The Oto Journal
- Thread starter James0816
- Start date
11/30: Found another shrimp passed away. Not a good sign. Down to just a few now.
Did a 20% water change with gravel vac. Had to do some rearranging with the plants as well. Pretty much the same layout. Will be thinning a couple plants in the crypt jungle. Maybe removing a few of the smaller crypts and two of the longer Cryptocoryne Balansae. Need to get some more Ludwigia.
On a plus note: New shrimpies arrived today. Hopefully they will fit in just fine.
Trying to get somewhat of a count of the wigglers in there. It doesn't look good this go around.
Water test pending.
Did a 20% water change with gravel vac. Had to do some rearranging with the plants as well. Pretty much the same layout. Will be thinning a couple plants in the crypt jungle. Maybe removing a few of the smaller crypts and two of the longer Cryptocoryne Balansae. Need to get some more Ludwigia.
On a plus note: New shrimpies arrived today. Hopefully they will fit in just fine.
Trying to get somewhat of a count of the wigglers in there. It doesn't look good this go around.
Water test pending.
Update 01-Dec-2009
Water Test Today:
Will be doing another 15% partial on the main tank this evening using spring water. I am still waiting for our well water to clear up to do water changes on all the other tanks.
I'm a little discouraged as I could only count (6) wigglers from this batch. Hopefully there are more hiding in the crypt jungle.
Newly added shrimp are doing fine. No casulties over night.
Zucchini almost gone. Prepping new pieces.
Water Test Today:
Will be doing another 15% partial on the main tank this evening using spring water. I am still waiting for our well water to clear up to do water changes on all the other tanks.
I'm a little discouraged as I could only count (6) wigglers from this batch. Hopefully there are more hiding in the crypt jungle.
Newly added shrimp are doing fine. No casulties over night.
Zucchini almost gone. Prepping new pieces.
Nope..all get along just fine. It is the other way around at times as I will watch the little ones zipping around and from time to time they will crash into a shrimp. Kind of comical watching the shrimps reaction.
Update 02-Dec-2009
20% water change done on the juvie tank. Removed lots of pond snails with several more to go.
Thinning of the crypt jungle has began. My plan is to rremove (2) of the Balansae's and maybe (3) of the assorted's. You want to talk about root systems. WOW! I'm taking some pics as I go. This root system is amazing. It pretty much covers half the tank. The whole right side.
On a little bit of a plus note, I found (8) wigglers today. Hopefully more will surface.
Turning on the air stone during this process for increased circulation and aeration. Stiring up a bit of mulm.
20% water change done on the juvie tank. Removed lots of pond snails with several more to go.
Thinning of the crypt jungle has began. My plan is to rremove (2) of the Balansae's and maybe (3) of the assorted's. You want to talk about root systems. WOW! I'm taking some pics as I go. This root system is amazing. It pretty much covers half the tank. The whole right side.
On a little bit of a plus note, I found (8) wigglers today. Hopefully more will surface.
Turning on the air stone during this process for increased circulation and aeration. Stiring up a bit of mulm.
Need to give Boris a break. Him and mom and pop Oto just didn't seem to interested in leaving their corner. No matter how much I disturbed it. Boris extended his syphon longer than I've ever seen (gotta pic too). He eventually got to the top and and started his pump to gather more air.
Then back to the bottom. He's currently working himself out of the crypt jungle. Will go back down in a few and finish up.
Now my dilema...the root systems were so entwined that I basically uprooted everything on the right side of the tank. So now I have to contimplate removing all the crypts and replanting once the roots are all seperated.
Then back to the bottom. He's currently working himself out of the crypt jungle. Will go back down in a few and finish up.
Now my dilema...the root systems were so entwined that I basically uprooted everything on the right side of the tank. So now I have to contimplate removing all the crypts and replanting once the roots are all seperated.
It's official....the crypt jungle is no more...for now. I went ahead and dismantled the entire jungle. Will incorporate a 20% water change with gravel vac where the jungle once was. I will rebuild it with most of what was removed. I will have several crypts left over.
By doing this (and it was unintentional I might add), stirred up the fry. Count is now at least (15). These were just on the front and right sides panes. Didn't check the left or back of the tank.
Main goal is build the jungle back and let the water clear. I'm letting things settle right now so I can do the vac. I rinsed out the pre-filter to help gather up particles.
By doing this (and it was unintentional I might add), stirred up the fry. Count is now at least (15). These were just on the front and right sides panes. Didn't check the left or back of the tank.
Main goal is build the jungle back and let the water clear. I'm letting things settle right now so I can do the vac. I rinsed out the pre-filter to help gather up particles.
Here's some shots of the work in the Crypt jungle:
This is the beginning:
Seperating Roots....what a job!
After a few have been removed: The divot on the right was caused during the seperation of the first plant. The root system was that long.
Almost all removed. These two remain floating as they are the bigger ones.
This is the beginning:
Seperating Roots....what a job!
After a few have been removed: The divot on the right was caused during the seperation of the first plant. The root system was that long.
Almost all removed. These two remain floating as they are the bigger ones.
Starting to replant now. Boy..It sure does look bare. It's a bit cloudy right now so giving it a break to clear up so I can get a better view. May need to readjust what is currently in there before adding any others. Will have to assess to see how many I want to put back.
