Bringing The Cichlid Tank Into The New Year

After two years, the Cichlid tank has been doing really well. The fish have grown larger and were starting to make the tank feel small. So we added more rocks to the landscape, about 10 new ones, filling the tank completely. Now there are several caves, and hideouts for the fish, so maybe more babies will come along too, we noticed one baby during the new set up.

We're also running a new 75gallon BioWheel filter in there, for more filtration, the nitrate levels were above average amount.

This year we're trying out some java moss and java fern by attaching it all to the wood. So far the Cichlids haven't been nipping at it, I saw one fish trying to eat the moss, but it just spat it out.

Hopefully the plants will kick in nicely in a few months!

Happy New Year

Fertilizing Tips From ADA

"In a newly set-up planted aquarium, a balanced existence of trace elements is vital to stimulate the sprouting of new roots and buds. Nitrogen, Phosphorus or Potassium are not included, as these may only induce algae development at this stage when the plants nutrient requirements are low.

3 months after planting, roots and leaves of aquatic plans have matured and begun normal growth. Among other trace elements, aquatic plants require Iron in this period, and iron deficiency often causes whitening of plants buds or leaves. Green Brighty STEP 2 is rich in Iron.

An aquarium older than one year often has a hardened substrate which prevents development of roots and eventually impedes the growth of aquatic plants in general. Green Brighty STEP 3, formulated with Iron and Potassium, helps photosynthesis and improves the conditions of the aquatic plants which are often obstructed by an hardened substrate."

QUOTED FROM ADA "STEP SERIES" FERTILIZERS

2008 ADA Catalogue

ADA issued the 2008 Catalogue. As a GD nerd I find this stuff really great!









images via

book via

Sulawesi Shrimp

New species of freshwater shrimp discovered in the ancient malili lake system of Sulawesi, Malaysia.

via Aquatika.

50 Gallon December

Many months of trial and error I think I may have reached a happy balance. Every day in the 10th hour (basically sunset time for the aquarium) a magnificent display of photosynthesis happens. Everything starts pearling.. even the xmas moss.. its really breathtaking. I've checked my KH and GH and I seem to be running a little high on CO2.. higher than what it should be, so I've adjusted that. My PH is 7, I'm running lights at around 5.2 watts per gallon, and I have a pressurized CO2 system leting out around 3 bubbles a second.

Last few months I've been fighting hair algae thats been accumulating in the clover and glosso beds in the foreground and sides... I think I have it at bay finally. Just weekly water changes, reduced lighting schedule and good ol' PMDD drops did it. The water changes I think are the strongest fight.. you can almost watch the algae die every week with new fresh water (up to 30% a week replaced). The layout is is pretty thick and bushy, but I have a plan my friends!! See you next year!

20 Gallon early Dec.

Since November the Krypts are continually taking off strong and the thin Vals are multiplying adding more depth to this 20 gallon world. The giant siamese algae eater I had was donated to a new and bigger home, and since I've noticed new moss growth, now I have a cambodian siamese algae eater who I suspect does not eat the moss (hopefully). 

This is the new filter set up. It's a DIY canister filter made with glass parts and tubing from Active Surplus. The pump cost about 55$ and all the materials including the media cost about 30-50$, still cheaper than an Eheim canister but it has its problems. It's not quite air tight as it could be so air gets little by little which makes an annoying sound when the air gets into the impeller.