Finally tearing down ugly 57g, building new 36g to replace it!

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Non-update update: Blue platy is in the same condition, neither better nor worse, still eating. Sorry for blurry pics, need to adjust camera settings when I get time. Sometimes he looks like this:

But also has times he's more upright and looks like this:

The others all still looking good, eating, active and settling in. Haven't seen the plecos as much as I usually do in previous tanks, but it's still early days, they tend to shyness anyway, and I think they and the amanos are busy clearing biofilm from the wood rather than coming out for food. Ziggy did make a cameo just now, but hustled back under the cave like wood as soon as I started taking photos, of course!

Plant wise, the alternanthera ain't gonna make it, I'm pretty sure. Might try removing it, trimming any soft bottom stem and replanting in another spot, but will probably just end up replacing it with something else. I've never had luck with any alternanthera - they really seem to be a high tech plant I think. Oddly though, the crypts to each side of the tank that I moved from the the 57g seem fine in here, but the smaller plants taken from the same bunches have totally melted back in the pygmy tank! Will keep the roots though, I know what crypt is like for growing back!

The cories keep making me jump when they do that surface dash for air, and make a splashing noise at the surface! They're not doing it at an alarming rate, but with 16 cories, it's often enough! Tank is open top right now because I wanted to try it and try growing plants out of the tank, plus the hood is hideously ugly... there's also a good two inch gap between the water surface and tank lip, with cories not usually being jumpers, but still making me a bit nervous. Perhaps there's some netting or something I could use that would give some peace of mind? Or do I need to either order a glass/arcylic/plastic cover, or suck it up and use the ugly hood? Any suggestions gratefully received!

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Had to euthanise the poor blue platy.
He was much worse, on the substrate, body curved, flipping around trying to get up and moving like those kids fish toys made of film that curve and curl up as the heat of your hand warms them. He wasn't going to recover, and I didn't want him to suffer anymore. Sucks though, and I hate doing it. That one was my favourite ever since he was a fry, because his pattern around his eyes made him look like he had googly eyes, so he stood out. Grew up to have beautiful colours too.

RIP little guy, I'm really sorry.

 

[Wills]

Ah thats a real shame sorry to hear about that!

In terms of the lidless tank have a look at the D&D jump guards - its a black aluminium frame you cut to size and connect with plastic corners, it has a black mesh that fits into the frame and covers the tank. I have one on mine and very effective, looks a bit too intrusive on my 2 foot tank but they look better on bigger tanks.

Wills

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Ah thats a real shame sorry to hear about that!

In terms of the lidless tank have a look at the D&D jump guards - its a black aluminium frame you cut to size and connect with plastic corners, it has a black mesh that fits into the frame and covers the tank. I have one on mine and very effective, looks a bit too intrusive on my 2 foot tank but they look better on bigger tanks.

Wills

Oohh, and they're not expensive either, the way I was anticipating having to get a custom lid would have been! Thank you kindly I'm sure I'll feel happier to have some protection against jumpers, even if it's unlikely, you know?


Still working on tearing down the 57g - all that's left in/on it is the substrate, many malaysian trumpet snails, and tiny shrimp. I'm working on rescuing as many tiny shrimplets as I possibly can, which is a slow, annoying but worthwhile job! Just added another big batch of teeny shrimp to the 34g that I sifted and saved from a syphoned bucket, which involves a bright light, a shrimp net and a turkey baster - plus a lot of time and effort. Also used a large net to trawl along the substrate, making shrimplets jump up and usually into the net, then emptying the net into the container I'm using to acclimate them once moved. It's a tedious job, but I couldn't just empty the substrate and water, knowing full well that there are tiny shrimp in there. Would be easier if it was a sand substrate too, but it's all uneven sized river stones, pebbles, sand and mulm - perfect for hiding tiny shrimp. But I'm stubborn and determined, so will get there in the end

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I should make a new journal thread for the evolution of the pygmy cory tank. I'm water changing it tonight - but even pulling one bucket has meant I've needed an hour to sort through it carefully - found three teeny tiny freshly hatched pygmy cory fry! They've been breeding and raising themselves in there for a long time now, but it's still really exciting to find them!

