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.

SHRIMP TANK - Berried Black

One of my black shrimp berried this morning or last night. Ive also now got 2 SSS males so looking forward to some babies soon i hope.
Tank is just full of growing A grade shrimplets at the moment.

SHRIMP TANK - My Current Favourite

Here is the video as promised. The SSS male; a favourite of mine.

SHRIMP TANK - I like them very black

Here is a video of my crystal black shrimp. As you can see, I like them very very black.
2Toned is my inspiration to the whole change in my attitude.

SHRIMP TANK - Shrimp Upgraded

I bought this shrimp on the weekend from 2Toned. I absolutely love it. The pictures do not do it justice so I will post a video up later on.
Amazing thickness to the white... like liquid paper.

I am in the process of selling all my shrimp and upgrading to better colour.

In my opinion COLOUR > PATTERN

Hoping in a few months time I am aiming for shrimp and shrimplets that are equal in quality to the ones sold in Korea and Japan.

EHEIM OPAL - What is in my tank?

As you can see from the previous picture, the moss is growing well on the second piece of driftwood. I have also cut the driftwood into shape so it looks more pleasing to the eye. I still need to put a background on the back of the aquarium but have been really busy.

Ive added a few plants
1. limnophilia vietnam mini (planted this along the back left corner and right front corner)
2. Bolbitis. - Thanks Tone (have attached this to driftwood on the rear right corner of the tank)
3. The Taiwan moss has not died and is growing.
4. The USS fissidens looks very healthy now. Will post some comparison pics later on.

Currently I am dosing with Seachem iron and comprehensive. Nothing else.


Plants:
Front left: (on the tile) Weeping moss
Front left: Staurogyne Tropica
Front left: Pogostem Helferi
Front left: Red Tiger Lotus
Front left: Anubias
Front left: Hygro Pinnatifida
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) Christmas moss
Front left middle: (on driftwood long arm) Fire moss
Front left middle: (on driftwood root branch) USS fissidens
Front left middle: (on driftwood long arm) Taiwan moss
Front left middle: Tricolor Lotus
Front left back: Ambulia spp. green
Center front: Glosso
Center back: Riccia
Center back: (on tile) Mini Pellia
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: I think the red stem is Rotala Macandra
Right: Red Ambulia
Right: Towards back corner on driftwood - Bolbitis
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

EHEIM OPAL - Moss collecting

above: Find the cherry! There are three but one is obvious.

Sorry for the late updates.
A few things have happened since my last update:
1. I have added 15 cherry shrimp to my main tank.
2. I have bought some extra plants.
- taiwan moss
- limnophila mini vietnam
3. Removed a whole lot of the lilaeopsis. I don't it quite fits in with the scape

I am looking for some weeping moss. Should have it in the next week.
Stay tuned for the next update!

[VIDEO] SHRIMP TANK - Sharing is Caring

SHRIMP TANK - Let the kids eat first!

Picture1: As soon as i drop a wafer in the tank the babies (born Sept 8th - 1 month old) are the first to arrive. They eat what they can but soon the larger CRS come marching in to the left.
Picture2: The two larger CRS have taken over and the SS shrimp also come over to see what the fuss is about.
Picture3: Ends in a feeding frenzy

SHRIMP TANK - Black Bee

More pictures from my aquarium. This time theyre crystal blacks.

[VIDEO] SHRIMP TANK - Nuts for Wafers

This is a video of a Pregnant Female Crystal Red going nuts for her
Shirakura wafer.
She absolutely loves it. She is so heavily pregnant she almost looks like
she is bouncing around on the gravel.
Once she gets her greedy claws on it she will not share it and ends up dragging it to the other corner of the tank.

Funny to watch

[VIDEO] SHRIMP TANK - Shrimplet Haven

Nothing is more relaxing than sitting down in front of a shrimp tank admiring the juveniles =) To share the excitement I have posted up a video for everyone to see.

EHEIM OPAL - Rocky Platform

I spent the whole day yesterday scaping the tank with flat rocks to raise the back left height of the soil. I have not quite finished with the scape yet. Water was really cloudy yesterday so took some shots today.
Made the following changes:
- 3 flat stones added
- moved driftwood towards the back
- heater moved out of the way
- replanted staurogyne and pogostem (still not quite happy with them yet)