Chick-in-of-TheSea journal

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

Today is the day! Quarantine crew has finished their time and is going to the display tank. I was going to do this tomorrow but since today is my day off, it’s better. Everyone looks nice & healthy.
 

We are doing a one hour drip acc. I added Fritz Zyme 7 as well since snails were recently added too. I do have 2 filters but it’s a big change for the tank, so a little boost can’t hurt. Also Chick-in-of-theSea does not shy away from more frequent water changes if necessary til things get going.

@nabokovfan87 suggested changing the scape to prevent territorial disputes. Hard to do with the big ol piece of spider wood that spans the tank so I will just rotate that forward a bit and, as much as I hate to, throw in some artificial plants. Just for like a week I think. I plan to RR some of the anacharis from the 10 g to ensure no limpets or hydra, as some of that has gotten quite long. Maybe I will snip some ends off and try to propagate more. Free plants are the best plants.

Aside from illness which “could” happen with the stress of the move, my main concern is will these 2 oddball tetras be ok without a proper school. I don’t want to stress stocking level any more so I will just see have to monitor to see if they school with others. Their body shape is so similar to the pristella, so maybe they would make friends. Worst case scenario, they go to the 10g and I add friends for them there. I wanted ember tetra for the 10g honestly. + shrimp. But I will hold off to see how this plays out.

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

Everybody was transferred successfully, and this includes Pippin! (I am reminded that catching fish is not too fun. Heh..)

One quick look at the revised scape after fishies added, and now it’s lights out so all can rest. 
 

P.S. Good call @nabokovfan87. That scape change confused the regular inhabitants and they broke their school and weren’t sure which way to swim. And at that point the new guys were added. 🙂

Snoopy was also confused and stuck near his cave.

Drip acc:

 

Before:

After (with new fish):

(Sorry for cloudiness. That’s the Fritz Zyme 7 plus the disruption of the scape.)

Edited October 9, 2022 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

Well, got home and turned the light on and found 2 fishies are sick. Frustrating. It was NOT fun catching them amongst all the plants and decor. But I managed and they are acclimating back to quarantine tank. 
 

[nabokovfan87]

I wonder what happened. 😞

They all went through QT and had meds and stuff and they seemingly were in there for a bit.

Very strange indeed.

What symptoms were you seeing?

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 10/10/2022 at 1:42 AM, nabokovfan87 said:

I wonder what happened. 😞

They all went through QT and had meds and stuff and they seemingly were in there for a bit.

Very strange indeed.

What symptoms were you seeing?

Early on I thought I saw a worm so they got paracleanse. Then later I “thought” I saw these patches but then I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me, like I was seeing what I expected to see, having just dealt with columnaris for months with Pippin. But just in case, I did level 2 salt. They looked good before I moved them but seeing them now through glass instead of plastic has made it clear two do have it. I’m having bad luck. But hey, could be worse- I haven’t lost anybody.

I have the meds on hand already and know the process.

Edited October 10, 2022 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

Here’s a more lighthearted post. Look at the harmony! And despite the lameness of the temporary artificial plants, they are finding comfort from them and weaving in and out of them.

 

[nabokovfan87]

On 10/10/2022 at 2:43 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

Early on I thought I saw a worm so they got paracleanse. Then later I “thought” I saw these patches but then I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me, like I was seeing what I expected to see, having just dealt with columnaris for months with Pippin. But just in case, I did level 2 salt. They looked good before I moved them but seeing them now through glass instead of plastic has made it clear two do have it. I’m having bad luck. But hey, could be worse- I haven’t lost anybody.

I have the meds on hand already and know the process.

Didn't you have that one video you thought was planaria too?

Are you going to run both the parasite meds or what is your plan?  Let me know if you need any help and there is as always Odd Duck's awesome schedule that was put together for use.  My unfortunate thorough months of de-wormings are here to help.  The biggest thing is substrate, manual removal for a lot of external parasites. Bacterial meds for secondary issues.

