148.6L (39.2 gallon) aquarium journal

[elephantnose3334]

The tank is probably fully established now, as seen on the white dandelion seed-like growth on the front of the tank. The 13 silvertips are happy, they had come out of their shy shell and shoaling in front of me now. The eldest silvertip is at the left on one of the photos. Pictures aren't perfect but I tried to do good ones with the iPad.

 

[elephantnose3334]

More Canon photos from a few days ago:

 

[elephantnose3334]

@connorlindeman @MattW And this photo is my favourite one of the silvertips:

 

[elephantnose3334]

Everything is okay at the moment in the tank. The fish are behaving normally and the snails are scavenging for leftovers. What is this white stuff growing on the tank (on the last image)?

 

[Fish Fanatic34]

Are you planning on adding any more fish ?

 

[elephantnose3334]

Are you planning on adding any more fish ?

Just added five more males in the tank today. 18 in total (15 new ones, 3 older ones). Photos are coming soon.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Finally got some water sprite and five more silvertips into the tank (18 fish in total) The water looks dark because of tannins, so I will control the tannin issue. The Bacopa doesn't look well, it's my first time with plants. The shoal recognised the new males and they swam up to them. I will keep an eye on them during the introduction period.

 

[elephantnose3334]

It's been an hour since the new males were put into the tank and the sparring has become more ritualised, more frequent. One of the pictures is of the largest male, a bit pale but will colour up eventually. Meanwhile, I will keep an eye on the water sprite.

 

[MattW]

ciliates / zoothamnium. I had a large amount in my first planted tank as well a few years back.

Is that bacopa caroliniana? I have found it to do poorly IME. Bacopa amplexicaulis thrives in my tanks however. The water sprite looks very healthy!

 

[elephantnose3334]

ciliates / zoothamnium. I had a large amount in my first planted tank as well a few years back.

Is that bacopa caroliniana? I have found it to do poorly IME. Bacopa amplexicaulis thrives in my tanks however. The water sprite looks very healthy!

Yes. The water sprite just got put into the tank. What is a ciliate?

 

[MattW]

Yes. The water sprite just got put into the tank. What is a ciliate?

They are harmless organisms IME. The ones you have, are a flower-like appearance which gather food/detritus particles in the water. I'm no expert on how they occur but they seem to pop up now and then. Smaller organisms will feed on them such as copepods and fry. You can look them up if you want to read into them. I haven't read much about them since my tanks got invaded by stentors instead

 

[elephantnose3334]

They are harmless organisms IME. The ones you have, are a flower-like appearance which gather food/detritus particles in the water. I'm no expert on how they occur but they seem to pop up now and then. Smaller organisms will feed on them such as copepods and fry. You can look them up if you want to read into them. I haven't read much about them since my tanks got invaded by stentors instead

Do they cause disease? I've heard that some ciliates cause disease on freshwater fish. What causes their growth?

 

[MattW]

I've heard that a few types could cause disease in fish but I doubt the ones you have would do such a thing. As for their growth, I have no idea. My knowledge of them is minimal. Perhaps @Seisage may know some more about them? Is there much difference from marine species?

 

[elephantnose3334]

Moved the water sprite to near the heater so that it can partially block it when it grows. The new five silvertip males are doing well, along with the 13 others. Also fertilised the tank with Flourish Trace today, following the fertilisation schedule. The tank looks like this as a result:

 

[elephantnose3334]

Some Canon photos of the new fish (especially the new male with the slightly ripped bottom tail fin):