Matt @ ScapeEasy
Member
If you get more otos they will likely be more comfortable as they are naturally a schoaling fish. That said you would definately need to star feeding them algae wafers, like you said, not enough natural stuff to sustain more.
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40 Litres Low Tech
- Thread starter azawaza
- Start date
Thanks Matt. I'll definitely consider adding more otos in the days to come. The two I have looks a tad skittish whenever the lights goes on.
By the way, I found a few pictures of my previous 90x45x45cm tank:
https://imgur.com/gallery/qvJNq
I was trying to learn the Dutch style and was experimenting with various stem plants in this tank
Marc Davis
Member
Love your tank. Nice and simple. Id add about 15-20 RCS personally. You wont get any algae problems with a good colony of RCS in a small tank. Keep the feeding light and they will keep everything shiny.
Tank Update: Day 9
Water parameters:
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate <5ppm
No water changes since Day 1.
I’m planning to increase the bioload slightly tomorrow. Will need your opinions: RCS or dwarf corydoras?
If it’s shrimps, I’m planning 10-20 of them; for the corydoras, maybe 6-8?
I may also try out a mini project involving H.Pinnatifida if I can get Tropica 1-2 Grow ones and some pebbles to super glue or tie them onto.
Will update more soon!
Water parameters:
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate <5ppm
No water changes since Day 1.
I’m planning to increase the bioload slightly tomorrow. Will need your opinions: RCS or dwarf corydoras?
If it’s shrimps, I’m planning 10-20 of them; for the corydoras, maybe 6-8?
I may also try out a mini project involving H.Pinnatifida if I can get Tropica 1-2 Grow ones and some pebbles to super glue or tie them onto.
Will update more soon!
Matt @ ScapeEasy
Member
The shrimps don't add to the bioload much at all but I would still do them first to build up the stocking slowly. The thought of adding 8 Corys to 2 otos scares me a little though as it's a big jump in ammonia for the tank. Could you add 4 corys one week do a load of tests and add 4 the next week?
That’s what I did. Solid advice, Matt.
Stocked a little, then waited for one or two days whilst constantly monitoring the water for signs of ammonia and nitrite. Then stocked again progressively, each time in minute quantities.
Tank Update: Day 14
Water parameters:
- Nitrite 0ppm
- Nitrate <5ppm
Lifestock added since last update:
- pygmy corydoras x05
- fire red cherry shrimps x08
- horned nerite snail x03
- celestial pearl danio x06
- dario dario x01
Plants added since last update:
- H. pinnatifida (attached to pumice stone)
(NB: forgot to mention I have Hydrocotyle tripartita on wabi-kusa in my previous threads)
Equipment added:
- Stainless steel mesh guard for 13mm inlet
Will post a FTS once the lights go on later
jameson_uk
Member
Horned nerites are much smaller than zebra ones (probably about 1cm) and I think look nicer. I have three in a 22l shrimp tank and they are happy enough
There’s still some room to play with on the midground right of the tank where the Xmas moss are.
I’m thinking of a thick bushy rosette kind of plant.
Could S.repens work?
Thinking of super gluing the stems to rocks or wood, like what I did with the H.pinnatifida; would that work?
And yesterday I promised myself- no more plants!
I’m thinking of a thick bushy rosette kind of plant.
Could S.repens work?
Thinking of super gluing the stems to rocks or wood, like what I did with the H.pinnatifida; would that work?
And yesterday I promised myself- no more plants!
Matt @ ScapeEasy
Member
Lol I just bought S. Repens today... I also promised myself no more plants... 
Tank Update: Day 15
I went to the LFS and couldn’t find enough S.repens so I purchased a small patch of grown-out Glosso instead.
I read somewhere that Glosso tends to grow a tad tall in low light, so perhaps I could use it as a midground plant to contrast with the Xmas moss.
As I do not have substrate in my tank, I decided to attach the underside of the patch to pumice stones via aquatic superglue.
Had some spare Matrix biomedia so I thought: why not? Didn’t have to use the scissors in the end as the roots were not too long.
Stones were sorted according to size...
Nice green lushy pile!
Pardon me nails; should have gone for a manicure first ha.
Hopefully they sink and not float!
I’ll give the glue thirty minutes to work its magic then the Glosso patch will go through QT, just like all my plants have to.
My plant QT procedure are as such:
1) Soak for 30 min in anti-snail solution
2) Thorough rinse
3) Soak for 30 min in mixture of Paraguard and Algexit solutions
4) Thorough rinse, final.
I’ll update how the patch looks like later, if things succeed. Heck, I’ll even update if things go horribly wrong. The process matters in this hobby, sometimes much more profoundly so than the end-product.
I went to the LFS and couldn’t find enough S.repens so I purchased a small patch of grown-out Glosso instead.
I read somewhere that Glosso tends to grow a tad tall in low light, so perhaps I could use it as a midground plant to contrast with the Xmas moss.
As I do not have substrate in my tank, I decided to attach the underside of the patch to pumice stones via aquatic superglue.
Had some spare Matrix biomedia so I thought: why not? Didn’t have to use the scissors in the end as the roots were not too long.
Stones were sorted according to size...
Nice green lushy pile!
Pardon me nails; should have gone for a manicure first ha.
Hopefully they sink and not float!
