low tech tank

[fishpoo]

Hi guys I have just got a small 20 by 30 by 18 tank
hoping to add CRS in the future, but right now it's home to 2 xray tetras
and a strip of mini riccia (which is not pearling) and some spiky moss..

Recently I've found a trace of oil on the surface of the water, anyone knows what that is? or experienced the same thing?

Oh and has anyone managed to breed xray tetras?

[beetlejuice403]

Hi bro fishpoo, welcome to AQ & this hobby...

You have a very nice piece of deco as your background in your tank that looks like a mountain.. [Sorry, but is it a piece of driftwood or those Lava rocks?] You may wish to add in a few more small pieces of rocks/ pebbles at the base of the 'mountain' to let it have the rocky hills look...

Your tank's dimension are in cm or in inches? For mini riccia, bubbling can be achieved if there are sufficient light & CO2 is injected, I think cool water may also assist in the growth & bubbling... However, the troublesome part comes when you are trying to 'harvest' the riccia's growth as it's float up & create mess in the tank - but still it is a nice plant to have in the tank if you like the bubbling effects...

For the layer of thing at the water surface, guess it's some protein thingy... Not an issue but may be very unsightly. You may choose to add an airstone to your tank to provide more surface agitation to remove the layer of whitish stuffs or you may choose to buy & install a surface skimmer if you wish to...

As for breeding, never lucky in this area (except for the breeding of Ramshorn Snails!! ) Hope your Xray Tetras breed soon...

Cheers!!

[fishpoo]

oh it's a piece of driftwood thanks for the suggestions
my tanks' dimensions are in cm so it's actually quite a small tank haha
so I guess CO2 maybe out?
heard it costs alot....
yep heard alot about riccia maintanence and I'm bracing myself for it...
even thought of a backup plan... may try dwarf hairgrass if I get tired of riccia haha...

Any experience with xray tetra breeding though?

[hanna]

Alloz~!

Sorry to sound noob but I am... I would like to ask you what's the name of the short green grass at the bottom of your tank. you mentioned "a strip of mini riccia (which is not pearling) and some spiky moss" - one of these?

It looks interesting and I am considering adding another water plant to my tank. Thanks a bunch~!!

[beetlejuice403]

oh it's a piece of driftwood thanks for the suggestions
my tanks' dimensions are in cm so it's actually quite a small tank haha
so I guess CO2 maybe out?
heard it costs alot....
yep heard alot about riccia maintanence and I'm bracing myself for it...
even thought of a backup plan... may try dwarf hairgrass if I get tired of riccia haha...

Any experience with xray tetra breeding though?

Ok, for a small tank set-up like this, do remember not to overstock it with too many fishes (livestocks) as it may lead to bio-overload & thus ammonia spike - resulting in fish death eventually of spike is not taken care of fast. [I'm speaking from my own sad experience as I have a similar tank setup like yours too... Now only housing 3 endlers in it... ]

For CO2, you have several options:
(1) Get Seachem Excel & dose into your tank on a regular basis;
(2) Get CO2 tablets & insert into the substrate;
(3) Get a mini pressurized CO2 system;
(4) DIY your own CO2.

Each option has its own pros & cons... For myself, am doing (1) & (4) for my tanks currently... Able to see the difference between "with CO2" & "without CO2" from the plants' growth...

Dwarf hairgrass will be good to be used as a foreground plant in your setup & it's rather easy to care off too...

No experience in breeding of xray tetras at all... My own objective in this hobby is to minimise (or better still, avoid) any death of any livestocks... Breeding will be an added bonus for me though...

Alloz~!

Sorry to sound noob but I am... I would like to ask you what's the name of the short green grass at the bottom of your tank. you mentioned "a strip of mini riccia (which is not pearling) and some spiky moss" - one of these?

It looks interesting and I am considering adding another water plant to my tank. Thanks a bunch~!!

Guess you are referring to his mini riccia...

Cheers!

[fishpoo]

hey beetle
thanks for all you advice great help... but any idea if CO2 tablets in the substrate are good? I'm worried that it would affect my crs in the future when I introduce them in my tank that's why I haven't added any tablets or chemicals besides anti chlorine and waterlife bacteria.
(and after a week my ammonia level is still 1 )
oh you breed ramshorn snails? do they eat plants? any to spare? haha

oh yeah the light green plants are mini riccia and spiky moss is tied to my driftwood 'mountain' haha

Cheers!

[z_z]

Tablets are pretty expensive in the long run. Maybe you want to consider a pressurized CO2 system? At least you can control the output of CO2 and adjust it to a level you are comfortable with for your CRS.

