This week in Panama

[duanes]

Another spare pump is definitely something to have around, maybe a spare impeller too.
I want to see how this one works out over a period of time to see how it holds up.
In the states I used Mag Drives for years, and they did well, except put out a lot of heat (in Wisconsin nota problem, but which could become problematic here in Panama.
I also used Laguna's before, and they were reliable, and put out out less heat than the Mag Drives.
This one is a Sicce, priced less than @ $150 from Bulk Reef Supply and rated at a 1500 GPH max flow rate (which seems adequate for my 180 gal. It's very quiet so far, is small enough to fit comfortably in the sump area of about 12" X 6" , and putting out plenty of of steady flow at 4 ft of head, It has a built in flow regulator, which is nice, although, any centrifugal, magnetic drive pump can be controlled with a simple PVC valve ( I was glad the regulator was a simple mechanical valve, as opposed to some digital high tech thing that is too easily fried)

 

[duanes]

Thought I'd post a video of the new Sicce pump working in this thread, and although its only been in service a few days, and time will be the real judge, I'm quite impressed with its performance so far, and lack of motor noised hum. I've got it set a little below max setting of 1500 GPH (it's maybe running 1,000 GPH at the moment), at about 4 ft of head.
Flow

 

[duanes]

Whale season is cranking up, and the lack of tourists and slower traffic thru the Panama Canal seems o have emboldened them.
One passed within 100 yards of our place.

The tannins dripping off plants seems to be tapping out, and with daily water changes, I can almost see the back wall of the tank.

So fish are becoming visible again.



During the heavy tannin period many of the vallisneria and some Hydrilla have melted (especially those near the back wall, it will be interesting to see if they recover, once the natural light returns.

By the way, its been almost a month with the new Sicce pump, it has survived a few power outages, and still pumping away .
At this point I would not hesitate to buy another.

 

[duanes]

Now that the rainy season is beginning to wane, 20% daily water changes with municipal water have diluted the tannins even more, and may have cued in an early breeding response for the Andinoacara. There normal breeding season is usually Dec thru April, but the higher pH municipal water may may have inadvertently signaled a seasonal change.
Two of the dominant males seem to have divided the tank into two territories, as they have eliminated 2 less dominant males. ( I found two carcasses the other morning).

There are still half dozen or so females roaming freely, but it seems the 180 gal tank is only large enough for two males at spawning time, even though the males both only top off at about 7", the female, only 4-5".
They are all brightening up considerably.

Male above, female below.

The plants that previously melted when tannins blocked the light are remerging, and the end of most of the constant heavy rain has also brought the orchids we've tied to a palm tree in the front yard into bloom.

And bringing out flowers in others.

 

[duanes]

Looks as if my change from rain water, water changes to municipal water changes has fooled the Andinoacara into believing its the end of the rainy season. Their normal season to spawn, is Dec thru April.
I noticed the other day most other Andinoacara were pinned to the surface foliage in the 180, and only a pair were controlling the substrate of the entire 6 ft.
Today the reason became clear as the pair herded a school of free swimmers across the entire length of the tank.

The female remaining mid school and the male patrolling the outer perimeter.

The female is the one in the above pics.
It always amazes me that they are much more concerned with the other cichlids in the tank, when its the tetras that seem to be the most deadly fry predators, quickly and systematically snapping up any fry that straggle from the shoal.

 

[duanes]

It's been about a month since the last Andinoacara spawn, and I am amazed there are still about a dozen 1/2" fry scooting around the entire footprint of the community tank. That's a lot of ground for the parents to guard.


We are now house sitting a villa at the top of the islands 1000 ft elevation, so go down once a day to check our permanent place.
The house we are "sitting" has a pool, and after heavy rains the cane toads come to spawn in it, as the chlorine gets diluted, so the toads need to be evicted, and their toxic eggs netted out.


Interesting view from the summit, loads of ships waiting for the Covid isolations to lessen so they can enter the Panama Canal 10 miles away.

 

[jjohnwm]

Is that a string of eggs laid by the cane toad in that pic? Wow...orchids tied to palm trees, blooming in the yard...tropical fish on the patio year-round...giant toxic amphibians to be evicted from the swimming pool...ocean view, complete with whales...

I'm currently netting fish and removing plants from the outdoor pond, which will be a 3-foot-thick block of ice in a few more weeks...monitoring the temperature rise in the large basement bins I set up to slowly equalize water temps (current outside pond temperature is 42F)...bringing the bird-feeders in each night to minimize damage by bears...

Are Panama and Manitoba really on the same planet? An island in the middle of nowhere sounds like paradise...at least, up until the point where you need a pump or other item delivered quickly.

 

[duanes]

Is that a string of eggs laid by the cane toad in that pic?

Yep those are the eggs, and there are two toads locked in an embrace in that pic.
My pond in Wisconsin would soon be a 3 ft block of ice in a couple months, if I was still there, would be removing fish right about this time.
It is a bit of a radical change here.
Gotta shake out our shoes and pants every morning, or get an unpleasant surprise.

 

[duanes]

Couple better shots of surviving fry

 

[esoxlucius]

We have people from all over the world on the forum and occasionally we are treated to lovely pictures. But obviously some of these beautiful year round warm places have their drawbacks too. Large spiders, snakes, scorpions and biting/stinging insects would be the biggest worry for me. When I think of it like that i'm sort of glad I live in dreary old England.

But then again, I look out of the window on a dull, grey, cold autumn day like today, knowing full well it's going to be like this until next spring, and I can't help thinking, a bit of a sting now and again, and a bite once in a while can't be that bad......can it? Lol.