New 46 Gallon Bowfront Build

[jwcarlson]

On 3/24/2023 at 3:52 PM, neitherman said:

Subtle fish-shaped whole in the wood there too.  Beautiful design choice. 🙂

[neitherman]

On 4/10/2023 at 12:16 PM, jwcarlson said:

Subtle fish-shaped whole in the wood there too.  Beautiful design choice. 🙂

The best part is I've had this piece of driftwood for a decade now and it's still magnificent. I think I have oriented it in all ways throughout the years but this upright position is my favorite thus far. However, thanks to you this is the first time I'm noticing it has a fish shaped fish-hole in it!

[jwcarlson]

On 4/8/2023 at 9:25 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

Seeing barbs run around with mini hot cheetos is hilarious.

It is hilarious, but I think my personal favorite is when one of the shrimp gets ahold of one and rides it violently to the bottom.  Eats like a king for awhile, though.

[neitherman]

This was a helpful video! I think I have more males than females in the tank but there are a few that are still less than an inch in length which makes it hard to sex them. Also good to know I should feed them high protein at dusk if I want them to lay eggs.

Edited April 10, 2023 by neitherman

[neitherman]

Shrimpin' around:

Sharing the same patch of Monte Carlo:

Also smoked some tasty food over the weekend!

After reading that it's really hard to overdose the tank with potassium I dumped a whole cap full of Seachem Potassium in yesterday afternoon. Curious how my Java Ferns will react.

Edited April 13, 2023 by neitherman

[neitherman]

Big feeding today (cause water change is tomorrow!) It's fun watching everyone zip and zoom around with their flamin hot bloodworms:

 

[neitherman]

Water change day, water change day!

 

I decided to make a few slight changes during water change day. First, I added more scatter gravel and aquasoil around the monte carlo because I really want to get a nice carpet growing for my cories and shrimp:

These two are pre-emptively picking their spots for when it grows in! 😄

Looks like the new anubias coffeefolia leaf is turning to a classic green color:

Finally remembered to give the java moss a trim too!

Also went on a hike yesterday. The desert is in bloom:

Found a rock formation that gives me ideas for hardscape:

Edited April 14, 2023 by neitherman

[nabokovfan87]

On 4/14/2023 at 2:31 PM, neitherman said:

Also went on a hike yesterday. The desert is in bloom:

Found a rock formation that gives me ideas for hardscape:

Feels like you're down the street! 😂

Beautiful flowers.  I always see the bushes and the wood like that, dried out, and I just can't help but think if any of it is manzanita/aquarium safe.

 

On 4/14/2023 at 2:31 PM, neitherman said:

Can you give us a side shot of these two.  Did you ever treat them for worms?

[neitherman]

On 4/14/2023 at 4:44 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

Feels like you're down the street! 😂

Beautiful flowers.  I always see the bushes and the wood like that, dried out, and I just can't help but think if any of it is manzanita/aquarium safe.

 

Can you give us a side shot of these two.  Did you ever treat them for worms?

I did not treat them for worms. Do you see something suspicious @nabokovfan87?

Based on your comment I assume you too live in/near the desert as well?

Edited April 15, 2023 by neitherman

[nabokovfan87]

On 4/14/2023 at 4:53 PM, neitherman said:

I did not treat them for worms. Do you see something suspicious @nabokovfan87?

Based on your comment I assume you too live in/near the desert as well?

Yeah, it's definitely a desert here. 120 in the summer for a bit and many a dirt field I've walked through to get to wherever.

Hikes are basically shades of brown, even seeing a cactus is pretty rare. (So Cal)

I don't know about the corydoras, they seem thin.  Like, I'd expect them to be chonky, but it's likely nothing.  I wanted to see the belly shape.  Basically if you see them lethargic, I might treat them.  Mine were pretty much fine, lethargic during feeding, and after about a year and a half I treated them.

Took me forever to do it, but it was worth it.  I'm thankful they are acting more.... like themselves these days.

Lethargy was basically the only real symptom I had.

It could just be a camera trick, but this is from one of the first posts.

 

 

[neitherman]

On 4/14/2023 at 5:44 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

Yeah, it's definitely a desert here. 120 in the summer for a bit and many a dirt field I've walked through to get to wherever.

Hikes are basically shades of brown, even seeing a cactus is pretty rare. (So Cal)

I don't know about the corydoras, they seem thin.  Like, I'd expect them to be chonky, but it's likely nothing.  I wanted to see the belly shape.  Basically if you see them lethargic, I might treat them.  Mine were pretty much fine, lethargic during feeding, and after about a year and a half I treated them.

Took me forever to do it, but it was worth it.  I'm thankful they are acting more.... like themselves these days.

Lethargy was basically the only real symptom I had.

I've only had them for about a month now so maybe it's because they're still growing? Plus I think the barbs had been stealing most of the food. I bought some Hikari sinking carnivore pellets for the corys to ensure they're eating something substantial. I haven't noticed lethargy (they even gulp air and go up and down the glass constantly even when the lights are off) but I'll consider worming them in the future if they still seem less chonko than expected.

I've driven through and stopped in the high desert in San Bernadino county a number of times so if you live around those parts I understand your landscape well enough.

Edited April 15, 2023 by neitherman

[nabokovfan87]

On 4/14/2023 at 5:53 PM, neitherman said:

I've only had them for about a month now so maybe it's because they're still growing? Plus I think the barbs had been stealing most of the food. I bought some Hikari sinking carnivore pellets for the corys to ensure they're eating something substantial. I haven't noticed lethargy (they even gulp air and go up and down the glass constantly even when the lights are off) but I'll consider worming them in the future if they still seem less chonko than expected.