I’ll give the glue thirty minutes to work its magic then the Glosso patch will go through QT, just like all my plants have to.
My plant QT procedure are as such:
1) Soak for 30 min in anti-snail solution
2) Thorough rinse
3) Soak for 30 min in mixture of Paraguard and Algexit solutions
4) Thorough rinse, final.
I’ll update how the patch looks like later, if things succeed. Heck, I’ll even update if things go horribly wrong. The process matters in this hobby, sometimes much more profoundly so than the end-product.
Last edited:
Tank Update: Day 15 (continued)
It worked!
Fits snugly where I planned it would. And the Matrix biomedia would augment (albeit a little) bio filtration of the tank too, right? Hmmm, could this mean I should stock more fish?
My head says no more plants but my heart feels just one more. Perhaps in the (near) future? But, for now, I’ll just leave the tank alone and await the coming of winter, i mean algae.
It worked!
Fits snugly where I planned it would. And the Matrix biomedia would augment (albeit a little) bio filtration of the tank too, right? Hmmm, could this mean I should stock more fish?
My head says no more plants but my heart feels just one more. Perhaps in the (near) future? But, for now, I’ll just leave the tank alone and await the coming of winter, i mean algae.
3..2..1
Time for guessing has expired.
The idea: have one stem plant without using substrate.
The challenge:
utilise existing items available at home. Only plants can be purchased.
The approach:
Existing items: Seachem Matrix, transparent plastic container, aquatic super glue. Choose small stones to mimic plant substrate then dump into container.
Purchased a marimo moss ball. Use glue to stick pieces of it to the container.
Purchased another plant: L.hippuridoides
Carefully plant so as not to damage the stems and roots.
Insert said plant (with attached aparatus) into aquascape.
FTS Day 16:
Only time will tell if they grow well.
Time for guessing has expired.
The idea: have one stem plant without using substrate.
The challenge:
utilise existing items available at home. Only plants can be purchased.
The approach:
Existing items: Seachem Matrix, transparent plastic container, aquatic super glue. Choose small stones to mimic plant substrate then dump into container.
Purchased a marimo moss ball. Use glue to stick pieces of it to the container.
Purchased another plant: L.hippuridoides
Carefully plant so as not to damage the stems and roots.
Insert said plant (with attached aparatus) into aquascape.
FTS Day 16:
Only time will tell if they grow well.
Attachments
Last edited:
tam
Member
- Joined
- 5 May 2011
- Messages
- 1,469
Very clever! I'm seen people use pots before but never masked them so well you can't tell there are there. Smart choice of cover too.
It will be interesting to see how the glosso does long term. It might die back at the base as it grows taller and detach, but it might also get it's roots down and mixed around enough it stays stuck.
It's looking really cool and I like that you can add new plant 'blocks' and move them about if you want.
It will be interesting to see how the glosso does long term. It might die back at the base as it grows taller and detach, but it might also get it's roots down and mixed around enough it stays stuck.
It's looking really cool and I like that you can add new plant 'blocks' and move them about if you want.
Matt @ ScapeEasy
Member
Interesting idea! Please keep us posted as to how the plants do!
Thanks Tam & Matt for the encouraging validation
I added more stem plants today using the Matrix+Moss idea from our previous posts.
Things used in this mini-project: Super glue, Matrix, strip of sponge, ceramic plant holder, moss balls, stem plants.
Will need ID for these two plants. Crossing my fingers that both are aquatic...
Insert plants with sponge into ceramic holder. Leave a bit of roots exposed. Make moss ball into a donut shape.
Glue them on!
Had spare Matrix and moss so let’s waste not...
Like in life, crevices shall be plugged, no?
FTS once lights go on
I added more stem plants today using the Matrix+Moss idea from our previous posts.
Things used in this mini-project: Super glue, Matrix, strip of sponge, ceramic plant holder, moss balls, stem plants.
Will need ID for these two plants. Crossing my fingers that both are aquatic...
Insert plants with sponge into ceramic holder. Leave a bit of roots exposed. Make moss ball into a donut shape.
Glue them on!
Had spare Matrix and moss so let’s waste not...
Like in life, crevices shall be plugged, no?
FTS once lights go on
Tank Update: Day 18
Lots of detritus on the sand and inlet mesh. Will do a clean up this weekend.
No water change since Day 1, just top-ups.
Plants from the mini-projects are growing fine.
Nitrite 0ppm; nitrate <5ppm.
Stocked one Samurai Gourami and 8 P.gertrudae. The latter to act as dither fish for my CPDs. The former brings the whole bunch of small fishes to the front cos it’s the biggest ‘king’ currently.
I may have to hatch baby brine shrimps if it doesn’t take to frozen and solid food.
Lots of detritus on the sand and inlet mesh. Will do a clean up this weekend.
No water change since Day 1, just top-ups.
Plants from the mini-projects are growing fine.
Nitrite 0ppm; nitrate <5ppm.
Stocked one Samurai Gourami and 8 P.gertrudae. The latter to act as dither fish for my CPDs. The former brings the whole bunch of small fishes to the front cos it’s the biggest ‘king’ currently.
I may have to hatch baby brine shrimps if it doesn’t take to frozen and solid food.
Matt @ ScapeEasy
Member
Beautiful gourami.. I've always liked those 