On 10/10/2022 at 5:10 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

Here’s a more lighthearted post. Look at the harmony! And despite the lameness of the temporary artificial plants, they are finding comfort from them and weaving in and out of them.

Such an active tank. Awesome stuff, as always. 🙂

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 10/11/2022 at 1:19 AM, nabokovfan87 said:

Didn't you have that one video you thought was planaria too?

I thought in the beginning I had a red worm known as a camullanus worm.  It was at that point they had paracleanse.  That was weeks ago, and I haven't seen any since.

On 10/11/2022 at 1:19 AM, nabokovfan87 said:

Are you going to run both the parasite meds or what is your plan?  Let me know if you need any help

Thanks so much @nabokovfan87, always willing to lend a hand. 🥰

And no, parasites are not the issue; we are looking at columnaris again which is bacterial.  I ran it by Colu without suggesting what I thought it was, and they believe it is columnaris.  I will follow the treatment I used for Pippin, which is a combo of Jungle Fungus fizz tabs and kanaplex.  They are on day 3 now, so they will get a water change tonight along with their doses.  The treatment is only 5 days.  They are active and show promise, and this case is much milder than what Pippin and his friend (brother? Merry?) had.  🙂 

On 10/11/2022 at 1:19 AM, nabokovfan87 said:

Odd Duck's awesome schedule

Is the schedule specific to parasites/worms or is it for all diseases?

 

Also, the head-and-taillight tetras are growing on me, and so far I see no conflict at all even though there are only 2.  I see why they are called that.  The light catches their headlight and their taillight and they really do shine like little lights!  I can't capture the effect on video, but if you see some in the LFS, take a look at them for a few.  When they turn certain directions, their lights shine.  💡

Maybe you can kind of see it in this video (not my video), especially the fish on the right that are leading the pack and go in front of the black background.

 

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

Look at the cutest saltwater goby at the LFS doing his interior design.

 

[nabokovfan87]

Probably one of my favorite species of fish.  One day @Zenzo will have a species spotlight on them!!!! (nudge nudge) 😂

[nabokovfan87]

On 10/11/2022 at 5:30 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

Is the schedule specific to parasites/worms or is it for all diseases?

Its a treatment schedule for most / all worms with the meds we use commonly. 

Paracleanse being similar to the Hikari PraziPro, but a slight variation in doses.  Similar / the same active ingredients.
Expel-P being the other one on the schedule, light NOT tolerant.

Those two meds would treat everything internal / external without going towards something more potent like a canine dewormer that's going around. 

Salt being the third option in the triangle, highly recommended for meds / external treatments.

On 10/11/2022 at 5:30 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

I thought in the beginning I had a red worm known as a camullanus worm.  It was at that point they had paracleanse.  That was weeks ago, and I haven't seen any since

Yeah.  It could've just been an internal issue (big bit of waste or something).  But for those worms you'd focus on the Expel-P.  Planaria as well.

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

Finished RR on the anacharis. Some nice looking sprigs here. Before I did that I went a bit nuts looking for Nibbles. He’s so small. I could never RR him! Eventually found him on the airline tubing. Then I couldn’t find Button! He was on the lid.

For those that haven’t been to my snail journal, here’s Nibbles and Button. Nibbles’ species is unknown. He came in on a plant. He sure is cute though. Button is an olive nerite snail.
 

 No more plastic plants and everyone still seems to be getting along well.

For some reason the head-and-taillights didn’t eat from the frozen brine shrimp cube, but they did eagerly go for the Xtreme Krill flakes. Perhaps they didn’t want to feed in a tight pack with the others on the cube. The flakes spread out and they can feed from different areas. Or perhaps they don’t care for brine shrimp.

Edited October 12, 2022 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

So I was gone all day. Just got home around 9. I went into the bedroom. Carpet looks weird. Cat have an accident?  No… 

it’s a frog!

 

He looks tired. I put him outside on a bromeliad leaf. 
 

Came back in. Different part of the carpet looks weird. My carpet is neutral with brown & black speckles. So what this time? No.. can’t be.. another frog!

