148.6L (39.2 gallon) aquarium journal

[elephantnose3334]

The tank is getting there, slowly. The silvertips are shoaling more frequently now, less likely to school away from me when I come to them.

 

[elephantnose3334]

@MattW @Colin_T

I've just realised that some of the silvertips have a larger black line on their tail than others. Is this a natural variation of the species? Some of the newer ones have that larger black line.

 

[MattW]

I don't know much about silvertips. The only tetra I've kept before were embers. Colin will probably know

 

[elephantnose3334]

I don't know much about silvertips. The only tetra I've kept before were embers. Colin will probably know

I have been keeping this species (silvertip tetra) since 2023, two years ago.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Fertilised the tank with a small amount of Flourish today along with a top-off. Also kept an eye on the silvertips' behaviour, as I always do. Photos are coming soon.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Today's photos. I also caught the moment a snail was floating in the tank before attaching itself on the wood. And some of the hitchhiker snails have beautiful shell colouration.

 

[elephantnose3334]

@Essjay

What do you think about my 39 gallon silvertip tetra tank currently? Does it need some more tweaking or leave it be for now?

 

[Essjay]

All I would do is add a lot more plants. The more plants there are the more secure the fish will feel. My tanks have a covering of red root floater, Phyllanthus fluitans, the outflow from the internal filters keep a space with no plants at one end of the tank.

 

[elephantnose3334]

All I would do is add a lot more plants. The more plants there are the more secure the fish will feel. My tanks have a covering of red root floater, Phyllanthus fluitans, the outflow from the internal filters keep a space with no plants at one end of the tank.

Yeah, it's slowly getting there. Single-species setups are easier to control the tank's environment than in a community-style setup.

 

[Seisage]

I've heard that a few types could cause disease in fish but I doubt the ones you have would do such a thing. As for their growth, I have no idea. My knowledge of them is minimal. Perhaps @Seisage may know some more about them? Is there much difference from marine species?

I would say not to worry. To my knowledge (which is still somewhat limited, to be clear), disease-causing ciliates tend to be free-living and largely invisible to the naked eye. These colonial ones most likely won't pose any threat to the fish. Seems like their populations are simply booming as they're taking advantage of an establishing tank. They'll probably decline within a month or two.

By the way, congratulations elephantnose on the new tank. I haven't been around in a while, so I haven't seen this until now. I'm very glad you finally got the chance to get a larger tank for your silvertips. It looks like things are coming along really nicely and I'm sure your fish are happier to have more space.

 

[elephantnose3334]

I would say not to worry. To my knowledge (which is still somewhat limited, to be clear), disease-causing ciliates tend to be free-living and largely invisible to the naked eye. These colonial ones most likely won't pose any threat to the fish. Seems like their populations are simply booming as they're taking advantage of an establishing tank. They'll probably decline within a month or two.

By the way, congratulations elephantnose on the new tank. I haven't been around in a while, so I haven't seen this until now. I'm very glad you finally got the chance to get a larger tank for your silvertips. It looks like things are coming along really nicely and I'm sure your fish are happier to have more space.

Thank you. The eldest fish are doing well with their new shoal. The silvertips have the tank all to themselves (except for hitchhiker snails).

 

[elephantnose3334]

The water sprite is doing well since it was put in a few days ago, some of the growth almost reaching to the surface of the aquarium.

 

[MattW]

Looking great! You could grow a wall of stems along the back of the tank. That’s what I’m doing with limnophila in my 90L.

Have you also considered using houseplants at all? I’ve noticed my fish love pothos roots and the benefits they have to water quality is always a bonus too.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Looking great! You could grow a wall of stems along the back of the tank. That’s what I’m doing with limnophila in my 90L.

Have you also considered using houseplants at all? I’ve noticed my fish love pothos roots and the benefits they have to water quality is always a bonus too.

Never tried that before... Pothos and peace lillies grow too big, so smaller houseplants are best because of limited space above the tank.

 

[elephantnose3334]

It is Friday morning. Fed the silvertips flake food, and will feed them pellets later in the day. Everything has its place in the aquarium. I have seen significant growth on the water sprite, I think it needs a trim.