Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Heading out of town for Thanksgiving. I bought a 3-day feeder pyramid for the fish.

At home noticed that the serpaes seemed to be pretty aggressive. One in particular was chasing all the other fish around the tank. I put the divider into the breeder room, caught the aggressive fish and dropped him into his own space in the now divided breeder. The plan was to separate a trouble fish from the rest of the community.

Gave the two "breeder" fish some food (they won't be able to reach the 3-day feeder). The serpae ate or knocked all the food to the bottom. Meanwhile the neon doesn't seem to eat...

Off to NEW JERSEY!!!
[Fingers crossed]

Monday, November 22, 2010

Bad news. The serpaes nipped up the new neons. Two of the three had shreaded tail and dorsal fins. The third had his dorsal fin nearly nipped away and ALL of its tail fin was GONE. Oy. Cory took a nip in the dorsal too but is basically fine.

When I got home I put the beat up guy in a small tupperware with the idea that I would change out the water everyday until he got better.

I was thinking about the theory that one of the fish store guys had given me that claims that the fish are less nippy in odd numbers. With this in mind I headed to PetCo with the idea of possibly buying another serpae to odd things up so to speak. I found a very knowledgeable guy there who didn't think it made a difference. His experience was that the serpaes are pretty aggressive in general. Oh well. He thinks that adding more neons would not improve the situation. I asked what I could do and he suggested adding some API Stress Coat+. He said it is helpful with healing and growing back fins. I'm not sure I totally bought into what he was saying but I wanted to do something so I took a bottle. I also picked up a "breeder" room to house the injured fish in. Seemed more practical than trying to keep it alive in a non-filtered environment.

At home I put the chewed up fish in the breeder a gave him a little food.

NEW FISH! Sunday, November 21, 2010

Planted my new plants (silk leaves, plastic stalk). Created a mini forest in the back right corner by grouping all the tall plants together. Placed the smaller plant in the front left hand side.

Went to fish store. Water passed all tests! Time to pick some fish. Store dude said based on tank size I should only add four at a time and stop at 18 fish total. Disappointing as I was hoping to add an entire shoal of 7 neons at once.

Was considering phantom black tetras after seeing some nice ones at Petco and reading some nice reviews but didn't see any at store. Considered gold dust mollys before getting to the store but saw some less than favorable reviews. The store didn't seem to have many of the fish species I was interested in and not many fish in the species they had. After talking to the dude about plecos he showed me some cory cats that I liked. In the end I selected a cory and three neons.

At home I first fed the existing 6 serpaes. Then I acclimated the bags of fish to our water. I added a cup of water to each bag after letting them sit for 20 minutes. I also turned off the tank light to get everyone as calm as possible. After more time I tried to remove the cory from the bag with my net. He wasn't interested and I didn't have enough room to manuver him into the net. I was worried about hurting him by fighting so I poured the bag of water through the net into my fish bucket. The net caught the cory and I quickly moved him to the tank. I gave the neons another cup our two. When they were ready I was able to move all three to the water at once. I was happy to see the neons quickly tagging along behind the serpaes. The cory quickly found a quit spot deep in the "forest".

Everyone seemed to be fine coexisting together at first but a while later I saw some serpaes chasing neons and maybe the cory as well. I may need another serpae after all.

I'm really happy with where the tank has progressed.

pH: 7.6
Temp: 76
Fed: 5:00

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Saturday, November 19, 2010

Nothing to report.

pH: 7.6
Temp: 76
Fed: n/a

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Friday, November 18, 2010

Bought two more tall plants and one small (foreground) plant. The tall plants match the existing tall leaved plant which has twin sets of leaves going up the stalk. The short one has big leaves. Planed to buy neon tetras (should water conditions be safe) and wanted to give them some place to hide.

Water back up one degree to 76.

Noticed that during feeding Spot is the fish that first heads over to the filter side of the tank to catch scraps that flot over.

pH: 7.6
Fed: 4:00
Temp: 76

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Water temp was cooler than expected so I turned it up a notch. I don't want to chill these guys.

ph: 7.6
Temp: 75
Fed: n/a

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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

In preparation of new fish I lowered the temp. Dropped more quickly than expected. Will monitor.

Fed: 5:45
Temp: 75
pH: 7.6

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Fed: n/a
Temp: 78
pH: 7.6

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Monday, November 15, 2010

Fed: 6:15 pm
Temp: 78.5
pH: 7.6-7.8

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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Fish store said we are almost there but we should give it another week. Oy. I asked about the brown spots. He said they are brown allege and that green allege is next and it is a good sign. He also said once the tank has cycled we could add any fish. No need to focus on a specific type. I.e. start with plecos v. more tetras.

