I have decided to redecorate the shallow tank since the wooden steps that I have previously bought are unable to withstand the weight of someone stepping on it. I was in Daiso yesterday and have found more suitable wooden steps instead. Also felt that the glass tank looks ugly as it is so also got some wooden boards to cover the sides. After spending some time to redecorate the shallow tank. Below is how the "new look" looks like.


I have also used the wooden steps to hide the power cable for the HOF. Even my wife says it is nicer now.

Also I have some pictures for the 1 ft cube shrimp tank to show you. Some were taken by my wife. : )

In this picture, can see 2 of my cherry shrimps on the left and 3 malayan shrimps on the right. You should have noticed that the malayan shrimps are around 3 times the size of the small cherry shrimps. : O

This is a close up picture of 2 malayan shrimps. The lower one is one of my red malayan shrimp. Due to flash it does not look so red now.

Another picture of my red malayan. : )

Right now, after putting the cherry shrimps into their new tank and also the kuhli loaches, I feel so tired but excited.

After I brought back the cherry shrimps, I have decided to decommission my 1 ft shrimp tanks and transfer the malayan shrimps to the newly setup 1 ft cube tank. This is to reduce the tanks in my house (also maintenance) and let the malayan shrimps test the new home first. After introducing the malayans, they looked ok so I proceed to add in the 20 cherry shrimps into the 1 ft cube tank as well. They don't look red at all when I first saw them but before I put them in, found 2-3 of them with stripes of red over their bodies. Then after I put them in, they seems to be hide a bit but now see them combing the moss for food. I have taken some pictures of them below.

Here you can see my new 1 ft cube shrimp tank setup. I have throw in all the mosses that I have decided to use for the shrimps into this tank. Have some more but need to decide where to tie to later if I need to. It now houses my malayan and cherry shrimps. I do notice that my malayan are more red than the cherry shrimps. Hope they jealous and become red too. : P

The cherry shrimp in the centre is one of those that I have bought that has red stripes.

Another picture of the same cherry shrimp. If you can notice, there is a very red malayan shrimp that is slightly on the right hand side. Not too obvious. Will try to get a better shot next time. My DC is not very good at taking close shots so must really trial and error until can get a sharp picture.

While putting the kuhli loaches into my shallow (RHS) tank, I have found 3 more guppy fries. I had a hard time trying to catch them since they almost look like the mulm (quite a lot in the bare bottom tank). Finally managed to catch all 3 and put them with the other guppy fries. Now I have a total of 10 guppy fries.

It is late now and need to Zzzzz..... So until next time....... For those coming to my house during CNY, can see it better since I was hoping that the shrimps would be more red by then. Will be feeding them fish food that hope to bring out the red in them. : )

It has been more than a week since the last update... Quite busy with the CNY stuff so slacken in updating this blog. However, I still have some updates to my aquarium blog.

There has been several deaths of rummy noses (mostly from 2 ft planted tank), death of a dwarf molly (not so lively recently when I see it) and 2 cherry barbs. The cherry barbs died of dropsy while I still cannot determine the cause of deaths for the 5 rummy nose and dwarf molly. With the smaller numbers, hopefully the tanks would be more stable and have lesser deaths. "Crossing my fingers"!

My tiger lily still does not grow well (more like get eaten or rotting off). Was rather pissed off by them and would ignore them until they all gone before I throw them away. : ( I still could not decide what is the cause.

I have just gave the last batch of guppies to my sister yesterday (she has high death rates but I need room for my cherry shrimps). Her tank is more stable now. I would be getting the cherry shrimps today (20 cherry shrimps in total) and also buying 3 more kuhli loaches from Kenkht (likely get from him this evening as well). I still have some female guppies and guppy fries just to add colour to my tanks and also in case I need more. With the cherries coming onboard, I had to try to tie my Singapore moss on my bogwoood before they arrive (at least 60% done or more if I'm lazy : P). Also have shifted the 18W standing lamp to be used for my 1 ft cube tank now. The 1 ft shrimp tank is now using a 9W table lamp that I brought from my old house. I was hoping that the cherry shrimps that I buy would be able to get accustom to their new environment so that they would look red red when my guests comes on 4 Feb 06 for my house warming. Praying hard no deaths too. : P

I have been to NA aka "Nature Aquarium" and their aquarium accessaries are quite cheap but with the distance, I have to settle for somewhere nearer. I also brought another small tank ($6) and a Atman HOF ($6) as well. May use the small tank to put in my office when my cherry shrimps have many babies. : )

Since the death of a rummy nose in my 2 ft planted tank and also algae showing on the glass tank, I realised that the bioload for the tank is too much. In the end, I decided to to transfer 15 of the rummy nose from this tank to the low maintenance planted tank. This seems to help a bot, even if the rummy noses still does not go to the water surface to feed (waiting for food to drop down). My Tiger lilies are still melting. : ( Not much hope except the one on the right (only one main leave and some small leaves growing out). Below is the picture of the tank in its current state now. Will monitor the rummy nose further.


