I'm glad the reply was helpful! Your plan to split the tanks by water movement sounds like a great approach, ensuring each species has the right environment. The pH range and flow rates you’ve suggested seem perfect for creating comfortable conditions for all the fish involved.
55g stocking sanity check
- Thread starter Conchonius
- Start date
I'm glad the reply was helpful! Your plan to split the tanks by water movement sounds like a great approach, ensuring each species has the right environment. The pH range and flow rates you’ve suggested seem perfect for creating comfortable conditions for all the fish involved.
And that is the exact kind of reply I wasn't looking for, Mr. Bot. Nice hidden casino ad you've got there.
In any case, I have some bad news. I noticed the rainbow shark breathing heavily and got some extra aeration, but lost it the day after. It seems that it did not recover from the fungus as well as I had thought.
A shame - I liked that shark. I should've split off some fish to lower the bioload sooner. Fortunately the others seem fine, but I did a 50% WC and will keep a close eye on things.
As for future plans, I ordered a 300L water storage unit (akin to the Rubbermaid stock tanks that aren't readily available here) that I'll remove the kuhlis, raphael and the L201 into, which will leave me with 12 cories, 3 plecos, and the syno. This should be a low enough bioload to host these fish with volume to spare, and they're all mid-pH, low-TDS river species, so their water compatibility shouldn't be an issue.
Also got a Fluval FX4 on the cheap, which should improve circulation for the plecos.
In any case, I have some bad news. I noticed the rainbow shark breathing heavily and got some extra aeration, but lost it the day after. It seems that it did not recover from the fungus as well as I had thought.
A shame - I liked that shark. I should've split off some fish to lower the bioload sooner. Fortunately the others seem fine, but I did a 50% WC and will keep a close eye on things.
As for future plans, I ordered a 300L water storage unit (akin to the Rubbermaid stock tanks that aren't readily available here) that I'll remove the kuhlis, raphael and the L201 into, which will leave me with 12 cories, 3 plecos, and the syno. This should be a low enough bioload to host these fish with volume to spare, and they're all mid-pH, low-TDS river species, so their water compatibility shouldn't be an issue.
Also got a Fluval FX4 on the cheap, which should improve circulation for the plecos.
Mildly good news, mildly bad news. The good is that the plants are loving the tank, both the Java fern and the "tiger" lotus (turns out it was a rubra instead of zenkeri after all) have taken off and are growing like wildfire. The latter also secretes a ton of wax that builds up into biofilm rafts on the surface, but at least it gets me to water change more often. Also, it seems the flowerbuds will chase your LEDs like flies and burn themselves if you let them.
The bad is that the syno grew into what the kids call an "absolute unit". I hand-feed him, since his mouth is a bit deformed and he can't really pick stuff up from the substrate, but he learned to abuse this fact by making puppy-dog eyes whenever I'm in the room. Now he's a bit too wide for comfort, and much to his chagrin, he has been put on a diet. A true wet pet regardless, and a testament to the fact that cats are a match for cichlids when it comes to personality.
Beyond that, the tank has been trucking along. Both water parameters and the tank hierarchy are stable now. I received the 300L reservoir but didn't get around to setting it up yet, some reshuffling and a couple new cats are in the cards when I do.
(I really should give a tank good clean too, these water stains are bugging me...)
The bad is that the syno grew into what the kids call an "absolute unit". I hand-feed him, since his mouth is a bit deformed and he can't really pick stuff up from the substrate, but he learned to abuse this fact by making puppy-dog eyes whenever I'm in the room. Now he's a bit too wide for comfort, and much to his chagrin, he has been put on a diet. A true wet pet regardless, and a testament to the fact that cats are a match for cichlids when it comes to personality.
Beyond that, the tank has been trucking along. Both water parameters and the tank hierarchy are stable now. I received the 300L reservoir but didn't get around to setting it up yet, some reshuffling and a couple new cats are in the cards when I do.
(I really should give a tank good clean too, these water stains are bugging me...)
An entire tank's worth of hides. A tangle of driftwood stretching from corner to corner. Clay pots, slabs, a sunken ship decoration. Water lily roots covering half of the available surface. And what spot does this ugly frog of a fish pick for its beauty sleep?
That's right, the perfectly vertical piece of ıaquarium glass, in full view of everything. I thought it was dead the first time it did that, but it swam off and even gave a little warning grunt once I got my hands into the water. I suppose it likes the flow made by the filter outlet.
Well, I'd be this relaxed too if I had chainsaws strapped to my sides. Also, I'm just now seeing the cory eggs on that leaf, which means they'll be its snacks by the time I get back home.
That's right, the perfectly vertical piece of ıaquarium glass, in full view of everything. I thought it was dead the first time it did that, but it swam off and even gave a little warning grunt once I got my hands into the water. I suppose it likes the flow made by the filter outlet.
Well, I'd be this relaxed too if I had chainsaws strapped to my sides. Also, I'm just now seeing the cory eggs on that leaf, which means they'll be its snacks by the time I get back home.
Interesting to see how sensitive these fish are to their environment. A new neighbor moved in recently and has been renovating the flat next door to his preference, with drilling and hammering going on all day long.
