Elder Beach

[DrRob]

 I love this thread. 

 
Thank you very much. I'm still viewing this tank as a work in progress, and it isn't following the plan I had set out for it, but these things happen.
 
Thought I'd throw up another picture of the proud dad with fry. Sorry about the pipework, they've dug up all the plants that were hiding it.
 

 

[techen]

I want this tank :B

 

[This Old Spouse]

It is wonderful, isn't it? I mainly enjoy your writing style, Dr Rob.

 

[DrRob]

Thought I'd see if a video helped show the swarm.
 

 

[This Old Spouse]

Nice! I've never had this type of fish. It's interesting to see what devoted parents they are.

 

[DrRob]

Apparently this is not normal. Generally what I've seen is that the male demonstrates a lot of aggression to the female. Doesn't seem to be an issue here.

 

[DrRob]

Still not really getting aggression too badly until today, when one of the apistos went in for a snack on some fry and ended up in pieces. Interestingly the parents are a lot more settled otherwise and I've actually managed to clean the tank near them, which means I can actually see into the tank now.
 
The other ellioti have been rehomed into another tank as they were taking ongoing punishment. Leaves the stocking at 2 (plus many) ellioti, 6 congo tetras and 8 corydoras sterbai.
 
Planting has taken a huge hammering. These things dig, dig and dig when they've been breeding. Not for any apparent reason either, as they used the first two of the twenty odd holes that they dug in the sand. I do believe that they have now found every single grain of root tab in the tank and I do wonder if this has simply become a glorified treasure hunt game for them.
 
Anyway, I'm now ordering a few more robust bulbs (amongst other things) for the tank, after all, they'll appreciate the game of football if they don't grow, and if they do the tank will be green again, which will be nice, and will probably get rid of the algae I've been getting, which I haven't had to deal with for a while.

 

[DrRob]

Right brood 2 on the way, bigger and better, we will make more of them.
 
First batch of fry now nearly a centimeter long, new eggs laid today. I'm going to have to shift the other pair in the holding tank as they've killed off the extra male and appear to be pairing off as well.
 
Anyone want what may be a pair of ellioti? Definitely male and female.

 

[DrRob]

Right, we're down to 1 adult ellioti after a failed breeding batch and waking up in the morning to a female who had been battered to pieces. Sadly fairly classical cichlid behaviour. Having said that the tank is now calm again, with a slowly decreasing tannin level that I'm not sure if I want to replace or not. I like the look but also like the clear view and the water is crystal clear otherwise.
 
I do have 40-50 juvenile ellioti in a growing on tank though, so I could always repeat this whole episode if it turns out that I can shift them on anywhere.
 
Current stock is 6 congo tetras, 8 rosy barbs and one adult male ellioti. Still deciding where to go with stocking next but no quarantine tanks at the moment as it has fry in it.
 
I really must get a FTS and shot of the ellioti on here, he's a beautiful fish with lots of personality.

 

[Wills]

Hope you dont mind me digging this thread up Rob, but any updates on it?
 
Wills

 

[DrRob]

No worries. We got planning permission, the area filled with dust and I largely stopped messing with it. It also had breeding ellioti tearing the place up. I'm in the process of restarting the quarantine tank (it was turned from plant growing on and quarantine tank to grow on tank) and then I'll get back to getting it sorted out.
 
It currently home to some suicidal congo tetras and a shoal of golden barbs (who aren't helping with the planting situation).
 
Essentially real life and breeding fish got in the way, but it's ticking over slowly waiting for an opportunity to get going again. I was hoping to get the lighting sorted on the second tank this evening, and then restart that one, pending getting this one back in action properly.