With the additional of rummy nose in the low maintenance planted tank, now I do see the rummy noses going to the water surface for feeding. At least there is some improvement in this tank. : P Below is the latest picture of the tank.


That is all for the update today. Will update more next time. Feeling sleepy now ......

I have found that my 2 rummy nose likes to hide under a driftwood. I suspect that I do not have enough rummy noses. So last Friday, I found a great bargin at JE217 and bought a pack of 50 rummy nose to keep with my 2. Since I know that 50 is too much for me, I have placed 30 in the 2 ft planted tank with my 2 rummy nose and rest in the 2 ft low maintenance planted tank. At first the 2 rummy nose still likes to hide even with the 30 rummy nose but have saw them swimming with the rest of the rummy nose now. : )

I noticed that after introducing the 30 rummy nose, my tiger lily seems to be "melting" or rotting at the edge to the inside of the leave. Quite a few leaves are having this problem and I have taken out 3 already. This morning still see more leaves have this problem. Might be due to my rummy nose hungry and started eating the lily leaves.

The rummy nose not active enough to "fight" for the food that I feed. So most of them may not eat much (even if I overfeed). The food would be cleared by the chery barbs, guppies, cardinals and mollies before the rummy nose can eat anything left. : (

I have gave away 10 guppies to my mother-in-law and also most of the guppies in my tanks to my sister. I also gave away the swordtails to my sister as my wife complain that they might eat the guppy fries (mouth too big). Then I transfer the guppies from my low maintenance planted tank to the shallow tank (RHS) for females and 1 ft cube for males (cycling in progress).

Since I could not find any nice driftwood, I have placed the spare bogwood that I have into the 1 ft cube. As it would not sink, I have used a brick (bought from Daiso) to weight it down. Now the guppies are swimming happily with the bogwood. : )

Have managed to find a piece of driftwood that I like from Wu Fu Aquarium (Ben). I have also bought a sponge filter and a expensive 2 way air pump (I need a quiet one as I would be placing it in my living room and don't want to hear the humming sound from the air pump). Have set them up for the 1 ft cube tank. Attached is the picture of how my 1 ft cube tank looks like now. : )


Decided to put my female guppies into the shallow tank (RHS) due to that I cannot clear them by today and also lazy to keep changing water for them in the plastic container (2-3 day 100% water change due to no mature filter running). I have also placed my Jebo HOF for my 1 ft shrimp tank into this shallow tank (RHS). Now it will house kuhli loaches and female guppues for a while until I managed to clear the guppies (my mother-in-law and sister will be getting most of them).

As I was looking at my tank, I found a fry (baby fish) swimming around a driftwood with moss. I quickly tried and managed to catch it. Then I realised that there are more than 1. I almost gave up the rest as they like to hide behind the driftwood of moss and java ferns but my wife was very persistance in catching the fries before they might be eaten by the guppies or swordtails. I managed to catch another 4 of them and relocate them in the shallow tank (LHS) with my moss and java ferns. She is also worried that the swordtails would eat the fries (they are the biggest in this tank right now) and decided to catch all the swordtails.

I also found a shrimp in my low maintenance 2 ft tank. Just saw it searching for food. I don't remember putting any shrimps in the tank. Since the other tank, the shrimps has no problem with fishes there, I have decided to add in another few more shrimps into the tank. Also added 2 more shrimps into the 2 ft planted tank.

I have taken the 2 long piece of driftwood with java moss and java fern and place it in the shallow tank (LHS) to let grow before placing them into my 1 ft cube tank when they are ready.

Status update:
The fin rot guppy has final gave up the fight and passed away yesterday. : ( Hope it did not die a painful death.

Still no trace of ich on my fishes in mt low maintanance planted tank. Looks promising that the ich problem is gone. : )

Have taken the guppies from a bro yesterday. Now the males are all in my 3 tanks and the females are in a plastic container (previously used to keep my plants). A small guppy died. My mother-in-law, sister, Stephen and his friend have asked me to give some to them. Since my tank is rather crowded (except the 1 ft cube which is cycling right now), have promised to give some to them. Total have about 50 or a little more than that (too many to count). My sister would be collecting some from me tonight.

My Kuhli loaches should be ok now. Everytime I feed tubifex worms, I cannot find any left. That is a good sign, meaning that they are starting to eat properly now. May be able to buy more? Hmm....

Actually found a powered filter with a extension outlet that can be used as a fountain (if I want) at C328. It is a very small powered filter but costs $7. If I exhausted all alternatives, buy one.

Cannot find any good pieces of driftwood available for me to use in my 1 ft cube tank at JE217 , C328 and Teo. The tank now is very bare and hoping to get some driftwood tied with Singapore/taiwan/java moss before I get my cherry shrimps (at least 2 more weeks to go). May look for it at Ben's place if no other option. : (


Status update:
The fin rot guppy does not seem to recover as its tail seems to have shorten when I looked at it yesterday. : ( Let's just hope that the tail would rot all the way.

