Jump to content

DemonCat and his Tank


DemonCat

Recommended Posts

1 hour ago, DemonCat said:

Hi Disciple, what are your concerns? 

Having researched them, I was under the impression that they were hardier than neons so thats why I decided to go for them. 

Sorry I was not clear with what I meant. Jayc first point was what I was getting at.

Saying this it is your tank and you are free to have shrimp and fish. We just want to let you know what could potentially happen.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 minutes ago, Disciple said:

Sorry I was not clear with what I meant. Jayc first point was what I was getting at.

Saying this it is your tank and you are free to have shrimp and fish. We just want to let you know what could potentially happen.

Oh of course. 

I have White Clouds as it is and am well aware that shrimplettes may well be on the menu. That is one particular reason why I went for Red Cherries in the first instance as I wanted a mixture of fish and shrimp in a planted tank, and did not want to risk exotic/expensive shrimp. 

As it is the shrimp zoom happily with the white clouds, who I was under the impression are about the sime size as cardinal tetras. But I may re-think the cardinals and go for the neons just due to the fact that are a little smaller. 

59 minutes ago, jayc said:

 

2) Cardinals and Shrimp prefer different (optimal) temperatures.

Cardinals like around 27-28deg C. While shrimps like a chilly 22-23deg C. 

One or the other will not be thriving. They might survive, but they won't be in the optimum environment.

In fact, Neons would fit better here with shrimps. Neons, being from further up the river, prefer the cooler water temps. Neons are smaller, and less likely to attack shrimp. Shrimplets are still fair game. 

Fair point - I did see the water temp differences and also noted that white clouds will prefer the water much closer to 22 (neons) than high temps (cardinals).

My main aim is to keep everyone happy where possible. I always want to be well understocked than overstocked for starters, and the same goes for water temp, having a decent amount for a school etc etc

----------

Neons it is! Does anyone have experience with both - what does it mean when I read that cardinals are hardier? Does this mean cardinals are more like white clouds in terms of hardiness, and neons are a slight step up?

Edited by DemonCat
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, DemonCat said:

what does it mean when I read that cardinals are hardier?

Just means Cardinals are not as prone to diseases as Neons are.

But personally, I think that's not a very accurate statement.

Many people keep Neons with warmth loving tropical fish, not knowing that they actually prefer the cooler temps.

Keep any fish outside of their ideal parameters and they will start getting sick, catch diseases easier, due to lower immunity.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Stage 1 of re-scape complete!

Tank has been given a little bit of love, upgraded to the eheim 2217, rearranged everything. I am pretty happy with the outcome. Tank looks so much bigger without the internal filter! Eheim canister is so much quieter than the fluval internal. Will never go back. 

Photo taken a few minutes after everything was done and am hoping the cloudiness goes away for the coming days. I think the scape is much improved, and a testament to all the help I have got from you all here, and the ideas from looking at your scapes!!

2irn9tj.jpg

3589m38.jpg

osh6hl.jpg

Stage 2 (soon) will be adding native vals, c.balansae or something similar to the right hand side of the tank. 

Stage 3 (after a holiday in March) will see 10 neons and 3 ottos added. 

Stage 4 - maybe christmas - a new light. If I can control algae issues in a low tech, I reckon I will get a better light to help improve growth!

Edited by DemonCat
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 hours late and it has cleared up pretty well! External filters are my new best frient.

Cannot wait to get vals to the right of the driftwood. Looking for something else to add between the driftwood in the middle, or to the left of the HM in the front left corner. Maybe I will try s.repens again. 

Two things I want to happen:
1) I want the blyxa to pick up now that the sunset hygro isnt shadowing it. 
2) The HM carpets a little bit more extensively. 

I guess I need to learn to stop playing around and give it a solid amount of time to grow into itself. I also need to upgrade my light. Might solve a heap of my issues. I didn't realise I had lost 4 big healthy blyxa's on top of about 10 stems of S.repens I was gifted.

34qtg82.jpg

Edited by DemonCat
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice job it looks excellent. Looking forward to longer plants on RHS to hide equipment. How are the fish / shrimp liking it? Nothing like a rescape to add reinvest your interest in a tank.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, Unagi42 said:

 

Nice job it looks excellent. Looking forward to longer plants on RHS to hide equipment. How are the fish / shrimp liking it? Nothing like a rescape to add reinvest your interest in a tank.

