Rio Orinoco Biotope.

[james_fish]

Will be looking at getting some more fish once i've rehomed the pims. I don't really want anymore Cichlids as I think 6 KH's are enough in this size tank. May get more Cardinals, probably will steer away from Rummy's.

I have about 4-5 species on the possible list, but can't find any of them. I'm so restricted!

Post new picture tonight.

Cheers, James.

 

[mishmash]

Will be looking at getting some more fish once i've rehomed the pims. I don't really want anymore Cichlids as I think 6 KH's are enough in this size tank. May get more Cardinals, probably will steer away from Rummy's.

I have about 4-5 species on the possible list, but can't find any of them. I'm so restricted!

Post new picture tonight.

Cheers, James.

Looking forward to the new pic. What fish are on your possibility list ?
You know I asked about that specific piece of wood and you said you got it @ your local M.A., well what type is it ? Looks like Redmoor.
Also, how did the eco complete affect water chemistry in the early stages ? Has it settled now ? Why did you choose that particular substrate and how have you found the grain size in terms of planting ? Are the grains sharp or rounded ? Thanks.

 

[adamlawes13]

looks really good, well played.

any new pics?

 

[james_fish]

Hi guys,

Sorry i've not been updating as promised recently, i've been tied down with work and family commitments. The little spare time I do get now tend to spend on fishing or at the gym. Not only have I had little time to visit the forums from time to time, i've not been able to progress my tank either.

However, I have a full week off work this week! So i'll be splitting my time between fishing and the hobby.

Now, the tank... Not much has changed in all fairness, yes I still have the Pims! I know how silly of me, but they are 100% definitely going this week. The possible replacement of Mouse Catfish could happen this week to, but I need to speak to a few people first. I've had no luck until I got a phone call yesterday. Still have my 6 belovved Keyhole Cichlids, my main male is looking great as always had him well over a year now. Still got my shoal of Cardinals which I'll increase anytime now, and possibly track down the Pencils once the Pims have gone, or maybe another species of Characin? Hatchets?

I have added some Amazon Frogbit (excuse the lack of latin use here) to the tank, and although it's not spread as much as I expected, its doing okay. The KH do nibble on it though from time to time. The Amazon swords haven't shown as much growth as I thought they would either, however the leaves seem to be in good condition.

I will upload a picture tongiht!!


James.

 

[Biulu]

Good to hear something from you James! Sometimes it is weird with these swords; I have an ozelot and it never ever took off, although others with the same substrate underneath grew so large I had to remove them!

What about fishing in winter? Must be cold eh?

 

[james_fish]

looks really good, well played.

any new pics?

Thanks Adam Added new picture

Will be looking at getting some more fish once i've rehomed the pims. I don't really want anymore Cichlids as I think 6 KH's are enough in this size tank. May get more Cardinals, probably will steer away from Rummy's.

I have about 4-5 species on the possible list, but can't find any of them. I'm so restricted!

Post new picture tonight.

Cheers, James.

Looking forward to the new pic. What fish are on your possibility list ?
You know I asked about that specific piece of wood and you said you got it @ your local M.A., well what type is it ? Looks like Redmoor.
Also, how did the eco complete affect water chemistry in the early stages ? Has it settled now ? Why did you choose that particular substrate and how have you found the grain size in terms of planting ? Are the grains sharp or rounded ? Thanks.

Hi MM. Sorry I didn't reply in my first response today. More Cardinals, Dwarf Pencils, Rummy's, Mouse Catfish, Darter Tetra's & Hatchetfish are all possibilities at the minute. Honestly couldn't tell you the type of wood, all I know it was by JBL. I chose the substrate for a number of reasons, the main one being I like dark substrates as I believe it brings the best of the colours from your fish and plants. I also chose it as it is supposed to be good planting. the grain is more sharp but not too jagged. I noticed an unstable rise in my pH when I did the switchover but after a week or so it dropped down with the help of the wood, peat media and indian oak leaves. The grain size is quite small.

Good to hear something from you James! Sometimes it is weird with these swords; I have an ozelot and it never ever took off, although others with the same substrate underneath grew so large I had to remove them!

Hi Biulu, like I mentioned the leaves are looking pretty healthy which is always a good sign. Over the last few weeks I haven't been very constant with the lighting, sometimes the light will be off all day. Hopefully I can get into a pattern of around 8-10 hours a day whilst still adding the liquid carbon and fertz then see where it takes off from there.

What about fishing in winter? Must be cold eh?

