Ropefish (Room) and discussion

[ChemBob]

On 9/13/2021 at 6:53 PM, RickHunter said:

Hoping to do something that's dark and mud like but wont affect the water since the platform is not water tight

I am by no means an expert on this, and have never tried it, so take it for what it is. My assumption is anything on the platform will end up in the water in some amount. Therefore, I'd stay away from things eat would add ammonia. One thing that comes to mind is the Brightwell Aquatics aquasoils. The things I've read and watched say they don't leach ammonia. The only other substrate besides soil would maybe be coconut fiber or coconut coir. However I feel like this would make a huge mess in the water. If you can deal with some soil getting into the tank, what about organic top soil? Mix in some pool filter sand and it will help. There are some websites that talk about using this mixture for lilies in ponds which have the ratio's. 

[Odd Duck]

On 9/13/2021 at 6:53 PM, RickHunter said:

Whew....I never want to move an established tank over 20 gallons ever again...

Got the 75 moved and rescaped. Getting that rock formation in was....an activity...but it's in....and i hope to never have to remove it...was also pretty late and forgot to add water conditioner until mid afternoon today after it was setup last night so hopefully the bacteria colonies on the moved scaping materials and filter weren't wiped out.

 

I also setup a 40 with some of the spare plants and hardscape.

One of the danios in the holding tanks had some kind of fungus. A section of the spine on its tail got a white cotton like fungus. So that tank is undergoing a treatment.

The albino longfin bristlenose impulse buys are also doing well.

The rack with the 10 gallons is doing well. Setup the 3 gallon snail jail over there for a bit too. It's mainly to grow feeder/tank seasoning snails.

Lastly I need to figure out what I'm doing for a substrate on the top platform. Welcome to suggestions on that(actually, I'm 100% looking for input on that). Hoping to do something that's dark and mud like but wont affect the water since the platform is not water tight.

I was having trouble picturing how you were going to do the slate borders on the platform but this looks really good!  You’ve done a GREAT JOB on this!

I agree with @ChemBob.  I think you’ll need one of the premade planting soils and minimal ammonia leaching should be your goal.  Anything up top IS going to make its way into the water, so choose carefully.   Sand would also look good, but it would be tougher to grow most plants in sand vs a premade soil.  It might also be more likely to trickle out a little quicker.  Fine gravel would be another option, same issue as inert sand for growing, maybe not quite as bad at sifting down as sand.

It just occurred to me, you could potentially do a sand “waterfall” off this platform depending on the water level you decide to do.  That would continually renew your level on the platform, but wouldn’t really allow much, if any, planting on the platform.  Crazy idea, but it popped into my head, so I thought I’d share.  😆 

[Hobbit]

Here’s a totally different idea… what about using a piece (or multiple pieces) of acrylic felt? You could take them out and rinse them off to clean them, and you’re guaranteed nothing will fall off the platform and foul the water. I can’t quite remember what you want the platform for though, so the felt might not work for you at all. 😄 

[RickHunter]

@ChemBob Thanks for the suggestions. I just ended up using the same sand that is the substrate for the rest of the tank to simplify things. Ill add a root tab or two to grow anything that needs more than water column nutrients.

@Odd Duck Sand waterfall wasnt what I had planned for that platform sadly. Modifying it now would take some significant work. That and Im almost 100% certain the ropefish would try to wiggle their way into the sand return tube. I do want to do a sand waterfall in a 40 gallon here in the future once Im settled with the current tanks.

@Hobbit The platform is so the ropefish can come up out of the water since they tend to do that sometimes. I did have a turtle dock in the tank before I moved it but I liked the idea of doing this rock platform that had cave hiding spots underneath.



Ive moved the Ropefish, Corys, and Panda Garras back into the redone 75 gallon now. (There is a school of congo tetras that will be going in here eventually but they are growing out a bit in a 40) Its been a day or two but everyone seems to be settling back in okay. The Ropefish are much more active and in the open than before. They noodle in and out of the small openings in the rock formation quite alot as they come right up the front of the tank. They still dont seem to have settled down enough to eat yet though since they havent really touched the tubifex worms I had been putting it. Going to pickup some bloodworms and see if I can get them settled enough to go for the cubes again.

Not sure why but the anubias that I attached to the rock formation has all melted. Still trying to figure out whats going on with that because there are more of the same plant on driftwood in the tank that was completely un-phased by the move.


The Crinum is a hardy plant but I know it doesnt like being moved. Hoping it does fine after being replanted, especially because I noticed it just started to make a daughter bulb that I can propagate from.

[Hobbit]

The platform looks great!! And the ropefish look super happy with it! 😍

Ah, that’s super cute that the ropefish will come out of the water. I’d love to have a fish that can get in and out of the water one day.

