. If you don't want more pots, lead plant weights will do fine as well. All the stems in my 90l aren't even planted in the substrate. I just let the roots find their own way down

Ah, that's a good idea. I will get some floaters, but I have to monitor their growth because they may overtake the other plants.

 

[MattW]

Ah, that's a good idea. I will get some floaters, but I have to monitor their growth because they may overtake the other plants.

They do have many benefits apart from the fast-growing . Just avoid duckweed and you should be fine. Removal shouldn't be too difficult. A set of aquarium tweezers and a cup/pot is all I need when removing my water lettuce (great for composting). Your ambulia will definitely not take a hit; that stuff is invincible, along with the Val.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's tank photo. I did turn down the tank brightness slightly to 18 (from 23) in the Chihiros app for now. Vallisnera and Ambullia is still growing.

 

[Colin_T]

Monitor the plants closely. If there's not enough light they will start to have problems. Plants like lots of light.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's tank photo. It's been 186 days since it first began, and it continues to progress ever since. I usually put brief notes on the journal unless there is something significant going on the silvertip tetra aquarium.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's (Tuesday) tank photos. I've been monitoring the fish and snails a bit for the day. I did not go to work today because I wasn't feeling well.

 

[elephantnose3334]

@MattW @Colin_T

The 39.2 gallon (148.6L) silvertip tetra tank is almost 200 days old now. I did not post pictures today, but I want to write this on what I can do to improve the tank. A few questions to be exact. Should I add in some things in the tank that the 18 total tetras might like (other than plants and hardscape to hide in), and not become somewhat skittish and/or bored in some days? I have given them some variety of food (flakes, pellets, frozen foods, and the rare live foods that I might get again because I haven't fed them live foods since a few months ago), but can I add some vegetable matter into their diet (silvertip tetras are omnivores) if it's possible? I'm trying to improve the lives of the fish more, especially with the eldest trio of tetras that have been with me for two years.