56g Column Setup & Journal
Tank is back up with a new aquascape and what better time to start keeping track of things?
Equipment;
56g (30x18x24) Marineland Aquarium
Fluval 405
Aquaclear 110
Nova T5HO 2x24w and/or Fishneedit T5HO 4x24w
Hydor Koralia 720gph circulation pump
2:1 mix of Fluorite Black sand and Carribsea Black Sand
Plants;
12-15 stalks of Najas Anacharis
6-8 stalks of Anacharis
6 stalks of Moneywort
4 stalks of Giant Hygro
1 large bushel of Wisteria
1 Pygmy Chain Sword + 2 runners
5 Apon. Crispus
Some floating Watersprite
Current Livestock;
3x Hoplosternum littorale (3.5-4.5") (Brown Hoplo cat)
2x Chromidotilapia guntheri (2.5" and 3") (Guenther's Mouthbrooders)
Future Livestock;
+1 female C. guentheri (if both prove to be males)
+2 Ctenopoma acutirostre (Spotted Climbing Perch etc)
+2 Steatocranus casuarius (Lionhead Cichlid) or school of Odessa Barbs
Plant notes;
I had a severe die-off of my Moneywort several days prior to this whole do-over. Now I'm down to one healthy stalk, and a handful of ones that may or may not make it. Would like to add some Xmas Moss if I can get a hold of it. Almost all of the E. najas in the tank are cuttings from my other setup; that stuff has grown faster and been far more resilient than E. densa. Looks nicer too, in my opinion.
In redoing the scape, I left out most of the regular Anacharis, did away with my massive bushel of Hornwort, and left out the guppy grass too. I think I reduced my amount of plants by about 40%, but plan on bringing it back up in the coming weeks. Just looked to chaotic before.
Fish notes;
I didn't actually intend on trying to get a pair, no less a trio of C. guentheri, but I made a pity-purchase at the LFS. The one I had picked out, plus a larger one that had apparently been in the tank there going on six months. The larger one looked like a female because of its coloration at the store, but now that things are settling, the color is coming back and it looks like I might have two males on my hands. I'd like to see these mouthbrooders in action some day.
The only problems I'm anticipating fish-wise are between C. guentheri and S. casuarius as both like to stay near the bottom and enjoy having territories.
I introduced the C. guentheri to the DT straight away today after considering my options. Dropsy got the last of my fish from the QT, and it hasn't been properly cleaned yet. The C. guentheri had been at the store a long time and were in good health, and there were no signs of disease or death in their holding tanks. So it was put them in the DT, or risk putting them in QT that had Dropsy-afflicted fish in it two days ago.
On the upside, within 30 minutes of entering the DT, they accepted food (NLS Thera +A) and were already looking through the sand for goodies. But, they are still rather shy. They dart behind rocks and plants when I enter the room and will only come out if I'm extremely still. One of them sustained a minor scuff when being captured at the LFS; it went crazy trying to get away and probably bounced off the lace rock.
My H. littorale are a bit ichy I'm guessing, as sand particles are sticking to them. They really like to stick their face down in the sand and stir it up. I've read that this should subside in a few days, so here's hoping.
Other than that, everyone seems to be in good health, is active, hungry and being kind to eachother.
Equipment notes;
I took a bone saw to my AC110 and trimmed the output ramp, and rebuilt it using acrylic + DAP aquarium silicone, all thanks to the dumb center brace. I wish I'd gone with a 65g now for the sake of making things easier, but you live and you learn. Once my plants start getting on the tall side, I may put a spray bar on the 405, because right now it's like a jet in there that I can see whipping the plants all over.
The Koralia 720gph has proven to be a bit too much without something like a big rock to break up its output, so I may throw it up on Craigslist and try to get the 400-something one. You can see it in the pics, and it even looks too big for the tank, lol.
-
On Tuesday I'll be picking up my two C. acutirostre and will have the QT all ready for them. They're 1.5-2" each. Odessa Barbs/S. casuarius are probably about a month or more away. I'm also planning on adding some Crypts this week.
