The Dragon's Lair - New pics 10/24/10

**cah925** · 01-12-2010, 08:51 PM

Not a bad idea. Those 2 sticks on the right side/center have been bothering me for a while. I've been trying to come up with something to hide or soften the look and a sword might just do the trick.

**cah925** · 01-13-2010, 02:42 AM

I raised the light several inches to try and clear some BBA several weeks ago. The BBA went away, but several plants started to die. I lost most of my Blyxa on the left side and almost lost my Limno sp 'Mini'. I put the legs back on the light and repositioned it on top of the tank last week. For now, I'm only using 2 of the bulbs (instead of 4) to see if I can keep the BBA from coming back. I've also been having a major issue with cloudy water for some reason. I'm not sure if the eels are digging around stirring up dust from the substrate or if there is some other underlying issue. I have also been dealing with green dust algae for about a month. I stuck to a strict dosing regimen and water change schedule. I finally stopped scraping everything and just let it go to see if it would resolve on its own. Last week I added 8 otos and they have been busy. Tonight was the first night I didn't see any dust algae on the glass. Not sure which of the many things I have tried helped, but I'm glad to see it finally disappearing. Now if I could just get rid of the cloudy water everything would be great.
Here's a few pics I took earlier.
FTS

Top shelf above the cave-crypts are filling in nicely, many are sending out runners with new plants popping up all over the place.

**cah925** · 01-23-2010, 03:10 PM

I'm happy to report that the cloudy water went away. I ran my diatom filter for an hour 2 days in a row, then did a big water change last weekend. So far the water has stayed crystal clear.

I'm still trying to get the eels to at least take live blackworms from my long tweezers. Skinny (the skinny one, cheesy I know) is getting brave and stays in sight as I come in with worms. He hasn't tried to take them from me, but he does patiently wait for me to drop them real close to his head. Big Worm is still a little skiddish and takes off into the safety of the cave if I get too close.

The haze is from the lights, not cloudy water-

A few of the cleaning crew. The otos swim in groups in this tank. I've never seen this in my other tanks, but I guess there aren't any real threats in the other tanks.

Another shot of the upper shelf. I wish I could get a good pic from above the tank but the light reflections always ruin the shot.

I was trying to get some pics last night to show how much the eels have grown. Skinny was an easy target, he's always swimming in the open.

Big Worm was not. You can sort of see his head in this pic.

Voozle · 03-02-2010, 08:55 PM

This is terrific, haven't seen eels in a planted tank before. I really like the elongated cave structure and the low-light plants in and around it, I bet those are two happy eels. Have the algae problems cleared up?

Hilde · 03-08-2010, 06:11 AM

Wow!!

What size is the tank? What is your lighting? Co2?

How long to the eel live? How long do they get? I wonder if there is a variety that could live in a 30 in long tank? They are astonishing to watch. Seem to be intelligent and curious.

I wonder if dosing with KNO3 would help keep the algae away? It worked for me.

problemman · 03-08-2010, 06:12 AM

this is niffty subscribed!

**cah925** · 03-08-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voozle

This is terrific, haven't seen eels in a planted tank before. I really like the elongated cave structure and the low-light plants in and around it, I bet those are two happy eels. Have the algae problems cleared up?

Yep, algae problems are in the past. I added several otos and started dosing small amounts of ferts. I still get some green dust algae on the glass, but nothing out of control.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilde

Wow!!

What size is the tank? What is your lighting? Co2?

How long to the eel live? How long do they get? I wonder if there is a variety that could live in a 30 in long tank? They are astonishing to watch. Seem to be intelligent and curious.

I wonder if dosing with KNO3 would help keep the algae away? It worked for me.

This is a 75 gal tank. I'm using a Catalina Solar 4x54W fixture. Most of the time I only run 1 set of lights on a 5 hr timer. Sometimes when I'm home on weekends or during the day, I turn the other set on manually for about an hour.

These peacock eels are the smallest of the freshwater eels, maxing out at around 12-15" and live for about 5 years. They would probably do ok in a 30" long tank. My eel isn't much of a constant swimmer. He hangs out in the dark cave about 98% of the time. It's fun to watch him hunt, very methodical and a quick strike similar to a snake.

Quote:

Originally Posted by problemman

this is niffty subscribed!

Thanks!

**cah925** · 03-08-2010, 06:13 PM

Here's a recent photo of the eel. I would have to estimate his size to be about 7-8", nearly double from when I first bought him back in October. You can get a real good perspective on his size in this video compared to the orange platies swimming around him.

FTS

**rhytemaker** · 03-10-2010, 08:14 PM

This is really cool man. Nicely done. Your making me want to go high tech on my bicher tank!

kyle3 · 03-10-2010, 09:01 PM

fabulous tank!

i love the "planter" cave. it gives you a great tiered planting surface and you hid it very well with you're aquascape.

cool occupants too.

cheers-K

stingraysrule · 04-28-2010, 01:37 AM

I really like it.
very nice.

kwheeler91 · 04-28-2010, 03:28 AM

i would love to have another eel... my zigzag eel died from some sort of intestinal infection after having over a year...

im worried about them digging at my crypts roots and causing them to melt, have any problems with this?

**cah925** · 04-28-2010, 04:10 AM

I haven't had any problems with my eel digging in the planted section. His cave is quite large and he hides in there most of the time.

**cah925** · 08-05-2010, 08:41 PM

Here's a video monkeyruler90 made for me last month of the eel hunting and eating. I have been out of town for the last four months so he was kind enough to go over and feed the eel and do my water changes for me. Unfortunately, the eel managed to push the glass top open and crawl out a couple days ago.

