New Aquarium

I bought my Amano shrimp from P@H earlier this year, I thought they all died but nope just hiding, nowhere else stocks amano around here, better than getting them in the post anyway. I rarely buy fish anymore just plants, a few of my rummy nose tetra will be getting on a bit now 5-6 and the SAE I had for a long time as well.

 

Hi All,

I've yet to get my 'new' tank set up properly, plus have got some Mopani wood pieces soaking in a bucket to help release some of the tannins.
Interestingly I bought them from The Range where pieces about 9+" long are sold for just £1.99 each.

Have also been getting some plants in stock from good sources, including some fresh in, good looking Java Moss in vitro gel pots from P&H for £4

Have got them all in a small basic tank with lights and though I cannot see any signs of snails /eggs thought it might be a good time to treat them ?

Any suggestions of the best product to use and do they also kill the eggs or will I need to wait 2-4 weeks for any to hatch ?

While seems the larger loaches will eat the eggs they are too big for my 55ltr tank, wondered if the Ottos also eat them or is there anything small that will ?

thanks

 

My view is don't treat what you can't see. Unless you see a snail I wouldn't put any treatment in. Even if you do see one or two i would just pick them out. If it's a new tank I wouldnt add treatments unless it's necessary.

 

Although I don't keep fish now I still look around some of the aquatic stores just out of interest. One of my favourite fish were Emperor Tetras small, hardy and lively, the males as with the larger Congo Tetras have longer caudal fins and have a metallic sheen at different angles and light.

 

Hi,

The plants are just in a small holding tank , not the main display tank, so seemed a good time to treat them being as snails do sound like a real problem these days, plus my old eyesight is not as good as it used to be , so too easy for me to miss.

Would prefer to catch them now rather than use any medication in the display tank with fish if they became a plague.

 

Some of my favourites are golden nugget plec, balloon mollies, electric blue rams and Angel fish.

 

Hi @Fat Controller,

How are your plants looking, after a week you might get some losses, but equally would have thought you should be seeing some growth in some plants ?

The reason for the time factor in adding the fish after dosing with Quick start is that the bacteria need food and if no fish / waste then they soon die off.

Same when there is a long power cut and no water flow though the filter, the bacteria can die, so when power is restored a boost of QS is the thing to do to re-introduce some new live bacteria.

When adding the fish, only do a few small ones and leave several days to a week before adding any more , so the filter bacteria have time to grow and adjust.

Stress Zyme is not the same as QS it does not contain that type of bacteria as the screenshot shows.

 

Hi FC,

Looking back at your tank on page 6, seems you got a wider selection from your £10 collection.

I only got 7 varieties, some the same as yours, some different, plus the moss and crypts on the bottom left which are not part of the collection.

Had some miniature pots to hand to hold down the loose ones with gravel until I get the main tank started.

A bit to go before we get to BigCs standard...

 

Hi,

Afraid after 20 years since I last followed the plant names, plus old age, I have yet to identify most of them, including the red one, which I think is Ludwigia Repens - Red
If it grows well will send you some cuttings.

 

I am not sure it a ludwigia repens they normally have smaller leaves, yours look quite large it still could be though. You have to keep an eye when buying aquatic plants because some are not true aquatic plants, some are ( can't think of the name ) where their feet are in the water but the top isn't, I bought some not true aquatics when I first started and they just wither away within 4-5 weeks.

 

The red plant is more than likely Alternanthera reineckii...please bear in mind two things..in an aquarium situation red plants generally require more lighting which in turn can lead to algal problems if catering for this specific style of plant so you'll have to be on top of that in my opinion for what its worth (but folks do often get lucky) secondly please be aware that a lot of aquarium plants are grown hydroponically these days not all but quite a few if not directly imported from the far east so expect a certain amount of initial die-back ...just a few pointers guys and yes a nice array of plants there..maybe get some small grass for frontal enhancement....C
my Amano Shrimp