[EHEIM OPAL] Before and After 1 month apart

Here is an update on the Eheim opal. Above is a before and after picture 1 month apart.
I pulled out all the glosso on the foreground because it was taking over my HC. I am also pulling out the limnophilia mini on the left back of the tank and slowly planting Staurogyne Tropica in its place. (As it looks nicer and does not grow as fast).

The moss is growing out on the left very well but the weeping moss is not taking off.

I have purchased another tank which I will post up later on.
It is a 2 footer for my A Grade Shrimp.
I am thinking of selling the cube but it has fully cycled so I might do it later on.

[EHEIM OPAL] CO2 upgrade

Since christmas is coming up I have been extremely busy and thus the fewer updates. Recently I have upgraded my CO2 cylinder to a 3kg Aussie made brand "Keg King". I will post up some reviews on it later on when I have settled the transaction.

But so far I am a little disappointed as the regulator arrived damaged (the back panel to one of the gauges was bent forwards preventing the pointer arm from showing its reading). I was also unhappy with the postage fees. I had to pay for postage separately for both items despite them arriving on the same day. Postage in itself cost me $50. The regulator was also NOT bubble wrapped which was very disappointing. Don promised me a replacement regulator so lets see if he keeps his word. Apart from that, I have no complaints about the cylinder.

Reason for upgrade? Well... I was just tired of going down to my LFS every 2-3 weeks to get it refilled. Apparently with this cylinder I will not have to refill it again for at least 1-2 years. So far its set on 24 hours 1 bubble/sec.

SHRIMP TANK - My cube

I am in the process of turning my newly purchased cube into a native shrimp tank. Will post up more updates in the future. I am trying to avoid putting too many plants into the one tank as i wish to see my shrimp this time.
Above are some pictures of some Red Nose Shrimp. They are very perculiar little creatures. Certainly more active than your regular CRS and RCS.

SHRIMP TANK - Just love Black and Pregnant Shrimp

Here are more Black Shrimp photos. Too busy this week so will do a better update next post.

[VIDEO] SHRIMP TANK - Shrimplets

SHRIMP TANK - More shrimplet photos

I took a few pictures of high grade shrimplets and a SSS pregnant female for you to enjoy. I had always thought that female was a male until now. Since she is a first time mother i guess there is no guarantees she will hold the eggs but fingers crossed. Shrimp tank is now bubbling with lots of shrimplets and I may have to cull a few after the New Year.

EHEIM OPAL - Peacock moss growth photo

In order from oldest to most recent
1. Top left
2. Top right
3. Bottom left
4. Bottom right

Here is another before and after picture showing the progressive growth of Peacock moss Needle leaf + ordinary Java fern on driftwood over several months.
Peacock moss looks the best out of all the mosses in my opinion. I also like the look of Fissidens but it does not grow as quickly as Peacock moss.

EHEIM OPAL - Carpet update

Above left: before soon after planting
Above right: After a few months

Here is a before and after snapshot of how easily HC and Glosso can fill out a foreground with maintained CO2 and lighting. It still has a long way to go, but i plan to plant some rocks in the middle later on to prevent the HC from floating up to the surface in huge clumps.

EHEIM OPAL/SHRIMP TANK - R/O unit

Top left: TDS Meter showing 4ppm and temperature
Top right: The R/O unit hooked up in the toilet

A few things in the update -
My water was reaching a TDS of 220 so I decided to purchase a R/O unit. So far the unit is producing water with a TDS reading of approximately 4. The pH is a little high at the moment but soon it should produce water with a reasonably low pH.

Also did a filter clean today on my shrimp setup. The impeller was making a lot of noise so i rinsed out the fine sponge and opened up the roof of my filter to clean the impeller blade.

Below is a photo of the black SS shrimplet I promised. Hopefully it will make it into the adult stage.

SHRIMP TANK

Its getting more difficult to do updates these days as it is getting close to Christmas.
I have purchased some red nose native shrimp - will post some pics up later on.

Also my shrimplets are growing quickly. Mainly As and S' not many SS' on close inspection.

One of the mothers gave birth again to more shrimplets yesterday or the day before
yesterday. Those are red SS' but i am unsure how many are in the tank
as I only managed to find two. When they are a little older i will post some snapshots.

EHEIM OPAL - Near disaster

Had a near disaster in my EHEIM tank. Cranked up the CO2 too high overnight and almost lost everything. All my fish were at the surface stressed and trying to breathe. Immediately did a large water change and used an airpump. They are much better now.

I have never seen the drop checker so yellow.
Here is an updated whole tank show of the EHEIM OPAL. HC is filling in very nicely now. Trimmed the stems last week but now the moss needs a trim.

SHRIMP TANK - Shrimplet Photos

Sorry guys, I am getting busier and busier these days and thus slowing down on my updates. Seems like all the shrimplets from that black S female have grown. I have counted close to 15 but it could be 20s or more in total.
Half look to be red and half are black - most are A grades which is a little disappointing. I have seen one SS black so far. Will post some snapshots above. Funny thing is... she is pregnant again.

Will keep everyone posted

Another update,

Had a heatwave the other day and the fluctuating temperature may have killed a few shrimplets. There are still a few alive and I am feeding them the Biozyme daily.
Above is a picture of the female pregnant SS I promised. I shot it at a side angle because I thought it looked artistic.
I will post some pics of the shrimplets up when they are a little bigger.
They are still very small.

SHRIMP TANK - More photos

top left: about 5 days old - shrimplets (the SS Black female in the right is the one that got berried yesterday)
top right: Pregnant female fanning her eggs

I apologise for not having posted for a while. Am getting really busy these days and have not had enough time to update my blog.

