Update (since January 12, 2022)
The tank continues to do well, both the SDs and other fish, and the plants. However, there have been some changes.
- Some plants did not do well for me long-term for various reasons, but not due to the SDs eating them. Instead, they seem to not agree well with the conditions I offer. Gone are Nesaea, Hygrophila 'araguaia', and surprisingly most of the other Hygro (sp) which had done well in the SD's former tank; there is a bit of the latter still there.
- The plant species left are 3 Cryptocoryne spp (wendtii, undulatus, and cf usteriana), Anubias barteri (not doing too well, but still there), the Hygrophila sp., and Java fern (var windelov). I add frogbit from time to the floating corral, but it is eaten sooner that it propagates, so it is not sustainable.
- I have been battling a protracted outbreak of the blue-green algae curse, which has contributed to the demise of some of the more sensitive plants. This tank is still 'somewhat young' (set-up September 2021), and I attribute the nasty cyano to new tank syndrome. However, it has been stubburn, and it continues to bother some. I don't have this issue in my other tanks.
- There are 7 SDs (3 species). I had 8 but lost a female M. lippincotianus some months back, due to leaving the tank lid open overnight. I plan on adding 3-5 additional fish but I want specific SDs of certain species and genders. They are not that easy to find in that manner, particularly not tiny ones. I am convinced that the gender make-up of groups of dollars in a tank makes a huge difference towards either harmonic coexistence, or chaotic or stressful conditions.
- The other fish (not visible in photos) are 2 Brochis (C. multiradiatus), 5 peppered Cories (C. paleatus), 1 stick catfish (Farlowella acus), 6 Otos, and 12 red-eye tetras (Moenkaussia cf sanctaphilomenae).
The photos attached are not so good (I am not sure what is going on with my camera). I will try for better another time. Most of the spot algae that can be seen is not on the front, but actually on the back and sides of the tank.
Do you have Silver Dollar Fish ? (particularly Metynnis, but really any kind) Would you post some pictures here?
Cheers!