**cah925** · 08-13-2010, 08:55 PM

I went out looking for replacements this afternoon and found a Senegal bichir. I'm only getting one fish for now until I can find a way to add some PVC pipe in the cave without destroying the scape. Bichirs can be a little fiesty when it comes to territory and I want all fish to be happy in their environment. Here's some pics. This little guy is only about 3" right now.

Now I need a new title for this tank/thread.

03-10-2010, 08:14 PM	#39
rhytemaker Tanks A'lot (View User Tanks) PTrader: (23/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 341	This is really cool man. Nicely done. Your making me want to go high tech on my bicher tank! __________________ *110g Prehistoric Theme Polypterus Planted Tank * http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...polypters.html *84g Fluval Osaka 320* http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...d-spankin.html Fluval PimpUno Cinco (15)

03-10-2010, 09:01 PM	#40
kyle3 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 586	fabulous tank! i love the "planter" cave. it gives you a great tiered planting surface and you hid it very well with you're aquascape. cool occupants too. cheers-K __________________ 20 Long Journal 5 gallon planted betta tank 6 gallon planted

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01-12-2010, 08:51 PM	#31
cah925 Fear the Swamp! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (163/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,379	Not a bad idea. Those 2 sticks on the right side/center have been bothering me for a while. I've been trying to come up with something to hide or soften the look and a sword might just do the trick.

01-13-2010, 02:42 AM	#32
cah925 Fear the Swamp! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (163/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,379	I raised the light several inches to try and clear some BBA several weeks ago. The BBA went away, but several plants started to die. I lost most of my Blyxa on the left side and almost lost my Limno sp 'Mini'. I put the legs back on the light and repositioned it on top of the tank last week. For now, I'm only using 2 of the bulbs (instead of 4) to see if I can keep the BBA from coming back. I've also been having a major issue with cloudy water for some reason. I'm not sure if the eels are digging around stirring up dust from the substrate or if there is some other underlying issue. I have also been dealing with green dust algae for about a month. I stuck to a strict dosing regimen and water change schedule. I finally stopped scraping everything and just let it go to see if it would resolve on its own. Last week I added 8 otos and they have been busy. Tonight was the first night I didn't see any dust algae on the glass. Not sure which of the many things I have tried helped, but I'm glad to see it finally disappearing. Now if I could just get rid of the cloudy water everything would be great. Here's a few pics I took earlier. FTS Top shelf above the cave-crypts are filling in nicely, many are sending out runners with new plants popping up all over the place.

01-23-2010, 03:10 PM	#33
cah925 Fear the Swamp! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (163/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,379	I'm happy to report that the cloudy water went away. I ran my diatom filter for an hour 2 days in a row, then did a big water change last weekend. So far the water has stayed crystal clear. I'm still trying to get the eels to at least take live blackworms from my long tweezers. Skinny (the skinny one, cheesy I know) is getting brave and stays in sight as I come in with worms. He hasn't tried to take them from me, but he does patiently wait for me to drop them real close to his head. Big Worm is still a little skiddish and takes off into the safety of the cave if I get too close. The haze is from the lights, not cloudy water- A few of the cleaning crew. The otos swim in groups in this tank. I've never seen this in my other tanks, but I guess there aren't any real threats in the other tanks. Another shot of the upper shelf. I wish I could get a good pic from above the tank but the light reflections always ruin the shot. I was trying to get some pics last night to show how much the eels have grown. Skinny was an easy target, he's always swimming in the open. Big Worm was not. You can sort of see his head in this pic.

03-02-2010, 08:55 PM	#34
Voozle Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: FL Posts: 166	This is terrific, haven't seen eels in a planted tank before. I really like the elongated cave structure and the low-light plants in and around it, I bet those are two happy eels. Have the algae problems cleared up?

03-08-2010, 06:11 AM	#35
Hilde Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mableton, GA Posts: 3,964	Wow!! What size is the tank? What is your lighting? Co2? How long to the eel live? How long do they get? I wonder if there is a variety that could live in a 30 in long tank? They are astonishing to watch. Seem to be intelligent and curious. I wonder if dosing with KNO3 would help keep the algae away? It worked for me.

03-08-2010, 06:13 PM	#38
cah925 Fear the Swamp! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (163/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,379	Here's a recent photo of the eel. I would have to estimate his size to be about 7-8", nearly double from when I first bought him back in October. You can get a real good perspective on his size in this video compared to the orange platies swimming around him. FTS

04-28-2010, 01:37 AM	#41
stingraysrule Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: waterbury, Connecticut Posts: 305	I really like it. very nice.

04-28-2010, 03:28 AM	#42
kwheeler91 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 934	i would love to have another eel... my zigzag eel died from some sort of intestinal infection after having over a year... im worried about them digging at my crypts roots and causing them to melt, have any problems with this?

04-28-2010, 04:10 AM	#43
cah925 Fear the Swamp! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (163/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,379	I haven't had any problems with my eel digging in the planted section. His cave is quite large and he hides in there most of the time.

08-05-2010, 08:41 PM	#44
cah925 Fear the Swamp! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (163/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,379	Here's a video monkeyruler90 made for me last month of the eel hunting and eating. I have been out of town for the last four months so he was kind enough to go over and feed the eel and do my water changes for me. Unfortunately, the eel managed to push the glass top open and crawl out a couple days ago.

08-13-2010, 08:55 PM	#45
cah925 Fear the Swamp! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (163/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,379	I went out looking for replacements this afternoon and found a Senegal bichir. I'm only getting one fish for now until I can find a way to add some PVC pipe in the cave without destroying the scape. Bichirs can be a little fiesty when it comes to territory and I want all fish to be happy in their environment. Here's some pics. This little guy is only about 3" right now. Now I need a new title for this tank/thread.