James From Cali's Tanks Thread *Updates 5/14/07*

[yoko]

Did da wood come in yet?!

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by James From Cali

I got my Malaysain driftwood today. I tied the Java Moss and the Ferns on and I will get pics up when I can. Im letting it soak for a few weeks or until there are no tannins.

I got it monday(yesterday) as shown above. My birthday is this week and the problem is I have testing on that day and I wont be able to fix up the tank in preparation for the wood. Tomorrow and Thursday are toughies.

[dufus]

Originally Posted by James From Cali

Are yours Dwarf Sunset Platys. There are normal Sunburst/Sunset Platys that are average size.

I'm pretty sure they're the same fish, just different common names. Like panda cories being called dwarves.

I thought E. vivipara was from NA? If its from all americas than thats what Im getting.

Not sure, check APC's plantfinder

I want one but I want to maintain a nice balance between subtle and active. The main fish are definitely active. We(me and mom) are in the still choosing stage lol.

I see, well, have fun choosing wiht your mom.

Here is a sketch(another one) of the middle and right side of what I want the 10g asian to be. I need to do the coloring and finish it but yeah.

Looks good.

The foreground is going to be Downoi but I may move that more to the left side and just fill in that area

That's gonna take forever to fill in!

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by dufus

I'm pretty sure they're the same fish, just different common names. Like panda cories being called dwarves.



Not sure, check APC's plantfinder


I see, well, have fun choosing wiht your mom.


Looks good.

That's gonna take forever to fill in!

Patience is key my friend . I have accomplished that(I would have had the fish by now). Why do you think Im taking my time with setting up another tank and a pond lol.

She is so hard headed. I was telling her about Tetras really like to school and I found out a 5g was too small. But she still wants them.

Im looking on APC now for the answer. According to Plant Geek ts says Southern US:

Umbrella Hairgrass

The reason I ask to see if they were the same is cause my LFS sells Dwarf Sunset Platys and Sunset/Suburst Platys. Same Name but different sizes.

[dufus]

Well, the only explanation i can come up with is your LFS is selling One species as Dwarves, the other as normals.
there are at least 4 varieties of orange platies.
the mickey mouse tailed sunburst platy is the smallest one i think. I have a male of those i think, and a pair of neon oranges.

OR- the LFS has the females as sunsets, and the males as dwarves, it's possible.

The "pet supplies plus"(knock off of petsmart) near me tried to tell me their HQ bred a pretty new dwarf gupy, when it was actually the males of the species, i informed them "nicely" hehe.

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by dufus

Well, the only explanation i can come up with is your LFS is selling One species as Dwarves, the other as normals.
there are at least 4 varieties of orange platies.
the mickey mouse tailed sunburst platy is the smallest one i think. I have a male of those i think, and a pair of neon oranges.

OR- the LFS has the females as sunsets, and the males as dwarves, it's possible.

The "pet supplies plus"(knock off of petsmart) near me tried to tell me their HQ bred a pretty new dwarf gupy, when it was actually the males of the species, i informed them "nicely" hehe.

I was told they were bred to be dwarves. The females are the same size as males so the second theory is out and the normal ones are the same size as Mickey Mouse Platys.

[dufus]

huh, must be pretty rare, i didn't find much on the net except for a few cases of the lfs mistakingly naming some platies dwarfs, and a few thinking the coral platy is a dwarf.

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by dufus

huh, must be pretty rare, i didn't find much on the net except for a few cases of the lfs mistakingly naming some platies dwarfs, and a few thinking the coral platy is a dwarf.

I was researching and the other name given was Dwarf Sunset Coral Platy. They were selectively bred for the size and coloring.

[James From Cali]

Well some Text Updates and a pic.

Well first here is the new addition:


He was given to me after the suicidal death of Blaze the Betta. This is Spaz the Gourami lol(friend named him). Now to the tanks.

10g Asian:
(Good Things)
~Added The Malaysian Driftwood
~Added Gourami
~Added Stones For Decorative Touch
(Bad Things)
~pH Is Still 7.6 And Wont Go Lower. Will Be Doing Water Changes Every 2 Weeks To Give The Leaves Time To Alter pH.
~Running Out Of Ferts. Need To Get More. Will Look Into Cheaper Alternatives.
~Plant Leaves Turning Yellow And See Through. Moss Turning Brown. I Believe This Is From Lack Of Ferts.

10g North American:
(Bad Things)
~Algae Every Where!
~Had To Move Inside Due To Stand Warping
~Need More Plants

Im frustrated because I need to get more ferts and right now I have no money and I dont start work for a few more days. So thats my update.

[dufus]

James- I wouldn't try to lower your ph unless you want to breed something that needs that low of a ph to breed, it's unneeded stress on fish and plants.

[boink]

Originally Posted by James From Cali

Im frustrated because I need to get more ferts and right now I have no money and I dont start work for a few more days. So thats my update.

Why not kill your NA tank and move all the plants into your asian one--doesnt really make sense to setup another tank if you dont have the funds to properly keep it going. you can always set it up at a later time when money permits

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by boink

Why not kill your NA tank and move all the plants into your asian one--doesnt really make sense to setup another tank if you dont have the funds to properly keep it going. you can always set it up at a later time when money permits

Well my mom has taking a liken to it(go figure) and so she wants to see it up. Right now Im focusing on the 10g Asian as that is what Im finishing first as it already has everything. I think I could get some ferts (Stump romover, NuSalt, Fleet Enema, Flourish) for cheap so I am investing in that first hand to get that done. Its just been a long month and Im just a bit irritable with everything. But once I get money Im pretty sure that if I stay on track things will be fine.

[James From Cali]

Well its been a while. And sorry no picture updates just text and a picture I made in Paint lol!

Okay well since the last post ,almost a month ago, Things have been going well. Not too much growth but still the plants are growing. I havent got any ferts as I had been busy with work but my plants seem fine as the are not so demanding. I added 3 Harlequin Rasboras to hang out with my lonesome Male Paradise Fish, Spaz. I have the following in my Asian Biotope:

Fauna: Male Paradise Gourami, 3 Harlequin Rasboras
Flora: Green Hygro, Brown Wendtii Crypt, Java Moss, Dwarf Hairgrass(I hope lol)

Here is my little picture for what the tank resembles now but what it will be like with a higher bioload of fish in the tank:

[James From Cali]

Well I think I may try Rainbow Shrimp in the tank. A few at least. And if they go well Im going to try and breed them. But they are in the moss in the design above(ones even on the cryptocryne).