Stuff that happened to you today but isn't worth a thread

Looks amazing man! Give me a month and I’ll hopefully have a load of moss to send your way.
Can’t wait to buy some Monte Carlo from you when you’re ready

 

Update on the fry! Numbers unsurprisingly dropped to 20-25 odd I’m going to attribute it to the hungry cardinals they share a tank with but they’ve been growing at a rate of knots on a diet of microworms, bbs, profs sealife pro granules. Initially I thought the microworms might have been a bit big but they managed to fight them successfully as I was hatching the brine.
Because I’m not sure how other people keep fish or their accompanying anxiety levels associated with the process this it to say something that I dreaded for awhile which was the hatching of brine shrimp regardless of the fact that I bought the marine salt, refractometer and large jar of eggs stored in the freezer at -30. I dreaded the process in fear of wasting money spent on eggs with unsuccessful hatching so much so that the eggs have been in storage for months waiting for me to do it.

I used a round flask I had lying around, got my correct reading ( haven’t calibrated it yet) hoped that the ph would work out which was a bit low at 7,8 and threw in the airline dropped it in a tank and hoped for the best. Had a 80% odd hatch rate which could have been better if I corrected my ph I suppose.

Over all maybe the stress really was unnecessary and I’ll grab some bicarb to increase the ph and hopefully have a better hatch rate in my rain cone.

 

Moss is going to be a tricky one to get clean but may be worth it! I will go check on my cultures this afternoon. Getting cuttings clean and keeping everything sterile is tricky!

 

Clean with citric acid. 3 teaspoons to 2 cups water, soak for 10 minutes.

 

I found out that it is not just me battling with sterility in the flow hood, so there may be other issues that greatly increased my contamination rate. Seen all colours of mould and bacteria in my jars. Will do some controlled tests to see if it is the hood or something else.

I need to find more plants to try this a bit bigger, more cuttings means greater chance of success!

 

Sunshine in the sunlight
Love the way blue sheen of her scales comes threw in the sunlight

 

What inexpensive lights is everyone using on their planted tanks? Looking at a solution under R1000 realized that it will be more convenient to buy waterproof lights meant to grow aquatic plants. Only issue is my budget.


China town options will just mean I need to put in more work which I don't mind. Just want something durable and should last a year or 2.
My one led light lasted only 3 or so months. Granted they very very inexpensive. (around R140).

 

Glad you made the trip

 

Yeah I know what you mean. Contemplating going in December too but still really reluctant

 

Yeah same here, the tests don't bother us because our nostrils are violated at least once a month else we aren't allowed in public spaces and my daughter needs a negative once a month to enter school so we're used to it now. The issue that's putting me off is the looming "4th wave" and the government here makes rules overnight so it's risky, I'm not willing to spend another 15days in the Maldives just to get home. As ideal as it sounds it's not enjoyable when it's forced

 

I may actually be coming there instead. Think it's safer than SA in your opinion?