Malayan shrimps in office tank!

I managed to catch 4 malayan shrimps from my shrimp tank and brought them to the office tank this morning. I have then placed them into the tank after putting on the water for more than an hour. Hopefully they can help to clear some algae from the tank, especially on the moss. However, I only found 1 malayan before I went for lunch. Hopefully they went hiding instead of jumping out of the tank! Will check up on them tomorrow... Luckily my only boraras is still there and it is the nicest one that I have there. Will be bringing more boraras to join him, hopefully this week or next week.

Death of a leopard cory, rescape of shrimp tank and visit to LFS

I have caused the death of a leopard cory that was given to me by Ah_Zhan! I have forgotten about the inlet pipe does not have any cover and did not cover it up! This cory got stucked in the inlet pipe and passed away there. I was feeling sad when I saw it... : ( I later also opened the 2231 canister filter and found some cherry barbs and a scarlet badis in there. I was wondering if any of my smaller fishes got sucked into the filter and this is my answer. : P What a bad experience! At least now I know need to cover the inlet pipe. Luckily found nothing in the second filter.

Yesterday, with some free time, decided to clean up my shrimp tank from the algae on the glass wall. As I could not find a proper size driftwood to tie the narrow java fern, I have decided to reuse a small driftwood with java moss (was not growing well, except the top moss). Then I placed the newly tied driftwood with narrow java fern with java moss into the shrimp tank. I have also placed a piece of bogwood with java moss into the shrimp tank as well. My wife comments that it looks better now. To protect more shrimplets, I have placed taiwan moss on the subtrate to allow the shrimplets to hide and also cover the subtrate. The shots that I took yesterday was pretty bad so I did not want to post any here. Will post a picture of it when I get better shots. My bumblebee population seems to be down to half (found 1-2 at shrimp tank and seen 1-2 at Planted Tank 1). Looks like bumblebee is not easy for me to keep. Well, $5 down the drain... : P Lucky still got around 4 left. See how it goes.

The Eheim 2231s do have a low humming sound when I on it. Now better now but still have a slight humming sound. Also there are water trapped in the filter and Jus mentioned that it usually clears within a day. Should be ok, I think. Need to check tonight.

Yesterday visited Horizon LFS along Henderson Rd. It was near to a work place that I went so check it out (actually looking for Soon Hock LFS). Found that the shop do sells cheaper fauna (boraras and shrimps) than other LFS. Would visit this shop more often now. : ) Soon Hock LFS was bigger but I do not see any things that interest me so did not ask for price on any items but better display of goods compared to Horizon and more spacious than Horizon. BTW, I also got 10 boraras maculatus from Horizon. The owner (Rocky), mentioned that CRS are easier to keep compared to bumblebee. Anyway, I would try CRS at a later date and see if they can breed in my tank. Not sure to get grade A or B ones as price not different by a lot. Rocky also got his shrimps from local breeders. Hmm... wonder which bro he got them from...

I would be bringing in some boaras maculatus and malayan to my office shrimp tank soon. Maybe tomorrow. Need the malayan to clean up some algae there as well. Then if it is stable enough, would bring in more cherries. I was thinking should I change the driftwood and use a smaller one instead. Also should I get a HOF for the tank. Oh dear, may need to spend $$ again. : P

Operation Eheim 2232/2231 and something more ...

Just went to get the 2 Ehiem Ecco 2232 from Jus. These 2 gems are the best Eheim canisters that one can get, unless I find a better one. Lower powered, high flowrate and small in size makes them a perfect canister filter for any 2 ft tanks. Initially did not consider them for they would cost $138 per pc. My budget was for 1 less than $100. Missed a few good buys (Ehiem2213, Hydor 10 along the way) but I must say I'm glad that I missed the chance to buy those filters or I would not have the chance to get these two at such a low price from Jus. Could not wait to fire them up when I reached home. Getting them up took some time as this is the first time I worked on these filters but seems need to start them the same way as Eheim 2213 (need to fill the inlet pipe so it can start sucking water into the filter). But after this, just need to use the valves that comes with the filters to stop the water flow so maintenance is much easier now. : P Now to reveal my latest collection ...

Here you are, my latest Eheim 2232s that I have. They would be placed side by side for the final placement but since they are new, would need for the BBs to generate and that should be about 2 weeks. From then on, will decommission my Ehiem 2213 (backup filter) and OHF (this can really rest in peace unless I give to my sis or sell it). May decommission my 2213 first since the bioload is only 4 boraras and about 10 cherry and malayan shrimps.

