75g Freshwater - Fish/Plants Advice?
- Thread starter Darter02
- Start date
Plecosterone
We don't need no stinking badges!
I've not cleaned any algae since introducing them. Before getting them I only wiped down the glass on the inside once and took some of the larger stuff off of the sword leaves. They seem to have plenty to eat but I put in a few algae wafers ever few days. I am considering feeding them blanched spinach if I think they need it. So far, the rate of growth and they ability to eat it seem to be balancing out somewhat.
Only a couple of them have the pinkish gills. Most are just white in that area. I read somewhere online that the people who catch them use cyanide, or something, to stun the fish. It said they do this since they’re so small and hard to capture out of the wood tangles and roots where they hide and feed. It was supposed that this pinkish color is an after affect of the cyanide use.
So far they seem to be doing really well. The smallest of the lot where initially chased by the Discus but are now ignored for the most part. I have seen them try to latch onto the Discus’ sides once in a while. The bigger fish just dash forward and knock them off real fast. I even had one attach to my forearm as I was planting an uprooted stem.
Personally, I really am enjoying them. I think they’ve added some interesting life to the tank.
So far they seem to be doing really well. The smallest of the lot where initially chased by the Discus but are now ignored for the most part. I have seen them try to latch onto the Discus’ sides once in a while. The bigger fish just dash forward and knock them off real fast. I even had one attach to my forearm as I was planting an uprooted stem.
Personally, I really am enjoying them. I think they’ve added some interesting life to the tank.
I wish it were easier to breed them so they wouldn't have to drug them. Poor fish.
Here is an overview of my tank. I just began to plant it a couple of weeks ago, so things are looking a tad sparse as of yet. I tried to choose plants that would do well in the same water conditions as the fish. Any tips on how to ensure good growth are welcome.
Back: Left to Right:
Amazon Sword Plant – It seems to be growing OK. There are a number of new leaves in the center. I think it’s too close to the side of the tank and plan on moving it. It originally was a plant the LFS threw in for free when I bought another plant. It just happened to be floating in the tank I wanted something from.
Java Fern & Moss on driftwood – I plan on keeping this trimmed down – Fingers crossed it doesn’t take over the whole corner.
Along the back - Ludwigia repens – My wife liked the look and color, so we thought we’d give it a shot. It’s growing really bushy, with sides stalks appearing on all the plants. We also placed another, smaller plant, with bushy leaves, in front of them. We’re not entirely sure what it is but it’s growing.
Center – Back - Gymnocoronis spilanthoides – Arrived a little damaged but otherwise fine. Planted two stems, they almost grew to the surface, so I trimmed them and planted those two stems. I plan on doing this until I have a nice “forest” along the back, center section of the tank. My one, weakest, Discus prefers to hang back here behind these plants.
Back – Right – Some of the bushy, unidentified plant and a few stems of the Ludwigia. This will define the boundaries of the center “forest” I hope.
Back corner – right – Behind the “stump” is a crypt plant. I also have pieces of this plant growing in other back and side areas. All of it seems to be doing OK, with newer, greener leaves emerging. I am not sure what type of crypt it is. LFS made an offer I couldn’t pass up and threw in the free Amazon Sword
Mid-ground
Left Side: Echinodorus parviflorus - Arrived completely frozen from the place mentioned above. I trimmed all the leaves and am waiting to see if this plant recovers. Only a few, tiny leaves remain and no noticeable growth to date… probably dead.
Middle & Right Corner: Lobelia cardinalis – I’m hoping these will get nice and bushy. So far, a few bright green leaves have begun to grow.
On the rocks in the center: Java Ferns & Moss – again – planning on keeping under control. I also have some nice “caves” built into this rock formation. I am hoping the Javas will add to the darkness of them.
Bacopa australis – I had a hard time keeping the indivicual stalks down at first but they seem to be finally staying down. Lots of new growth too! This plant flanks the “cave” trench.
Echinodorus 'Ozelot' – At least, it was marked that. I am having my doubts.
Foreground:
Sagittaria subulata, in patches here and there, mainly to the left in the photo. I ordered these from Aquarium Plants dot Com and they arrived totally frozen, along with the rest of my order. Only a few remained alive, so I trimmed off all the damaged leaves and now they’re growing and some are sending out small runners. (That online store is terrible – don’t order from them)
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis – After the initial planting, it has died back some. New shoots are beginning to appear now in the substrate. The Malayan Trumpet Snail has really been a boon with this plant. It’s always eating the dead leaves and allowing for greater water flow through it. I am hoping this will help it grow. So far, so good!
Narrow-leaf Chain Sword – I picked this up at the LFS and it’s sending out runners.
Fish
Note the color of the center Discus. This is the one I have had trouble with. I took this at feeding time. The others are all much brighter when I initially feed. Soon after taking this, the pecking order begins. They all end up chasing one another into particular spots. That one ends up in the back, and getting much darker.
In this next photo (taken once the “pushing” begins), you can see these two are now darkly striped. The weakest one is now in the back. The dominant one is always the brightest. I have noticed that when any of the fish push any of the other around, the aggressor always gets bright, with faded stripes. Fascinating…
The one with the dark face to the upper right has a half dark- half light face. It’s always been that way and looks odd when seen from the front. I’ll try to get a photo of that.
