Category Archives: Pets

So hard to get a shot of her with her big eyes on!

Automatic top-off in operation.

25litres of top-off water should last a few weeks (or more). I’ve got to make a cabinet or shelves to hide this gear (and get those powerboards away from potential spillage!).

Surgical like gear to help prune and plant.

Black background installed to hide all the hang on back filter.

I’ve taken a leaf from the advanced world of Marine Aquariums and I’ve semi-automated the ADA Iwagumi’s evaporation situation. When the water level drops from evaporation the filter starts making splashes, for a planted tank running C02 this water surface agitation wastes valuable C02 so I have to keep the water level very high. Instead of having to top up the tank every day I’ve installed an automated top-off system. It’s basically a float switch connected to a small pump in a bucket of fresh water. When the water level drops it activates the pump which pumps water into the display until the level I set it at (full to the brim almost!).

Pearling.

Tank in situ.

I’ve been looking to create a lawn effect for the ADA tank. The idea is to make the rocks look like huge mountains. After much hunting I’ve managed to source some South American HC (Hemianthus Callitrichoides) which is amongst the smallest of plants. I’ve killed a lot of plants in the past, far from green fingers. Fingers crossed I’ll keep this stuff alive though!

I had the C02 running and it finished in 2 nights (it’s meant to go for months at a drop or so/second). Yup I had a BIG leak somewhere. In a hurry I dropped in to see Barry at B&C Aquarium this morning and he went all out to help me find the leak, fix it and fill up my bottle too (he’s a top guy especially considering I didn’t buy the C02 gear from him!).

I still need to hunt down a G12 150W 8000k bulb, this bulb is a lottle too purple for my liking as it’s meant for a marine set-up. Finding the right bulb is proving impossible though. No one has one in the country and the only place that does know of themwill not bring just one in from Japan (min. order is 50!). I also still need a black background. and I’ve yet to tidy up all cabling with white cable tidy.

Beautiful Fig Tree.

At the base there’s glosso, hair grass and java moss.

It’s so bonsai like. I love it!

Fig tree sitting in the hang on back filter.

Iwagumi scape.

Today Christina and I dropped in to Aquaristic, an aquarium shop on Botany Road I’ve been wanting to visit for some time. The shop was super impressive. So clean, so neat and everything was just presented so well.

I walked out with a few rocks to begin my Iwagumi (Japanese rock garden) scape for the ADA Mini-L Nano tank and also scored a lovely fig tree which I’ve put in the hang on back filter.

I’ve got a lot more work to do. Cleaning up the wires, the background and also changing the light to a more natural yellow bulb but I’m pretty happy with the scape I ended up with. Looking forward to getting some micro-leaved plants in there soon.

I sold Mr. Mantis Shrimp 2 weeks ago (he made for a very boring pet as he never came out of his cave) and I’ve torn down the tank to get ready for a planted C02 set-up (what I should have done all along).

Gearing up!

Working with this kinda gear always scares the shit out of me.

Laying down the ADA fertilisers.

9kg’s worth of ADA aquasoil.

150W metal halide.

It’s way too blue (marine tank light) so I’ll have to change the bulb out for something more natural (yellow).

Also got delivery of most of Tony’s gear for his Namatjira inspired tank. You can view the updates here.

Yesterday I bought a fish I’ve always wanted.

He adds a lot of difference to the tank in the way he swims (love how he glides through the water). He’s not gotten close to cleaning the long standing tank mates. Blue Tang is now king of the tank and last night he was giving the new guy some attitude, so too my flame angel but today they’re all getting along a lot better.

I’ve been worried about keeping one of these fish as I’ve read that they often starve once there’s no more parasites to clean off other fishes. I’ve also read that they tend to harass other fishes once there’s no more parasites left to eat too (due to starving and desperately seeking more food). I had 3 to choose from in the shop (a small shop in Bondi Junction) and I chose the most colourful one as well as the most aggressive (he seemed very insanely happy to greet me up against the glass).

This morning I fed a little flake and he’s eating it at the surface. I just tried a block of mysid and he’s gobbling that up too (phew!). I also just did a water change and he bit my arm! Looks like he’ll be just fine :)

Mia’s a big girl now (well…almost!).

Her adult teeth are poking through!