Its much less dense than the last one so the shrimp are a little hesitant but all are doing fine so far!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My colleague brought in Vals for me today. Cannot WAIT to get home to plant them. Yeeeaaaawwwwww! So very excited!

No idea what type though. Through the bucket the leaves look quite thin. 

Edited by DemonCat
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Beautiful!

I like that driftwood. It's such a focal point of the tank.

But, you gotta do something about that sock over the filter intake! :brzzzzz:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, jayc said:

Beautiful!

I like that driftwood. It's such a focal point of the tank.

But, you gotta do something about that sock over the filter intake! :brzzzzz:

I know, I know. Rearranged a little bit to hide it a bit more, but its still pretty visible. I will post a photo or two tonight after planting the vals (well, look like vals).

Edited by DemonCat
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have added the vals to the tank and I I think the tank is really starting to take shape. I still need something bulky to sit behind the driftwood just to the right of the Vals... maybe they will send out runners that way.. or I could add another established narrow java fern, or maybe some crypts!

IMG_20160223_201800_2.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/22/2016 at 4:46 PM, jayc said:

Beautiful!

I like that driftwood. It's such a focal point of the tank.

But, you gotta do something about that sock over the filter intake! :brzzzzz:

What do you recommend to get rid of it? It has already turned brown and I am sick of looking at it. 

Is there a sponge attachment out there? I searched but could not find one on the eheim website. 

Or just hide it with more scaping? 

I need something on it though to stop the shrimps going on a deathly adventure..,.. and you all have your tanks looking so nice I never know how you do it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Try searching for either a stainless steel mesh strainer from our sponsors or a sponge pre-filter for the intake.

Of if you are handy, a DIY job? See here:

 

Edited by jc12
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, jc12 said:

Try searching for either a stainless steel mesh strainer from our sponsors or a sponge pre-filter for the intake.

Of if you are handy, a DIY job? See here:

 

Ahhhh! I was searching for the wrong terminology. Pre-filter intake gets me what I want!!!! Thanks jc!!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Support our sponsors. Check out Newbreed's site.Techden and Aquakitz have them too.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, jayc said:

Support our sponsors. Check out Newbreed's site.Techden and Aquakitz have them too.

I will have a look and see. Had a quick look and there seems to be heaps of sponge filters rather than just the pre-filter sponge. Will have a proper look over the weekend :)

 

EDIT - Gosh I am slow. I can just buy a normal filter block/square and make it fit. Gee you can tell I am new to this aquarium stuff. 

 

Wont the pre-filter sponge reduce the flow to the canister? I guess it will need a weekly rinse when I do a water change.

Edited by DemonCat
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I have some new plants - chain swords, crypts and amazon swords. Fully planted now - I don't think I want to add too much more. I would rather watch it grow and develop. 

I go on a holiday in a week for 3 weeks, and when I return I will be adding 10 neons and 3 Oto :) New light from MML ordered too which should arrive in the next few days.

IMG_20160305_195623.jpg

IMG_20160305_195631.jpg

IMG_20160305_195645.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

It has been a few months since an update, so here it is! 12 neons added, 11 survived. Lost two white clouds too, so down to 5 or 6. 2 Oto's added - surviving well after a month. Shrimp keep on shrimping. 

Plants are all going well as far as I can tell. When comparing to the other recent pictures, the tank has filled out a bit. 

IMG_20160508_214015.jpg

IMG_20160508_214036.jpg

IMG_20160508_214041.jpg

 

IMG_20160508_214044.jpg

Edited by DemonCat
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Update!

First proper clean out of my canister and changed the fine wool filter - I hadn't realised how much 'oomph' the filter had lost till I plugged it back in after the clean - the fish thought it was a roller coaster whirlpool.

All in all, everyone is happy. The oto's both survived, back up to about 60 shrimp I can count at any one moment, and all fish are happy. 

After fighting algae and losing since upgrading my light, I am back on top of it... took me about a month or two but I found the sweet spot. For the first time, I have actively seen a heap of pearling!!! I found that extremely exciting :)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's awesome to hear @DemonCat.

Good to hear the otto's made it too. They can be frustrating at times.

Throw up some photos when you get a chance! I love seeing photos of tanks and would be awesome to see how the plants are progressing on this one ?

