Semi-budget 40g Breeder Aquascape Journal

[itsfoxtail]

On 1/1/2023 at 8:21 PM, Schuyler said:

"nine... Ten... Oh wow there's two more, that's twelve!"

And so it begins...

[Schuyler]

This moss needs a trim... It's blocking the new lotus plant from really being seen. But the pandemic has taught me something: I'm not guy at cutting hair. It feels like any attempt to trim this will end up looking like a bad haircut.

Anyone have suggestions or advice?

[Minanora]

On 1/2/2023 at 7:41 AM, Schuyler said:

Once they are grown out more I'm going to see if my LFS will do a trade of like 4 for 1 or something. That way I can get more genetic diversity. Long term, I'm thinking of getting a sparkling gourami or honey gourami to have some predators

I would suggest store credit. That way you can use it on fish or supplies. You won't need fish all the time.

[Schuyler]

My wife randomly bought a coconut yesterday. So naturally I decided to make some more coconut huts and figured I would document the process. If you have more tools like a band saw this is probably easier. Or you could take the easiest route and just buy one from ACO using any of the links that are automatically generated every time I say coconut hut (like that one).

1) Drill a hole in one of the eyes

2) Put the coconut over a cup with the hole facing down.

3) Drill another hole on the opposite side. The second home let's air in while draining but also let's air out when you put the hut in your tank.

4) Let the water drain out

5) Using a smaller bit, still holes around the middle. This helps make sure the coconut splits roughly where you want it to.

6) Whack it with a hammer, rotate a little, whack it again, and repeat until it cracks open

7) Using a dull knife (so that you don't need stitches if you slip) cut wedges from the middle then pry from the side to get the flesh out.

😎 Continue doing this around the coconut until it's all out. The first few can be tricky but you'll get the hang of it and it will go pretty fast on the second half.

9) Drill holes in a semicircle as a guide for breaking out a hole. I added more holes after this and wiggled the drill to make them bigger. (You could also use one of those drills used for cutting holes for door handles and stuff)

10) Whack that with a hammer

11) Use a Dremel tool it and paper to sand down the rough edges

The next steps will be to get moss for a dry start

[Schuyler]

Honestly, seeing how cheap those huts are to just buy, I would probably just do that unless you thought it would be fun to go through the process...

 

[TheSwissAquarist]

Thanks for sharing this, I’m definitely trying that if I can get my hands on one! 

[Schuyler]

On 1/6/2023 at 8:20 AM, TheSwissAquarist said:

Thanks for sharing this, I’m definitely trying that if I can get my hands on one! 

No problem! It's definitely a fun little project. This is my second one so I'm still figuring out some details.

For insurance, it may work better to use a hacksaw to score around the middle too break it open. Then there aren't a bunch of little holes.

One thing I know for sure is that you want at least a little hole in the top so that air doesn't get trapped.

[Schuyler]

Gave the moss a trim today. The plan is to use the trimmings to make more coconut huts

Taking it out revealed a bunch of detritus that got trapped between it and the rocks.

It was crazy seeing how much it had grown. It looked like a troll doll

Now it looks a bit awkward but I'm sure it won't take long to grow back in

Now to stick this extra moss on to these coconut shells

[Schuyler]

Feeding frenzy after an algae wafer was broken up into the tank

Everyone is getting in on the action

[Schuyler]

The guppies were stressed today. Maybe because there was less aeration? I took out a sponge filter that was serving in the tank for a while. I've added an air stone in hopes that it helps at night.

The make was glass surfing and the twin females were having an all out brawl! They were biting each other in the mouth, biting their side fins, and smacking each other with they're tails. It went in for a few minutes with the male watching and looking very confused.

 

We also put the moss on the huts. This time we're trying the rubber band method for keeping it in place. Though that may be a bit excessive since it's a dry start

 

[Schuyler]

Nothing much to report on. The shrimp seem to be much happier and they have colored up a lot more. Even the wild types have gone from translucent and speckled to just brown with a stripe. The weird thing is that I haven't seen any berried females though.

Here is a sneaky pygmy cory resting in the poorly cut moss:

[Schuyler]

This could just be paranoia/anxiety but I am worried something is wrong.

The male guppy has been darting up and down the glass again. The snail population has dropped off but I think that's just reduced feeding hopefully. The shrimp look healthy but aren't getting eggs.

On a positive note, the Hydra seem to be dieing off, the vinegar eels culture is doing well (at least one of them), and the lotus plant is growing nicely.

