F's rescaped 4ft

grrrr - did a top-up yesterday, did not pay too much attentions and over filled, both 5630 strings are dead.



Only have these two 12 volt led tubed lying around so added them in - they seem to be 5630's but less dense than the previous attempt and these will need to be above the glass.



Not the most efficient but will need to work for now.



Later Ferdie

 

Looking awesome bud could you maybe help me out with some java ferns you helped me out with a couple of plants when I started originally a few years ago. I was previously the barb king


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Yeah sure we can make a plan when I trim again ... most tanks are in slumber mode and I did a BIG trim and share a few weeks back, but keep me honest when I dive into the tanks again for a trim.

Later Ferdie

 

Awesome really appreciate it bud. When do you think will be your next trim just need some easy growing plants running a low tech plant setup really appreciate it thanks. Will send you a pm for your number so we can whatsapp closer to the time


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ETA .. probably 6-8 weeks - takes some time to wake the tanks up after the winter break. Not doing CO2 or fertz at the moment - because I am not doing WC's or rather not wanting to do a rescue WC if I botch the fertz. So lets see how it goes in a few weeks time.

Later Ferdie.

 

Awesome Ferdie thanks a mil really it lots.


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Cool looking tank @f-fish

 

I am running the Dettol dosing pump as per http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?27280-Dettol-DIY-dosing-pump

and since the topic of green water and daphnia http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/s...om-Green-water&p=345475&viewfull=1#post345475

I decided to feed this and 3 more other tanks about 1/2 a teaspoon each of netted daphnia - maybe an over feed ?



Initially they had no clue what to do with this, but once they got started it as game on.

Wonder if this teaches fish to go after anything small that moves ... and that the number of fry eaten will increase.

Later Ferdie

 

I think that the fish instinctively go after anything that moves, whether it is alive or not.
Plastic lures, spinners and various other things are used to catch fish, and they chase after anything they perceive to be food.
I doubt that feeding them live food will increase this instinctive behaviour.

Daphnia can live in the tank water for a number of days, so overfeeding is generally not a problem, as the fish will eat any left over Daphnia later.
The Daphnia I put into my Panda / Glowlight Danio tank earlier this morning were all eaten in about 2 hours, and the Danio are actively hunting and searching for more.

 

Yeah what was a bit weird - esp with the guppy only tank, and they have never had live food. It took them a while to realise that they can / should eat these things swimming around, but once they get going they sure do make pigs of themselves.

Later Ferdie

 

So thank is subject to the molasses experiment and the one dosing fertz experiment .. but that does not means I should neglect the mother thread!



Added the two 10 spots from the convict thank ... hmm that makes a huge difference.


Think I have a new definition for adequate light, plants, scape and fish must be able to cast a decent shadow.



At lights out it is clear just how far the spots reach with extra light.

Will be interesting to see the growth.

Oh and BTW


I need to re look at my formula for fertz .. having crystallisation is no good.

Later Ferdie

 

Tank looks awesome @f-fish

 

Thanks, pleased with the results, but weird thing the java fern has not done as well as say the anubias, wondering if the extra light might kick start things.

Later Ferdie

 

I'm surprised that the java fern isn't doing well - strangely it's listed as a low light plant along with the anubias but since I put it under my "better" led light, it's been growing faster than it should, with what 3 new leaves since April. Maybe low-light should be defined properly according to the number of lumens going into the water column and not what we read on the specification / data sheets. Also the plants say a lot - if they struggle, then it means the light isn't sufficient.

 

Been spend some time today contemplating the theory of shadow casting and how that can be a ruff guide for light requirements. Obviously a dark substrate might be harder to evaluate, but I think this needs further thought.

low light - little or no shadow if a female guppy is 2 cm above the substrate.
medium light - a distinct shadow is cast at 2cm, you can clearly track the fish movement based on shadow.
high light - no clue do not have a highlight tank.

Still working on the theory ;-)

Later Ferdie

 

@f-fish that's a nice looking tank, very much of Dutch look. Maybe fill in the back with some tall plants.

 

That makes a lot more sense physically. Also with my light setup, it reflects back on the walls and ceiling along with the water flow that makes creative light patterns. I have two different ones as you already know - low light with a DIY led panel, which is not very good for ludgwiga brevipes, arcuata and DHG - it just does not thrive under that light at all. Even flame moss struggles and the anubias growth is quite slow too.

 

Thanks Dolphin ... just finding new balances is what this tank is about for me at the moment.



More light, more new leaves ... hmm will use this as the comparison pic - unless scape changes ;-)

Later Ferdie

 

Quick shot of some hungry fish.



Later Ferdie

 

Nice. What do you feed them?

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