Back: Left to Right:
Amazon Sword Plant – It seems to be growing OK. There are a number of new leaves in the center. I think it’s too close to the side of the tank and plan on moving it. It originally was a plant the LFS threw in for free when I bought another plant. It just happened to be floating in the tank I wanted something from.
Java Fern & Moss on driftwood – I plan on keeping this trimmed down – Fingers crossed it doesn’t take over the whole corner.
Along the back - Ludwigia repens – My wife liked the look and color, so we thought we’d give it a shot. It’s growing really bushy, with sides stalks appearing on all the plants. We also placed another, smaller plant, with bushy leaves, in front of them. We’re not entirely sure what it is but it’s growing.
Center – Back - Gymnocoronis spilanthoides – Arrived a little damaged but otherwise fine. Planted two stems, they almost grew to the surface, so I trimmed them and planted those two stems. I plan on doing this until I have a nice “forest” along the back, center section of the tank. My one, weakest, Discus prefers to hang back here behind these plants.
Back – Right – Some of the bushy, unidentified plant and a few stems of the Ludwigia. This will define the boundaries of the center “forest” I hope.
Back corner – right – Behind the “stump” is a crypt plant. I also have pieces of this plant growing in other back and side areas. All of it seems to be doing OK, with newer, greener leaves emerging. I am not sure what type of crypt it is. LFS made an offer I couldn’t pass up and threw in the free Amazon Sword
Mid-ground
Left Side: Echinodorus parviflorus - Arrived completely frozen from the place mentioned above. I trimmed all the leaves and am waiting to see if this plant recovers. Only a few, tiny leaves remain and no noticeable growth to date… probably dead.
Middle & Right Corner: Lobelia cardinalis – I’m hoping these will get nice and bushy. So far, a few bright green leaves have begun to grow.
On the rocks in the center: Java Ferns & Moss – again – planning on keeping under control. I also have some nice “caves” built into this rock formation. I am hoping the Javas will add to the darkness of them.
Bacopa australis – I had a hard time keeping the indivicual stalks down at first but they seem to be finally staying down. Lots of new growth too! This plant flanks the “cave” trench.
Echinodorus 'Ozelot' – At least, it was marked that. I am having my doubts.
Foreground:
Sagittaria subulata, in patches here and there, mainly to the left in the photo. I ordered these from Aquarium Plants dot Com and they arrived totally frozen, along with the rest of my order. Only a few remained alive, so I trimmed off all the damaged leaves and now they’re growing and some are sending out small runners. (That online store is terrible – don’t order from them)
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis – After the initial planting, it has died back some. New shoots are beginning to appear now in the substrate. The Malayan Trumpet Snail has really been a boon with this plant. It’s always eating the dead leaves and allowing for greater water flow through it. I am hoping this will help it grow. So far, so good!
Narrow-leaf Chain Sword – I picked this up at the LFS and it’s sending out runners.
Fish
Note the color of the center Discus. This is the one I have had trouble with. I took this at feeding time. The others are all much brighter when I initially feed. Soon after taking this, the pecking order begins. They all end up chasing one another into particular spots. That one ends up in the back, and getting much darker.
In this next photo (taken once the “pushing” begins), you can see these two are now darkly striped. The weakest one is now in the back. The dominant one is always the brightest. I have noticed that when any of the fish push any of the other around, the aggressor always gets bright, with faded stripes. Fascinating…
The one with the dark face to the upper right has a half dark- half light face. It’s always been that way and looks odd when seen from the front. I’ll try to get a photo of that.
I just wanted to post and thank people for the advice and help I have received from the online community. I have learned SO MUCH in the past few months!
Things have stabilized and I am finally feeling a little more relaxed about this tank.
Here’s a photo I took 03-19-2007. Note the yellowish tinge? Yep, I am using peat moss filtering. I kind of like the look, and my fish sure seem to be a lot more active.
Parameters seem to be keeping steady.
pH: 6.5
Ammonia/Nitrite: 0ppm – (wew…)
Nitrate: 10ppm
KH/GH: both seem to be 1° (still learning more about how to measure this…)
Phosphates: 2pmm – Is this bad?
Copper: 0ppm
Lights: 6700K - ~3wpg
No CO2 Injection yet – work in progress
Temp: 82°F
Also, Instead of doing LONG writeups about what plants I have, I found I could just add notes to the photo on Flickr. If you are curious, see: http://flickr.com/photos/darter02/428092654/in/set-72157594552201878
Thanks!
Things have stabilized and I am finally feeling a little more relaxed about this tank.
Here’s a photo I took 03-19-2007. Note the yellowish tinge? Yep, I am using peat moss filtering. I kind of like the look, and my fish sure seem to be a lot more active.
Parameters seem to be keeping steady.
pH: 6.5
Ammonia/Nitrite: 0ppm – (wew…)
Nitrate: 10ppm
KH/GH: both seem to be 1° (still learning more about how to measure this…)
Phosphates: 2pmm – Is this bad?
Copper: 0ppm
Lights: 6700K - ~3wpg
No CO2 Injection yet – work in progress
Temp: 82°F
Also, Instead of doing LONG writeups about what plants I have, I found I could just add notes to the photo on Flickr. If you are curious, see: http://flickr.com/photos/darter02/428092654/in/set-72157594552201878
Thanks!