On the plus side the pH meter is starting to be legible.

Fed: n/a
Temp: 78.5
pH: 7.6-7.8

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NH3 up. :(

Planing to take some water over to the fish store today for testing. If our water passes the test (doubtful) then we'll probably buy another Serpae (to odd out the group) and a shoal of Neon Tetras. We're thinking Neon's because they will bring some nice color and be a nice incremental step in aquarium complexity. Would like to get some angels but I think it would be best to get the Serpaes used to having tank mates before we bring in some guys with nippable fins. Would also like to get some African Dwarf Frogs but again, want the tank to have some more company before we bring those delicate guys in. Would also like to add some Zebra Danios.

Ran a NH3 test this afternoon. Results came in at 0.25. Hope this doesn't disqualify a fish purchase today.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Read a suggestion that recommended feeding your fish in small increments over a five minute period. Tried it this evening. Measured out the food then dolled out in small portions after each feeding frenzy. Worked pretty well. Also gave me the opportunity to notice that the fish all head over to the left hand side of the tank after the feedings to catch the food particles that get missed in the surface feeding and get caught in the current that flows in that direction (to below the filter). In fact because the fish all congregated to the left hand side they missed the last portion when I dropped it on the surface but only caught it when it was washed "down stream".

Fed: 6:00
Temp: 78.5
pH: still unclear

Friday, November 12, 2010

The fish have calmed down quite a bit and don't nip or fight quit as much as they used to. I may see a fish chase another every now and then but in general they appear to be leaving each other alone.

In the evening I noticed the fish spreading themselves out fairly evenly across the tank. It looked like they each had their own personal space while they just hung in space (resting/sleeping?). Could this be related to the reduction in nipping? Maybe?

I read about the differences between male and female Serpaes and was trying to identify the sexes in my tank. I think there may be a female or two but I certainly don't have a trained eye for these. For now I will keep calling them all "guys".

Fed: n/a
Temp: 78
pH: -

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Took some time to watch the fish. I wanted to follow up on that possible pectoral fin nipping. After watching each fish I'm fairly certain that they all have their fins intact.
I also have a theory on the funny swimming. Wife mentioned that some fish seemed to be swimming on a bit of an angle. I observed the same behavior. After watching them for some time I think what is happening is that the fish are trying to keep an eye on me while still moving forward. It appears that when fish swim at an angle they always do so with their underbelly toward the bottom/front of the tank and their tops toward the top/back of the tank. I think it is important to note that they keep this orientation both when they swim left-to-right and right-to-left. In other words they seem to be orienting themselves to the environment and don't appear to have a fish specific issue that is making them lean to a particular angle.

I forgot to feed them at the typical time and finally fed them at 9:00 PM. Poor guys.

Temp: 78.5
Fed: 9:00 PM
pH: -

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

No feeding. Temp looked slightly above 78. I've been noticing a brown stain/s growing on some if the rocks. Probably bacteria of some kind. I should get a brush.

Wife commented that she thought one of the fish seemed to be swimming funny. Maybe sideways. It was Short Round. At first look it seemed like his pectoral fins got nipped but I think he's just small. He is also one of two fish who have not been nipped in the dorsal fin so I think he's not been touched.

Fed: no
Temp: 78.5
pH: n/a

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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Noticed temp today was at 80. Turned the heater down a bit.

Fed: 6:00 pm
Temp: 80
pH: n/a

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Monday, November 8, 2010

Did not feed fish today as part of the every other day feeding schedule (originally suggested by Beno). They still have their battle wounds but I don't see new nips. Didn't march them all day but they seem a little calmer. But they still Chase each other a little.

Fed: did not feed
Temp: didn't check
pH: no read

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Sunday, November 7, 2010

Hoped to add fish today. Packed a water sample. Was at PepCo and asked the guy to test it for me. He said ammonia and pH were fine but nitrites were in the stress zone. I bought two fake/silk plants in the hope that some more places to hide might cut down on the nippig, also so that new fish will have more areas to explore, also as a consolation prize for still just futzing with the 6 serpaes.
Later was at usual fish shop. Usual fish guy was not there however. I mentioned to the guy who was there that the terms have been nipping. As he preped my water for testing I asked if it might be a result of he food cut back. He said it is just normal behavior and suggested adding fish to make an odd number. He said they seem to fight less in odd numbers. Water tested fine on ammonia but not so hot on the nitrates and nitrites. No fish today. He said to "stick" with the every other day feeding schedule. I asked if there is anything I can do to help the process along. He suggested a partial water change.
At home I changed 5 gallons of water and added another 2 liters to make up for past evaporation. Fish turned a little pale when I made the water change. I think the issue is that the water temp is colder than in the tank. I preped the water by filling the 5 gal orange bucket, adding declorine drops, then letting it sit for the evening. After I added the water I turned up the heater. Also read that heat can help grow the needed bacteria in the tank.

