55g Himalayan Foothills Paludarium

[gwand]

Ditto to Magnum. I also have a tank with many neocaridina and multiple platy fry. Both of these guys gobble this stuff up.

 

[Beastije]

Same here, I also dose bacter are to not only shrimp tanks but also tank with otto's/garra. Didn't help with my sewellia though and I fed them too, even repashy
Glad I am not the only one with the badis issue. I have a possible pair in a 25 liter tank and guess what. I almost never see them

 

[WhistlingBadger]

So, what do you get when you combine minor renovations with badgerly clumsiness? Major Renovations! Yesterday I had some time on my hands and decided to remove some of the huge java ferns, which were overshadowing the aquatic plants and dominating the tank. In the process of tearing them loose, I broke loose the tallest land area, which I wanted to remove anyway. In doing that, I broke loose the other two land areas. So now? This is happening:

Also, I'm pondering some pretty major modifications to the tank:

--Run a pipe from the waterfall to the opposite side of the tank to get some water on some of the mosses that are barely making it.
--Remove most of the big, vascular plants from the land area, especially the huge java ferns. I'll leave at least one of the maidenhair ferns.
--Next time I'm up in the mountains, gather some additional mosses to fill in any bare spots left by removing the big stuff.
--I might finally get around to moving the high shelf down closer to water level. I don't know...that will be a major disruption to the tank, but I think I'd be happier with it in the long run.

All of the above are to start getting ready to move the firebelly toads into the big tank. Hopefully they'll be big enough some time this fall. Right now, with all those huge plants in there, I'd never see them, which would make them really hard to feed. So, More mosses, less big stuff, more surface moisture. Stay tuned.

Right now, I have the water drawn down extremely low, with the two major land areas glued back on and held in place with green painter's tape.

Once the glue cures and my tank quits smelling like a vinegar factory (probably Sunday?) I'll replant and refill.

I ended up tearing out all of the land area's java ferns, and rehoming one of the maidenhair ferns. So there won't be any large plants blocking the view except one maidenhair and a couple of anubias. I want to be able to see those frogs when they go in.

Also note that the land area on the right has been moved down to just above water level, so it will be easier to look at.

Finally, there is a black pipe on top of the back wall--don't worry if you can't see it; it's supposed to be camouflaged--which will gently drip water across the entire land area to keep the mosses nicely watered.

p.s. Interesting note for those who have been following this journal for a while: I almost half expected to find some hiding or hibernating Firebelly frogs when I tore the mosses out, but nothing. I really think they starved to death.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Wellp, got everything set back up and running. Fairly pleased. I could have gone a good two inches lower on the new shelves, and wish I had...but it's better than it was and probably good enough. Note the water dripping from the black pipe above. I'm expecting some seriously lush mosses in a week or two. The bare sand area on the right is planted with dwarf rice seed, but will probably be taken over by mosses at some point.

 

[MuddyWaters]

So, what do you get when you combine minor renovations with badgerly clumsiness? Major Renovations! Yesterday I had some time on my hands and decided to remove some of the huge java ferns, which were overshadowing the aquatic plants and dominating the tank. In the process of tearing them loose, I broke loose the tallest land area, which I wanted to remove anyway. In doing that, I broke loose the other two land areas. So now? This is happening:

Right now, I have the water drawn down extremely low, with the two major land areas glued back on and held in place with green painter's tape.
View attachment 347092

Once the glue cures and my tank quits smelling like a vinegar factory (probably Sunday?) I'll replant and refill.

I ended up tearing out all of the land area's java ferns, and rehoming one of the maidenhair ferns. So there won't be any large plants blocking the view except one maidenhair and a couple of anubias. I want to be able to see those frogs when they go in.

Also note that the land area on the right has been moved down to just above water level, so it will be easier to look at.

Finally, there is a black pipe on top of the back wall--don't worry if you can't see it; it's supposed to be camouflaged--which will gently drip water across the entire land area to keep the mosses nicely watered.

p.s. Interesting note for those who have been following this journal for a while: I almost half expected to find some hiding or hibernating Firebelly frogs when I tore the mosses out, but nothing. I really think they starved to death.

