Llj's 8g Nano Journal

[Liam]

Love the tank, it looks great, I like the lush look. There are two threads on the site that I have read of sucessful otto breeding.

 

[lljdma06]

Love the tank, it looks great, I like the lush look. There are two threads on the site that I have read of sucessful otto breeding.

My cherry barbs seem to have beaten my otos in the love game. I found two sets of fry on Saturday. An older set about 1/2 inch long and a few wrigglers. I can't believe I missed this.

 

[Themuleous]

Good work!

 

[lljdma06]

Well, I replanted a few plants on Monday and woke up Tuesday to greenwater again, but I tried something and the greenwater cleared very quickly. I did a 50% water change and dosed the tank with formalin (Rid-Ich+) at 1/2 strength. The next day, no greenwater. I have to be very careful with any substrate displacement. I also have to be careful with what I plant. This is not a high-light tank. I only have 3WPG in an 8g tank, so the intensity is not so great. I have better luck treating this like another low-tech, so the cambomba, zosterfolia, and myriophilum will be switched out for tougher plants, like H. difformis and egeria densa. In addition, the tank water evaporates very quickly, so I have to top off every few days.

My sister counted between 5 and 10 cherry barb fry of various ages. I will post a photo of the eldest tomorrow.

 

[lljdma06]

Here is promised photo, though it is not of the largest, who is now past 1/2 inch in length.

Watch me swim!

Cute little bugger ain't he? Or she? Can't tell yet. I've been so busy with plants and ferts and algae and such that I forgot how nice it is to have happy fish and babies. There are over 10 now. Doing very well on microrganisms in the tank and crushed food.

Thanks for looking,

llj

 

[netcode]

thats sweet!! Cherry barbs are wicked fish! I wish I could have added them to my tank, but unfortunatley I decided to mix things up and throw in a bunch of different fish.

Anyways congrats!

 

[lljdma06]

It seems that everywhere I look in this tank, there emerges another cherry barb baby. I think there's like 30 now! Based on what I've read, cherry barbs don't really enjoy being around their own species, so the adult male and female have taken to hanging out in the back of the tank while letting the babies rule the tank.

I'm going away for a week. Cruise. I'll take some pictures when I get back. It looks like the 36g is going to be devoted to cherry barbs!

Warmest regards,

llj

 

[lljdma06]

It sure has been a while! I came back from the cruise to find bigger cherry barb babies and more babies. I swear they breed like rabbits! It looks like all the fish in the 8g survived the week without a problem. The tank looked great and I really only get greenwater/cloudy water the day or two after I vacumn and then it clears up.

Unfortunately, I think the cherry barbs are getting too big to be in an 8g, so I'm setting up a 36g for them within the week. I'm dismantling the 8g. I just can't take care of three tanks at this time, and this nano is so much harder than the 20g and the 36g. I'll set it up again, but later when I'm done with school and I can really devote my attention to a nano. I've thought of a temporary plan for the 8g and posted it in the garden forum, but since there are so many people here with green thumbs, I think I'll run the idea past you as well. I'm wondering if I could use the 8g tank and the light fixture to perhaps grow some plants in pots?

The light fixture is a 24W compact Florescent fixture with 7100K color temperature. I wish I knew the Lumens, but I don't. The light source is about 13 inches from the bottom of the tank. So plants in 4 inch pots will be about 7-8 inches from the light souce, and this can be adjusted. I think there's room for about 3-4 small potted plants total. What do you think I could put in there? I wouldn't put any soil in the tank and the potted plants would each rest on a dish of gravel to help with humidity. I also only fertilize with tank water, so no worries about using harsh chemicals that could leak into the tank. I wanted to try some flowering plants and light/humidity-loving houseplants. Since it wouldn't be holding water or fish, it would be much easier to move around and perhaps serve as a pretty display.

I'll post some final pictures of the tank later today, if I can manage it. It was a tough choice, but I'd rather keep the 20g running for now.

llj

 

[Themuleous]

Shame about the strip down, but I know what you mean about three tanks, it takes me hours to do my three and only one of them is an EI tank!

Your use of the 8g tank sound ingenious, hope it works

Sam

PS - did you have a good cruise?

 

[lljdma06]

Shame about the strip down, but I know what you mean about three tanks, it takes me hours to do my three and only one of them is an EI tank!

Your use of the 8g tank sound ingenious, hope it works

Sam

PS - did you have a good cruise?

I actually had an excellent cruise Sam, thanks for asking. Very restful and I have a nice tan. I am wavering on the 8g. The temptation is strong to set it up again, and I really would like a giant betta, so I think I'll wait until I can get it. Right now, if one of my plants needs extra care, I put it in there, but it's not a permanent thing. I have constructed a growing area for my phalaenopsis orchids that I think is rather clever, using an old wrought-iron stand, two old Coralife T5 fixtures, and extra ceramic tile. My mother also purchased a huge Brassia/Miltonia hybrid that I have under a light while it's blooming. I think I'll just hike over to the Garden section and post already.

llj