In search of the perfect breeding bowl

[timebomb]

Point taken, Ronnie. My idea of a perfect breeding bowl is one that sits well in a planted tank. I suppose others would have different opinions.

Hey, I've got a new bowl. Actually, it isn't new. I'm using one of my wife's pottery pieces. This one:



It comes with a cover which is good for preventing the peat from floating out from the bowl when it's being lowered into the tank.

Here's how it looks in my planted tank:



Usually, I hide my breeding bowls at the back of the tank but I put this one right in front so I can take the pictures. Within a few hours, a Simp. fulminantis male has claimed it as his own.




Loh K L

[RonWill]

I'm using one of my wife's pottery pieces...

I think most of us will agree that Mrs Loh needs more practice on the potters' wheel and ought to be proficient by the time she churns out the 20th 'Limited Edition' pieces... so any idea what it's gonna cost us for these?

Nicely done. Compliments to the Mrs.

[ruyle]

By the way, I sent 2 such bowls to Bill a couple of months ago. I wonder if he finds them useful.

Loh K L

KL, they are in Thailand or are on their way in one of many boxes we
sent over. I think I told you my wife thought the bowls too pretty to place
in a tank and commandeered them for holding rose buds, etc. No doubt
I will see them in our house when I move over

Regards,

Bill

[timebomb]

I think I told you my wife thought the bowls too pretty to place in a tank and commandeered them for holding rose buds, etc.

I told my wife what your wife thought of the bowls and she said she will only be too happy to give her some of her pottery pieces if she likes the bowls so much. You must come to Singapore with your wife when you visit Bangkok, Bill. My wife and I will try out best to make your stay here an unforgettable one

\... so any idea what it's gonna cost us fo these?

Thanks for the compliments, Ronnie. I asked the wife just now and this is what she said. To make such a bowl, it will take her about 3 hours. But if her pottery teacher makes the bowl, it will take him only 5 minutes or so But don't even think about ordering such bowls from the pottery teacher. He considers his pottery pieces to be works of art. To ask him to make "limited editions" would be an insult. To order only one from him would be paying for a work of art. I don't think you want to know the price, Ronnie

By the way, the more I look at it, the more I like the new bowl. It blends in perfectly with the aquascape although it's a rather odd thing to put into a planted tank. Maybe it's the colour but here's a picture of how it looks in my cube tank:



I've been taking many pictures and this is one which shows the Simp. fulminantis diving into the bowl.



The S. fulminantis is truly a beautiful Killie. Pictures don't do justice to their vibrant colours but here's one which isn't too bad:



Many thanks to Selena for giving me the eggs. I'll be bringing a trio of this fish to the gathering. I hate to part with such beauties but it's important that they are distributed around.

Loh K L

[ruyle]

By the way, the more I look at it, the more I like the new bowl. It blends in perfectly with the aquascape although it's a rather odd thing to put into a planted tank. Maybe it's the colour but here's a picture of how it looks in my cube tank:

KL, that is one serene scene you've created in the cube. How large is it
(it's ok, you can use metric ) I'm hoping Thailand has these cubes.
Also, what are you using to light it with and what is the plant in the right
corner? I don't think the bowl detracts from it at all, quite elegant.

Regards,

Bill
ps My wife and I are both looking forward to meeting you and your wife!

[stormhawk]

Bill, if you're referring to the plant with the spiked leaves, then its Hygrophila difformis aka Water Wisteria.

If you're referring to that small plant near the bottom of the bowl, then its a Downoi or Pogostemon helferi.

[ruyle]

Bill, if you're referring to the plant with the spiked leaves, then its Hygrophila difformis aka Water Wisteria.

Wow, the difformis is a deeper green than what I recall seeing in the US.
I wonder if there's different varietals of Water Wisteria. I'm currently
trying to grow out some Hottonia palustris, which is similar.

Thanks for the info, Jianyang,

Bill

[timebomb]

How large is it(it's ok, you can use metric )

Bill, for some strange reason, when it comes to tank dimensions, I can only think in feet and inches The tank is 24 inches (Length) X 20 inches (Width) X 20 inches (Height).

Amano preaches that for a tank to look good, the dimensions have to be of a certain ratio. I didn't know about this when I ordered the tank but somehow, I think I must have hit on the right ratio. Many of my friends who have seen the tank says it looks very nice. I call it a cube tank but it isn't really a cube.
You shouldn't have any problems getting such a tank to be custom made in Thailand.

For lights, I'm using 4 two feet tubes, Phillips TLD 18W 865. They're cheap tubes and I bought them from a lights wholesaler. Such lights are often used in classrooms in schools and in departmental stores. When you come to Singapore with your wife, I'll bring you to the wholesaler where the light tubes are so cheap you can buy enough lights to last you a lifetime.

Loh K L

[ruyle]

For lights, I'm using 4 two feet tubes, Phillips TLD 18W 865. They're cheap tubes and I bought them from a lights wholesaler. Such lights are often used in classrooms in schools and in departmental stores. When you come to Singapore with your wife, I'll bring you to the wholesaler where the light tubes are so cheap you can buy enough lights to last you a lifetime.

Loh K L

The Philips lights are cheap, huh? Very nice color temp, remembering
Freddy's post about the numbers: 865 means T-8 with 6500Kelvin
Will definitely take you up on the offer of the wholesaler...shipping to
Ubon shouldn't be too bad--don't think they'd allow me to take them on
the plane

Bill