2/27/07

Fully stocked ?








I introduced the final fish today. Final?
17 Pseudomugil furcatus and 4 Trichopsis pumilus. The introduced fish is approx. 3cm long (juvenile) except the Pygme Gourami that is approx 2cm.
For that reason and for the reason I added the recommended dose of the beneficial bacteria Bio Bacter 2in1 from Aquatic Nature, half an hour before introducing the live stock, I stocked this fish amount. I also planted some extra Egeria densa that is an effective nitrogen consumer, so ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels will be controlled. In about two days I will perform 30% water change just in case.

This is the total fauna list;
17 Pseudomugil furcatus
4 Trichopsis pumilus
8 Tateurndina ocellicauda
3 Crossocheilus siamensis
2 Otocinclus vittatus
Malaysian Trumpet snails




Photos by Dusko Bojic

2/24/07

Tateurndina ocellicauda introduced

Two days ago I introduced 8 Peacock Gudgeons - Tateurndina ocellicauda. 3 males and 5 females.
I feed them frozen Artemia once a day just about what they can eat in 40 sec.
I added some Bio Bacter 2in1 form Aquatic Nature, a very effective bacteria culture. I used it before and the results are great. You are able to introduce the fish (6), the same day.
I am injecting DIY CO2 through the power head. I am dosing PMDD and TMG to maintain NO3 at 10-15 ppm. 10ml of each every week, later when the plant mass doubles I will dose a bit more. Water change every week 25%.
I have a very small amount of Blue-Green algae on Crinum calamistratum leaves which I wipe off of it. But it does make me thinking "should I dose more KNO3"?
Java Moss attached to wood has really bad problem taking off because there is lots of this fungus, hairy looking brownish something that my SAEs are hopefully going to clean away.
UPDATE soon.

2/23/07

New look - New story ;-)

I started reaquascaping my oldy 180L at the Feb. 9th
I first placed high quality aqua-soil from Aquatic Nature. I scattered overall a few iron rich balls from Amtra.
I decided using 1,2-2 mm sand, natural reddish color.
I was very pleased when I found those curio-roots in my Zoo Shop. I could stay with just two pieces, and create a more elegant, Amano look, but that wouldn't be me, so I placed the third root and created a real labyrinth.
I decided on using reddish rocks. 17kg.
And after about two hours of replacing the stones I was satisfied with the layout. I added the rest of the sand over the stones so they appear more natural (like they are coming out of the ground).
Since the left side of the tank is facing the room entrance, I tried to make that part "work" good visually as well.

Flora;
Crinum calamistratum, Rotala rotundifolia, Hygrophila polysperma, Alternathera reineckii, Anubias nana, Lileaopsis novaezelandiae, Microsorum pteropus 'Windelow', Anubias petit, Vesicularia dubyana.

After a week, I introduced 2 of my old Otocinclus vittatus and 3 Crossocheilus siamensis (SAE). Even though just about 4cm long, the SAEs are cleaning the newly established algae, fungus and who knows what else (I need a microscope for that) really great :-) SAE is always going to be my No.1 fish

The old Juwel media was in fact old so I added this type of Bio Rings from Aquatic Nature. They are not the ceramic ones (I don't like those) , but more like siporax with lots of small holes, for bacteria to get attached to. Just for the record; my old Juwel pump died so it is replaced with a new one of the same kind, 600 l per hour.