Cory Diary : Sterbai Eggs

Been a long time since I last breeded Corydoras from my hectic schedule. This is a batch of 4 sterbai. They are quite small size maybe 1.5" inch and I would say stunted growth due to limited space with full grown plants.

The eggs are quite small maybe 1.5mm only. They start appearing after I do a more thorough cleaning of the dirty old sponges and sucking up debris at the bottom ( half the tank ). In-addition I did 35% water change. Due to the hot weather, the newer water is actually higher.

Glad to see eggs which mean continuity but I won't be giving special care for the babies, if any.

Cory

2022-0714

Cory Diary : Thinking of mini setup filtration system - Part 2

Got it done in a mini-tank. The water is quite cloudy so did a 50% water change. Adding Seachem Stability daily for a week.

As above the design is cylindrical shaped and much smaller than the square box design. Right behind this UGF filter, I have a mini-sponge filter for maintenance needs.

Cory

2022-0713

Cory Diary : Thinking of mini setup filtration system - Part 1

 After watching Shrimp Mania YouTube video, I like the under gravel filter setup a lot. However, I am thinking of DIY one myself to cut cost.

There are soils in reserve which I could use. It is somewhere deep in the storage. Maybe the size is not perfect but it can still works.  There is also some spared standalone UFG design cylindrical flat filter box. See picture below.

With the cotton filter media removed to avoid clogging

What I can do is to fill the soils on top of this filter. Probably a net mesh between them. Think I can use the cloth mesh use for cleaning my toddler. I would also need a vertical pipe to guide the bubbles up through the soils. 

Next, I need to find a cylindrical container that can fit the filter setup nicely. The height needs to allow probably about 4 to 5 inch of soils. The whole system will be placed inside the tank.

Finally, my plan to fill the bottom of the container with filter stones to lift up the UGF about an inch.

Part list

1. Soils

2. Vertical tube

3. UGF Standalone filter

4. Mesh separator

5. Cylindrical Container

This setup can be use for mini tank, shrimp tank or even corydoras tank.

Cory

2022-0703

Cory Aquarium Diary : Disaster Strikes my Blue Bolt shrimp Tank

Cloudy Tank

The tank turned very cloudy. This is not the first time, however this time that night the shrimps were resting on the surfaces in orgy. I did not think too much as maybe they are having some special routine.

Shrimps on surface

The next morning something is seriously not right. Some of the shrimps climbed on the side of the glass above the waterline and saw a dead shrimp resting on the plant which doesn't look right. The air line sponge filters and overhang filter are quite weak too coincidentally as debris and bio material growths have jammed them up. As I need to send my toddlers there is nothing much I could do immediately.

Water Change

Once I arrived back home, I do immediate water change and clean up and found the main culprit. One of my large Corydoras died which I am quite sure because it has been lethargic for some time before all this happens. Usually when the weather turns warmer. This Corydoras virginiae has been with me for more than 5 years I guess from original batch of 7.

A number of Corydoras died in the past but they are smaller and the cloudy water will go away a few days later. So I did not do much except for maybe once a fortnight water change. I am able to get away from this because the tank is fully packed of plants. Really full such that there is not much space for the cats to swim.

Stability and Prime (Seachem)

The water change is large about 35% but I felt is necessary to provide a remedy shock. Added enough Stability to control the water parameters. That night about 10 shrimps dead. The next day about 5.  Then 1 or 2. Every death I will remove it instead of letting it tear apart by others as I do not want the water to be damaged. The tank have hundreds of blue bolt shrimps from original batch of 7 which likely comes from 3 parents. 

Each of the day I will add Stability and some Prime with reduce dosages. Per instruction New Tank requires 7 days of Stability. Not taking chances. I have been adding about 2 to 3 times a day of reduced dosage. Will monitor closely still.

The shrimps are now actively foraging. Looks like I managed to save the tank. Phew !

Cory

2022-0630