Wednesday, August 29, 2007

New batch of Kenyi

So this weekend I got tired of waiting for the female Kenyi to spit out her babies. I put her in a live-bearer box in the tank, and all the other fish kept hanging around her box and making her very nervous. So I finally just dumped her back in still holding her babies (actually, she had let one go, there was a dead baby floating on the surface of her box). I don't like the idea of stripping (where you physically grab her and open her mouth to force her to spit. I think that's horrible) so I just decided to let whatever happens happen.

Also, I had the five larger babies (a couple are maybe an inch long, some are less than that) in another live-bearer box, and they seemed to be doing pretty well. I got tired of maintaining the littler 5 gallon tank, it was too much trouble, so I put them in the box. And now they are also swimming free like their momma. They are doing well in the open. They all have found hiding places and the other fish seem to leave them alone.

So I was looking in the tank just now, and I saw three tiny babies! I had seen one over the weekend, maybe the day after I put mom back in the open. But now there are three! I wonder how many there really are? I also wonder if they'll make it to adulthood without my interference... Click for full post and comments

Saturday, August 11, 2007

new tank setup: 125gal

I am leak testing my new 125gal AGA I got a couple weeks ago. The tank is going to be planted and full of discus.

Here is a picture of the tank plus sump (30gal). The two overflows are plumbed together with PVC pipe, and the return line is T'd off and connected with just Tygon tubing.

The substrate I have (100 pounds, but isn't in the tank yet) is not rock, not sand, but stuff you mix in with swimming pool plaster. It's by 3M called "Color Quartz." It's actually quartz particles coverd in a ceramic coating. So the color is in the ceramic. There is a wide variety of colors, although the selection depends on what grade you get. S grade is very fine, could be finer than regular sand (I haven't seen it). T grade is what I got and it is coarser than sand (think of two sand grains stuck together). The particles are irregularly shaped, so hopefully that will protect against compaction. I got black, or course, mostly because it's bitchin', but also because the dark substrate will not scare off the discus. The stuff sinks quickly, so it may be vacuumable, on low suction, anyway.

You want to make sure you wash this stuff very well before using it. I did it a little at a time, pouring a little into a 5 gallon bucket and then putting the hose on it. During the first 1-2 washes I noticed a shimmery oily layer on the water, along with the very fine dust that turned the water dark. I wanted to make sure I didn't see any more of that oil in any of my washes, but it didn't take more than maybe 3 washes to get rid of it. I probably did at most 5 washes each batch, making sure the water ran clear. Click for full post and comments

Thursday, August 2, 2007

More fish

Mark the date: the female kenyi has a batch of eggs in her mouth. Her chin has a definite bulge to it. Previous to this was her body looking quite "well fed" and the male chasing her every time she came out of her corner. She was rubbing her body and face against a piece of plant pot. I think this is to clean the surface that the eggs will be laid and inseminated on, then she scoops them up for incubation. I though she just laid the eggs anywhere, but maybe they choose surfaces like the fish who lay their eggs on slate. Anyway, I already have five (was 6, one died) rescued fry from two previous batches. They are growing; I think I'll rescue this next batch, then I think the older ones will be too big to be with new fry. I only have this one extra tank, and it's only like 5 gallons.

I ordered a giant 125g tank for discus and plants. It came today! Reef ready with 30g sump. This is going to take along time to set up because I need everything perfect and established before the discus are added. It will have lots of plants, driftwood (to acidify and soften the water some), probably peat too. I need to see by how much the organic matter will soften my tap water before adding any fish. Click for full post and comments