Journal 120 Dutch Ft. Yugang Reactor (Horizontal CO2 Reactor)

[Freshflora]

The vast majority of people don’t know this, but there are at least like 4 SAE species. 3 of the 4 look very very similar and fish stores most often don’t know which ones they have. Only one of the 3 which look super similar is a true SAE (“crossocheilus langei”). The easiest way to identify them is that they have a small black line on their underside like in this old photo of mine.

They will eat BBA into adulthood and never pester plants (as long as they’re fed well). Then there’s the fourth species which also eats BBA into adulthood and won’t pester plants, but is clearly identifiable—the reticulated Siamese algae eater. The other species that look almost identical to the true SAE (crossocheilus altrilimes being the most common) only eat BBA when they’re young and enjoy snacking on plants like Downoi, AR, and fine needle plants like Walichii, which I experienced first hand with my first SAEs which turned out to be altrilimes. I rehomed them and got the true “langei” and never had any issues with them snacking on any of those same plants. See here for more info in the notes section - Crossocheilus langei – Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilos langei, SAE) — Seriously Fish.

 

[Unexpected]

The vast majority of people don’t know this, but there are at least like 4 SAE species. 3 of the 4 look very very similar and fish stores most often don’t know which ones they have. Only one of the 3 which look super similar is a true SAE (“crossocheilus langei”). They have a small black line on its underside like in this old photo of mine. View attachment 2068

They will eat BBA into adulthood and never pester plants (as long as they’re fed well). Then there’s the fourth species which also eats BBA into adulthood and won’t pester plants, but is clearly identifiable—the reticulated Siamese algae eater. The other species that look almost identical to the true SAE (crossocheilus altrilimes being the most common) only eat BBA when they’re young and enjoy snacking on plants like Downoi, AR, and fine needle plants like Walichii. See here for more info in the notes section - Crossocheilus langei – Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilos langei, SAE) — Seriously Fish.

Interesting and good to know. Thank you. Regardless, but I will look at him a bit closer, he's being re-homed.

 

[Unexpected]

My Limnophila Rugosa is growing very well and I wondering if it should be used as a mid or background plant. Does it take well to constant trimming or just go background and let it do its thing?

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[Unexpected]

First significant rearrangement and now down to 22 species.

I can't get a good picture to save my life. So here's too many.

 

[GreggZ]

My Limnophila Rugosa is growing very well and I wondering if it should be used as a mid or background plant. Does it take well to constant trimming or just go background and let it do its thing?

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You can use it however you want. L. Rugosa doesn't care much about trimming. You can whack the heck out of it and it just keeps on growing. I've used it near foreground, mid tank, and background.

 

[Unexpected]

You can use it however you want. L. Rugosa doesn't care much about trimming. You can whack the heck out of it and it just keeps on growing. I've used it near foreground, mid tank, and background.

Ah, perfect! Thank you.

 

[Unexpected]

Couple of new additions to the tank.

 

[Unexpected]

Growth is coming along at a very manageable pace. Maybe a bit on the slower side but I'm okay with this.

 

[BigWave]

Growth is coming along

It is filling in very nicely. Slow is good.

 

[Unexpected]

My H. Difformis keeps wanting to lay over. Is this normal and will it ever start growing up?

 

[GreggZ]

Tank is looking great.....and of course I love the Rainbows!!

 

[Unexpected]

Tank is looking great.....and of course I love the Rainbows!!

Thanks GreggZ. I always appreciate the kind words of encouragement. Next major change is in a few weeks and after looking through that NBAT article, I found an arrangement for inspiration. I'd imagine using elements from the pros isn't cheating .

 

[gjcarew]

My H. Difformis keeps wanting to lay over. Is this normal and will it ever start growing up?
View attachment 2252

Plant it more densely and it will grow vertically. I just trim leaning side shoots where I can't improve density.

 

[Unexpected]

Plant it more densely and it will grow vertically. I just trim leaning side shoots where I can't improve density.

Thank you.

 

[Unexpected]

I was going to wait another week before another rearrangement, but a few beers motivated me to get a big maintenance session in. 6 hours later, I've made the same mistakes and successfully didn't reduce species but rather added some new trials . I guess I took some steps back lol.


I changed the angle on the street and have started a second one on the right side.

 

[GreggZ]

I love seeing updates on this tank. Quickly becoming one of my favorites. Must be fun to sit in front of and watch the Rainbows cruise all that real estate.

Keep the updates coming!!

 

[Bolbi]

The vast majority of people don’t know this, but there are at least like 4 SAE species. 3 of the 4 look very very similar and fish stores most often don’t know which ones they have. Only one of the 3 which look super similar is a true SAE (“crossocheilus langei”). The easiest way to identify them is that they have a small black line on their underside like in this old photo of mine. View attachment 2068

They will eat BBA into adulthood and never pester plants (as long as they’re fed well). Then there’s the fourth species which also eats BBA into adulthood and won’t pester plants, but is clearly identifiable—the reticulated Siamese algae eater. The other species that look almost identical to the true SAE (crossocheilus altrilimes being the most common) only eat BBA when they’re young and enjoy snacking on plants like Downoi, AR, and fine needle plants like Walichii, which I experienced first hand with my first SAEs which turned out to be altrilimes. I rehomed them and got the true “langei” and never had any issues with them snacking on any of those same plants. See here for more info in the notes section - Crossocheilus langei – Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilos langei, SAE) — Seriously Fish.

Thanks for this info!

I bought 5 SAEs at LFS and didn't pay attention, they were all in the same tank (labaled as Crossocheilus siamensis). When I released them in the aquarium at home, I noticed that they were not all the same. 2 out of 5 have a thicker side stripe. Now I looked at them from below and the ones with the thicker stripe have that black line on their belly, the others don't.

Here is a photo from the side - far right and bottom middle has black belly line. Do I have a real ones?

 

[Unexpected]

I re-homed the one I had. Plants are not being eaten now! I took the clown plecos out as well. One of them was the culprit.

 

[Burr740]

The new arrangement is better. You have more front to back direction now with some groupings which is good for depth. And you have the back and midground groups stacked like bricks (offset) which is great. Moving forward keep in mind that you want good contrasts between what is behind and in front as well. This especially applies to colors.

Things that are side by side can be similar colors because you can still have contrasts by varying heights and leaf shape. Like the Wisteria-Hygro-Myrio area. Three greens that are going to contrast magnificently, esp if you vary their heights. But when you stack the same colors front to back they tend to blend in no matter what

There's only a couple spots but eventually you'll want to have the downoi in front of something red and the AR in front of something green.

Its looking great though, youve done an amazing job so far!

 

[Unexpected]

Thank you Joe! This will be my next area to focus in on. I can't wait for these to fill in so it's a bit easier to visualize what you are recommending. Thank you very much.