Trouble is, when they're that small, They're insect sized and comprised of a tiny black head and transparent body. They blend perfectly into mulm at the bottom of the bucket, so have to carefully sift through it one turkey baster full at a time once you reach the bottom and it's settled.
So between the shrimp and the pygmies, my water changes will take forever for a while... I'm happy to have the fry though!

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Wow, tank looks so much better with a black background added! Comparison pics:

With a black background, and a lightbar that only just fits on the tank - light doesn't extend the whole way across, and the brace bars are at their max, a real risk for them to get nudged and drop the lightbar in the tank....

Pictures with other lightbar, which is slightly too big for this tank, so light extends the whole length of the tank. Both lights are Nicrew:

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I knew I shouldn't, but have been browsing Pro Shrimp for plants again... I blame you, @Wills , for suggesting an anubius at the pointed part of the wood piece


Which do you reckon? The three I'm drawn to are all quite different. Anunius barteri coffeefolia, anubius coin leaf, and anubius heterophylla.

Also seriously considering a different crypt and a bacopa caroliniana for the other, pygmy tank!

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Well, I made up my own mind by looking at google images of the different plants, so will be ordering:
For this tank:
Red root floaters
Weeping moss
Anubius barteri coffeefolia

And for the other tank;
cryptocoryne nevelli
Hottonia palustris - Water Violet
Aponogeton henkelianus (madagascar lace bulb)
A crypt surprise for £2.99
and a lucky dip aquarium plant (get a surprise for £1)

 

[Colin_T]

Rather than Anubius for the driftwood, how about Bolbitis?

Madagascan lace plants (and all Aponogetons) can be difficult to grow and need lots of nutrients. They do best in pots with fertiliser and clay. Quite often they take off and grow really well for a couple of months, then die. This is due to them using up the stored nutrients in the bulbs and then starving to death after that.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Rather than Anubius for the driftwood, how about Bolbitis?

Madagascan lace plants (and all Aponogetons) can be difficult to grow and need lots of nutrients. They do best in pots with fertiliser and clay. Quite often they take off and grow really well for a couple of months, then die. This is due to them using up the stored nutrients in the bulbs and then starving to death after that.

I already have a bolbitis in there! I love it already!
Thanks for the info about the lace plant, I might try the potted plant under water approach for that one then, so it has enough nutrients to resupply the bulb. I appreciate the heads up!

 

[Jitsz]

The black background looks much better I think, adds more visual depth

Interested to see what your lucky dip plant is, I'm always tempted by that

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Rather than Anubius for the driftwood, how about Bolbitis?

Madagascan lace plants (and all Aponogetons) can be difficult to grow and need lots of nutrients. They do best in pots with fertiliser and clay. Quite often they take off and grow really well for a couple of months, then die. This is due to them using up the stored nutrients in the bulbs and then starving to death after that.

@Colin_T would sticking root tabs under the bulb not give them enough nutrients to replenish what they use up?
@Byron would really value your advice about the new plants I've ordered!

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

The black background looks much better I think, adds more visual depth

Interested to see what your lucky dip plant is, I'm always tempted by that

Thank you, I like it a lot more with the black background too

I'll update here with what the surprise crypt and lucky dip plant turn out to be, so maybe you'll order one too the next time you get plants!

 

[Jitsz]

Thank you, I like it a lot more with the black background too

I'll update here with what the surprise crypt and lucky dip plant turn out to be, so maybe you'll order one too the next time you get plants!

I've had a few things in my basket this week but not ordered yet, looks like i've missed the lucky dip plants so will see what it's like next week it's nothing urgent anyway

Do, will be good to see what you end up getting

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I've had a few things in my basket this week but not ordered yet, looks like i've missed the lucky dip plants so will see what it's like next week it's nothing urgent anyway

Do, will be good to see what you end up getting

Hang fire on ordering - I felt an overwhelming sense of dread when I only realised later how dumb it is to order live plants during a heatwave... best to wait until the worst of the heat has passed!