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Post by jokerls240 on Jan 21, 2011 8:06:13 GMT -6
Hey all! Long time, no updates... I know. Been a little crazy since the move. The 55 is doing great. Here's the current population:
2 albino bushynose plecos (Thanks again, plecoman! They're doing great, and I actually did end up w/ a pair. However, the male has become very territorial. Need to get around to fixing up a PVC pipe for him to see if they breed.)
4 mixed Angelfish (1 died of hunger, wouldn't eat anything except plants. I think the second was hit in the swim bladder by another angel. Found it nose-down and lifeless at the bottom of the tank after getting home from work one day.)
4 Diamond Tetras (Still hanging in there, even if I forget a water change 1 week. Never gone more than 2 weeks between changes. Lost the color cards for my water test kit, so quality currently isn't monitored.)
4 Emerald Cories
3 Clown loaches (These fun and funny guys cleared up the ramshorn snail problem within a week!)
I have a video of the tank, before the clowns, on YouTube. Link below:
That video was taken in September. At the moment, I have removed the wisterias from the left and middle of the tank, spread out some ludwigias, and the crypts have grown to the water line! Pics coming soon!
Anywho, I'll probably be in and out of the forums, as usual. Got too much stuff on the 'net to keep up with. ;D
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Post by vladsbtch on Jan 21, 2011 8:48:42 GMT -6
Good to have you back Jeremy. Looking forward to seeing your new pics. and seeing you pop in from time to time.  |
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Post by bunnie1978 on Jan 21, 2011 9:45:04 GMT -6
Looks great! It looks to me that the gold crown angels look to be male. Have you ever seen any breeding behavior from them?
Good to see you again too.
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Post by jokerls240 on Jan 21, 2011 12:37:02 GMT -6
Thanks vlads & bunnie.
Actually, at the end of that video you may notice I moved camera to the angels real quick. One of the golds darted at another angel. That was the main reason I took the video, to catch the angels doing that and show my friend at work. I didnt know if that was a courtship action or just agression. They also had some eggs on the glass close to the water's surface, but the laying pattern didn't look like the classic lines of eggs you get with a pair in prime breeding condition.
Make note that the angels' body sizes were no more than a quarter when I bought them in April. So they may just now be a year old and rough body diameter of 2" top to bottom, not counting the fins. There aren't many quarrels now that I dropped the water temp down to about 76-78.
Regardless, I really don't have the time to try to move a pair to my extra tank and breed them. I have a book that covers just angels, so I kinda have an idea of how to keep them from trying to breed. One day I'll get a wild hair and give it a go. The 28g bowfront is still empty and dry. It just needs a good scrubbing at the silicone from malachite blue stains. After the fish died in it, I put a heavy dose in, thinking I was going to restock it. After I got settled in the new apartment, I realized, too late to recover anything, that I left a lot of the tank's contents at the old place. Only minor stuff like 30lbs of gravel and extra filter cartridges. Again, I'm hanging on to it for a rainy day or I may just give it to a friend that has a freshwater turtle that's outgrowing the 10g he has it in.
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angel
FORUM BEGINNER
My Husband's A Birdbrain
Posts: 40
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Post by angel on Jan 21, 2011 15:06:26 GMT -6
Jeremy! It's good to see you back again!
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Post by jokerls240 on Jan 21, 2011 15:47:17 GMT -6
TY, Tina! So here's a link to my ongoing album of the 55g. The first 3 pics are the most recent I have. Also lighting is back to 2 x 48W T8 fluorescent bulbs in a $12 WalMart fixture. The LED fixture was an unknown when purchased and immediately removed. The lighting effects from it were beautiful - it had a nice shimmering effect and made the colors in the tank just pop! s648.photobucket.com/albums/uu201/jhenson81/Aquariums/55%20gallon/ |
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Post by vladsbtch on Jan 21, 2011 17:00:09 GMT -6
Thank you for sharing the pictures with us Jeremy. Your plants are really great and big. They are great big. LOL ;D |
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Post by jon carman on Jan 21, 2011 20:08:28 GMT -6
Nice to see you nixed that algae, tank looks great!
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Post by jokerls240 on Jan 22, 2011 13:13:23 GMT -6
The algae was a challenge, but I have it down to a minimum now. The most I get now is the light green stuff on the glass, but the plecos keep that in check.
Believe it or not, I am not adding any fertilizers or CO2. Just regular water changes. You'll notice the wisterias on the left. They're gone now, as they were causing problems with water return to the filter. The wisterias on the right are not growing as fast as they could, so I'll be moving them soon. I also have enough runners propagating off the crypts that I took 3 small ones out and gave them to a friend who is just learning the benefits of a planted tank, water chemistry balance and beauty.
All in all, the tank has been up and running for over a year now, and I've only lost a few fish. Most from causes beyond my control, only 2 teras because of water quality. That was in the first few months of cycling. I would really like to add at least 3-4 more Diamonds, when I can make my way to Critter one day. Eventually, I may do a rescape and add some grassy plants, but that may require better lighting and CO2. I have a 5lb tank and a regulator w/ a broken low pressure gauge. Orlando at GeenLeaf has offered to fix it for $20 + parts and shipping, and it isn't even one of their regulators! Really an upstanding guy and business.
Anywho, got some loach questions I'll be posting in that board shortly.
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Post by bunnie1978 on Jan 22, 2011 17:18:20 GMT -6
I would stay away from Critter for a while. I was there recently and the angelfish had a parasite - one that angels succumb to quickly, but other fish get and carry around. I don't know that it's still there. I would think they would be able to get rid of it quickly and easily, but I went back later and bought a couple angelfish (I knew it could be risky, but they looked pretty healthy) and I think the problems I had last year are might be starting over again. I'm prepared this time, so it won't be so devasting....
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Post by jon carman on Jan 24, 2011 19:09:48 GMT -6
Did you let them know so they could take care of it? If they had a parasite, I am sure that they would have medicated it or not sold it.
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Post by bunnie1978 on Jan 24, 2011 20:54:58 GMT -6
Yea, we discussed it. Ken is the person that said that type of parasite should be treated with malachite green, which is one I didn't do last year when half my fish died. I think I've actually headed off the problem from the get-go, but I'm watching all my fish. As soon as I know it's done I'll have some bristlenose and guppies available, but I want to wait to make sure it doesn't get around. I've only had a problem in one tank so far.
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