75G Planted For Beginners. Haha.

[FishFanatic04]

Let me take a moment to shout "holy f-ing algae" Sorry to be vulgar But jeez. It's the brown stuff, but it's everywhere! Is there anything I can do? This can't be good for the plants

 

[Biulu]

You already have a pleco, right? Maybe add another one, and otherwise increase the lighting. I am getting the same problem now... I want to get a flying fox though as the pleco or otos are not Asian...

 

[FishFanatic04]

I'm worried about adding any fish to the tank at the moment. The apistos have been moved out, but I don't know if they inefected the other fish with whatever they have. I don't have the plecos anymore. When all of this started happening with the apistos I took them back to the fish store. They were poop machines and I was having a hard time keeping up with it, I was having a reaction to the medication when I stuck my arm in to siphon the sand.

Otos are cute and stay small right? I could probably fit 6 of them in, now that the plecs are out. Cories, kuhlis, otos, and apistos. A full bottom for sure I will have to wait a week or two. I'm watching the tank right now to make sure none of the other fish are sick. Whatever the apistos have is resistant to medication right now.

 

[Biulu]

Otos are not bottomdwellers, they are all over the tank, mainly on the plants. When you get them, make sure they have been in your lfs for some time already and look fatty. Otos are not being reproduced in captivity and the way they 'fish' them in many places is by putting poison in the river or using dynamite. I have had several times that these fish therefore do not survive. And it is the whole batch without exception. I would say, start off with 3 and slowly up the number.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Thanks! I was doing some reading after you mentioned them, and did read about them being caught by using poisons upstream. I def. will have room for them & they are very cute. Plecos draw me in, but it turns out I am a little too much of a neat freak to have them. Other then my clown pleco, who is non-imposing and will stay small. The sucker mouth's are really what I thought was cute in plecs.

I'm buying all of my fish in small groups anyway from now on. QT tank will be in use. Nothing like a nice fish plague to make a girl cautious!

 

[FishFanatic04]

I was sitting here thinking about how long it will take to fully plant this tank with my own cuttings, and looked at the picture I took on the day I planted {March 1st}. Then looked at the second one. Go co2 go! lol
Planting day:

A few days ago!

My micro sword is dying unfortunately, I have some in my 46g that is doing well, so not really sure what the prob is. Maybe it is choking on algae

 

[P&J]

Looking great! I have to say, I was shocked comparing "before and after" pics of my tank too. The gradual change is almost not noticeable until you see it in a side by side. Love the wood, by the way!

-P

 

[Biulu]

Wow, that really is a difference! How long have you had the microsword? Maybe it is just melting?

 

[FishFanatic04]

26 days Not really mourning the micro sword in this tank. It is really lovely on my black sand, I had a root tab under it there. I bet it was a nutrient problem here. I may not have pushed a tab near it. I think I read that it likes a nutrient rich substrate. I knew I would run into that with just a sand base and certain plants. I'll get a tab under it tommorrow. At least it's a chance to learn something


See that? I stayed calm about something Thanks for all the help and opinions Biulu.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I was going to ask if I should change my bulbs to get a better green from my plants and I think I figured out something that won't cost a thing. I used the t-8 light that came with the tank. These aren't quality pics, just a tester. But it's always fun to looks at pictures regardless.

The purple cabomba is still in the left back corner...I had to cut it down, the bottoms were suffering. My water pump over there had been running in reverse, which I have been reading is a very common problem. I just took out the impeller and cleaned it, and voila! it works.

Notice the rasboras in the second one. They have won my heart with the way they school. I cannot wait to have 20 of them in a group



PS: when I was little my uncle used to say "Kelly, stop telling stories." Luckily, now I have all of you strangers to drive crazy My hubby tones me out. You could try that.

Looking great! I have to say, I was shocked comparing "before and after" pics of my tank too. The gradual change is almost not noticeable until you see it in a side by side. Love the wood, by the way!

-P

Thanks Do you have a journal or pics up somewhere? Would love to see!

 

[gregswimm]

Otos are very sensitive to stress. 1/3 to 1/2 of the otos you buy are going to survive in your tank, they are very fragile. They also eat alot so make sure you have plenty of algae growing for them to eat, they eat a lot more than you would expect. A tip is to acclimate them very slowly, ask for extra water in the bag, this will keep ammonia buildup down. I like to let the bag sit in my tank for an hour or so and slowly start adding a bit of water every 30 min, then let them swim out of the bag (try cutting the bag shorter underwater to help them find the exit). They have a tenancy to hold on to the bag or net and won;t let go, do not try and pull them off as you may hurt them or damage their mouths as they resist letting go. They will let go when they are ready

 

[This Old Spouse]

I have to argue with this just a bit. I NEVER release the LFS tank water into my tank! I always net the fish after acclimating them. I think it reduces the chances of releasing something into my water that I have no control over. Just me, I guess.

 

[Biulu]

No, I do the same. The water in the bags I use to water my plants... .
Be sure Kelly not to put the root tabs too close to the plant. It is always at the end of the roots that plants pickup food.

 

[FishFanatic04]

No worries on bringing home new fish, I drip my tank water in the bags over an hour and then net out. No lfs water in my tank please. Bad enough that the fish could come to me with parasites, without introducing something from their water.

I put a root tab about an inch from the plant, so that should be ok then.

2 Kuhlis were doing a freak out dance on the glass this morning. There is still some meds in the water, I did a 25-20% water change before my co2 turned on. I may do another small one tomorrow. Won't hurt anything and the angelfish will benefit from super clean water until it's fin looks better.

 

[gregswimm]

I have to argue with this just a bit. I NEVER release the LFS tank water into my tank! I always net the fish after acclimating them. I think it reduces the chances of releasing something into my water that I have no control over. Just me, I guess.

I agree, but otos are so delicate you want to minimize netting as much as possible. Also, whenever i try to dump a bag of otos through the net the always stay in the bag. You can kill them by forcing them.