What did you do with your tank(s) today?

[lloyd378]

A little over a week ago I noticed my clown knife fish had shredded fins and my now 8” jardini arrowana was definitely trying to either kill it or eat it or both. Anyways, I decided to try my luck with my other arrowana, my silver that is a bit longer than the jardini but far less aggressive as it doesn’t mess with my fire eel or my catfish, or my smaller plecos.

A week and two water changes later and now my clown knife is completely healed up and back to normal!

 

[DMD123]

@lloyd378, nice update pics! Love the look of your clown knife, I like how he has a missing spot between the groupings, unique look about it. I had looked at the clown knives at Wet spot last time I was there but when the guy told me they were slow growers I just couldnt see having such a little thing to start growing out. At least with my slow growing clown loaches I was able to get some bigger ones to start the process. Wet spot did have one royal knife in stock too but hidden in a tube and super small. Thanks too for the heads up on the clown loaches at Aquarium Paradise, I will try and stop by after work and see how they are sized and what price they are. I am still thinking 12 for the 300 but likely can only afford a few at a time and just keep adding to the school.

 

[DMD123]

Stopped by Aquarium Paradise on the way home, they had 4 clown loaches at $19.99 each. They were a hair larger than the ones Petsmart had for $14.99 but not that much bigger. Talked with Dom about the growth rate and I realized Im going to have to get the bigger ones otherwise it will be a good 4 years to get the small ones up to the size I currently have. I might need to do another Portland drive to get the rest.

 

[DMD123]

Did lame drain and fill type water changes this morning. Still trying to be careful not to submerge my incision hand in my tanks. With the taller tanks I always have to. The only tank I could gravel vac was the 40B because it is shallow. At least the fish got fresh water today. Stitches come out next Friday and then I can resume my maintenance routine. I noticed a few Aquaclear filters looking like they need cleaning.

 

[lloyd378]

@lloyd378, nice update pics! Love the look of your clown knife, I like how he has a missing spot between the groupings, unique look about it. I had looked at the clown knives at Wet spot last time I was there but when the guy told me they were slow growers I just couldnt see having such a little thing to start growing out. At least with my slow growing clown loaches I was able to get some bigger ones to start the process. Wet spot did have one royal knife in stock too but hidden in a tube and super small. Thanks too for the heads up on the clown loaches at Aquarium Paradise, I will try and stop by after work and see how they are sized and what price they are. I am still thinking 12 for the 300 but likely can only afford a few at a time and just keep adding to the school.

I never really gave the spots of the knife any thought as I assumed they all looked like this, but upon a quick google search, I now see that they come in a wide variety of patterns. The royal knife fish is amazing. I’d love to get one of those if I ever found one.

 

[DMD123]

Went to tropical fish World in Buckley and found big clown loaches. They were $69.99 each but well worth it for they are BIG! Got 3 more to add to my group for a total of 9 now. Heading home to acclimate them and put them in QT with the others

 

[lloyd378]

Went to tropical fish World in Buckley and found big clown loaches. They were $69.99 each but well worth it for they are BIG! Got 3 more to add to my group for a total of 9 now. Heading home to acclimate them and put them in QT with the othersView attachment 15457

I like this one with the spot on him

 

[DMD123]

I like this one with the spot on him

Thats one of the fish I picked up. He was the largest of the group and I liked the unique spot on it. I thought the spot was on both sides but will try and see if thats the case. One of the small loaches I have has a spot that looks to be developing on one side only. I have enough loaches for the moment so now to focus on getting them through quarantine and then move them into the 90g community next. Then the move to the 300 with the giant gourami. Still looking at mascara barbs from wet spot but $30 a fish starts to add up to a lot when I want at least 7 of them. I can get two roseline sharks for the price of one Mascara barb....

 

[DMD123]

Stitches come out of hand tomorrow so tank cleaning can return to normal. Glad I did a 40B now as my QT, since its so shallow its super easy to clean. Was able to get a quick gravel vac in on the loach tank tonight without getting hands wet. They definitely seem more confident with the group of 9 and having the much larger loaches in there made a big difference too.

