Kyle murfitt Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 Just got it set up. And going to start a journal and show progression. Hopefully some breeding. 29 gallon, marineland magniflow 220, finnex stingray, acoop sponge filter . Carib sea eco planted substrate underneath black blast sand and fine black sand on top. Root tabs 3 Amazon sword plants, 5 micro sword plants spread throughout, 5 Dwarf sagittaria, 3 java fern , and a small anubias plant . Going to let cycle and see where all this goes ! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 @Kyle murfitti think this is a great start with good easy plants that should really take off. Eco-complete is good at holding on to nutrients but you’ll need to load it with some of those nutrients with fertilizer and root tabs. If your plan is to use it as an apistogramma breeding tank they’ll need a cave of some sort. Coconut shell, piece of pvc, part of a terracotta planter somewhere like that. If you could do a couple that would really be good to give them options. I find Apistos really pop against black substrate. Enjoy the ride and have fun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 (edited) Depending on species of apistogramma you require more barriers to break line of sight. Many species exhibit quite a bit of violence between male and female. A lot of breeders use leaf litter as the fishes can hide under the leaves but some solid barriers in the form of driftwood and similar will help. I have hongsoli in a 29 and when the female is not ready to breed she stays as far as possible from the male to avoid his fury. Edited November 2, 2021 by anewbie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 (edited) On 11/2/2021 at 1:07 AM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said: @Kyle murfitti think this is a great start with good easy plants that should really take off. Eco-complete is good at holding on to nutrients but you’ll need to load it with some of those nutrients with fertilizer and root tabs. If your plan is to use it as an apistogramma breeding tank they’ll need a cave of some sort. Coconut shell, piece of pvc, part of a terracotta planter somewhere like that. If you could do a couple that would really be good to give them options. I find Apistos really pop against black substrate. Enjoy the ride and have fun. Thank you ! I've got 2 big caves in the center that go all the way to the back of the tank , made from the hardscape. Trying to separate them with the Amazon sword and micro sword as it grows out. And on the left of the picture the dark spot is a pvc cave I made with a 3/4 - 1" opening that connects to a 3" tube going all the way underground , then rolled it in substrate with silicone to hide it. As everything grows out plan adding some more barriers but want to see how the plants do first On 11/2/2021 at 7:28 AM, anewbie said: Depending on species of apistogramma you require more barriers to break line of sight. Many species exhibit quite a bit of violence between male and female. A lot of breeders use leaf litter as the fishes can hide under the leaves but some solid barriers in the form of driftwood and similar will help. I have hongsoli in a 29 and when the female is not ready to breed she stays as far as possible from the male to avoid his fury. Thanks. Hoping as everything grows out the barriers will become more bold and help block line of sight , of not ill add more to it. Edited November 2, 2021 by Kyle murfitt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 Nice start, I think it will grow in well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 (edited) On day 3 of 50 percent water changes. Added some vallisneria to the background along with 5 olive racer nerite snails Parameters have been 7.0 ph, nitrites at 0.25 ppm, nitrates at 10 ppm, ammonia between 1 and 2 ppm , Kh 80 ppm and Gh 180 Edited November 2, 2021 by Kyle murfitt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 I like the branch coming out from the corner. I think some more tall plants/hardscape in that corner would make a nice focal point 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 @Solstice_Lacerthanks ! I've got two sword plants tucked behind it in that right hand corner , hopefully they'll grow out and help hide that sponge filter ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 I can't stop messing with the scape 😑 added the wood in the center and made two more caves with the piece. Think im gonna leave it alone .... maybe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 3, 2021 Author Share Posted November 3, 2021 (edited) Day 5 of tank being up parameters are still crazy , nitrites are starting to drop a bit but ammonia is still sky high . Also seeing most of the plants besides the java fern starting to melt back a bit. Little bit of yellowing in leaves . Going to contain myself and just let things happen on this one. Still doing water changes and adding conditioner along with beneficial bacteria but not going to start dosing ferts or anything yet. Hurry up and wait Edited November 3, 2021 by Kyle murfitt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 Looks like a start to a very pretty tank. Even tanks I’ve had up forever I still can’t stop messing with and changing. It’s part of the fun for me 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 4, 2021 Author Share Posted November 4, 2021 On 11/3/2021 at 6:47 PM, Guppysnail said: Looks like a start to a very pretty tank. Even tanks I’ve had up forever I still can’t stop messing with and changing. It’s part of the fun for me Saaaaame here. But I feel like my last few tanks I've messed with the plants and stuff to much in the start and don't let them just settle in and come back. Gonna deal with the melt and start dosing once the tank cycles 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 4, 2021 Author Share Posted November 4, 2021 The micro sword, Dwarf sagittaria, and my swords are melting and its killing me. With some advice from other members going to start dosing 4 pumps weekly of easy green and see where it goes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted November 4, 2021 Share Posted November 4, 2021 I'm concern you don't have enough hiding places for when the female doesn't want ot breed and male is unhappy. They do not hide in caves; you need to break line of sight so the female can hide without the male seeing her. The need for this depends on individual fishes but the male can be quite violent in driving a non-breeding female out of his domain. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 4, 2021 Author Share Posted November 4, 2021 @anewbiehoping as the plants grow in it will create some barriers. Worst case 8ve got a bit more drift wood I can cut up and place or rocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted November 5, 2021 Share Posted November 5, 2021 I would focus on the back corner and long driftwood in the middle; in my tank she frequently hides behind a sponge filter (which is quite solid barrier); the key thing is to break line of sight if she hangs low. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 Day 8.... dosing easy green, and daily water changes with water conditioner and beneficial bacteria starter. Should've bought fritz turbo start 700. Just gotta wait Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 Plants still melting , parameters are still fd, but black worms and some otocinclus have been added .. next week will be 3 water changes , then the week after 2 instead of daily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 These olive racer nerites have been in the tank less than a week and.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 Water parameters starting to straighten out. Added 12 cardinal tetras. A few more weeks and it will be ready for apistos 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 10, 2021 Author Share Posted November 10, 2021 Well the 5 year old convinced me to go ahead and get some..shes impatient like her dad .Found a pair of Double Red Agassizi. Ammonia and nitrates are good , nitrites still a little high but will monitor and maintain proper number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 Well.. sad day. The male was put I to a quarantine tank when we got home because he was looking stressed. Git worse over the last few days and seemed to look like columnaris.. went ahead and made the decision to put him to rest. Have been trying to medicate but he ended up being on the bottom of the tank barely going. Rest easy my dude. Went to the lfs, and only agasizzi left in town were some fire gold. Got what im hoping is a pair and they seem to be going great with the female double red .. to be continued. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 @Kyle murfittbest case scenario you get a functional harem, worst case you’ll have to move a female. Great progress in a fairly short time period. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 Everything going smooth so far . Have been dosing heavy easy green and plants are starting to perk up a bit and showing less melt. Tetras, otos and nerites doing great. Apistos are showing a little aggression but mainly between the two fire golds , still not sure if I have two females or a pair so it's a waiting game to see where the aggression is coming from . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 Update: So I believe the "female" double red is turning out to be a young male.. and I still can't tell with the fire golds/reds.. the double red definitely does some dancing for the both of them so hopefully they are ladies. Everyone is happy and healthy though! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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