The Oto Journal
- Thread starter James0816
- Start date
09/25: Was setting up to do another 10% WC and I found eggs. Current count is 24. However, Papa Oto missed one and not viable making the count 23. Continuing with water change. Going to be using a smaller tube this time in an effort to clean up some detrius on the bottom.
On a side note, Boris and Natasha not acting all that well. They are usually active but the past couple of days have been rather lethargic. Hopefully I can regain the momentum on the tank and they will recover. Still no hatching of Natasha's eggs. Not really sure what to do with them at this point.
On a side note, Boris and Natasha not acting all that well. They are usually active but the past couple of days have been rather lethargic. Hopefully I can regain the momentum on the tank and they will recover. Still no hatching of Natasha's eggs. Not really sure what to do with them at this point.
9/26: Tank is really in a state of disrepair. Just found that the food and zucchini that was placed in the tank yesterday is all fuzzed over. Then the shocking discovery....most of the eggs are fuzzed over as well. Very bad. Have no choice but to attempt a major cleaning. Just have to pray that I don't disrupt the tank any further.
Definately not an easy process thats for sure. Guess that is a draw back to using SMS. You can't vac it unless you suck it all out. Got about 1/4 of the tank "somewhat" done. Best thing I could do was to stir up a section and then create a swirling motion with the syphon tube to clean the area. Not the best of jobs but between that and moving the filter to the area I am working on, hopefully it will be enough.
I also took a large eye dropper to remove as much of the fungused eggs I could. I did have to sacrifice a viable egg as it was right up against a bad one. Couldn't seperated them. Poo!
Giving it a break to let the water stabilize then I'll do another section.
I also took a large eye dropper to remove as much of the fungused eggs I could. I did have to sacrifice a viable egg as it was right up against a bad one. Couldn't seperated them. Poo!
Giving it a break to let the water stabilize then I'll do another section.
nguyendetecting
"Swim along with the snorks"
I always wondered how I was going to gravel vac also with the sms in my 36 gallon. Great job so far keep it up =)
09/27: Remaining eggs hatched today. Only counted (5) wigglers. I have most of the plants bunched up around the crypt jungle while I cleaned the other side so maybe there are some more hiding out in there.
Lost (4) yellow shrimp overnight. There numbers have greatly declined. Boris and Natasha still acting a little on the lethargic side. Still hoping they make a speedy recovery.
So as it stands right now, there are two adults (mom and dad), 6 juvies and 5 wigglers.
Will be doing a water test later today to check the parameters.
Lost (4) yellow shrimp overnight. There numbers have greatly declined. Boris and Natasha still acting a little on the lethargic side. Still hoping they make a speedy recovery.
So as it stands right now, there are two adults (mom and dad), 6 juvies and 5 wigglers.
Will be doing a water test later today to check the parameters.
09/29: Still working on getting the tank back in shape. Went to put a "cage" (if you will) around the area where the heater is. My plan is to put the Subwassertang on this grid in front of the heater. Just something to attach it to.
So...to do this, I had to move the HOB back to it's original location. When I moved this, I noticed more wigglers! Kewlness. They are hanging out right where I was going to put the grid. So that is on hold at the moment until they relocate peacfully.
Natasha still sitting where she has been. No movement. I do see her wisker hanging out so hoping for the best. Boris is starting to move about a bit as well.
Wiggler count now up to (10). Will start placing plants back in place soon.
So...to do this, I had to move the HOB back to it's original location. When I moved this, I noticed more wigglers! Kewlness. They are hanging out right where I was going to put the grid. So that is on hold at the moment until they relocate peacfully.
Natasha still sitting where she has been. No movement. I do see her wisker hanging out so hoping for the best. Boris is starting to move about a bit as well.
Wiggler count now up to (10). Will start placing plants back in place soon.
09/30: Did a water test today:
Temp: 78
PH: 7.4
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 20 (bit lower than normal but I have not been dosing ferts in a while)
KH: 5
GH: 8
KH and GH numbers are lower than normal as well.
Fert dosing resumes tomorrow.
I have given it a bit of an overhaul in regards to the plants. Will snap a new pic when the tank settles. Still alot of particulates floating around from planting.
I removed all the mosses (peacock and fissidens). I think the fissidens may have perished but moved it to another tank to see if it will recover.
I added Lobelia Cardinalis 'small form', Littorella Uniflora and L.repens X arcuata.
Found all (10) wigglers today so hopefully they will continue to grow. Added 1g spring water to bring the water level back up.
Boris (boss brig) is moving around again. Feeling good about that. I noticed Natasha (la fem brig) occassionally peeking out but still not venturing around.
Temp: 78
PH: 7.4
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 20 (bit lower than normal but I have not been dosing ferts in a while)
KH: 5
GH: 8
KH and GH numbers are lower than normal as well.
Fert dosing resumes tomorrow.
I have given it a bit of an overhaul in regards to the plants. Will snap a new pic when the tank settles. Still alot of particulates floating around from planting.
I removed all the mosses (peacock and fissidens). I think the fissidens may have perished but moved it to another tank to see if it will recover.
I added Lobelia Cardinalis 'small form', Littorella Uniflora and L.repens X arcuata.
Found all (10) wigglers today so hopefully they will continue to grow. Added 1g spring water to bring the water level back up.
Boris (boss brig) is moving around again. Feeling good about that. I noticed Natasha (la fem brig) occassionally peeking out but still not venturing around.