Lots of things have happened.

1. Firstly that Black Female (see october 27 2011) has produced shrimplets yesterday. I saw a few swimming around.
2. Also, one of my black SS females have berried yesterday so I am pretty excited about that. Will post some pics of her in the next update.
3. The past week has been scorching hot and a lot of water has evaporated. I have not had the time to do proper water changes and my TDS has risen from 130 to 165. I am in the process of aging some water.
4. I have just got some Biomax and Biozyme food in. Will post some reviews later on once i get to try the food properly.

A few of the shrimplets from the black A grade female look SS in pattern. They also look red! I havent got round to posting up those pics up yet but I will post what pics I have soon.

[VIDEO] SHRIMP TANK - Shrimp Sex

I was sitting watching my breeding box this morning and decided to take a video.
Just got lucky catching two of my shrimp having a good time.
Well maybe it was just the male....
The female approaches the male and thinks to herself "Oh Sh*t". She turns away from him
but it is too late, he chases her and joins with her belly to belly. A successful mating.
Enjoy the video

SHRIMP TANK - Whole Tank Photo

I have been requested by a viewer to post up a whole tank photo of my shrimp tank. The scape is not all that interesting as I try not fiddle with the tank too much (unlike the other tank). Anyway, here it is.
Here is a bried description. To the right is the shrimp house made of carbon. The field in front of it is filled with staurogyne which I thought was very pretty. To the left is a large clump of Subwassertang and Hydrocotyle. Reason why i used Wassertang is because shrimplets love it. The shrimp housing is covered in Peacock moss and towards the middle is ordinary Java moss which is always reliable. To the back left there is some Water Sprite and Red/Green Milfoil.

I cover my intake with normal netting to avoid shrimpets from being sucked in. People have used sponges but I prefer netting as it does not get dirty or clogged easily. On the driftwood towards the centre is Fissidens. Its for display only really.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed the photos. And coming up next in the blog is a VIDEO captured this morning of my shrimp mating.

EHEIM OPAL - Tank Update

Here is the whole tank shot as promised.

Plants:
Front left: (on tile) Mini Pellia
Front left: Staurogyne Tropica
Front left: Pogostem Helferi
Front left: Red Tiger Lotus
Front left: Anubias
Front left: Hygro Pinnatifida
Front left: (back) Limnophilia vietnam mini
Front left: (towards back corner) Limnophilia mini vietnam
Front left middle: Hemianthus micranthemoides or HM
Front left middle: (on driftwood) Peacock moss
Front left middle: (on driftwood arms) Peacock moss
Front left middle: (on driftwood left arm) Weeping moss
Front left middle: (on driftwood root branch) USS fissidens
Front left middle: Tricolor Lotus
Front left back: Ambulia spp. green
Center (just left of driftwood): Hygrophila Pinnatifida
Center front: Glosso
Center back: Proserpinaca Palustris
Center middle: Hemianthus callitrichoides or HC
Center middle: Lilaeopsis
Right back: More Ambulia
Right back (little towards center): Baby tears
Right: (on driftwood): USS Fissidens (left arm)
Right: (on driftwood): Peacock moss (center arms)
Right: (on driftwood): Windelov Lace Java Fern, Narrow Leaf Java Fern and normal Java Fern
Right: (on driftwood): Java Moss (right arm)
Right: (front) Limnophilia Vietnam mini
Right: I think the red stem is Rotala Macandra
Right: Red Ambulia
Floating on surface of tank - Amazon Frogbit

Fish:
3x Siamese Algae Eaters (Bully, Smartie, Dummy)
2x Borneo Hillside Suckers (Rocky and Cutie)
1x Albino Bristlenose Plec (Ugly)
4x Corydoras Pigmaeus
3x Blue Rams (Male is Tommy)
2x Clown Killifish
15x Cherry shrimp
2x Corydoras Julii
4x Cardinal tetras

EHEIM OPAL - Peacock Moss Before and After

Remember my driftwood in July? Well it is now almost completely covered in the peacock moss. Just love how this moss grows. Its fronds look so feathery and lush.
I am now looking for some weeping moss to contrast this.

EHEIM OPAL - HC Filling in nicely

Before and after picture of the HC approximately one month apart.
Seems to be carpeting nicely.
I will post a whole tank shot on my next update. The Cherry seems quite happy.

SHRIMP TANK - More CBS PICS

It is an impatient wait for the female to produce her little black shrimplets. Since she was berried on the 19th Oct she will be due on the 9th November.

EHEIM OPAL - Corydoras Julii

These guys are adorable.
They always seem to stick together. I will be getting more in the future but two is enough for now.
I probably already mentioned before that I added a few cherries to my EHEIM OPAL. They are hiding when the lights are on (although in plain view LOL). They come out to scavenge mainly when the lights are off and the fish are asleep.

SHRIMP TANK - New Camera Shots

I just recently got my iphone 4s and was testing out the camera on my favourite shrimp. Hope you enjoy these pics as much as i did.
I also got a new fish for my Eheim Opal today. 2x Corydoras Julii. Will post the pics up tomorrow or the day after.

SHRIMP TANK - Mulberry Leaves

I find it interesting how much the shrimp love to pick at Mulberry Leaves. What i generally do is boil the leaves for about 3 minutes and freeze them completely till they are rock hard. That way when they defrost they are soft enough for the shrimp to pick at.
Notice how I have culled all the less intense shrimp, and replaced they with better coloured ones.