Tank is back up with a new aquascape and what better time to start keeping track of things?
Equipment;
56g (30x18x24) Marineland Aquarium
Fluval 405
Aquaclear 110
Nova T5HO 2x24w and/or Fishneedit T5HO 4x24w
Hydor Koralia 720gph circulation pump
2:1 mix of Fluorite Black sand and Carribsea Black Sand
Plants;
12-15 stalks of Najas Anacharis
6-8 stalks of Anacharis
6 stalks of Moneywort
4 stalks of Giant Hygro
1 large bushel of Wisteria
1 Pygmy Chain Sword + 2 runners
5 Apon. Crispus
Some floating Watersprite
Current Livestock;
3x Hoplosternum littorale (3.5-4.5") (Brown Hoplo cat)
2x Chromidotilapia guntheri (2.5" and 3") (Guenther's Mouthbrooders)
Future Livestock;
+1 female C. guentheri (if both prove to be males)
+2 Ctenopoma acutirostre (Spotted Climbing Perch etc)
+2 Steatocranus casuarius (Lionhead Cichlid) or school of Odessa Barbs
Plant notes;
I had a severe die-off of my Moneywort several days prior to this whole do-over. Now I'm down to one healthy stalk, and a handful of ones that may or may not make it. Would like to add some Xmas Moss if I can get a hold of it. Almost all of the E. najas in the tank are cuttings from my other setup; that stuff has grown faster and been far more resilient than E. densa. Looks nicer too, in my opinion.
In redoing the scape, I left out most of the regular Anacharis, did away with my massive bushel of Hornwort, and left out the guppy grass too. I think I reduced my amount of plants by about 40%, but plan on bringing it back up in the coming weeks. Just looked to chaotic before.
Fish notes;
I didn't actually intend on trying to get a pair, no less a trio of C. guentheri, but I made a pity-purchase at the LFS. The one I had picked out, plus a larger one that had apparently been in the tank there going on six months. The larger one looked like a female because of its coloration at the store, but now that things are settling, the color is coming back and it looks like I might have two males on my hands. I'd like to see these mouthbrooders in action some day.
The only problems I'm anticipating fish-wise are between C. guentheri and S. casuarius as both like to stay near the bottom and enjoy having territories.
I introduced the C. guentheri to the DT straight away today after considering my options. Dropsy got the last of my fish from the QT, and it hasn't been properly cleaned yet. The C. guentheri had been at the store a long time and were in good health, and there were no signs of disease or death in their holding tanks. So it was put them in the DT, or risk putting them in QT that had Dropsy-afflicted fish in it two days ago.
On the upside, within 30 minutes of entering the DT, they accepted food (NLS Thera +A) and were already looking through the sand for goodies. But, they are still rather shy. They dart behind rocks and plants when I enter the room and will only come out if I'm extremely still. One of them sustained a minor scuff when being captured at the LFS; it went crazy trying to get away and probably bounced off the lace rock.
My H. littorale are a bit ichy I'm guessing, as sand particles are sticking to them. They really like to stick their face down in the sand and stir it up. I've read that this should subside in a few days, so here's hoping.
Other than that, everyone seems to be in good health, is active, hungry and being kind to eachother.
Equipment notes;
I took a bone saw to my AC110 and trimmed the output ramp, and rebuilt it using acrylic + DAP aquarium silicone, all thanks to the dumb center brace. I wish I'd gone with a 65g now for the sake of making things easier, but you live and you learn. Once my plants start getting on the tall side, I may put a spray bar on the 405, because right now it's like a jet in there that I can see whipping the plants all over.
The Koralia 720gph has proven to be a bit too much without something like a big rock to break up its output, so I may throw it up on Craigslist and try to get the 400-something one. You can see it in the pics, and it even looks too big for the tank, lol.
-
On Tuesday I'll be picking up my two C. acutirostre and will have the QT all ready for them. They're 1.5-2" each. Odessa Barbs/S. casuarius are probably about a month or more away. I'm also planning on adding some Crypts this week.
