FresH2O's 20g planted rescape

[Fresh2o]

Thanks all! 7 Embers and 3 Otos. Let's see how long I can keep this scape until it gets out of control.
Wife did not like the industrial look of the CFl clamp on lights. We had a reading lamp with a 6700K power CFL bulb so I am using that for a less cluttered look.
Here's a video. One of these links should work:

- YouTube


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[pittbully13]

I really like how the dw separators came out. Great job.

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[RadMax8]

Count me on the pro-driftwood side. It looks really neat!

And you have fish! This is weird!

I like how lush and full your tank looks. 20L is an awesome size.


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[Fresh2o]

I am pleased on how the driftwood and plant layout went. Of course, the vision in my head looks a lot nicer.
Yes, weird having fish in there.
I just checked on the fish now and I have one casualty. I found a dead oto on the intakes of one of the filters. Which is a shame because they did fine for two weeks in QT. Perhaps fluctuations in the pH? Idk. Ever since they went into QT, two of the three Otos were inseparable. I think the one that died was one from the pair. The embers are not schooling like they were yesterday. One or two appear to be claiming territory and chasing off others that trespass.


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[TheresaM]

I am pleased on how the driftwood and plant layout went. Of course, the vision in my head looks a lot nicer.
Yes, weird having fish in there.
I just checked on the fish now and I have one casualty. I found a dead oto on the intakes of one of the filters. Which is a shame because they did fine for two weeks in QT. Perhaps fluctuations in the pH? Idk. Ever since they went into QT, two of the three Otos were inseparable. I think the one that died was one from the pair. The embers are not schooling like they were yesterday. One or two appear to be claiming territory and chasing off others that trespass.

Sorry about the oto. Someone on the forum told me to expect a 50% loss with otos. I now have 5 and while my losses weren't quite that high I do lose some.

No experience with embers....

 

[fish wrangler]

Could it have been the differences in water params between the two tanks and not just pH?

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[Brookster123]

Otos are super touchy.. 2/3 is pretty good! Any time I've changed the routine on them in the past they died soon after. Embers will hash out a hierarchy, i have a couple banished to the rotala while the brood takes the pogo..

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[Angela1108]

I have to agree- when my local club went out last month Otos being super sensitive and a higher casualty rate was a topic of conversation. It's sad because I really like the little buggers!!


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[TheresaM]

It's a shame because they're such nice fish and really do a good job with the algae. Mine have been settled in for a while now but I'm still apprehensive even doing a PWC....

 

[Eggheadfish]

I shouldn't say it...but I've managed to keep mine all alive so far contrary to all the concerns I had about them surviving. Most people indicate they're sensitive and to plan on losing a few sorry to hear about your little guy/gal. I did lose a Pygmy cory today and my idiot angelfish wedged himself impossibly under a piece of driftwood and is all banged up.
Anyway sorry getting off topic.
I LOVE YOUR TANK!

 

[Fresh2o]

Thanks for the oto input everyone. They went through a 1-2 hour drip acclimation from pet store to the QT. After 12 days they went through another 1-2 hour drip acclimation from QT to display tank. All were activity grazing and exploring the tank as of last night.
The gold tetras are just as they were two years ago. They pick a spot and camp out. Or hide. Real jumpy. They are not bothering the embers. The only time they swam around is when I added 6 danios as "dither" fish.
I am on the call list at the LFS for a few fish (can't remember which ones...Kuhlis and maybe CPDs).



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[Thumper828]

 

[RightTurnClyde]

Otos are pretty much all wild caught, right? I wonder if that has something to do with their "sensitive" nature? Maybe the secret is an extra long quarantine with plenty of anti-worming and parasite treatments. Although that's always a double edged sword since you never know how the fish will react to medication.


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[fish wrangler]

If the oto lost its gut bacteria then that would explain it's death. I had die after 3 weeks of appearing healthy.

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[Fresh2o]

Otos, Embers, and Repashy

The other 2 Otos are doing okay so far. One was chomping on a wafer earlier today.
Only 5 of 7 embers are visible. I'm hoping the other 2 are hiding in the jungle.
Don't prepare Repashy right before dinner. It smells. I have "Meat Pie" flavor. Mix 1/4 powder with 3/4 water, bring to a boil and let it firm up like stinky jello. Smells like fish paste and wet dog food. I put some in the shrimp tank and planted tank. Shrimp and snails love it. Fish turned there nose up to it. I will check on it later and see if they've warmed up to it.


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[pittbully13]

Never heard of Repashy until now. Looks and sounds interesting. How does you wife handle you cooking it up is it any good? Mine would flip out and make me sleep on the couch.

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[Fresh2o]

Never heard of Repashy until now. Looks and sounds interesting. How does you wife handle you cooking it up is it any good? Mine would flip out and make me sleep on the couch.

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It was a freebie at a fish club meeting. It comes in other flavors. You can add fish flakes, pellets, vegetables, etc to it. Once it sets you can cut it up into appropriately sized pieces and freeze. You can paint it onto rocks for bottom feeders.
It smells. I opened the sliding glass doors and yelled "Don't come in here!". I just need to pick a better time to prep this.
As I mentioned, it was well received by the shrimp and snails but not so much by the fish. Then again, the fish are skittish.
The gold tetras have always been this way (going on the 8th year with these fish). They hover in the same place 99% of the time when they are not hiding. The embers venture to different areas in the tank only as a group. I've only seen 5 so I'm pretty sure the other 2 died. I did check for dried up bodies around the tank.
Not sure if my next purchase will be to bump up the ember and oto numbers or go with CPDs. Depends on what's in stock. Recent weather may have affected the usual Tuesday fish shipment.


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[pittbully13]

Pretty sweet freebie. After you posted about it I went online and found it on Amazon. Had pretty good reviews and had all kinds favors. I would like try some in my shrimp tank one day after I get the hydra problem under control. Thanks for posting and bringing a new product for me to consider.

Edit: I would go with CPD.

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[Eggheadfish]

The fish door has opened! Gotta make up for the dry spell
I've been waiting for CPDs for I don't know how long now.
Good to know the repashy stinks haha.

 

[Fresh2o]

The fish door has opened! Gotta make up for the dry spell
I've been waiting for CPDs for I don't know how long now.
Good to know the repashy stinks haha.

Tell me about it. I almost stopped by the LFS to see what was in stock (but I was hungry so I went home). So unlike me. I will stop by tomorrow and look for CPDs.
Interesting thing about the repashy is that it attracted the worms in my shrimp tank. There are some planaria and another type that appear flat and one end it round and the other pointy. I would say leech but the movement was not the typical stretch and contract you see in in earthworms.
Back to the planted tank, I might change things a bit. The Limnophilia aromatica is growing okay and it fills the corner well. But I'm sure it can look fuller, more colorful and healthier. What I might do is off load it (sell, trade, LFS, fish club auction) and move the pogo erectus in its place. Yes, mimicking Brooksters tank there but I want to move the pogo away from the center. The Blyxa will them take the pogos place. The Blyxa is short for a background plant but my tank is only 12" tall. This will open up some space up front for the foreground plants. Maybe I will continue the band of star repens across the tank.

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