Fed: 6ish maybe
Temp: 78
pH: n/a
NH3: test read yellow

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Ammonia 0.0!!!

Ammonia test registered 0.0 (pure yellow) tonight! I plan to go into the shop tomorrow to test the water and possibly buy fish.

On a less happy front the fish were very aggressive all day. I don't know if this is how they normally behave or if I am only seeing this behavior because I am home on the weekend. They were chasing each other all over the tank, in and out of the holes in the rocks, and in tight circles best the corner. Three more fish have nips in their dorsal fins. Big Red, Spot, and another middler. I had seen the second middler had a nip last night, I noticed Spot had a small nip this afternoon and this evening I see Big Red has been a little shredded too. The dorsal fins on all the fish had grown out nicely since they were first purchased. It is sad to see them getting mangled these past few days.
All this aggression also make me concerned for any fish we add to the tank in the near future. Maybe more food is the answer. Must be sure to continue monitoring.

Also, the fish are scared of my phone camera so I've posted the most not terrible image of a fish with a nipped fin.

pH: Meter seems as if it may ne turning a little Orange but I don't trust my judgement on comparing its color day to day.
Temp: 78
Fed: 6:30
NH3: 0.0

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Friday, November 5, 2010

Ran ammonia test. Results came back as 0.25! (see pic) Very exciting.

Additional comment on fish behavior: earlier in the week I noticed a nip in the forsakefin of one of the middle sized fish. (There are 6 total: Big Red, Spot, 3 middle sized whom I have trouble differentiating, and Small Fry). I worry this is related to their decreased food ration.

pH: n/a
Temp: 78
Fed: 5:30 pm
NH3: 0.25

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Just another Thursday

Fish doing well. Still hungry but seemingly not as desperate today. One side note I wanted to mention that all the ammonia tests are conducted prior to feeding. Just wanting to keep the results as pure as possible.
Also, remembered that bacteria was added to the tank to help get the ammonia under control. It (they?) probably are the reason for the positive drop in NH3 levels.

pH: no noticeable difference on the meter
Temp: 78
Fed: 6:00 pm
NH3: no test

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Ammonia. Going down!

I tested the ammonia today. The results color scale gives colors for 0.5 and 0.25. I estimate the color of today's test at 0.35. Very exciting.
As previously noted I have been easing up on the food the result may be the lower ammonia level. Another possible side effect maybe more hungry fish. Their color continues to look very vibrant. They have had a nice deep red lately. They seem to he very hungry or have become very aware that 1) they are fed after I open the hood, 2) that I feed them in the right hand corner of the tank 3) that I feed them. I say this because they swim frantically over to me when I look into the tank, and they swim to the surface of the right hand side of the tank when I open the hood. After I dipped the ammonia test tube into the water I poured the excess water back in to the tank. At the spot where the water splashed back into the tank they bit/gulped water/air. They also go into a mini-frenzy when I feed them. Only the smallest particles of food get past them. I hope they aren't starving.

Temp: 77 (turned the thermostat up a nudge)
pH: Who can say? The pH meter still looks the same as when the fish store tested the tank at 7.6
Fed: 8:00 pm
NH3: 0.35

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Election Day 2010

No ammonia test today. Trying to keep the amount of food down. Fish seem hungry but their color also looks great.

pH: same
Temp: 77
Fed: 6:30 pm

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Monday, November 1, 2010

Ran another ammonia test in the hope I will be able to see the levels start to drop. Not sure if this is just in my head but I feel like when I dip the test tube into the tank my fingers feel a little numb for a few minutes after. As if the water is so acidic that I can feel it on my hand. Probably just in my head but thought I'd toss it out there.

