About a month away from a new project!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jgentry]

I have slow internet and it takes for ever to load pictures. So until I have several hours to spare or get really bored I won't have any pictures up. Any of you guys are free to stop by though.

[jgentry]

I got a lot done this weekend. Finally got my other piston pump up and going along with 12 more sponge filters to a little extra filtration. Had a couple of spawns as well and did 50% or more water changes on all the tanks. I got a few shelves hung and a couple of other upgrades.

I ran out of black water extract so I'm making another big batch as we speak.

[angel]

How do you make that, JD?

[jgentry]

I take a large pot and add 5 large Indian almond leaves, 3 cups of peat and 1 gallon and 2 cups of water. I boil it for 35 minutes then pore the contents into a 5 gallon bucket. I just put an old towel over the bucket and pour the entire pot into it. The towel will catch all of the left over particals. It's really easy and cheap. The same mixture will cost you $10 for a few ounces at a pet store. I can make 40 gallons of the stuff for the same price.

[nebelhund]

What exactly is black water extract for?

[jgentry]

Jan 10, 2010 20:57:41 GMT -6 nebelhund said:

What exactly is black water extract for?

Creating blackwater biotopes. There are a lot of amazon basin fish that come from what is called blackwater. It is kind of a tea color and very soft and acidic. Most of these fish do not do well without this type of water. Even if they can live OK in our tap water they will not breed.

[jgentry]

Had a good week in the fish room. Lots of spawns this week.

Neets
Sajica
calico cons
Centrarchus
HRP
Multispinosa

Also had one failed heros notatus spawn. All eggs turned white on the 3rd day. Not sure what the issue with that pair is but that is the second time this has happend .

[angel]

Will be interested in the HRP JD--let us know when they're for sale ok?

[jgentry]

I already have some larger HRP's that can be sold now. THe Rio Monga variety are over 1" the Blue varient are only about 0.5" but are doing well and should be fine to sell.

[angel]

When can we come out? I'm not great with the knowing the varieties but am sure you can show us the parents, and actually we'd probably want both kinds!

[jgentry]

I sold the parents of the rio monga a while back but I can show you pictures of them online. I have the blue varient parents and they currently have a spawn so you can see them. I'm home most weekends and week nights. PM me if you want to come up and get some of them.

[jgentry]

Good seeing you and Dennis again. Hope your new fish make it home safely.

[angel]

Everyone's fine and acclimating. It was so great to see you and your fish room rocks! I could have stayed all day. Those red fish I got one of--the ones I can't remember the name of--I'll probably end up wanting more if you still have them next I see you. They're gorgeous! Oh and what's the name of the Madagascare fish that's red and black and can't be gotten? What a shame.

[jgentry]

If you are talking about the larger fish that you bought one of it was a herotilapia multispinosa (rainbow cichlid). The parents are laying as I type so I will have more of them if I sell all of the larger batch that I have now.

The madagascar I believe was a Paretroplus Damii. The red and black coloration is only when they are breeding.

[angel]

Why can't I remember rainbow?!!! Argh! Well he's in the chocolate tank and I took the shark out. I put him in a 30 with a wildcaught male HRP Dennis got from Jon and the HRP was picking at him. The choccy community is leaving him alone. Very cool!
I have the larger HRP fry in with rams at the moment. Will see how that goes. If it doesn't work I'll set up another tank. The smaller are by themselves. All is well.