Japes' 2010 Eartheater Work/Photolog

[MBay]

Hi,

Thanks for the comments MBay. You'll be happy to know I've just introduced the T. candidi and the male was absolutely stunning in-store. The D. maculatus have been in since last night and are enjoying themselves.

Regarding your water parameters question, General and Carbonate hardness are probably the paramters you're most interested in. They'll do quite well in neutral pH water provided it's soft. For example, I'm lucky to have tap water with the following parameters. pH 7, 3dgH, 4dkH. Although the pH is perhaps higher than most sources would recommend, the hardness levels are fantastic for South Americans - but this has also led me to be quite lazy in research. I have rainwater tanks available to me but choose not to use them.

Thanks for the reply. So, you're lucky man - my tap water is much better for Centrals than for SA... pH 7.6, GH 16, KH 9. The "sewage" from RO filters is 5 times more than a "product", so using it is quite uncomfortable... The only solution is Acarichthys heckelii, which is fantastic too.

Back to your tanks - amazing again, but this time I'd add more plants to Dicros' tank - I have seen a vid of them in quite well vegetated area.
Here it is:
http://www.aquanet.tv/Video/173
Cool trip, isn't it?
Leucosticta are amazing. I almost regret I've sell mine to my friend (even if they are in much better conditions now). I'd love to see a full-grown S. daemon in your aquarium! Or another great spotted Satanoperca!

 

[japes]

Back to your tanks - amazing again, but this time I'd add more plants to Dicros' tank - I have seen a vid of them in quite well vegetated area.
Here it is:
http://www.aquanet.tv/Video/173
Cool trip, isn't it?

This is the video that inspired me to do the tank in the first place. I took screenshots of the sections with plants and just decided on a couple of chain swords to begin with - they'll throw runners within a week and will populate a decent chunk of the substrate floor, but scarcely.

 

[Eric A]

Will the dwarf chains propogate in sand? I heard plant roots tend to rot when planted in sand? If they work for you i'll probably use them for my apisto tanks.

Can't wait for pictures of the candidi. I would buy some myself, but, as you know, i have been advised against it, which is a fair call.

Do you know when next coffee and fishchicks is? I'd love to be able to actually make the get together bit this time lol.

 

[japes]

Will the dwarf chains propogate in sand? I heard plant roots tend to rot when planted in sand? If they work for you i'll probably use them for my apisto tanks.

They slowly un-root themselves in Play Sand, but they're in a grain size comparable to Pool Filter Sand so they should do nicely.

 

[greenterra]

You have been a very busy boy. I must say that all tanks are looking absolutely gorgeous.
Unfortunate the same can't be said for the carpet.

 

[MBay]

Will the dwarf chains propogate in sand? I heard plant roots tend to rot when planted in sand? If they work for you i'll probably use them for my apisto tanks.

Me and my friends use sand in tanks for Apisto, and as a substrate for plants. My friend, who is Apisto-freak uses a peat under sand, which makes Echinodorus in his tanks grow crazy. I had also only a JBL ferrum-peat balls under E. tenellus or E. latifolius that were looking good.

I hope to see T. candidi too, as in Poland they are out of access...

 

[David R]

Thanks for the reply. So, you're lucky man - my tap water is much better for Centrals than for SA... pH 7.6, GH 16, KH 9. The "sewage" from RO filters is 5 times more than a "product", so using it is quite uncomfortable..

Are you planning on keeping wild caught fish, or captive bred? TBH I wouldn't be too concerned about your water. Maybe start the tank with RO water, and with driftwood and peat in the filter plus smaller frequant water changes (rather than big ones that will more drastically alter the parameters) I think you should be fine. From my experiences with the captive bred "surinamensis" and "jurupari" commonly sold in the shops here I have found them to be fairly tough and adaptable. Your tap water might not be ideal but it certainly isn't extreme. If you are wanting to keep wild caught fish that may be more sensitive to water parameters it may be a different story.

Is rain water not an option?

 

[MBay]

I don't want to hijack japes' thread, so I'll answer short - I found another solution.

 

[Monster_JOHNNY]

wow looks good

 

[David R]

I don't want to hijack japes' thread, so I'll answer short - I found another solution.

Cool, time to start your own thread perhaps?


The 3' looks great Japes, I'd love to know where you get all your wood from!