illumnae's Apistogramma elizabethae "Super Red"

**illumnae** · 28th Aug 2007, 22:52

thing is, like i mentioned above, i don't want to do any form of dosing at all, light or not

i also do weekly 20% water changes as my apistos like fresh, clean water...and the water changes induce breeding too

thus far, i've achieved a balance in this tank as with the current plant mass, i'm seeing no forms of algae (the otos probably help with that as i previously did have green spot algae) and the plants are still growing especially since i just added root tabs in

**PeterGwee** · 28th Aug 2007, 22:58

Well, then so be it since it's your tank.

Bumming the CO2 up and down via water changes might not be great for the plants and confuses them. (CO2 exposure during draining of the tank.)

Regards,
Peter Gwee

**illumnae** · 28th Aug 2007, 23:02

i may be left with no choice soon anyhow as i'm thinking of upgrading my lights to 24W (1.9wpg) or 36W (2.8wpg) so that i can view and photograph my fish better. this might leave me with no choice but to plant more heavily and dose as well to avoid algae issues

**PeterGwee** · 28th Aug 2007, 23:04

Don't think of more light!!! You will increase the plant demands (CO2 and nutrients) and face more issues! Since you don't care much about the plants, you can consider adding loads of driftwood and form mazes with it as well as dried leaves for a biotope style setup.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

**illumnae** · 28th Aug 2007, 23:07

there are currently some dried leaves in the tank that the apistos are happily using as hiding holes...i'll consider adding more

1.4wpg is really low light though, i have a less densely planted tank (a 1ft cube) with 2wpg and still no algae issues, so the 24W light may be suitable to help viewing and still avoid algae

thanks for the tips!

**tcy81** · 28th Aug 2007, 23:29

maybe you can add in driftwoods tied with moss or java ferns.

**illumnae** · 29th Aug 2007, 08:09

it's been 12 hours and the female is still unable to seduce the male! i'm starting to wonder where his sexual inclinations lie...

**Milk** · 29th Aug 2007, 23:25

A word of Advice.....Make a choice between a planted tank/Apistogramma keeping or Apistogramma breeding tank...There are some points to take note of...Know which you really want....The current setup seems more like a Apistogramma keeping tank to me..not much of a breeding tank...

Regards
Dimas

**Cacatuoides** · 29th Aug 2007, 23:49

Care to elaborate on the difference of a apisto keeping, breeding tank? what does it consist of?

**tcy81** · 30th Aug 2007, 00:09

By the way , i have manage to breed Taeniacara candidi in a planted tank setup 2x1x1.5ft with a piece of drift wood tie with moss. so I think planted tank with apistogramma breeding still possible. ( maybe Taeniacara candidi is easier to breed, i not too sure)

Think set let the apistogramma feel more comfortable by giving them more hiding places.

**illumnae** · 30th Aug 2007, 09:14

haha after a short chat with wise valice, i've realised i've become abit too obsessed with breeding my fish

regardless of whether they breed or not, i've still got beautiful fish, especially the male, and i enjoy viewing them regardless of whether they breed or not.

so i'm just gonna sit back, relax, enjoy my fish and let nature take its course...

of course in my heart of hearts i still hope they breed la...but if they don't it's ok...i still think my elizabethae's beautiful anyway

**trident** · 30th Aug 2007, 11:49

Yi Xiang,
Yah lor, that's the way. I noticed that you were very keen for your fish to breed. Just take it easy, when they are ready, they will breed.
Richard

**illumnae** · 30th Aug 2007, 16:58

On a different note, does anyone know if weekly changing of leaf litter will stress the fish out? it's destroying old "hideouts" and creating new ones for them on a weekly basis...would this be a stress factor and create an impression on the fish that it's "moving house" every week?

**Cacatuoides** · 30th Aug 2007, 20:12

I remember Vincent mention that he adds new leaves on top of his existing leaf litter once it breaks down...

**Wackytpt** · 31st Aug 2007, 09:42

Originally Posted by Cacatuoides

Care to elaborate on the difference of a apisto keeping, breeding tank? what does it consist of?

In simple layman terms,

apisto keeping is more of keeping an apisto in a well maintained and do up planted tank. Bascially it is a visual setup. Where people would love the scaping in the tank and also with a suitable scape, it will bring out the beauty of the apisto. You will compromise the water parameters that is required for breeding due to the requirement needed for the plants.

A breeding tank would be clay pots, leave litter and low PH. Basically a breeding tank would be a tank that is as close as the natural living enviroment. It will ehance the fish into breeding.

Hope that explains.

On a separate note, Yi Xiang you got a potential pair. This batch of german shipment is much better then the previous batch. A simple advice, don't be too stress over fish keeping. Enjoy the beauty of the fish.

Cheers

**illumnae** · 31st Aug 2007, 10:13

thanks for the advice nic

i'm just gonna sit back and enjoy the beauty of my pair now...no more stress over the fish. as long as they are comfortable and happy with their conditions, i'll be happy

**Milk** · 1st Sep 2007, 00:19

Originally Posted by Wackytpt

In simple layman terms,

apisto keeping is more of keeping an apisto in a well maintained and do up planted tank. Bascially it is a visual setup. Where people would love the scaping in the tank and also with a suitable scape, it will bring out the beauty of the apisto. You will compromise the water parameters that is required for breeding due to the requirement needed for the plants.

A breeding tank would be clay pots, leave litter and low PH. Basically a breeding tank would be a tank that is as close as the natural living enviroment. It will ehance the fish into breeding.

Hope that explains.

On a separate note, Yi Xiang you got a potential pair. This batch of german shipment is much better then the previous batch. A simple advice, don't be too stress over fish keeping. Enjoy the beauty of the fish.

Cheers

Well Nic...Seems like you have learn a lot....

Regards
Milk

**illumnae** · 1st Sep 2007, 09:06

hmm, funny how things work out - looks like after i decided not to care about their breeding, i may have good news. female has lost her rotundness and is always hiding under the same leaf...and 2 of the espei were battered when i got home

**illumnae** · 4th Sep 2007, 10:57

Some poorly taken photos with my pns...the pair have settled in quite nicely with a suspected spawn.

The male is flaring nicely now, not just with his gill covers and i must say he's so majestic that it's breathtaking! unfortunately my wood/plants make it almost impossible for me to get a good shot of him flaring so i can't share the joy yet.

Male:

Female:

**illumnae** · 8th Sep 2007, 11:56

Richard came down today to take some shots and managed to get some nice shots of my elizabethae. He's been colouring up real nice since settling into his new home

Pity this fella doesn't like to do a full flare, preferring instead to flare his gills and attempt to bite the mirror, we only managed to see him do a full flare 2-3 times the whole morning and he always did it when Richard just started to look away.

No shots of the female as she was mostly guarding her brood.

Thread: illumnae's Apistogramma elizabethae "Super Red"

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