 

This fella looks like he’s dehydrated. I put him on the same bromeliad leaf with the other guy and fetched a shotglass of tank water and pour it over him. The first guy hopped onto a different leaf. Excellent. His boingies work. Let’s hope this guy makes it too.

[nabokovfan87]

Interesting. Must be a new hatch and they were trying to find a pond.

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

I think I know how they got in. 

These troublemakers have a mesh tunnel in the yard that zips at both ends but when they are not in it and it’s unzipped lizards and frogs sometimes go in there. On rare occasions, they gently pick them up and deliver them as “presents” in random areas of the home. 

One time they brought a bigger frog in and that thing had super leap. I chased it all the way through the kitchen and the dining room before catching it.

Edited October 13, 2022 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

Remember sad Aponogeton Crispus?

 

Look at them now!

I moved them. They were in the back behind the wood and I couldn’t enjoy them there. So now one is more in the middle and the other is on the side.

 

Could it be? A plant that is actually planted that is ok with the distance of the light? Finally! To my 29 gallon friends @nabokovfan87 @Guppysnail @TeeJay and other fellow readers. Perhaps you should give it a try! Let it melt, do NOT bury the bulb, just set it on the substrate, and perhaps you will have luck too.

Edited October 13, 2022 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea

[Guppysnail]

I have Aponogeton longiplumulous in the 29 and ulvaceaus in the 40. Those bulbs are sleeping now so waiting for take off again. 

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 10/13/2022 at 11:45 AM, Guppysnail said:

I have Aponogeton longiplumulous in the 29 and ulvaceaus in the 40. Those bulbs are sleeping now so waiting for take off again. 

I saw this one in my LFS.

[Guppysnail]

On 10/13/2022 at 12:21 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

I saw this one in my LFS.

I think that one is Madagascar lace

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

They also had purple waffle plants they were selling but I read about the care, and it said that you have to take the plant out every so often or it will suffer.  I think I'll pass (because I'd forget to do that).

[TeeJay]

On 10/13/2022 at 11:26 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

Remember sad Aponogeton Crispus?

 

Look at them now!

I moved them. They were in the back behind the wood and I couldn’t enjoy them there. So now one is more in the middle and the other is on the side.

 

Could it be? A plant that is actually planted that is ok with the distance of the light? Finally! To my 29 gallon friends @nabokovfan87 @Guppysnail @TeeJay and other fellow readers. Perhaps you should give it a try! Let it melt, do NOT bury the bulb, just set it on the substrate, and perhaps you will have luck too.

I have never tried this plant before. Have to put it on the list. I still have a lot in my 2.5 from @Guppysnail that I'm getting beefed up to put in the 29 and 10 Cory tank. Three just soaking up ferts and light right now in the 2.5 getting ready for there go time soon.

[nabokovfan87]

On 10/13/2022 at 8:26 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

Could it be? A plant that is actually planted that is ok with the distance of the light? Finally! To my 29 gallon friends @nabokovfan87 @Guppysnail @TeeJay and other fellow readers. Perhaps you should give it a try! Let it melt, do NOT bury the bulb, just set it on the substrate, and perhaps you will have luck too.

29G = About the height of a 75G also.  So pretty much any plants that do well there should work.  PSO in my 75 was insanely fast growing under the CO2.  I did have success with Bacopa / Val as well prior to getting the PSO. 

Totally awesome progress.  I moved some of my Staurogyne Repens and had a big ball of new roots just like you did.  Root tabs help so much! 

I am definitely on the verge of getting some stems, using the plant weights and just hoping this time they get through the trial by fire that is my algae tank. 

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

Well if you can’t grow anything else well, at least you can say you grow algae well. 😉

[nabokovfan87]

I mean the plants are growing..... the algae is too. LOL.

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 10/13/2022 at 11:14 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

I mean the plants are growing..... the algae is too. LOL.

So that’s what they mean by a balanced tank. Lol

I mean, the algae is filtering your water and stuff, providing oxygen. At least there are some pros to it, even if it’s unsightly. Have you tried the peroxide method?