[Odd Duck]

On 9/20/2021 at 8:35 AM, RickHunter said:

@ChemBob Thanks for the suggestions. I just ended up using the same sand that is the substrate for the rest of the tank to simplify things. Ill add a root tab or two to grow anything that needs more than water column nutrients.

@Odd Duck Sand waterfall wasnt what I had planned for that platform sadly. Modifying it now would take some significant work. That and Im almost 100% certain the ropefish would try to wiggle their way into the sand return tube. I do want to do a sand waterfall in a 40 gallon here in the future once Im settled with the current tanks.

@Hobbit The platform is so the ropefish can come up out of the water since they tend to do that sometimes. I did have a turtle dock in the tank before I moved it but I liked the idea of doing this rock platform that had cave hiding spots underneath.



Ive moved the Ropefish, Corys, and Panda Garras back into the redone 75 gallon now. (There is a school of congo tetras that will be going in here eventually but they are growing out a bit in a 40) Its been a day or two but everyone seems to be settling back in okay. The Ropefish are much more active and in the open than before. They noodle in and out of the small openings in the rock formation quite alot as they come right up the front of the tank. They still dont seem to have settled down enough to eat yet though since they havent really touched the tubifex worms I had been putting it. Going to pickup some bloodworms and see if I can get them settled enough to go for the cubes again.

Not sure why but the anubias that I attached to the rock formation has all melted. Still trying to figure out whats going on with that because there are more of the same plant on driftwood in the tank that was completely un-phased by the move.


The Crinum is a hardy plant but I know it doesnt like being moved. Hoping it does fine after being replanted, especially because I noticed it just started to make a daughter bulb that I can propagate from.

Tank looks great!  And the rope fish look so happy exploring and noodling around!  Great job!

I knew it would be a challenge to change up plans for a sand waterfall, but I just wanted to throw the idea out there as a way to keep something on the platform.  Cool that you already have one planned for another tank.

Sometimes Anubias rhizomes will just randomly rot, especially after shipping. It’s happened to some of mine before.  Usually there’s seems to be something wrong with the rhizome and the stress of shipping/water condition change just tips it over the edge and it rots.  Usually it’s only part of a group if it happens, but I’ve also had it happen to an entire group of Anubias once.  All of one species rotted but other species in that shipment were all fine even though they all went into the same tank.

[RickHunter]

Update time.

 

So first. It looks like a bunch of my images from previous posts are broken. Has anyone else encountered that or is it just me? I'll upload as usual with this one hoping that they stay more than a week or two before breaking.

 

So for updates in the fish room. We'll start with the ropefish tank. Things are going well enough. The ropes all seemed to have a sort of cut on their heads we does the tank with some api general cure and they seem to be healing up now and taking food more readily.

The anubis nana petite that melted down to the rhizome after being attached to the rock formation is slowing coming back to life

Still fighting string algae through most of the tanks in the fishroom. Currently have it mostly under control except for one tank. It's taken a few casualties in that there were some hidden clumps that were big enough that a a few congo tetras and a long fin bristle got caught in them and were unable to recover after being found and freed.

 

Of the two 40 breeders that are setup one is doing exceptionally well. The Congo's in it are growing well and not shy and the 20 amano shrimp with them have also been growing very well and many are berried with eggs (fiance wants to do a brackish tank and may try breeding the amanos)

The lower 40 breeder on the rack has been a real head scratcher though. Setup with the exact same equipment at the same time. The lower 40 breeder only had 10 amano shrimp in it that didnt seem to grow very much at all and had some casualties. Then we added some guppy fry to the tank. After about a month I noticed one of the guppy fry had camallanus  worms. That guppy has since passed and I've disinfected anything that's touched the tank since and am trying to just let the guppies in there live out the rest of their live before letting the tank sit without a host for the worms for a few months before risking putting anything else in. The guppies we've had for awhile so I'm inclined the think the worms came on the shrimp that weren't growing very well and ended up in the guppy when the nibbled one of the dead shrimp. The lower 40 has also been having a green water problem. Again same equipment + live plants. Just different livestock.

 

Over in the 20 longs we have some new additions. The two danios I had to make sure the water was safe for the more expensive fish have paired off and started breeding so there are small danio fry swimming around their tank. Recent additions are a 3 synodontis petricola that will be moved into a 40 breeder with a larger school of the same fish we are looking to help someone rehome. We also have a single blue phantom pleco that was recently purchased at our local fish club auction. I'm looking to get in touch with the gentleman that sold this one to start a blue phantom breeding project growing them in a separate 40 breeder.

I also managed to snag some free 40 breeders fromsomone getting out of the hobby. I need to clean these up so that I can use them on the other side of the rack for the synodontis and the blue phantom. They've clearly seen some use but I noticed they dont have the center brace on the bottom glass I've seen with some recent 40 breeders. Would love to hear opinions on if anyone thinks these are unsafe to use.