I remember the frogs! Amazing you didn't find anything when you did this-

 

[WhistlingBadger]

The waterfall pump has had a pinhole leak the past month or so, which I was able to contain with a small tub that I emptied out with my weakly water change. Last weekend, I finally took it out, greased the gasket, and sealed the back of the canister. Hooked it back up tonight, and it blew. Still pumping a lot of water, but the case is leaking like a sieve. So, I'm in the market.

I think I'm going to do a submersible on the far side of the tank, and run it through the existing tubing, straight into the waterfall. For one thing, it will be quieter, cheaper, I won't have to reprime the thing every time I do a water change, and I suspect I'll get better water flow.

You know, now that I think of it, my existing pump is a two-way: It can run submersed or in-line. Maybe I'll just stick it in the water and run it submersed. I guess the leakage doesn't matter if it's already underwater, does it? Might keep things going until I can order a replacement, anyway.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Why oh why do they make submersible pumps with 4 foot cords? What the heck are you supposed to do with that???

 

[jaylach]

Why oh why do they make submersible pumps with 4 foot cords? What the heck are you supposed to do with that???

LOL! If you actually want an answer... It is to irritate and show superiority over the consumer.

Cut the cord near the plug and extend with another cord. Seal the splice with silicone.

 

[connorlindeman]

Why oh why do they make submersible pumps with 4 foot cords? What the heck are you supposed to do with that???

TIme for some DIY.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

TIme for some DIY.

Oh, SO much redneck engineering in this tank already. I tend not to mess with electrical stuff unless I have to. Time for some additional shopping to find a pump with a decent power chord.

 

[jaylach]

Oh, SO much redneck engineering in this tank already. I tend not to mess with electrical stuff unless I have to. Time for some additional shopping to find a pump with a decent power chord.

But why if you already have the pump? I was serious about the splicing more wire and sealing with silicone. Except for allowing the silicone to cure it is a totally easy and safe method that would take like 5 minutes.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

But why if you already have the pump? I was serious about the splicing more wire and sealing with silicone. Except for allowing the silicone to cure it is a totally easy and safe method that would take like 5 minutes.

If I already had the pump, yeah, I'd just tear it apart and put in a longer cord. I was just shopping and kept seeing otherwise serviceable pumps with 3 or 4 foot cords. For a submersible pump. Dumb. It annoyed me. Once I found one with a six foot cord, I was good to go.

The old pump is back in the tank, leaking like crazy but who cares? It's under water, and even with the leaks there's plenty of flow to keep the moss alive until the new pump comes in. Once that's installed, I'll probably move the frog and badis into the 55 and tear down the 10g.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I'm not the only one enjoying the fishies.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Well, this is interesting. I think I finally figured out why my frogs kept disappearing: The light was too bright. These are forest floor creatures, natural shade dwellers, and I had the lights cranked up to 100% all day every day. The were stressed and hiding out from the light, and then starved to death because I couldn't find them to feed them.

I recently reduced the light to 65% the past couple days, and low and behold, my frog is out in the open again, devouring crickets like they're going out of style.

So... maybe? If this one keeps thriving in the slightly dimmer light, and if my aquarium plants do OK with it, I might actually get my thriving frogville I've always wanted.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Ago, my fire belly frog, has really colored up! It's really hard to catch him in a place where you can see his belly, but he (she?) landed sideways while hunting fruit flies tonight. Yes, I named him, which means he's probably doomed, but he's (she's?) such a cool little critter, he needed a name. Ago is Nepali for Fire. I tried Nepali for Frog, but I'm not smart enough to pronounce it.

Some sources say that captive-raised frogs never develop the bright orange color, but I guess anything is possible with good nutrition. He is noticeably plumper since I dimmed the lights a bit and started feeding crickets again last week. Now that he's in the open a bit more, I'm feeding crickets as a staple, with fruit flies serving as a snack and delivery vehicle for calcium supplement.

Anyway, there are a couple more of them at the pet store, so it might be time for Ago to have a friend.