The Impossible Dream

[Wills]

Made some changes tonight right hand side is looking better but I was left with a medium/large rock with no space so I've put that on top on the left, it needs to bed in but I think I like it. You can see the clean patch on the right hand one haha but the algae is spreading so I should get a good biofilm going soon.

I think the rock directly under the the new one on the left needs twisting and maybe moving a little its a bit too symmetrical. I'll try and get a better picture tomorrow without all the air bubbles haha!

Oh and I swapped the filter pipes around too which is an interesting trial, as the detritus was much worse this week since the filter swap. It took 2 big buckets of vacuuming to get it something like. I tried a powerhead I have on the right side but when I plugged it in it was not working! Its got a control panel and the powerhead was getting no power while the display blinked random numbers... Quite want a dual head one so I can point one at the surface and one at the substrate.

The other thing to consider is to get some Synodontis sooner than later! I'm hoping to take a trip to one of my favourite stores on Sunday so I need to see what they have in stock so I don't add too much at once.

Wills

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I think you might be overthinking the scape. Or perhaps I'm underthinking it. I don't see any displeasing symmetry--just a completely natural looking pile of rocks with beautiful fish exploring it.

 

[Wills]

I think you might be overthinking the scape. Or perhaps I'm underthinking it. I don't see any displeasing symmetry--just a completely natural looking pile of rocks with beautiful fish exploring it.

Ah thank you much appreciated! Happier with it today!

Got decent pic as well which isn’t easy on this tank for some reason my camera doesn’t like it I think it might be the contrast of the rocks and sand and background.

I’m going to wharf aquatics in the morning all being well. Quite a few choices I think so not sure what I’m coming back with as yet. On the list are

• More msobo magunga females
• A group of rusties
• A new group of pearlmutts
• A new group of acei - one of the darker species
• A group of synodontis - either multipunctatus or petricola.

Most responsible is msobo and rusties but we will have to see how big they are and how good they look on the day. No point getting those two groups if I’m not confident of selecting females as any new small males will just get obliterated overnight. So certainly a little game of chess to play with myself!

Wills

 

[Wills]

Had to share this angle too I’m sat across the room and it just looks so cool from this angle

 

[Wills]

Took a trip to Wharf Aquatics on Sunday and came away with 5 Msobo Magunga and 5 Perlmutts - quite confident at least 4 of the Msobo are female but theres a chance all 5 are... we picked as carefully as we could. With the Perlmutts I think that there is one male, maybe 2 will have to wait for them to mature.

They are all pretty small but already putting in a lot of colour and activity to the tank. I'm surprised at how much I like the Perlmutts, such an interesting colouring with black and white stripes and yellow finage.

Wills

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Looks fab...if I didn't love my plants so much I would definitely be keeping cichlids, my water is perfect for them. If MrBarnicles would let me have another big tank I could have the best of both worlds

 

[WhistlingBadger]

That is looking GREAT!

 

[Wills]

Looks fab...if I didn't love my plants so much I would definitely be keeping cichlids, my water is perfect for them. If MrBarnicles would let me have another big tank I could have the best of both worlds

Thanks it is a tough sacrifice but for me its been worth it. I've got the peace lillys at the surface which definitely helps and I'm planning to expand it soon with Pothos, Mini Monstera growing on a net behind the tank, and maybe a full size Monsterra. These plants will need to move to the middle as I also want to add another filter to the other side of the tank in the next year or two.

The fish colours, the behaviour and the learning curve, in terms of research and in tank are a real plus - the benefit of going with my water (like yours rock hard) has been huge, vs when I struggled with South Americans (pre water knowledge, or plain ignorance...) its been much easier to live with, maintenance is important but equally if the routine slips for what ever reason its much more forgiving.

That is looking GREAT!

Thanks its definitely coming along - can't wait for a few months when some of the new fish are bigger.