Tom's Bucket O' Mud

[BigTom]

Thanks Million. Just reminded me I need to measure the flower stalk, it's nearly over now.

A lot of the microfauna arrived on their own, however I did add a few things deliberately (shrimp, daphnia (all gone now), mexican gammarus).

 

[lljdma06]

Absolutely overjoyed that this tank is still running. Still one of my favorites. You're still being imported from Scotland to do a tank like this for me when I become a rich and famous opera diva.

Pictures! I want more pictures! FULL TANK SHOT!

 

[BigTom]

Hehe, will do a proper update later in the week. Promise.

Nearly a year old now!

 

[three-fingers]

To echo what others have said, truly inspirational!

This is like my dream tank, a large functioning ecosystem. You basically have a beautiful tropical oasis in your home!

 

[BigTom]

Yikes.

Well I've figured out why the Paros haven't successfully raised any fry.

Turns out my tap water, which I'd always assumed was basically neutral is in fact about pH 8.4, and the tank water 7.5. I could probably get it down to 6.5 in the tank with regular water changes (which is what it drops to in the nano), but as these aren't an option when I'm away I reckon I'm going to have to try and figure out a way of unobtrusively installing an RO system in my flat.

Probably only going to need about 30 litres a week, but don't want to do anything major to the plumbing, or have something that's going to #101## off the flatmates whilst running. Any suggestions?

 

[BigTom]

Just did a full set of pH and hardness tests for the first time...

Tap water - pH 8.1-8.4 depending on tap, 50ppm/100µS (2.8 dH)
Bucket of Mud - pH 7.5, 235ppm/470µS (13.1 dH)
Nano cube - pH 6.3, 100ppm/200µS (5.6 dH)

The nano has fairly regular water changes, whereas the Bucket I just top off evaporation so it's probably just a build up of buffering agents from the tap water causing the pH to remain high despite all the organics.

I suspect that bi-monthly water changes (about as regular as realistically possible) would be enough to bring pH and hardness down to more acceptable levels, although not to Paro breeding levels.

I was planning on having one of the new tanks I'm going to get in the new year as a dedicated Paro breeding tank and moving a pair across form the big tank until they've spawned, then back again.

Any thoughts?

 

[ian]

Thats mighty high PH for Cornish water (i'm sure i read you were from down that way). I don't think the Ph will make much of a difference. The dH might though...

what do Paro's normally breed in?

 

[BigTom]

I'm up in Edinburgh these days Ian. Paros normally breed in about pH4-5.5 with near-zero hardness. Think I'm going to set up a seperate breeding tank with optimum conditions for them and work on moderately lowering the pH and hardnes sin the main tank in the new year.

 

[ian]

it's gonna have to be pure RO then isn't it. It doesn't cost much for 25ltr of RO.

 

[Crazybob]

This tank is spectacular! I discovered it at work this afternoon haha. If you don't mind I have a few (hopefully) quick questions.

Is your tank heated at all? Unless I'm mistaken don't your inhabitants require warm water?

What do your fish and shrimp eat? just the algae that naturally grows? I saw you add beech leaves once and a while, is that all the need to survive?

Really like the tank and am interested in following it!

 

[BigTom]

This tank is spectacular! I discovered it at work this afternoon haha. If you don't mind I have a few (hopefully) quick questions.

Is your tank heated at all? Unless I'm mistaken don't your inhabitants require warm water?

What do your fish and shrimp eat? just the algae that naturally grows? I saw you add beech leaves once and a while, is that all the need to survive?

Really like the tank and am interested in following it!

Yep it is heated, 300w heater, runs about 24 degrees.

The shrimp and other microfauna live off the decomposing beech leaves and general aufwuch (as do the otos), and the Boraras and Paros eat the baby shrimp and other microfauna. I do give them the odd treat when I'm home in order to balance out the diet a bit, but I don't believe it's crucial.

 

[coldcazzie]

Did you manage to measure that flower stalk Tom?

 

[BigTom]

Hi Cazzie, yup it topped out just a hair short of 6 feet. Still flowering but think growth has stopped.

 

[BigTom]

Love how stupid-proof this tank is... just got back from 2 weeks away and found out I'd accidentally set the light timer to be on 18 hours a day before I left. Damage done? Nothing, no algae, no unhealthy plants, in fact everything looks healthier than when I left, especially the fat little otos

Will do a proper update on the weekend in honour of the tank's one year anniversary!

 

[StandbySetting]

This is sensational.