200L Low Tech

[mikka23]

Here is an update. Video using my phone so not great quality. I have some nice growth, especially the back left of tank. Have trimmed and replanted egeria a couple times but its going all over the place now.

Does anyone have any recommendation for round fish suitable for a community? Thinking maybe discus tetra are my only possibility.

http/tinypic.com/player.php?v=f1frqw&s=5

 

[lljdma06]

Here is an update. Video using my phone so not great quality. I have some nice growth, especially the back left of tank. Have trimmed and replanted egeria a couple times but its going all over the place now.

Does anyone have any recommendation for round fish suitable for a community? Thinking maybe discus tetra are my only possibility.

http/tinypic.com/player.php?v=f1frqw&s=5

Looks good! I'd try video, but I really prefer shooting in HD and my internet is not fast enough to deal with the uploading.

Maybe a gouramis or an angelfish?

What's your stocking so far?

llj

 

[mikka23]

I will try shooting a video with my proper camcorder and tripod next time. I added 2 Bolivian Rams and 2 Zebra Loaches today. Really love the rams and the zebras are very curious. Really need to sort the planting of the tank. The right side is looking especially messy.

Stocking is now:

2 Red Rainbows
2 Bolivian Rams
2 Zebra Loaches
3 Moth Catfish
6 Penguin Tetras
6 Metallic Yellow Guppies
5 Harlequin Rasboras

 

[lljdma06]

I will try shooting a video with my proper camcorder and tripod next time. I added 2 Bolivian Rams and 2 Zebra Loaches today. Really love the rams and the zebras are very curious. Really need to sort the planting of the tank. The right side is looking especially messy.

Stocking is now:

2 Red Rainbows
2 Bolivian Rams
2 Zebra Loaches
3 Moth Catfish
6 Penguin Tetras
6 Metallic Yellow Guppies
5 Harlequin Rasboras

The loaches should be in larger numbers. As should the rainbows.

 

[mikka23]

I will try shooting a video with my proper camcorder and tripod next time. I added 2 Bolivian Rams and 2 Zebra Loaches today. Really love the rams and the zebras are very curious. Really need to sort the planting of the tank. The right side is looking especially messy.

Stocking is now:

2 Red Rainbows
2 Bolivian Rams
2 Zebra Loaches
3 Moth Catfish
6 Penguin Tetras
6 Metallic Yellow Guppies
5 Harlequin Rasboras

The loaches should be in larger numbers. As should the rainbows.

I was advised by the LFS that although 4-6 is ideal they should be happy in pairs (most trusted LFS I know). I have the Rainbows for around a month and both seems very happy. I will also be adding more rainbows at some point.

As for the Loaches, would I be able to mix them with other loaches and would they stick together?

 

[mikka23]

Added 2 Moonlight Gouramis and 2 Rainbows last week. As for stocking im not sure what to do. Im not sure if I have space for any new fish apart from possibly more zebra loaches and rasboras. Ideally I would like to add congo tetras and a bristenose but not sure if that would be alright. Here is how the tank is looking now. Lots of growth on the left side of the tank.

I had been struggling with lots of hair algae but my moonlight appears to remove it.

 

[Biulu]

Great video! I love zebra loaches, unfortunately I cannot get them here... I had imported them -illegally- but had to give them away because of business trips. Yours look very shy, upping the numbers would do them good. Mine were all out and about.

You have the same gravel as I do; I like it as it looks very natural.

 

[mikka23]

Thanks for the comments. Upping the number of loaches is top of my to do list. When I first got them they would swim around everywhere. They even followed the rainbows around. Now they chill out with the catfish most of the time.

 

[mikka23]

I haven't posted in ages but still have my tank going. The planting is awful right now. Brown algae and hair algae all over the plants and they are a mishmash.

Things I reckon to counter:

- Siphon to clean bottom of tank debris
- New filter media (probably 6 months or so without change). How do I change this without destroying the built up bacteria? Also tips on brand etc are welcomed.
- Remove some plants and replace with new ones. I seem to have a lot of the same kind right now, mainly swords I believe.

Any other tips? Use of ferts? CO2? Reduce feeding? Up waterchanges?

The tank looks a mess right now, algae on the plants and even on the wood now. Pleco doesn't seem too interested. Despite the look the Bolivian rams actually spawned a few days ago. At least I assume it was them since one protected the eggs. I did think my red rainbows were mating just prior though.

 

[mikka23]

Have a major problem with BBA. Plan is to look for Easycarb, Flourish Excel and a SAE. Also may just replace my plants (with the exception of the anubias which is floating around unattached). They were a cheap pack off ebay which I will probably go for again as they were great value.

Some good new though, I managed to attach my moonlights which I have had sitting around for ages. It took my ages to bore a hole into the lid and then use cable ties to attach. I turned them on tonight and was amazed The hara hara catfish usually hide but when the moonlights come on all the shy creatures seem to come out. The catfish were freely swimming around and eating on the blood worms I put in. The zebras also flew around a little. Certainly recommend the lights. Will need to get a video of them.

The Bolivian rams definitely spawned before. The eggs were around for a while then disappeared over night. I wouldn't have known what to do with them anyways.

 

[Jamepsss]

Must have missed this first time round. The tank looks great in that video from May. How about a pic of how the tank is looking now so we can see what you're up against? Would also like to see a night pic with moonlights.

 

[mikka23]

Must have missed this first time round. The tank looks great in that video from May. How about a pic of how the tank is looking now so we can see what you're up against? Would also like to see a night pic with moonlights.

I started dosing with Flourish Excel yesterday. The plan is to get rid of BBA then buy some new plants. At the moment it seems quite a few of the plants aren't even worth saving. The leaves are ripped and torn from attempts at getting rid of BBA.

Will post when there are some noticeable decreases in BBA. At the moment its pretty unbelievable.

My white floss sponges seem to be pretty useless and could do with replacing. I will gradually replace the 3 in the tank as well as adding some ceramic rings and bio balls as there is a lot of space for extra.

 

[mikka23]

BBA seems to be very slowly going away. I have ordered a powerhead to help with circulation and have some new plans for tank.

The 2 moonlight gouramis and 6 penguin tetra will go up on the classified section and hopefully replaced by a couple extra rainbows, extra loaches and extra rasboras. Hopefully that should lead to a happier tank.

I also plan to remove all the plants so I can clean the substrate properly and then replant along with some new plants. Any tips on what to do with the small catfish I have? They often hide amongst the bottom of plants. Maybe also worth putting something into the tank for the loaches to hide in while I treat the plants and clean the substrate?

PS, strange question but what is the plant I previously had in the back corner of the tank? Opposite side from egeria densa.

 

[Jamepsss]

Not sure, could be Ludwigia of some sort.

If you're planning on doing a complete overhaul it might be worth removing the fish to a separate container?

 

[mikka23]

Not sure, could be Ludwigia of some sort.

If you're planning on doing a complete overhaul it might be worth removing the fish to a separate container?

That would make sense but I don't have any other containers. Possibly do half a tank at a time, may be a bit easier that way?

Looked up Ludwigia and it seems to be what it was. Remember not thinking much of it at first because it was small and all green, but the higher it grew the more red it became. Was part of a pack I bought off ebay.