Very cold indeed! Restricted mainly to the rivers in winter, as the stillwater fish go into a shut down phase as you may know. Barbel and Chub are the main targets this year on the Ribble @ Ribchester. Although this year has been much warmer compared to last year. I remember this time last year I came of the river stretch at 5:00, so it was pitch black. -9 was the temperature, yikes! all part of being an angler though

Picture as promised:



I like the way i've got the wood set out, but how should I scape the plants? Any help off you scape enthusiasts will be much appreciated

Edit: Yes the tank needs filling up
James.

 

[Biulu]

What type of swords do you have? Will they grow tall? If so, you only need some mid/foreground plants. If you want to keep it a real biotope you are somewhat restricted. Did you have any more plants in mind already?

Btw, for the lights buy yourself a timer. Saves you a lot of hassle.... My bowfront tank is all automated and I leave it by itself for 2 - 3 months and no losses in fish.

 

[Peggers]

One possible tetra you could go with is red phantoms (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi). They're from the Columbian part of the rio orinoco basin. My nearest MA has them in most of them time, they take a little while to colour up in the shop and then get better when you get them home but I really like them. They look like serpae tetras but are supposedly less nippy, I don't keep mine with anything they might nip so can't confirm.

You're tank's looking really good btw

 

[james_fish]

Hi everyone again,

I've added 10 Nannostomus marginatus today, you may know them as Dwarf Pencilfish. Small, easy on the eye. Shoaling pretty tightly as you'd expect but already accepting food. Found in parts of the Orinoco. This brings the full stocking list to:

10 Nannostomus marginatus
11 Paracheirodon axelrodi
6 Cleithracara maronii
2 Pimelodus pictus - Soon to be replaced by either 4 Nemadoras leporhinus or 4 Leporhinus Hemidoras or is it Hemidoras Stenopeltis? ... Im confused a little with these fish labelled 'Mouse Catfish' maybe I should post up on the Catfish section for help
Peckoltia lineola

All found in the Orinoco, not definitely in the same parts/regions though

One possible tetra you could go with is red phantoms (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi). They're from the Columbian part of the rio orinoco basin. My nearest MA has them in most of them time, they take a little while to colour up in the shop and then get better when you get them home but I really like them. They look like serpae tetras but are supposedly less nippy, I don't keep mine with anything they might nip so can't confirm.

You're tank's looking really good btw

Thanks Peggers. I did have the RPT on one of my earlier shortlists but it never made the cut, although a nice fish. I've previously kept it's black counter-part. I've also heard they are less nippy than Serpae's

What type of swords do you have? Will they grow tall? If so, you only need some mid/foreground plants. If you want to keep it a real biotope you are somewhat restricted. Did you have any more plants in mind already?

Btw, for the lights buy yourself a timer. Saves you a lot of hassle.... My bowfront tank is all automated and I leave it by itself for 2 - 3 months and no losses in fish.

Couldn't tell you mate! Don't know my plants well enough for that I do need to introduce a new species of plant but it's trail and error as to whether the Keyhole's will dig or not. I'll have to do a bit of researching. Maybe just a general south american plant may be used rather than a strictly Orinoco.

A timer would be a good option for me :yes:

New picture later on tonight

James.

 

[james_fish]

You can see the Pencils top right

James.

 

[Biulu]

You can add vallisneria, E. tenellus (but not good if your fish are digging) and I like parviflorus a lot.

 

[Biulu]

I found the following extensive list in internet for plants:

Common Amazon Sword (Echinodorus amazonicus)
Pygmy Chain Sword (Echinodorus tenellus)
Anacharis (Egeria densa)
Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala)
Pipewort (Eriocaulon sp.)
Variable Leaf Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia diversifolia)
Red Hygrophila (Alternanthera reinecki)
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum submersum)
Water Millfoil (Myriophyllum elatinoides)
Vallisneria spiralis
Eichhornia crassipes
Eichhornia azurea
Pistia stratiotes
Thalia geniculata
Salvinia sp.
Ipomoea sp.
Eleocharis sp.
Cyperus sp.
Cabomba sp.
Ludwigia sp.
Utricularia sp.
Heteranthera sp.
Sagittaria sp.

There are definitively some North american (i.e. Mexican) species on the list such as cabomba, these seem to be non-native but regularly appearing.

 

[james_fish]

Cheers Biulu

All 10 pencils doing excellently

James

 

[Malawi MaD]

Good journal been good to read and look through the pics, any updates ?

 

[james_fish]

Good journal been good to read and look through the pics, any updates ?

Thanks MM! Again Pencil's doing really well, all 10!

Big news tonight, found one of my Keyhole's guarding a small amount of eggs just now. They are getting picked off by the Cardinals so doubt they'll survive the night. But exciting news nonetheless! Maybe I could even consider trying to purposely breed them in the future now I know I have spawners.

Sorry about the quality but I managed to snap this quick shot of it guarding a few eggs on some wood



James