[Odd Duck]

On 11/19/2021 at 11:06 AM, RickHunter said:

I noticed they dont have the center brace on the bottom glass I've seen with some recent 40 breeders. Would love to hear opinions on if anyone thinks these are unsafe to use.

Look at the thickness of the glass.  Older breeders fairly likely have slightly thicker glass.  It’s cheaper to do thinner glass and a brace, so that what a lot of companies do.  The older tanks with thicker glass are just fine to use as long as they are sealed well or you do a reseal.  If the silicone is beat up and ragged, you’re better off just doing a reseal right from the beginning.

 

On 11/19/2021 at 11:06 AM, RickHunter said:

We also have a single blue phantom pleco that was recently purchased at our local fish club auction. I'm looking to get in touch with the gentleman that sold this one to start a blue phantom breeding project growing them in a separate 40 breeder.

This sounds fun!  Keep us posted, of course!

[TryingToKeepMyPlantsRooted]

Rope fish room?? 👀

I absolutely adore rope fish, I’ll be getting some in a few months for my empty 125 gallon long planted tank. I’ve done a ton of research, but of course the internet is absolutely full of misinformation. Do any experienced rope fish keepers have any good advice they can spare?

I need stocking ideas too! I especially love odd looking fish, and aquatic creatures. I would love to have vampire shrimp, are they big enough that rope fish can’t eat them?

[RickHunter]

  

On 12/15/2021 at 11:27 PM, TryingToKeepMyPlantsRooted said:

Rope fish room?? 👀

I absolutely adore rope fish, I’ll be getting some in a few months for my empty 125 gallon long planted tank. I’ve done a ton of research, but of course the internet is absolutely full of misinformation. Do any experienced rope fish keepers have any good advice they can spare?

I need stocking ideas too! I especially love odd looking fish, and aquatic creatures. I would love to have vampire shrimp, are they big enough that rope fish can’t eat them?

 

Sorry for the delayed reply here, holidays and all that.

I personally keeps these with my ropefish. They are all full grown and bigger than the ropefishes mouth (think width) for now and will be moved out of the tank if the ropefish end up growing large enough to mistake them for food.

Note: All species Im listing here are full grown before being introduced to the ropefish tank.

10 Adult peppered corydoras (very chonky)
4 Panda Garra (They get quite chunky themselves but they're also very active and always darting around the tank)
School of Congo Tetras (Lost the previous school in the tank move but am currently growing out a new school to add to the ropefish tank, when full grown they stay mid to high and there are no real issues. Make a great dither fish as long as you have enough of them in the school to break the shyness)
6 full grown amano shrimp (these were added as cleaners and a bit of an experiment. thusfar the ropefish have not bothered them and and primarily only readily take tubifex and bloodworms. Theres no guarantee the ropefish wont go after the amano's since every fish is different and freshwater prawn is known to be part of the ropefish diet.

In the future I am considering pulling out the Panda Corys and replacing them with synodontis petricola 


Hope this helps, in the end the general rule for the ropefish is nothing that will bully them because they are big and passive and nothing that will fit within the width of their mouth since they're blind as a bat half the time and will mistake small fish for food.

PS: if you do add corydoras know that the ropefish do tend make a quit desert of any eggs should the corys decide to spawn. But thats not necessarily a bad thing since it allows them to have at least something to eat sometimes since they can be picky eaters.

Edited December 31, 2021 by RickHunter

[RickHunter]

So some updates here. Some things I wanted to do with these projects have taken quite some time.

 

I was originally planning to use the Estes stoney river beige sand for all my projects but I've haven't been able to find anyone that has it since October and it looks like the wholesalers that provide for the stores I visit locally have taken it off their order lists. So I've finally thrown in the towel on finding that and am going to run these new tanks as an experiment with using CaribSeas super fine moonlight sand. Using a shark 800 internal filter in these 40s. I squeezed out the dirtiest sponge from my holding tanks in the new 40 to seed it so hopefully that works out well. I'm going to add some fritz live bacteria here later today to kickstart things jow that all that gunk is in the tank. Doing a few experiments with this tank. I found some local red mangroves so I grabbed 1 good looking one with leaves and 2 where leaves had fallen off. I have the good one poking out of the water but want to see how the other two fare submerged since I've seen conflicting information on if they will do well fully submerged.

 

40 gallon before squeezing "The Dirtiest Sponge"

 

40 gallon after squeezing "The Dirtiest Sponge"

 

 

The Blue Phantoms that are going into this 40 gallon are doing well. The smallest one is going through a growth spurt and the other 3 are becoming less skittish when I walk by the 20 gallon.

 

In other projects the purple guppies are starting to color up nicely.

 

My synodontis have been showing spawning behaviour. Sadly it looks like I missed the most recent batch and didnt have an egg trap ready. I've got an egg trap in their ceramic hut now but haven't been able to find any good information on what others have seen as far as intervals between spawning.

