The Official "hey Lovelies" Thread

[Ruskull]

Thanks FB, the big blue female is over 4 inches long and she's actually an Opaline. She basically rules the tank. Then my pride & joy, King Leeri & Sadie the Pearl Gourami pair. Very graceful swimmers and the King rules with the Opaline, Sadie is a big whimp.

The male Pearl is the best colored male I've ever seen, like each dot is illuminated somehow. He also has the long flowing fringes and he's about 4 inches long but not nearly as broad bodied as the Opaline.

 

[FishBlast]

Thanks FB, the big blue female is over 4 inches long and she's actually an Opaline. She basically rules the tank. Then my pride & joy, King Leeri & Sadie the Pearl Gourami pair. Very graceful swimmers and the King rules with the Opaline, Sadie is a big whimp.

The male Pearl is the best colored male I've ever seen, like each dot is illuminated somehow. He also has the long flowing fringes and he's about 4 inches long but not nearly as broad bodied as the Opaline.

Yeah, they look better than any pearls I saw on google. What I saw when searching for pearl long ago were just some all-brown fish with white dots. Yours seems to have some blue on them.

 

[Man of fish]

So I changed the 31 watt actinic (blue) bulb out for a 31 watt colormax (pink) and the results are dramatic, even more than the pictures show.

That's a big difference!! Do the colormax only come in pink, or what color would you say is best?

 

[Ruskull]

Manofish,

You could go with 2 daylight bulbs instead, but the colormax pink is supposedly good for plant photosynthesis. It doesn't look pink at all. You don't see the bulbs themselves anyway, just the light they give off & pink bulbs add "warmth" to the overall lighting. I now have 1.72 watts per gallon. The old setup was only .472 watts per gallon. Any more & you have to add ferts and CO2.....or so I has been tolded.

 

[FishBlast]

My Java Moss has fallen asleep. No growth on the main plant. I cannot disturb it, there are two swordie fry that hide there... But half of it is gray (that side that is positioned in the wood's fork end, I put it there from day 1 because I didn't like how it looked. It turned grayer).

Then there are these tiny threads of moss I put under rocks... those seem to have it better.

Willow moss made light-green whips.

Java Fern went nuts and makes lots of new leaves.

Ceratopteris - it's there. Doing nothing.

 

[Man of fish]

Ok, I guess I'll go with the colormax then, since it's the same price anyways. It'll be 2.07 or something WPG, but I'll be dosing ferts, and I'll be adding more plants as well. Maybe my amazon swords will do better under than lighting.

 

[HAMBONE]

So I changed the 31 watt actinic (blue) bulb out for a 31 watt colormax (pink) and the results are dramatic, even more than the pictures show.

Hey Lovelies!!!

that's exactly what I did this past weekend.. I read that actinics are for coral, so since I an a freshwater guy, out it went.. i replaced it with the proper lamp for my hood.. big difference..


Doing some prep work then it's off to go downstairs and make some bacon, egg and cheese sammiches..

 

[Ruskull]

I have an Anubias that flowered in the 20 gallon tank that I just got the new light for. Apparently the Anubias don't need as much light.

Bacon egg cheese sammys ROCK!!!

 

[Ruskull]

Ok, I guess I'll go with the colormax then, since it's the same price anyways. It'll be 2.07 or something WPG, but I'll be dosing ferts, and I'll be adding more plants as well. Maybe my amazon swords will do better under than lighting.

The only swords that are doing well for me are the standard Amazon Sword in Zach's tank, the Argentine Swords in his tank & the 36, and the Red Rubin Sword in the 36 gal. Both those tanks have moderate lighting but Zach's actually has 2.4 watts per gallon since his fixture is a 48 watt on a 20 gallon.

That's what my other 20 gallon will have when I hook up the new fixture. Currently that tank has a few different Anubias attached to lava rock & driftwood, a Java Fern attached to a braided wooden hoop & a single Wisteria planted in the sand. The Wisteria isn't doing too well due to the low lighting.

 

[FishBlast]

Ok, I guess I'll go with the colormax then, since it's the same price anyways. It'll be 2.07 or something WPG, but I'll be dosing ferts, and I'll be adding more plants as well. Maybe my amazon swords will do better under than lighting.

The only swords that are doing well for me are the standard Amazon Sword in Zach's tank, the Argentine Swords in his tank & the 36, and the Red Rubin Sword in the 36 gal. Both those tanks have moderate lighting but Zach's actually has 2.4 watts per gallon since his fixture is a 48 watt on a 20 gallon.

That's what my other 20 gallon will have when I hook up the new fixture. Currently that tank has a few different Anubias attached to lava rock & driftwood, a Java Fern attached to a braided wooden hoop & a single Wisteria planted in the sand. The Wisteria isn't doing too well due to the low lighting.

Does your Java Fern make bi-color leaves that then end up light-green after a while? All of my new leaves start half dark half light green.

And Lorenzo my crazy snail keeps munching on that one leaf to its left side, no idea why. I feed him and his friend a lot of flakes, should be full...

 

[Ruskull]

Hey Kiddies! I think I'm going to talk my father into buying a 46 gallon tank I happened to see on Craigslist! Only $100 and it includes a stand, glass lid, a heather, black gravel a light with an extra bulb and some other stuff. Basically everything you need except a filter, fish & water.

Here she is! Whatta deal!!!

That is if we ever speak again.........

 

[Ruskull]

I only have 2 java ferns in 2 different tanks and both are doing great. The one in the 20 gal river rock tank was practically dead when I opened the plastic tube it came it. I tied it to the mopani wood with brown thread & it took off! The other java fern is in my other 20 gallon & all the leave have grown & spread with that crappy light fixture. I can't wait to see how well it does with the new light.

 

[Man of fish]

Eh you can do better, but that heather. Wooh man I gotta see this heather it comes with

 

[FishBlast]

I only have 2 java ferns in 2 different tanks and both are doing great. The one in the 20 gal river rock tank was practically dead when I opened the plastic tube it came it. I tied it to the mopani wood with brown thread & it took off! The other java fern is in my other 20 gallon & all the leave have grown & spread with that crappy light fixture. I can't wait to see how well it does with the new light.

If mine grew any faster, I'd be saying it's moving as I look at it. I think it is the reason the other plants are slower in growth. Java Moss is supposed to grow fastest, follower by ceratopteris and willow moss... but like everything is already backwards in my tank, I guess it's no surprise the plants do the same as the fish. (bottom feeder feeds at surface, surface feeders feed at bottom).

But do your ferns grow new leaves half dark green half light green? Or is it a sign that something's up with mine? The dark green disappears once the leaf is mature though.

 

[Fintastic!]

Hey Lovelies,

No-one is helping me on the correct forum, so maybe one can help me here - or at least make me smile!

My plants are not doing too well, it is a heavily planted tanks but some of the leaves are going brown at the ends. Any ideas?

What kind of light do you have & do you add CO2 or ferts to the tank? Which plants are shoing the worst signs?

Hey Lovelies, how you all doin? Got 2 Malayan trumpet snails today. Got 'em free cos the lfs has an abundance of 'em. I've a feeling I'll regret it but we'll see...
Took the 'ol 10 gal hex out of the shed today. Posted about stocking suggestions before and think I'll get 3 sparkling gouramis. Handy little project to look forward to.

Trumpet Snails? Are those the spirly type?

They're shells are cone shaped. Apparently they help keep the sand in check and don't eat plants so I thought I'd give them a go.
Nice tank by the way!