[fishpoo]

yeah.. but I have space limitations.. and any idea how much would the smallest CO2 system set me back by?

[Binks]

yeah.. but I have space limitations.. and any idea how much would the smallest CO2 system set me back by?

If you go to Marketplace in this forum and then click on Merchants....you should find a post on Nano CO2 pressurized system . If I remember right it was for something around S$100 or a bit less, not quite sure of the exact price

[fishpoo]

Thanks for the information binks
will post some updates on my tank soon... just added a horned nerite in it... doesn't seem to like the water though.. my ammonia level is still 1 using the API test kit... just dumped a whole bottle of waterlife bacteria in the tank (20ml) hope it clears up..

[lawry83]

i believe my tank is the same as your.Unless you can lower your temperature, i do not reccomend u to get CRS.i had a CRS casualty due to heat prior getting a chiller. 1 of my grade A bds faded and till now the colors has not returned.

[fishpoo]

Oh noted.. my tank is averaging in between 26-27 degrees these days though.. what temp was yours?
tested for ammonia again today... still 1...

[lawry83]

25 with chiller. without during the hotter season actually reached 30+.

[fishpoo]

Hi guys lastest updates, I've added 4 crystal red shrimp into my tank..
it's been a day... and they seem to be doing well... hope they breed soon...
any bros out there have any tips on breeding?

[beetlejuice403]

Sorry fishpoo, didn't spot your previous post addressed to me... Below are some of my sharings...

hey beetle
thanks for all you advice great help... but any idea if CO2 tablets in the substrate are good? [To me, I'm currently using them in my goldfish tank & stuffing it into the lapis sand... Personally, I don't quite like (encourage) the use of such tablets as it'll break down & 'release' many whitish particles floating & drifting in the water colums... However, my greedy goldfish will open their mouths & help me clean this mess up... Never used these CO2 tablets with my CRSs though, so unable to comment..] I'm worried that it would affect my crs in the future when I introduce them in my tank that's why I haven't added any tablets or chemicals besides anti chlorine and waterlife bacteria.
(and after a week my ammonia level is still 1 )
oh you breed ramshorn snails? do they eat plants? any to spare? haha [Well, how many do you need? If you need just a few & don't mind collecting from my place in Punggol, just let me know.. No, they do not eat plants - at least in my tanks... but they are very efficient & hardworking algae eaters.. & they are a sight to behold in the tank also..]

oh yeah the light green plants are mini riccia and spiky moss is tied to my driftwood 'mountain' haha

Cheers!

Oh noted.. my tank is averaging in between 26-27 degrees these days though.. what temp was yours?
tested for ammonia again today... still 1...

[You may wish to get this "Seachem Prime" to use to help you with the ammonia... But try to solve the problem at the root - could the persistent ammonia level due to overstocking of livestocks in your nano tank? If yes, you'll need to carefully plan the livestocks you wish to retain/add in the future..]

Hi guys lastest updates, I've added 4 crystal red shrimp into my tank..
it's been a day... and they seem to be doing well... hope they breed soon...
any bros out there have any tips on breeding?

[Hmm... I also having 10 pieces of CRS in my shrimp tank with temperature range like yours... Am praying for them to breed also - but I guess now, the most important is to keep them alive as they were a gift from a kind friend I got to know from AQ... Think for CRSs to breed, a lot of bros will advise cooler water temperature...]

Cheers!

[Morgan01]

i believe those are balloon pristella rather than x-ray tetras

[fishpoo]

oh thanks for the input beetle... I have added a horned nerite in so probably next time i'll get some ramshorns from you...

Last night the temperature almost hit 28 degrees... quite worried..
keep us updated on your crs too beetle..

oh thanks for the heads up Morgan... but some of the LFS call it xray tetra... hahaha oh well... i guess as long as people know what we are talking about it's fine

[fishpoo]

Oh no one of my shrimp is dying.. it's lying down stiff but it's mouth is still moving... is it molting? It's colour is also fading.. i don't understand what's happening.. my ammonia is 0 Nitrite is also 0 Nitrate reading is 40, Kh is 0 but my GH is 120 using the API 5 in 1 strip to test.. ammonia was tested using the api liquid testers... I'm really not sure about the parameters for gh suitable for crs... please advise...

[GER]

i had this bad experience before and till today i told myself i will never get anymore of them unless i have a chiller(at least) or the tank is kept in an air condition enviroment......CRS are extremenly sensitive and low temperature and good water quality is a must. maybe you will want to read more about them before getting more.

[GER]

oops...forgot to ask...bro, has your tank mature?