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You got a really nice lookin tank. Would love to see some more photos of your inhabitants

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great looking tank :)

Can't wait to set up my big tank. Still at least a month before I get it though :(

Are you using co2? I'm thinking yes from the pearling comment. Does it bother the shrimp?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Join Our Community!

    Register today, ask questions and share your shrimp and fish tank experiences with us!

  • Must Read SKF Articles

  • Posts

    • beanbag
      Update to say that after a few gravel vacs, front wall scrub, moss / floating plant trim, that the condition seems to have improved.  My current theory is that it is due to waste / debris management, where "stuff" like that brown mulm accumulates in the substrate and behind the HMF filters.  Maybe some tanks can somehow deal with it, but mine can't.  Also another experienced shrimper suggested that maybe those "shell bugs" don't just live on the shrimps but also in this debris.  Maybe this is the reason some tanks fail due to "old tank syndrome" where all they need is a good gravel vac? Also, I am guessing that plant trim helps too because now more of the nutrients and light go into growing algae instead of more plants? Well anyway for this tank I will try weekly water change and monthly gravel vac / plant trim.  For my next tank, I'm thinking of something like an under-gravel system where this mulm can fall down and I vac it out.
    • sdlTBfanUK
      Good to have an update and good to hear you are getting shrimplets, so hopefully your colony will continue and you may not get to the point where you have to cull some to stop over population. These type of shrimp only live 12 - 18 months so the adult deaths may be natural? If you have the time I would do weekly 25% water changes, adding the new water via a drip system and do some vacuuming clean of the substrate each week, even if only a different bit each week! See if that helps in a few months and if it does then stick with that regime? It should help reduce any build-ups that may be occuring!
    • beanbag
      Hello again, much belated update: The tank still has "cycles" of 1-2 month "good streaks" where everybody seems to be doing well, and then a bad streak where the short antenna problem shows up again, and a shrimp dies once every few days.  I am not sure what causes things to go bad, but usually over the course of a few days I will start to see more shrimp quietly standing on the HMF filter, and so I know something is wrong.  Since I am not "doing anything" besides the regular 1-2 week water changes, I just assume that something bad is building up.  Here's a list of things that I've tried that are supposed to be "can't hurt" but didn't prevent the problem either: Dose every other day with Shrimp Fit (very small dose, and the shrimp seem to like it) Sotching Oxydator Seachem Purigen to keep the nitrates lower Keeping the pH below 5.5 with peat Things that I don't do often, so could possibly "reset" the tank back to a good streak, are gravel vac and plant trim, so maybe time to try those again. One other problem I used to have was that sometimes a shrimp would suddenly stop eating with a full or partially full digestive tract that doesn't clear out, and then the shrimp will die within a few days.  I suspected it was one of the foods in my rotation - Shrimp Nature Infection, which contains a bunch of herbal plant things.  I've had this in my food rotation for a few years now and generally didn't seem to cause problems, but I removed it from the rotation anyway.  I don't have a lot of adult Golden Bees at this point so I can't really tell if it worked or not. Overall the tank is not too bad - during the good streaks occasionally a shrimp will get berried and hatch babies with a 33-50% survival rate.  So while there are fewer adults now, there are also a bunch of babies roaming around.  I guess this tank will stagger on, but I really do need to take the time to start up a new tank.  (or figure out the problem)
    • jayc
      If that is the offspring, then the parents are unlikely to be PRL. I tend to agree with you. There are very few PRLs in Australia. And any that claim to be needs to show proof. PRL genes have to start as PRL. CRS that breed true after x generations doesn't turn it into a PRL. Neither can a Taiwan bee shrimp turn into a PRL despite how ever many generations. I've never seen a PRL with that sort of red colour. I have on Red Wines and Red Shadows - Taiwan bee shrimps. So somewhere down the line one of your shrimp might have been mixed with Taiwan bees and is no longer PRL. It just tanks one shrimp to mess up the genes of a whole colony. 
    • sdlTBfanUK
      Sorry, missed this one somehow! The PRL look fantastic and the odd ones look part PRL and part Red wine/Red shadow in the colour. They are still very beautiful but ideally should be seperated to help keep the PRL clean if you can do that.  Nice clear photos!
×
×
  • Create New...