[RickHunter]

Some newish things to add here.

Got some new fish here recently due to the local auction and a bingo event.

First, from the auction some Ginga Sulphureus Guppies.




Second, from the bingo event. An L173B.

Really looking forward to seeing how this one grows.







The Blue Phantom's have mostly been moved over into their 40 breeder and are becoming less skittish and doing well. There is one smaller Phantom that is part of the group that I'm still growing in another tank to make sure he doesn't get out competed for food.




It would also seem that I've accidentally set the Blue Phantom tank up with a colony of detritus worms and water fleas so at least there's some emergency food in there haha.





More of my Purple Moscow Guppy breeding is coming out well. Ive moved a few of the male guppies over into the Blue Phantom tank and will probably separate more of them out soon.



Im thinking I may start to setup two sets of these for breeding as a few of my purples have actually come out as something close to emerald green (hard to see in this picture since they are movers).

[Hobbit]

Those are some preeeeety fish!

[SaveTheRainbowfish]

Do ropefish eat small pieces of gravel in the sand?

I have sand with lava rock bits scattered around in it.

Will they eat that by accident? and if they do will they get impacted? (pieces are 3-5mm in diameter.)

Thank You!

[SaveTheRainbowfish]

On 9/20/2021 at 7:08 AM, Odd Duck said:

Tank looks great!  And the rope fish look so happy exploring and noodling around!  Great job!

I knew it would be a challenge to change up plans for a sand waterfall, but I just wanted to throw the idea out there as a way to keep something on the platform.  Cool that you already have one planned for another tank.

Sometimes Anubias rhizomes will just randomly rot, especially after shipping. It’s happened to some of mine before.  Usually there’s seems to be something wrong with the rhizome and the stress of shipping/water condition change just tips it over the edge and it rots.  Usually it’s only part of a group if it happens, but I’ve also had it happen to an entire group of Anubias once.  All of one species rotted but other species in that shipment were all fine even though they all went into the same tank.

Are your Anubias rhizomes under the substrate? If so, that is why.

Fror-Affix from Seachem is a good way to ensure plants stay attached to things if that's what you're looking for.

Hope this helps!

[TheSwissAquarist]

Just dropping in on this topic- such cool fish & pictures! 

[Odd Duck]

On 2/19/2023 at 10:05 AM, SaveTheRainbowfish said:

Are your Anubias rhizomes under the substrate? If so, that is why.

Fror-Affix from Seachem is a good way to ensure plants stay attached to things if that's what you're looking for.

Hope this helps!

The comment you quoted is from almost 1.5 years ago and no, definitely never bury the rhizome.  Just FYI, I’ve got 25 tanks from 2 gallons to a pair of 100 gallons and every single one except the blackworm/Ceriodaphnia culture tank have plants.  Some have substrate, some don’t, some only have plants in pots (check my link below for the 75 gallon tank), some have plants growing epiphytically that you don’t normally expect to prosper without substrate like swords and crypts.  I do reasonably well with most plants although I’m known to struggle with many (well, most) stem plants.

I’ve had a few Anubias send roots down into substrate from where they were attached to a rock or wood piece, but I’ve never buried a rhizome.  The Anubias that do work their roots into substrate tend to do quite well.  I’m a bit of an Anubias hoarder, by the way (in general an aquatic plant hoarder).  I have about a dozen different Anubias species.  But I’ve certainly had some randomly melt after shipping even when they looked good on arrival.  It can happen for many different reasons, not just rhizome rot.  I’ve only felt like I had true “rhizome rot” a couple times.  Every other time I was reasonably certain there was too much temperature stress during shipping.  Did I mention I’m a compulsive plant hoarder/buyer?  😆 😉 

[RickHunter]

Haven't been updating this much lately but will try to get back to it here.

@SaveTheRainbowfish I replied with some suggestions and answers on your thread 🙂

Got a few updates to share. In the near year since I've updated I've been able to successfully spawn my congo tetras and have a good size school of them growing up in a 75gallon. @Odd Duck speaking of anubias roots these ones I tied to a ship in that 75 gallon have shot roots almost from the top of the tank right down to the bottom hahaha

 

Recently this past week my petricola finally spawned after being moved to a new tank and I was able to get a large batch of eggs. I currently have probably a few hundred fry huddled together growing up now.

 

(Trying to find a good way to put the videos I have of the fry and parents here too, not sure if these will work)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SrCuhnIHvXsRT_IBD6eXSoWMXu-3x6uf/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SsmkdCeVyp02XG1XlKH7_CtupNkAKk0d/view?usp=drivesdk

[Odd Duck]

The Anubias do love to sink their roots into a nice substrate so long as their rhizome has plenty of circulation around it.