Sunday, August 21, 2005
Tetra Tank Update
Aquarium cloudiness seems to have been correctly analyzed as a function of increased aeration reviving organics in the tank. It has materially cleared and increases eventually to clarity as the new aeration constancy balances the aquarium's biology.
Another 'tip' to pass along -- in addressing a larger than desired small snail population expansion with the temporary residence of a medium sized 'Comet' goldfish. An adjacent tank with UG filtration rarely sustains any but the largest knuckle sized snails - because the gold fish eat them and constantly work over the gravel. So, he did the work in the 'tetra' tank for about three days - reducing the small snails population by about two-thirds and worked the bottom so efficiently that the catfish followed him around.
Uless you prefer some loaches ..the Comet works fine and looks like a big orange 'platy'.
Speaking of the latter ... the tetra tank has a pair of blue platys - she is about to burst .. and may have already incidently fed some of the tetras.
Four 'neon tetra' - fine for the 40L scale were added last week and they are a happy highlight and mix well as a little school of neon color. (Cardinal tetra - a little large will also do the same).
MACROPODUS -- Paradise Fish - paired in a separate Eclipse-7 have mated (often not seen - I missed it) .. and the male is guarding a culled -reducing jelly mass of eggs which he winnowed last night from three dozen or so to ybe two dozen this morning. The are attached and growing like a 'frogs egg' mass beneath a round piece of styrofoam. His mate still shares the tank -and will until the eggs hatch or agressivity becomes a problem. Culling undeveloped eggs may be a normal attribute ..and the male did this twice before to large displays of froth (spittle) contained eggs. They'll appear more like developing frogs eggs as they grow; and if none develop -they'll start again.
The pair have behaved amorously circling each other as any nest is rebuilt .. after mating, she then avoids him for safety and stands off on the tank's bottom; and he remains aleret to any approach to the nest and eggs. So far none have hatched - and the culling is as in any species in a toss out of 'bad' conceptions.
Another 'tip' to pass along -- in addressing a larger than desired small snail population expansion with the temporary residence of a medium sized 'Comet' goldfish. An adjacent tank with UG filtration rarely sustains any but the largest knuckle sized snails - because the gold fish eat them and constantly work over the gravel. So, he did the work in the 'tetra' tank for about three days - reducing the small snails population by about two-thirds and worked the bottom so efficiently that the catfish followed him around.
Uless you prefer some loaches ..the Comet works fine and looks like a big orange 'platy'.
Speaking of the latter ... the tetra tank has a pair of blue platys - she is about to burst .. and may have already incidently fed some of the tetras.
Four 'neon tetra' - fine for the 40L scale were added last week and they are a happy highlight and mix well as a little school of neon color. (Cardinal tetra - a little large will also do the same).
MACROPODUS -- Paradise Fish - paired in a separate Eclipse-7 have mated (often not seen - I missed it) .. and the male is guarding a culled -reducing jelly mass of eggs which he winnowed last night from three dozen or so to ybe two dozen this morning. The are attached and growing like a 'frogs egg' mass beneath a round piece of styrofoam. His mate still shares the tank -and will until the eggs hatch or agressivity becomes a problem. Culling undeveloped eggs may be a normal attribute ..and the male did this twice before to large displays of froth (spittle) contained eggs. They'll appear more like developing frogs eggs as they grow; and if none develop -they'll start again.
The pair have behaved amorously circling each other as any nest is rebuilt .. after mating, she then avoids him for safety and stands off on the tank's bottom; and he remains aleret to any approach to the nest and eggs. So far none have hatched - and the culling is as in any species in a toss out of 'bad' conceptions.
// posted by scotty of course @ 11:27 AM 
