Matt_95 Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Looks great Paul, those angels are so healthy! Is it just the photo or are the rams really that skinny? They look they're wasting or have worms, all of mine slowly wasted away and no matter how many times I treated for worms and how much I fed them they lost weight. If you increase the light the chain swords will go more green and lay flatter to the ground like this. That sword is massive, hope it throws of a flower for you soon.Actually I think the stuff in the picture may just be denser? You should plant the bits you remove back into the foreground to make it thicker IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2littlerevheads Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 looks great paul , that the way mine is going Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Rams are ok, not round but they aren't too skinny. They eat like pigs. :-). The photos of the fish are taken after clean out of plants. Trimmed all the val, thinned out the sword runners as they were that thick it was silly. Tank a bit to bare ATM but give it a month or two and it will be thick again. Swords would like more light, hoping thinning out surface plants plus trimming val will help. :-) Got a nice bag of weed for you Jarrod. :-)Ps. Sword through a runner out. Cut it off and gave the four or five pups to Jarrod. How are they going mate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yanagi Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Rams look like they could do with a treatment of sterazin and some levamisole treated food. Looks good, my angels are destroying my amazon sword too. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Ok, ok. The rams eat fine but I guess they are not as fat as the other fish. :-) I will get some worm treatment and do the tank just in case. Thanks for the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yanagi Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Don't mean to offend. I just deal with a lot of Rams and most will get fat as ticks after that treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 No offence taken Krys. Better to be safe than sorry and as both you and Matt both mentioned it, I would be mad to just ignore it. Sure Capalaba produce stocks the Pig and Poultry. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeraldtonWA Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 I'm amazed by the thriving plants. Mine die every 4 weeks I have to replace them. What is the secret of your success? Is it the lights? Or is the substrate special? Any info appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 I'm not Paul, but where are you getting your plants from? Your best bet is online or from hobbyists, there are not many stores that sell on,y aquatic plants, most sell terrestrial ones as aquatic and they will always die ensuring you come back for more. Easy aquatic plants will grow in just sand or gravel with a tiny amount of light from the window. They are really easy to grow if you pick good ones, there are some quite difficult plants to grow but you will only find them in specialist stores. Do you have a photo of the plants you are buying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeraldtonWA Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Thanks for comments Matt. I will attempt to buy online as you suggest, although this may be difficult as I am in WA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Send Les a pm, I believe he knows some places who sell in WA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Big thing I learnt is try lots of plants. Some fail, pull them out and let the ones that work grow out. This is my lazy tank. Whole idea was to not have to add anything and cut out weekly/fortnightly water changes. I now only add Dino Pee & Spit if I feel the plants need a boost. Maybe once a month, maximum. I do water changes every 6-8 weeks if I feel like it. Only running 2 T8 lights with good light spectrum globes. I think the trick is the substrate and waiting patiently for the tank to find its own balance. Took awhile but VERY happy with the result.Ps. Worming tank today just invade Rams need it. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Hi Paul Very Impressive, all that dino stuff looks like its working. I might get some of those mini chain swords on the weekend as they make a nice carpet affect. Job well done there mate Cheers Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted August 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) Time for an update. This tank is out of control. The fish are slowly being squeezed out. Rams still thin but doing the same. Have had issues with my black orchid girls, there has been a flare up. I am loosing one at a time, beaten to death. Many have body wounds but only ones on last legs have fin damage and that is usually extensive. Not sure who is the aggressor or what triggered it but they all look miserable and on edge. Rest of the fish are ok and seem unaffected. Anyway, this tank in long overdue on a massive clean out and trim. I guess this has been a success as I wanted low maintanence and good growth resulting in "jungle" effect. I do nothing with this tank, add nothing and clean when ever I can be bothered, which is not much lately. :-). Excuse the mess but as stated a clean up is long over due. Link not working. :-(. Will update shortly. Try this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWD5frcL_-Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player Edited August 17, 2012 by Busman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 I was in a LFS yesterday to buy some color for my community tank and the ladie asked me what I had in the tank. I couldn't remember, lol. Plants was all I could think of. :-). Anyway, bought 8 Serpae Tetra and when nothing else I want, I grab 4-5 Rummynose. Got home and released them in the tank and suddenly it hit me, I could barely see any fish as the plants were taking over. Seriously, I had two swords that when I cut them out, it was like holding a bunch of flower it was so thick. That was the left side clear. On the right I had some wood with Jave fern attached. The wood disappeared long ago. I removed Java fern and this is what I got. This was 1 bunch, couldn't see through it, from substrate to surface. Now I am half way through wc and I can see my fish. :-). I have a large school of R/nose now with the biggest ones being 2-3 years old. Ram boy still thin but they seem to be doing well. Saw them defending random spots around the tank last week. My scissor tails must be 4-5 years old now as they were the first fish introduced. :-). Angels were laying eggs amost every three weeks but certain I had two girls. Lost one recently for an unknow reason and now other one looks a bit suss, almost lonely?? All in all, a great success, I am very lazy with this tank and always looks good. Very harmonious most times and haven't had any outbreaks of disease. Haven't really lost many fish but tetras don't live too long. Do they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2littlerevheads Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 if u need to find a new home for that fern i will grap some :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forever_and_a_day Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 that's some amazingly large java fern i quite like the jungle look... who says fish need open swimming space anyways? XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Tanks looks much better now. Almost done. :-). Sorry Jennie, already found a home for it. Next time you get first call. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2littlerevheads Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 all good paul :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Did a video but can't view it. Copyright issue???? Had radio on in background, by accident. :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Working now? I switched audio... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPdLPv7ZYUE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Looks great Paul. I like being able to see whats in the tank. How long did that Java fern take to get that big?? Cheers Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 6 mths maybe??? I have thinned it out before and filled my other tanks but this lot had no where to go. Wonder if the swords wil come back? I cut em clean just above substrate? Guess will just wait and see. :-). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Hey Paul If you use the Dino stuff still I recon they will shoot realy quick. My crested java fern grows like a weed but my normal wide leaf seems to falter got any tips for it?? Cheers Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted September 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 I reckon you are probably right Les. I still have dino products here. I am waiting for the new LED lights from Davo then I will replace lights and see what happens. Trying not to use products as I really want to see if it will keep growing without. No real tips mate as I do nothing, have low light and basically ignore the tank most days. Too much to do with fighters. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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