Journal 75P - Journey Into High Tech

[MrJG]

It’s looking like it’s settling back in! Awesome how quick things can turn around, hang in there.

On the pink flamingo I’d mow those leaves down so it can concentrate on the ones that were grown in your tank. Anytime I add crypts I watch like a hawk first week or two. The moment a frond starts struggling just nip it off and get it outta there.
I got a few from @JayP too and they were freaking amazing and huge leaves, eventually though they transition to your tank conditions and the old ones have to go when they start attracting algae.

A little browner under my lower light but prob one of your plants relatives. *waves


Also 0-1 kh. I reconstitute distilled w salty shrimp gh to ~100 tds . Crypts are fine with it.

 

[JayP]

I also made a quick fill attachment from mostly spare Oase parts that I didn't use. Someone on this forum also mentioned a water flow meter, which is part of this attachment. No more estimating how much remineralizer to use! Since the spray bar isn't locked into place, I twist it to face the glass so the water isn't very disruptive. You can also use less extensions to make it shorter for a smaller tank.

Hmm, looks familiar.

On the pink flamingo I’d mow those leaves down so it can concentrate on the ones that were grown in your tank. Anytime I add crypts I watch like a hawk first week or two. The moment a frond starts struggling just nip it off and get it outta there.
I got a few from @JayP too and they were freaking amazing and huge leaves, eventually though they transition to your tank conditions and the old ones have to go when they start attracting algae.

Those Pink Flamingos got around. I agree with JG, on trimming off the old leaves as soon as you see some new ones come in. I think crypts, in general, don't like transition and struggle for awhile. I had a brown crypt struggle for months, without much change and then all of the sudden, it took off and I now I have it coming out my ears. I also just moved some of this same pink flamingo from the old farm tank to the new and a couple old leaves have already melted, but new ones are popping up.

 

[Mr. Silly Goose]

In my - limited - experience, crypts really like some KH, and APT SKY does not have any

I have had pink flamingo stay healthy even with modest light, with strong micro fertilization and a KH of at least 3°

Maybe consider some potassium carbonate?


View attachment 19275

It’s looking like it’s settling back in! Awesome how quick things can turn around, hang in there.

On the pink flamingo I’d mow those leaves down so it can concentrate on the ones that were grown in your tank. Anytime I add crypts I watch like a hawk first week or two. The moment a frond starts struggling just nip it off and get it outta there.
I got a few from @JayP too and they were freaking amazing and huge leaves, eventually though they transition to your tank conditions and the old ones have to go when they start attracting algae.

A little browner under my lower light but prob one of your plants relatives. *waves
View attachment 19277

Also 0-1 kh. I reconstitute distilled w salty shrimp gh to ~100 tds. Crypts are fine with it.

Hmm, looks familiar.

View attachment 19278


Those Pink Flamingos got around. I agree with JG, on trimming off the old leaves as soon as you see some new ones come in. I think crypts, in general, don't like transition and struggle for awhile. I had a brown crypt struggle for months, without much change and then all of the sudden, it took off and I now I have it coming out my ears. I also just moved some of this same pink flamingo from the old farm tank to the new and a couple old leaves have already melted, but new ones are popping up.

Thank you 3! I missed the posts apparently. All of the growth is "new" in my tank. I'll give it a good trim along with the water change this weekend. I need to find time in my weekly routines to do a mid-week trim. The tank is starting to get over run with algae and I don't think weekly trimming is enough.

@JayP Apparently it must have been you that mentioned the water meter? I definitely didn't see a picture, but it's pretty funny to see we essentially made the same thing!

 

[Mr. Silly Goose]

Ended up going to Aquarium Co-Op on 8/16 and picked up 10 panda garras, 2 bamboo shrimp, 2x otocinclus, and impulse bought a locally bred Congo Spotted Puffer (Tetraodon schoutedeni). My son has named the puffer Turtle!

Overall, still dealing with a lot of algae on leaves. I have seen the panda garras and otos cleaning leaves, so that's promising. I've noticed new growth on anubias nana has some holes, which I need to look into. The lilies are definitely growing larger in general than I thought they would.

Full tank shot from yesterday 9/6/26


Turtle, who I believe they said was about 7 months old.


Two panda garra's hanging out


One panda garra playing with fire in the danger zone. I had to scare it off because I didn't want it to go into the filter. I ended up searching the filter afterwards and found 2 panda garras and a baby killi alive in the filter. I keep telling myself I need to design and 3d print something to keep fish out of this area, but that hasn't happened.

 

[Koan]

impulse bought a locally bred Congo Spotted Puffer

They told you puffers need live food right

need to design and 3d print something to keep fish out of this area

Helps to wedge chunk of 30 PPI foam in there in the meantime

 

[Mr. Silly Goose]

They told you puffers need live food right

Haha, yeah. It's eating frozen blood worms. The whole tank gets one frozen cube now and everyone chows down.

 

[JayP]

Some "nuisance" bladder snails would come in handy now.

Do I detect the Pink Flamingo still in there and struggling to produce any new leaves?

 

[Mr. Silly Goose]

Some "nuisance" bladder snails would come in handy now.

Do I detect the Pink Flamingo still in there and struggling to produce any new leaves?

Trying to keep it snail free. I have PTSD from my planted tank 10+ years ago.

Yeah, Pink Flamingo is still in there. It's making new leaves, but I have to cut them off before they become anything sizable due to algae. You can it starting here.

 

[JayP]

Trying to keep it snail free. I have PTSD from my planted tank 10+ years ago.

I would normally agree, but I imagine even a single puffer would keep them well under control, from what I've read.

 

[MrJG]

You’ll want to start working on a snail supply, these little guys need to munch on some shells to keep their teeth worn down.
I love puffers and their personalities, they are like little tank puppies.

 

[Mr. Silly Goose]

You’ll want to start working on a snail supply, these little guys need to munch on some shells to keep their teeth worn down.
I love puffers and their personalities, they are like little tank puppies.

Hmm, aquarium coop said these don't have the teeth issue. I double checked the emailed receipt and it's listed as "Schoutedeni Puffer". They mentioned full grown is about the size of a lemon. Does this sound in line with the type of puffer you're referring to? I can always email them to verify the information I was told.

 

[MrJG]

I’ve never kept these specifically but just looked up the name and found it mentioned in most articles. I’d love for it to be wrong though!
It also mentioned that these can tend to bite plants so keep an eye out?

 

[BranchScape]

All puffers need to wear down their teeth, but Congo Spotted Puffers are generally easier to manage in that regard than species like Amazon Puffers.

Your puffer looks very healthy. Many of them require extensive quarantine and treatment work to clear up common health issues, so it's great to see one in such good condition.

I would recommend following Oh My Puff. He does an excellent job documenting the care and husbandry of several puffer species. he has a community of Schoutedeni Puffer for example.

Awesome fish. I'm a little jealous, but not enough to take on the work of feeding live and frozen foods exclusively!