I've driven through and stopped in the high desert in San Bernadino county a number of times so if you live around those parts I understand your landscape well enough.

Yep.  If you want some shrimp I know a guy. 🙂

I would just keep an eye on things.  It's one of those see how it goes and just make a mental note. Could just be what you're saying, didn't get enough to eat or just isn't a chonky variety.  I definitely have some thinner ones, males, and I know they are perfectly healthy.

[neitherman]

I just returned from an incredible cross-country road trip. I saw so many sights and sounds and everyone entrusted to watch my fish while gone has done very well! No deaths or awful bacterial blooms! The glass is covered in algae and the monte carlo has been annoyingly uprooted but otherwise things are clean. I'll take some pictures and post a nice update sometime soon.

[neitherman]

Like I said, the tank is looking pretty good:

Looks like another leaf is about to unfurl on the coffefolia (but it's hard to see):

Annoyingly the fishies decided to redecorate their home and move all the aquasoil from the top to the bottom:

Also got a serendipitous shot of the skunk gang lined up for role call:

In non fish related happenings, I went to Arches park in Utah! I hiked up a steep rock face and some cool paths carved into the rock and finally laid eyes on this amazing natural structure, the Delicate Arch:

The signs said this and other arches in the park were formed by wind and sand over thousands of years. Incredible to look at.

I also went on a cave tour at a place called Cave of the Winds while in Colorado:

At one point the tour guide turned off his light and I experienced complete and total darkness. It made me feel funny and I was glad when he turned his light back on.

My final destination was Pittsburgh where I rode the Duquesne Incline to the top of Mt. Washington:

And got some great views of the city:

Also a colt was born at the farm where my mom works:

 

[nabokovfan87]

On 5/1/2023 at 11:09 PM, neitherman said:

It's an Oak Island stone! 🤯

That is an epic journey.  Very cool photos and thank you for sharing the sights with us.  I tried to pick a favorite, but I gave up.  So cool to see the stadium 🙂 .

 

[neitherman]

On 4/14/2023 at 8:04 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

Yep.  If you want some shrimp I know a guy. 🙂

Does this extend to amano shrimp as well? I'd love to get like a dozen more of those lil' guys.

[nabokovfan87]

On 5/2/2023 at 7:52 AM, neitherman said:

Does this extend to amano shrimp as well? I'd love to get like a dozen more of those lil' guys.

Haha... once I breed them successfully, heck yeah.

[neitherman]

On 5/2/2023 at 1:45 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

Haha... once I breed them successfully, heck yeah.

You ever see this YouTube video?

 

[nabokovfan87]

On 5/2/2023 at 2:19 PM, neitherman said:

You ever see this YouTube video?

Yep.  Someone donate me some supplies and I'll give it another shot.  LOL.

I just need the space / funds. Right now... not a priority.  One day!

[neitherman]

Yesterday was water change day.

Today was the day of embiggening the cleanup crew.

Took a drive to my favorite LFS and inquired about Otos. We found 5 total which came home with me:

Hoping they are able to make a dent in the algae covering my anubias (but if not I guess I should trim some leaves):

Also picked up a bundle of parrot feather, a plant which I've never kept before. Got it on a whim cause it looked neat and the LFS employee informed me it's pretty easy to grow but is a nutrient hog:

"I'm watching you, Wazowski. Always. Watching."

[neitherman]

In the realm of good news, the Otos are doing quite well. All 5 are full of energy and have been diligently cleaning my anubias and hardscape since they arrived:

Sadly I had a loss earlier this morning. As I was watching the tank an Amano shrimp suddenly appeared, started swimming backwards into the glass on the tank, and stopped moving:

Not sure what could have caused it as I have had amanos in the tank for a few weeks now and haven't noticed any other dead but they are also always hiding due to the barbs. Hopefully this one was old or sick or something because the rest of the livestock seem fine.

[neitherman]

Don't have time for a water change today but I cleaned up the plants and took some photos:

This parrot feather is growing like a weed (which is appropriate given it is generally invasive):

I'm also seeing this stringy looking stuff growing from my java moss. Is this just some type of algae or is it something I need to be concerned with?

[nabokovfan87]

On 5/12/2023 at 4:24 PM, neitherman said:

Where did you get these from?  That barring is intense. Really high quality!

[neitherman]

On 5/12/2023 at 8:11 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

Where did you get these from?  That barring is intense. Really high quality!

LFS called Kona Reef in Phoenix. They have high quality livestock and employees that actually know what they're talking about. All the Otos I bought from them are thriving instead of starving and I've gotten away with never quarantining when I buy from them. I should probably ask what sort of conditioning they do to the new livestock but I assume based on the great health they must quarantine and medicate them at least a bit. They also have a really neat tank in the center of their freshwater section:

Edit: I love photographing the barbs. They are such hams and always pose for nice photos.

Edited May 13, 2023 by neitherman

[nabokovfan87]

On 5/12/2023 at 8:16 PM, neitherman said:

LFS called Kona Reef in Phoenix. They have high quality livestock and employees that actually know what they're talking about. All the Otos I bought from them are thriving instead of starving and I've gotten away with never quarantining when I buy from them. I should probably ask what sort of conditioning they do to the new livestock but I assume based on the great health they must quarantine and medicate them at least a bit. They also have a really neat tank in the center of their freshwater section:

I remember the store from one of your earlier posts.  Beautiful spot.  I'll have to check and see if they ship fish.