Just bought a new Atman HF-0100 (HOF) for my new 1 ft cube tank. Now letting it run in and also waiting for my new fshes (guppies) from a bro to help me cycle the tank before I go and buy some cherry shrimps for this tank. May put in some fishes in this tank but have not decided which ones to get. Below is the picture of the 1 ft tank setup.

My 1 ft tank setup for 2nd day. 1st day just add in water.

Also added left over taiwan & Singapore moss and java fern (LHS) and some driftwood for my 2 kuhli loaches (RHS) in my shallow tank. Have tried to convert the tank to look like some fountain style type but can only do so much with limited creativity. Bought some wood and foam board (dark wood colour) from Daiso and stones from Pasa Malum. Below are some pictures of the shallow tank.


How the shallow tank "fountain" looks like. Since no idea how to implement the "water fall", currently no extra gadgets yet. Thought of using HOF but need to much water and also not nice (unless can hide). Use pump but no idea now how to do a nice setup. Also the bigger wood are rather soft (sag a little when u step on them). Likely need to change to new ones which are stronger.

Close up of the shallow tank tank. LHS got Singapore & taiwan moss and java fern on 2 black plastic that I recycle from a HOF. Want to use them for moss carpet. The other got 2 driftwood (for kuhli loach to hide) and below the Singapore moss mesh.

LHS of shallow tank. Upper corner is Taiwan moss. Singapore moss on the left and some on the lower right. Some java fern scattered around the place. Can also see the black plastic.

RHS of shallow tank. Can see a little of the 2 driftwood and the Singapore moss mesh. Think the one of the kuhli loach have came out of their hiding place to steal a shot for the picture on the upper right corner. : ) I did feed them some tubifex worms that I bought this afternoon.

Status update:
No ich has been found on any of the fishes in my low maintenance tank. : D Will keep monitor for another week before can confirm ich problem is gone.

The fin rot guppy is recovering well but still got a little bit of fin rot, I think. But it is eating well (Kept forgetting to feed it when it comes to feeding time : P) Just changed water and add general aid again. Keep monitor it further.

Personal mini project update:
2. Deco shallow tank into fountain. Need to get 1/2 hang on filter (HOF) to provide filteration for the shallow tank and water fall effect.

Have started work on the shallow tank but still WORK IN PROGRESS. At least got some idea there already.


4. Start DIY CO2 for First planted tank and shallow tank.

May change my mind on this. Still thinking about it. Have a pet bottle filled with sugar and water. Just need to add yeast and bicarbonate and good to go.

5. Get a wooden stand for the 1 ft cube tank. Will keep cherry shrimps in that tank. Have not
consider what lights for it yet.

Got a side table inside my master bedroom for the stand. (Save cost : D) Likely using the 18W IKEA light from my 1 ft shrimp tank. Getting the red (ugly) 9W table lamp from my old house as the lighting for the 1 ft shrimp tank.

Collected from Kenkht a shallow tank (20" x 15" x 8") and has a glass divider in the middle. Had a nice chat with him. Another knowledgeable guy. Intent to use this tank for my plants to settle down (holding tank) before they are transplanted to either of my planted tanks. Also intended to decroate it to look like a fountain (always wanted one). Got some ideas but still need to work on it. Will provide a picture of it once I completed it. Just bought most of the stuff that I need from Daiso (IMM) yesterday. Also bought 2 CO2 diffuser (too bad I broke one when try to push the stopper holder onto the glass tube).

Also completed tying the moss and java fern onto the 2 driftwood in my low maintenance planted tank today.

Status update:
Yesterday, another kuhli loach go to heaven again. The water looks and smells bad after I came home. Did major water change for the tank. Might be due to the ketapang leave that I have added in to lower the pH. : (

Also isolate a guppy that I thought have fin rot. Initially thought its tail was bitten by some other fishes but since it got so bad, I think otherwise and dose it with some general aid. Also isolate another guppy with a white patch on its side of the head with the guppy with fin rot. However the fin rot guppy seems to like to pick on the other guppy. Later found that guppy died in the container. The fin rot guppy is still ok.

Personal mini project update:
This is a new update in which records down what I intent to do for my planted tanks or new tanks but not in the order of importance.

1. Tie taiwan moss on bioball and stone.
2. Deco shallow tank into fountain. Need to get 1/2 hang on filter (HOF) to provide filteration for the shallow tank and water fall effect.
3. Buy more driftwood to use up the remaining singapore moss and java fern that I have left.
4. Start DIY CO2 for First planted tank and shallow tank.
5. Get a wooden stand for the 1 ft cube tank. Will keep cherry shrimps in that tank. Have not consider what lights for it yet.