 

[Schuyler]

Big day today!

Spent a good portion of the morning looking at moss in the park and wondering if it would grow under water. I mean this is Washington it rains constantly half the year that's similar.

This one even looks a bit like Christmas moss

Then we went to Grandma's house and my dad gave me an old fish book. I remembered looking at all the pictures of fish as a kid.

Like this entry for the N Guentheri (it's missing N Eggersi)

And this can stay up to date no matter how old it gets.

Then we went to the LFS where I had a gift card. After a long period but being able to choose I got four sparkling gourami in hopes that at least one was female. I also picked up some Riccardia moss and some prime

They also had subs leopard bush fish there that looked pretty cool but probably aren't a good fit.

Then after Grandma's we met a member of the local Killifish club to trade some eggs for a microworm culture. I thought he had been doing some heavy drinking but turns out that alcohol smell was coming from the culture. He uses soggy bread sprinkled with a bit of yeast.

Overall this was my haul for today (fish were in the tank):

[TheSwissAquarist]

Sounds like a fun day! That idea of a fish book that stays up to date is genius…might try and replicate it for reference.😄

[Schuyler]

I just realized I did it again!

I put the fish in directly without quarantining...

[TheSwissAquarist]

Depends it you can QT or not…?

[Schuyler]

On 1/15/2023 at 8:26 AM, TheSwissAquarist said:

Depends it you can QT or not…?

Huh? I'm not sure I understand what you're asking

[TheSwissAquarist]

On 1/15/2023 at 6:07 PM, Schuyler said:

Huh? I'm not sure I understand what you're asking

Sorry, my bad! Are you able to QT them? 

[Schuyler]

On 1/15/2023 at 9:12 AM, TheSwissAquarist said:

Sorry, my bad! Are you able to QT them? 

Oh I see what you were saying now. I could probably throw together a makeshift quarantine tank with stuff I have but finding a spot for it could be tricky

[Schuyler]

My son: "Daddy, I'm excited for the baby guys to grow up and have babies! I like when they have babies. We get more fish and we don't have to go to the fish store. Then we can get more and more fish!"

Me: "But where will we put them?"

Son: "We'll just get more tanks. We'll get more and more tanks so we can have soooo many fish!"

[TheSwissAquarist]

On 1/16/2023 at 5:08 PM, Schuyler said:

My son: "Daddy, I'm excited for the baby guys to grow up and have babies! I like when they have babies. We get more fish and we don't have to go to the fish store. Then we can get more and more fish!"

Me: "But where will we put them?"

Son: "We'll just get more tanks. We'll get more and more tanks so we can have soooo many fish!"

Such a good kid! Knows all the important stuff about life…!

[Schuyler]

Planning time! But first a nice nap on this tiger lotus

Ok now down to business. The tank is starting to get fairly established now and something I'm noticing is that the mixed approach I took towards planting stems has just resulted in a somewhat messy look:

There are a few things I plan on doing

1) Consolidate similar plants together during trimmings

2) Move the hygrophylia to the background

3) Remove the pogostemon octopus

4) Remove the valisinaria or possibly move it to the left side in the back

5) Move the smaller lotus to the back right. It doesn't seem to be doing so well in is current spot and should be able to get more light in the back.

6) Raise the substrate on the right side so allow for more planting. Then put the Riccardia moss in the front.

I tried putting the moss in to see how it would look but as soon as I turned around to dry my hands and take a picture it floated up to the surface. The sparkling gourami were very interested in what was going on there.

7) Also possibly thinking about removing some stem plants on the left and replacing them with pearlweed or Monty Carlo. Su that there is more of a progression.

😎 Add the last two fish (probably last two) a male and female Aphyosemion striatum. From my research they look like a peaceful non-annual killi that is hardy and "beginner friendly"

https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/aphyosemion-striatum/

 

[PineSong]

I am also consolidating my plants more into larger clumps these days. Your pogostemon is really impressive, and you have a nice variety of textures and shapes.

[TheSwissAquarist]

On 1/22/2023 at 6:56 AM, PineSong said:

I am also consolidating my plants more into larger clumps these days. Your pogostemon is really impressive, and you have a nice variety of textures and shapes.

It also makes for a more natural look. 

[PineSong]

On 1/22/2023 at 5:14 AM, TheSwissAquarist said:

It also makes for a more natural look. 

Yes, I thought of it after seeing some of Chris Lukhaup's videos of streams and rivers--it looks so peaceful when there are large swathes of one plant.