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Well, got all the levels back in check, thanks for the help. Now to the update. Baby. Shrimp. Everywhere. I counted 25 last night, hardly bigger than a pencil lead, all over the place. Looks like multiple females may have dropped at the same time!

I seem to be able to keep daphnia indoors for 4-6 weeks and then it crashes, threw last lot away this week, though you shouldn't have this problem outside. A friend tried the outside bucket a while ago and he got bloodworms in his, no idea how they got there, but he was well pleased! Freinds coming next weekend so hopefully there are still daphnia alive in the lakes, though it has suddenly turned cold here so will have to wait and see? If your local fish shop sells daphnia live food then you could buy some and put that in the bucket. You should use old tank water to change half the water every now and again and yeast is very very cheap as food if you get daphnia, not sure about mosquito larvae though? I hope you get something for/in the bucket soon, good luck! Simon

Great t have an update and you have a lot going on there, good luck with it and hopefully you will get baby guppies in a few days. I can't offer any advise unfortunately (no experience with that) but hopefully someone else can, but I look forward to seeing the photos you took. Simon

I've set up a bucket for mosquito larvae (and whatever else wants to live in it) outside in partial shade. No food to be found yet, although my cat still insists on drinking the water ?. She found her way into a bucket with a very low dilution of meds the other day, and has been trying to drink my water when acclimating new fish... just glad she hasn't slurped one yet! I haven't been able to find anything in the river so will just stick to my trusty bucket.

Realised I haven't updated too recently on this tank and felt the need, and also am looking for some advice. So the tank has increased in stocking - I now have 4 new endlers (2 half guppy mutt males and a pair of japan blue that I plan to line-breed) as well as a pair that I'm holding for someone else, 2 new mature BNs (one male albino who has successfully reproduced for someone else and a common longfin who I cannot sex yet), and a beautiful pair of Pseudomugil Luminatus, who will hopefully be moving to another tank in the near future. My two female endlers are heavily pregnant, and are being housed in a breeding box together (I only have one so they're getting a bit grumpy) until they pop. Suspecting/hoping to see fry within the week! The addition of the 2 large BN seems to have reduced the aggression of my male apisto, which is fantastic! He's been checking the longfin out constantly, going "No fair! I was the largest!", but he has been much more passive. He is still one my favourite fish I've owned, with such fascinating behaviour and intelligence. I plan to breed the BNs all together, to get some albino longfins and calico longfins. I really hope to find some super reds and make a longfin variety of that, because that would be fantastic! PM me if you know a source in Aus. In terms of the Pseudomugil Luminatus, I was checking out a local store the other day who are closing in Feb, and stumbled upon these guys. The store actually had 3 pseudo species - Gertrudae (Spotted blue-eye), Furcatus (forktail), and the Luminatus, Neon Red Blue-Eye - and I knew I had to get one of them. I settled for the luminatus because they were looking the best, and they're smaller than the furcatus. I've researched them previously so I knew what I was getting into, I just didn't expect to find a local shop that sold them! Speaking of which, the place is called Subscape Aquarium in Abbotsford, and it's worth a visit before you shut if you're in the area. Anyway, I'm hoping to breed the luminatus in my 5 gal, or even keep them in there if I can, as I got a single pair and they only live for 1-2 years. Now I know they're meant to be kept in shoals or schools, but they were selling for $32 a pair, and I just don't have the budget for more than 2 pairs (but I may get another pair if mine are doing well, and if I could fit all 4 in my 5 gal). The fish are doing very well, and colouring up beautifully. I took some nice photos of them with my canon earlier today, so will share as soon as I can. If anyone has experience keeping or breeding these I would appreciate any advice at all that you can give me. @Baccus I know you've kept gertrudae in the past, have you tried these? Or have any breeding advice that might translate? As mentioned previously I did a photoshoot of the tank and some specimens today, so will post pics and maybe put some up in the gallery. As always help and advice is highly appreciated. ?

I am soooooo jealous!!!! I am anticipating I will have to wait about another 3 months (April) for babies (2 months (March) berried shrimps) if my previous experience is to go by - just hope I can keep the adults alive that long.................... It is quite frustrating as I know they are big enough to breed and they are in perfect parameter water at the same temperature, but nature has its ways I guess and I can't do anythig about that? Simon

That’s great! Can you tell the colours yet? Or are they just that tiny? Keep us posted!

I don't think there is much there to worry about but the fertiliser is obviously raising the TDS/GH so you can either reduce the remineralized new water to a lower figure, maybe aim for 120 TDS (that will be GH6) for the new water! The new water will need to be added slowly (dripped or similar) when you do water changes but the overall effect will be a very slow lowering of the TDS over time assuming you do small water changes (20%). This should also reduce the GH unless there is something else causing the increase? Your figures in September were GH7 TDS140 which sounds about right for the remineralized water. - 1GH=20TDS. The usual mid-range ideal figure for bee shrimp is about 140 anyway so you may as well bring it down a bit from 165 as that is getting a bit near the 180 usual upper limit anyway? I don't think you should need the fertilizer now that the tank is established and the shrimp waste should feed the plants naturally so it might help to reduce/ween the fertiliser to a point where you can stop using it altogether. Just keep a close eye on the plants as they will soon tell you if they need the fertiliser by looking less healthy! It is better anyway not to use fertilisers with shrimps! The rocks you have may also be affecting the TDS/GH depending on what type they are? Though I tend to think from the above it is more likely to be natural increase that JayC mentioned before and the fertiliser. Also, any topping up for evaporation between water changes needs to be pure water, not mineralized! Don't worry too much as the figures aren't that bad so just a little tweaking should be sufficient and overdoing it WILL do more damage so be cautious, especially if everything is running well, shrimp breeding and not dying off! Simon

I finally caught my Spotted Blue Eyes napping and in a relatively good place to get photos. Such stunning little fish.