The syno would murder him for it, if it could. This animal, that is normally trusting enough to sleep in the open and begs for food at all waking hours, has turned sullen and aggressive all of a sudden. Hides most of the day, flinches at the slightest noise, even chases away the cories that get near it.
Thankfully the construction stopped during the weekend, and there has been a return to normalcy. I hope they're done already - it's bad enough for me while I'm home, and I don't sleep during the day nor live my entire life stuck inside the tank.
The syno would murder him for it, if it could. This animal, that is normally trusting enough to sleep in the open and begs for food at all waking hours, has turned sullen and aggressive all of a sudden. Hides most of the day, flinches at the slightest noise, even chases away the cories that get near it.
Thankfully the construction stopped during the weekend, and there has been a return to normalcy. I hope they're done already - it's bad enough for me while I'm home, and I don't sleep during the day nor live my entire life stuck inside the tank.
Well, the 300-liter "tank" is set up. It isn't much to look at, but all I need from it is to hold water, which it does.
With it comes my first foray into monsters, as I've somehow got my hands on a Chrysichthys. Unfortunately, the fish hasn't exactly arrived in the pink of health - it's pale and has cataracts over its eyes (I will attach a picture when able, but both eyes are entirely milk-white). As I understand it, this is a sign of bacterial infection and needs clean water to stabilize. Is there any medicine I can use, or do I just watch the nitrates and keep up with water changes?
In any case, Viktor's observations about the genus have been a great point of reference (the contribution this man makes to catfish-keeping can't be understated!). My experience has so far been similar. The fish is a consummate hider and will spend the entire day laying still in its crevice of choice... but there's a Jenny-any-dots situation here, as at night it comes alive, actively cruises the tank, and despite its blindness, is agile enough to hunt small fish. I've had some rasboras and shrimp in the quarantine tank, which promptly disappeared once it went in, so it seems its placidity is limited to the daytime.
It also glass surfed at night in the QT, possibly because there wasn't enough space, but since the transfer it seems to stick to the bottom. "Seems", I say, because it freezes whenever it detects movement nearby. I only infer that it patrols the bottom because I find it at different locations whenever I look at the tank, like the angels from Doctor Who.
It's otherwise an easy feeder and takes bloodworms, mysids and algae pellets with gusto, even coming out during daytime to eat choice bits from tongs. I also tried to hand feed it like an idiot, and of course it responded by biting my finger. It even drew a little blood - the rasping power of a catfish is not to be underestimated!
It is the sole occupant of the tank, but whether that is adequate remains to be seen. Chrysichthys is big genus with species ranging from 5 inches to 5 feet, and many are notoriously difficult to ID. I'm banking on the fact that they don't seem to grow much beyond 12 inches in captivity, and these caught in the wild likewise are in the 10-12 inch range. I can provide it with something like a 125g when it grows out to that size, but would rather avoid anything larger. We'll see.
The next project is planting that tank - at the moment it just has a thin layer of substrate, and some floaters, crypts and Java fern scavenged from other tanks. I might try sand, as was suggested in Victor's thread.
With it comes my first foray into monsters, as I've somehow got my hands on a Chrysichthys. Unfortunately, the fish hasn't exactly arrived in the pink of health - it's pale and has cataracts over its eyes (I will attach a picture when able, but both eyes are entirely milk-white). As I understand it, this is a sign of bacterial infection and needs clean water to stabilize. Is there any medicine I can use, or do I just watch the nitrates and keep up with water changes?
In any case, Viktor's observations about the genus have been a great point of reference (the contribution this man makes to catfish-keeping can't be understated!). My experience has so far been similar. The fish is a consummate hider and will spend the entire day laying still in its crevice of choice... but there's a Jenny-any-dots situation here, as at night it comes alive, actively cruises the tank, and despite its blindness, is agile enough to hunt small fish. I've had some rasboras and shrimp in the quarantine tank, which promptly disappeared once it went in, so it seems its placidity is limited to the daytime.
It also glass surfed at night in the QT, possibly because there wasn't enough space, but since the transfer it seems to stick to the bottom. "Seems", I say, because it freezes whenever it detects movement nearby. I only infer that it patrols the bottom because I find it at different locations whenever I look at the tank, like the angels from Doctor Who.
It's otherwise an easy feeder and takes bloodworms, mysids and algae pellets with gusto, even coming out during daytime to eat choice bits from tongs. I also tried to hand feed it like an idiot, and of course it responded by biting my finger. It even drew a little blood - the rasping power of a catfish is not to be underestimated!
It is the sole occupant of the tank, but whether that is adequate remains to be seen. Chrysichthys is big genus with species ranging from 5 inches to 5 feet, and many are notoriously difficult to ID. I'm banking on the fact that they don't seem to grow much beyond 12 inches in captivity, and these caught in the wild likewise are in the 10-12 inch range. I can provide it with something like a 125g when it grows out to that size, but would rather avoid anything larger. We'll see.
The next project is planting that tank - at the moment it just has a thin layer of substrate, and some floaters, crypts and Java fern scavenged from other tanks. I might try sand, as was suggested in Victor's thread.
Last edited:
