Perhaps premature but I have livestock in the tank now. I have 30 Rummy Nosed Tetras and 6 Apistogramma Cacatuoides ((2 males and 4 females) with 2 additional ones of a different colour strain on the way). Right about now I'm thinking stocking wise, this is almost already complete. I may get some Congo Tetra and Pearl Gourami's as a finisher, but I don't think I need to lean towards my original stocking ideas at all.
Anyway I've seen some interesting things in the last few weeks, both positive and negative.
I've got signs of hair algea in certain spots that are darker than others. I expected algea anyway and thankfully I see it on bucephalandra that's on a spot of lava rock so is easily removed and cleaned.
The Sagittaria subulata is going crazy in places. Leaves are looking more like curved vallesneria than sagittaria because of the length. This might be because of where the fert caps were placed.
I'm seeing the S Repens doing really well with healthy leaves (still early days, I know) but I'm seeing roots growing from the stems themselves. Almost as if there isn't enough nutrition in the substrate? (There might not be, most of these have been planted in sand with Tropica fert capsules dotted around the place.) Or the stems have grown too long? Either way I'm seeing new leaves on most of these plants.
The Anubias Nana is doing incredibly well. One has flowered (another one might have but I think I choked out the flowering part with string). There are visible signs of new growth, as slow as it might be.
Looking and comparing pictures from initial planting to now, it looks as though the Cryptocoryne is doing incredibly well, reaching up for the light, or extending shadowed leaves towards the direction of light.
At this stage I'm dosing 35ml of the TNC Complete every day and have been for about a week.
The Apisto's are showing signs of territory domination, which is nice to see. As I only had two males in here, I think it became unfair on the beta male which is why I ordered two additional Super Reds, I requested one as a male and the other as a female but at this stage I don't mind if they both turn up as males so the aggression can be diffused amongst the lot, instead of being singularly homed by the current alpha to the only beta. Really beautiful fish to watch.
One other thing is that I'm not seeing the Apisto's feed. I've called the person who I bought these from and they said they fed them pellets and flake. I've tried both, tubifex worms and have dried blood worm pellets on the way. They seem to casually graze and ignore any food that passes them by. I might starve the fish for a couple of days before dropping in their next meal. The RNT are eating like crazy. They'll eat anything and even hang out at the substrate to graze if anything makes it past them. I'm hoping they're not outcompeting the Apisto's, but from what I've seen suggests otherwise.
Anyway I've seen some interesting things in the last few weeks, both positive and negative.
I've got signs of hair algea in certain spots that are darker than others. I expected algea anyway and thankfully I see it on bucephalandra that's on a spot of lava rock so is easily removed and cleaned.
The Sagittaria subulata is going crazy in places. Leaves are looking more like curved vallesneria than sagittaria because of the length. This might be because of where the fert caps were placed.
I'm seeing the S Repens doing really well with healthy leaves (still early days, I know) but I'm seeing roots growing from the stems themselves. Almost as if there isn't enough nutrition in the substrate? (There might not be, most of these have been planted in sand with Tropica fert capsules dotted around the place.) Or the stems have grown too long? Either way I'm seeing new leaves on most of these plants.
The Anubias Nana is doing incredibly well. One has flowered (another one might have but I think I choked out the flowering part with string). There are visible signs of new growth, as slow as it might be.
Looking and comparing pictures from initial planting to now, it looks as though the Cryptocoryne is doing incredibly well, reaching up for the light, or extending shadowed leaves towards the direction of light.
At this stage I'm dosing 35ml of the TNC Complete every day and have been for about a week.
The Apisto's are showing signs of territory domination, which is nice to see. As I only had two males in here, I think it became unfair on the beta male which is why I ordered two additional Super Reds, I requested one as a male and the other as a female but at this stage I don't mind if they both turn up as males so the aggression can be diffused amongst the lot, instead of being singularly homed by the current alpha to the only beta. Really beautiful fish to watch.
One other thing is that I'm not seeing the Apisto's feed. I've called the person who I bought these from and they said they fed them pellets and flake. I've tried both, tubifex worms and have dried blood worm pellets on the way. They seem to casually graze and ignore any food that passes them by. I might starve the fish for a couple of days before dropping in their next meal. The RNT are eating like crazy. They'll eat anything and even hang out at the substrate to graze if anything makes it past them. I'm hoping they're not outcompeting the Apisto's, but from what I've seen suggests otherwise.
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