 

[DMD123]

Ugh, stitches out but they put steri-strips on and still dont want me to submerge my hand in water... So do I try gloves or just do some lame drain and fill water changes for this weekend? I really need to gravel vac my tanks.

 

[DMD123]

Im feeling like any open wounds are completely sealed so Im going to try some better tank cleaning this week. This past weekend was just some mag-float on the glass and then drain and fill some new water for the water changes. I really need to clean a couple aquaclear filters out.

Im also thinking about an upcoming Portland run to Wet Spot and pick up my final growouts.... Last time I was there they had quite a few Mascara barbs in stock and Im thinking at $30 a fish they havent sold out completely.... But I will likely call before I drive down to make sure. Otherwise they had the roselines in stock and by then may have got a new shipment of fish in.

 

[DMD123]

Scrubbed down a 65B, did a good gravel vac and put my new Fluval heater in the tank. Its ready to go for whatever I end up doing with it. Possibly use it as a QT/grow out for fish that will go into the 300. Roseline sharks and or mascara barbs are the contenders. The clown loaches are doing well and maybe they might go up to the 65B. Great to have tank space to work out my stocking.

 

[DMD123]

Ordered a couple new Aquaclear extensions and intake tubes from Kens. The ones pictured are the new style, so hopefully that's what I end up with. The new style is so much easier to clean and just look better.

Was seeing the new intake U-tubes for small filters but not for the bigger ones. I'm not sure if it really helps with the whole anti siphon thing but they are easy to clean. Will likely replace out a couple of the old ones when these become readily available

 

[DMD123]

Got my hands dirty with good tank scrub downs and gravel vacs. Hand is still a bit stiff from the surgery but at least I can work inside my tanks now.

 

[DMD123]

Went to Portland and stopped by Wet Spot, here is my haul:
One large clown loach with a unique jig saw pattern



4 bags with...

3 filament barbs, 7 Roseline sharks

They only had 3 of the filament barbs which my wife liked better than the mascara barbs of which they only had 5. The filament barbs were half the cost, but that wasn't really the issue. Wanted the wife to like the stock in the main tank.

 

[lloyd378]

Went to Portland and stopped by Wet Spot, here is my haul:
One large clown loach with a unique jig saw pattern
View attachment 15472

View attachment 15470
4 bags with...
View attachment 15471
3 filament barbs, 7 Roseline sharks

They only had 3 of the filament barbs which my wife liked better than the mascara barbs of which they only had 5. The filament barbs were half the cost, but that wasn't really the issue. Wanted the wife to like the stock in the main tank.

I feel bad that I didn’t tell you to buy this one too…. Guess you’ll have to go back next weekend as the skinny black lines will be really cool when bigger!

 

[DMD123]

@lloyd378, lol, there was another big loach that was a bit interesting with an “eye spot” by its tail but I was already up to $200 in fish so I had to quit. I wish there were more of the filament barbs but its a start. Will keep my eyes open for a couple more and at least one more clown loach.

 

[DMD123]

More getting the hands wet and scrubbing down the 300 tonight. Ive been slacking because of the surgery and have only done simple drain and fill water changes with no gravel vac or scrubbing down of anything so it was getting a little dingy looking. Looks a lot better with today’s clean up.

 

[DMD123]

My new intakes for the Aquaclear have come in. I am cleaning the filter before I install so that I force myself to get them all done, lol

New vs old

 

[DMD123]

Waiting for things on order to come in so I can work on some projects. With the UV (36W) out of the system, the heaters are having difficulties keep tank temps up. I ordered a Fluval T300 to replace the one heater that is not showing lights as to it being at temp or heating. I will see how that does and then replace the other one too. I did get in my new Fluval UV designed for FX series filters and Im going to clean and replace all gaskets on the one Im going to add it to and see if it keeps up with water clarity.