Ammonia: 0.5-1.0 closer to 1.0 as best as I could tell
pH: let's say 7.6 (as seen at the fish store)
Temp: 77
Fed: 7:00 pm

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Test fail, Bacteria

Took a water sample to the fish store. Guy tested water. Failed 3 out of 4 tests. PH came in at 7.6. The guy gave me some bacteria to put in the filter to help the tank along. (See pic). He said not to change the water and not to put any more pH down in the tank. Sounds like pH down just treats the symptoms and not the cause. "Hurry up and wait." were his exact words. Also, he said to cut back on the fish food. Went to the store with Menu and boy. Menu said she liked the Glo-fish.

Temp: 78 (note: I think I've been reading the thermometer a bit high until now. In the past week the tank temp was probably averaging 76 not 78).
pH: 7.6
Fed: 7:00

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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Added water to the tank on Friday. Just enough to top it off. Noise from the filter indicated that a) we have had some evaporation, b) we dint fill the tank all the way in the first place c) I didnt refill all the water when I did the water changes or d) some combination if all of the above. (My money is on D).

Temp: 78
pH: between 7.4-8.0 maybe (see above and previous posts)
Fed: 7:00 pm

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Friday, October 29, 2010 - Ammonia

I bought an ammonia test kit. Results showed the ammonia level around 0.5-1.0.

Lost faith in the pH tester. I took the reader out and let it sit in a tap water solution. Idea was to see if the reader might zero out (or show the pH of our tap water). The color mellowed out a little but still appeared to be dark orange. I later put the reader in a glass of water with one drop of pH down. Half of the reader turned yellow (acidic) on contact but half stayed pinkish. Very frustrating but good to know it could still turn yellow. Later I rinsed it and put it back in the tank. The same old dark orange/pink color returned.

I need a better test.

After puting the pH indicator back in the tank I got to think that given the ammonia results maybe the test want totally off. In response I added another full dose of pH down to the tank.

Temp: 77
pH: unclear
Fed: 5:50 pm
NH3/NH4+: 0.5-1.0

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PH issues day 3/dose 3

pH still holding at 8.0. Argh. Asked wife to read the meter to get an outside opinion. (To show just how hard it is to read, see image. What color do you think it is?) I think it may have been hovering around 8.2. The color on the pH reader certainly seems to be less intense than on earlier days. In an effort to bring the pH under control I added a full dose of "pH down" for the third day in a row. We'll check back in tomorrow.


Temp: 79
pH: 8.0
Fed: 5:45 pm

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pH woes

Damn pH still won't budge. Will try adding full dose of drops tonight. (2 drips per gal). Fish look nice and red today. Yesterday three looked pretty colorful and three were on the paler side but were better than immediately post water change.

Fed: 6:00 pm
Temp: 78
pH: 8.0 (or possibly 7.4. Hard to tell if it is dark pink or orange).

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API pH DOWN attempt

Bought some pH DOWN (by API) to try and get this pH issue under control. (Can't add new fish is they'll be doomed from the get go). We'll see how it goes. PH was at 8.0 when I got home from work.

Water was cloudy after the vacuuming and water replacement last night. Was nice and clear this pm.

Fed: 5:45 pm
Temp: 78
pH: 8.0

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Water Change

pH seems stuck at 8.0.

Bought a bucket from Home Depot. Vacuumed 5 gallons of water out last night. Replaced with de-chlorinated water. Fish seemed to have gone pale when I looked at them when I was finished with the water change. In the AM the pH was still stuck on 8.0. Not sure if adding plecos will help get pH under control or if my basic water will kill the plecos.

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Monday, Oct. 25 2010

Fish looking bigger, healthy.

Tried to clean some of the gravel last night with the tank vacuum. Changed about 8 liters. Added water 2 liters at a time using a clean diet coke bottle and adding 1 drop of Prime de-chlorine per bottle. Gave water 15-30 mins to sit between each refill.

Fed: 6:00 pm
Temp: 78
pH: 8.0

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Out for the weekend

Was out for the weekend. Fish went without food for two days. They looked active when I checked on them.

Water temp: 74
pH (via pH Alert): 8.0
Water: surface (looking from inside the aquarium up) appears to have small white particles in it.

Fed at: 1:30 pm

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First Aquarium

Two weeks ago I started my first aquarium. It's more fun than I ever expected. To get things started we bought 6 Serpae Tetra. I've gotten the nitrogen cycle started and will be adding some more fish shortly. I hope to use this space here to track the progress of the tank and create a log of the aquarium's vitals and notes on the fish.

I am blogging this information because it MAY be of interest and it is a tool I can use from my phone (which I hope to use to take and post pictures), I can also access this web LOG anywhere (where as a clipboard hung next to my tank is restricted to the physical space it might occupy at my home). Feel free to read and share your thoughts or suggestions.

Noah