Amazon community aquarium

[plebian]

Just thought I'd post this video. I apologize for the quality. The video is overexposed and the colors are washed out. I've tried numerous settings, but the end result is always the same. The setting is low light but the light colored gravel reflects the LED lighting and I haven't figured out a way around it.

 

[Colin_T]

The easiest way to fix the light glare off the gravel is to add a heap of plants. The fish will appreciate the plants and the plants will shade the substrate stopping it from being white.

 

[BigJfish12]

Nice tank, I agree with Colin it needs some plants most importantly for the fish. Just wondering what species you have in here? Is discus, neon tetras, cories and a pleco?

 

[sharkweek178]

Nice tank, I agree with Colin it needs some plants most importantly for the fish. Just wondering what species you have in here? Is discus, neon tetras, cories and a pleco?

That's concerning. Discus need very warm water, 82-86 degrees. The temperature range for neon tetras is 70-77 degrees.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

What a lovely group of fish! I'll throw in my recommendation for some plants, too. Looks to me like those are cardinals, not neons, and they should be fine at warmer temps. Not sure about the cory species; many of them like cooler water than discus, so that might be worth looking into.

Well done!

 

[plebian]

What a lovely group of fish! I'll throw in my recommendation for some plants, too. Looks to me like those are cardinals, not neons, and they should be fine at warmer temps. Not sure about the cory species; many of them like cooler water than discus, so that might be worth looking into.

Well done!

Plants are out of the equation. Although I find them attractive, IME they've been nothing but algae magnets. Also, it's worth pointing out to those who think the fish will benefit that most Amazonian habits are mostly plant free. My Corydoras splendens have no problem with warmer water temperatures. I've raised them from juveniles with no issues. I've had them in water as warm as 31C but their sweet spot seems to be 28C.

 

[plebian]

Nice tank, I agree with Colin it needs some plants most importantly for the fish. Just wondering what species you have in here? Is discus, neon tetras, cories and a pleco?

These fish have no requirement for plants whatsoever. The species are discus, cardinal tetras, emerald corydoras, red lizard catfish, and two hypancistrus species: bristlenose and white spotted.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Interesting. I seem to remember reading somewhere that most amazonian habitats are largely plant-free because the water levels fluctuate so widely that aquatic plants would be too deep to get any light for part of the year, and high and dry another part. It seems like many of the plants native to the region either are comfortable growing emergent (swords are the classic example) or they float. It makes sense.

It might just be because I'm a densely-planted-tank aficionado, but the tank seem so bright and bare. Most fish I've kept seem to appreciate hiding places, especially if the water is extremely clear. (some of my blackwater fish were out in the open more when the tanins were dark) But despite different opinions about decor, your fish don't appear to be complaining, so I won't either.

Also, I like your B Russell quote.

 

[Colin_T]

These fish have no requirement for plants whatsoever. The species are discus, cardinal tetras, emerald corydoras, red lizard catfish, and two hypancistrus species: bristlenose and white spotted.

The reason for plants is reduce the glare of the white substrate. You don't have black water to reduce the light getting in and the fish are not naturally in glary environments.

The following link is about wild discus and what they eat. It might interest you.

the discus fish Symphysodon - SciELO - M.MOAM.INFO

Dec 22, 2008 - of the lake hosting more than a thousand discus. Only 16 of the 41 ..... ing free-swimming B. cichlae wit...

m.moam.info

 

[plebian]

The reason for plants is reduce the glare of the white substrate. You don't have black water to reduce the light getting in and the fish are not naturally in glary environments.

The following link is about wild discus and what they eat. It might interest you.

the discus fish Symphysodon - SciELO - M.MOAM.INFO

Dec 22, 2008 - of the lake hosting more than a thousand discus. Only 16 of the 41 ..... ing free-swimming B. cichlae wit...

m.moam.info

I understand your suggestion with respect to lighting. Howver, as I explained, plants are out of the equation as far as I'm concerned. They're simply too much trouble. Also, for whatever reason, the camera picks up on the reflected light. There is no "glare" detected by my eyes, nor as far as I can tell, detected by the eyes of the fish. Lastly, the driftwood in the video leaches tannins such that the water always has a yellow-brown tint to it, the more so as it approaches time for a water change.

As for the article you linked to, I'm already very familiar with it. It's unfortunate we don't have more articles of that quality regarding other species. As an aside, I'm not sure why you brought up the topic of diet. If you are interested, I can provide you with a link to a PDF copy that's much more readable.

 

[Colin_T]

Water Sprite (Ceratoteris thalictroides/ cornuta) is easy to grow and simply floats on the surface. It's easy to control and the discus might eat some of it, which would help them.

 

[plebian]

Water Sprite (Ceratoteris thalictroides/ cornuta) is easy to grow and simply floats on the surface. It's easy to control and the discus might eat some of it, which would help them.

I can grow plants OK. The problem, as I stated previously, is that they've all been algae magnets. The problem may be that my lighting simply isn't intense enough for truly healthy plants. I spent a year and half trying out different plants and experienced the same problem with all of them. I got tired of removing algae from them.

My discus absolutely love the roots of frog bit, my favorite floating plant. They also ate anacharis, and would try nibbling on water wisteria though I think it was too tough for their liking. Except for frog bit, all of them were colonized by brown algae almost immediately. The leaves started dying off faster than they could be replaced. The frog bit couldn't keep up with the discus.

Regardless, I'm fine without the plants.

 

[Colin_T]

If you had floating plants and they got brown algae on their roots, it might have been blue green algae (Cyanobacter bacteria). But floating plants don't normally get normal algae and they should help reduce algae problems in the aquarium.

Anyway, it's your call, so no plants

 

[plebian]

If you had floating plants and they got brown algae on their roots, it might have been blue green algae (Cyanobacter bacteria). But floating plants don't normally get normal algae and they should help reduce algae problems in the aquarium.

Anyway, it's your call, so no plants

It's weird. It's like you're not really paying any attention to what I've said.

I tried plants for nearly 2 years and they were colonized by brown algae (in one case, black algae) as fast as they put out new leaves. That included 2 species of sword, 3 species of anubias, and vallisneria. Both anarchis and water wisteria (floating) exhibited the same problem as the rooted plants, and it most definitely was not blue-green algae. IME plants are the source of algae, not the cure.

Anyway, I get you like plants. Seems like most forum members are really into plants, which is why I posted the video. I thought I'd show something different.

 

[Endlersendlers]

Nice tank! We have gotten into a subculture here of heavily planted tanks. I’m not an expert on what the fish prefer but I think it’s refreshing to see something different.