Here's an update clip after installing the Magnum 8 powerhead yesterday afternoon, which the fish are loving (although I turned it off overnight so they get gradually used to true river currents again)!
http
/www.youtube.c...h?v=WhMRkHYFSK8
The elusive Synodontis brichardi has been down there a week now, but never ventures out when I'm around, even if I pop down around 2100. However, having moved two bits of bogwood to try and stop the moving underwater sand dune (thanks to new powerhead), I got to see him/her this morning and it looks well (I had been adding algae wafers in evening for it). I still really like the idea of getting it a companion or two, perhaps getting Sam (the manager) to identify a definite female and possibly a male...
"It can be sexed by examining the genital papillae. This is not for the amateur however. The fish should be held ventral side up in the palm of your hand. The dorsal fin should be taken between your middle and ring fingers in order to avoid being pierced by the sharp dorsal fin rays. The genital area you are looking for is concealed beneath the pelvic fins. This can be exposed by pulling (gently) on the caudal fin. A male fish will exhibit an extended papillae which should be pointed and ridged. The spermatoduct can be seen on the caudal side. Females also have a clearly visible papillae but this is more rounded and the oviduct is on the opposite side to the male's spermatoduct."
The Yellowtail Cpngo Tetras had to move down yesterday, despite wanting to keep them with the Steaocranus parents and fry as a "dither fish." The parents have become rediculously fiesty to anyone but the Hypoptopoma ("giant otos") and the African Butterfly Fish on the surface. One of the Yellowtails had a nasty looking wound on its gill area for a week before very sadly dying during acclimitisation to the 540l, when I discovered just how bad the wound was (it was a very deep wound with an ulcer, which explains why he had become unsocial for last two days of his life, I feel very guilty for not realising how bad it was and not ending its pain earlier). A very sad second death inflicted by the Lionhead parents (who killed a Pearl Danio 4-month old fry outright ten days ago within minutes of their introduction and very nearly killed an adult Pearl, but thankfully she is healing).
I have an FX5 filter waiting to be installed down there now alongside the 2078 for at least a month (to seed bacteria); a Rena Smartheater 300W to replace the Juwel 50W heater currently running alongside the Juwel 250W; a Blagdon 5-way powerswitch to replace the 3-way one.
My next mission is to supplement the natural lighting with a low wattage T8 kit, wondering about those Hagen starter units or there's a Betta kit on Ebay for £40 new? Then I can contemplate some more hardy riverine plants to replace those artificial giants (which do help at mo).