This is how it looks like at the side view. Sorry for the poor lighting. I think it looks nicer than the classic 2213 but cannot deny that 2213 was designed with some simple physics in mind. Still a favorite choice if you ask me (even Eheim seems to stop manufacturing 2213 to make way for its newer models. What a shame.).


Jus also gave me a piece of bogwood for me to tie my narrow java ferns on. I think the bogwood looks nice. Will be working on where to tie the narrow java ferns and fill the rest of the space with moss. I always likes java ferns with moss. To me looks better as it hides away the unsightly java fern roots.

New additional to my collections (Equipment, plant and fishes)

I have secured 2 Ehiem 2231/2232 canister filters from Jus. Will likely be collecting them this weekend if possible. Finally able to get my canister filter for the planted tanks and to replace the current Ehiem 2213 and OHF that I'm using now.

I just bought narrow java ferns and 3 leopard corys from Ah_Zhan. Will leave the narrow ferns at my shallow tank (RHS) and have housed the 3 leopard corys in my Planted Tank 2.


This leopard cory is resting in front of my tank. Could not resist taking a photo of it. : )

This one is hiding at the back of the tank. They were hiding when I put them into this tank but seem to be able to adapt to the Planted Tank 2. Will be feeding them sinking pellet tomorrow.

Shrimplets spotted in Planted Tank 1!!!

I was looking for the dead pregnant cherry but found it missing from the spot that I last place it. I think it should be some shrimps' meal now as I found a piece of it left on the tip of the java moss. However, as I was enjoying the view on my Planted Tank 1, I spotted a small thing on the glass wall and it is a shrimplet! Found another one at the other side of the glass wall. I was so happy that this is the first time I can see shrimplets in this tank. This means that the some pregnant cherry shrimps have their eggs hatched and have shrimplets. So happy finally after all my hard work converting this tank to a shrimp tank and so many deaths before this, I was getting worried that if I made a wrong choice. : P

Above is one of the Bumblebee shrimp that is inside my Planted Tank 1. I know its colour is a little dull but better than die on me, right? Luckily yesterday weather was cooling so water temperature is cool, just nice for these guys. Hopefully they can survive in my Planted Tank 1 and Shrimp tank. Also I have plans to transfer the smaller boraras into the Planted Tank 1 to reduce the bioload and also crowding of fishes in that tank. Should be doing that tomorrow after work.

I have also completed tying of mini moss (from NA) onto 2 driftwood and pellia (from Wilson) on a big black pebble. Had a slightly hard time tying the pellia on the black pebble as it tends to slip or gets loose if not tied properly. I try not to tie too tight in case I injure the pellia. Now all of them are in the shallow tank waiting for the moss and pelia to grow out of the fish line. This may take a few weeks or more than 1 month. See how it goes. May transfer to my Planted Tank 1 or 2 if required since it is crowded in the shallow tank right now, especially on the RHS.

Headache issues after back from Muar and newest additions!

When I was at Muar, I went to 2 local fish farms as the LFS are not open during the weekends. I wonder why? No sales during weekends? Anyway, after going through their stuff, I still cannot find the canister filter or powerhead that I want and also fishes not cheap so did not bother to buy any. However, found a piece of lava rock which is cheaper than SG so got 1 piece. Others are too big a piece for me. Then I was given some driftwood from a cousin who found some driftwood from fallen trees. He got a few big pieces which looks very nice but not suitable for my tank (they are now kept in the container with lotus plants). My intention is to use the small pieces of driftwood for tying of moss or pelia. Will leave the lava rock as it is (should be a good hiding place for shrimplets). Also showed them my shrimps. Ah Guan was interested in the cherries and I promise him will give him some when I come over next time.

After coming back from Muar, found that there are no longer deaths of fishes in the Planted Tank 1 but found a dead pregnant cherry again. I wonder why the pregnants ones died? Would be feeding them peas soon. The eggs that I have taken from the previous dead pregnant cherry got fungi attack. All should be dead now. So I left the dead cherry in the tank to see if the eggs can be hatched (along the flow of water current to keep the eggs cool). Even other cherries do not touch the dead cherry (maybe due to pregnant with eggs so don't want to harm them). Hopefully the eggs and hatch into shrimplets and also the dead cherry don't spoil my water so fast.

Another thing is the Planted Tank 2 has quite a big patch of spot algae on the glass wall. Saw it when I came home. Maybe it is due to the light now on for 6 hrs without any intervals. Will monitor the tank for a while first and maybe use another timer for this tank if necessary. The fishes are fine in there. Well, did some water change for the 2 tanks and also cleaned the glass off the spot algae. See how the tank fares for the next few days.

The boraras in the 1 ft cube tank are able to survive in there, even though it looks a little crowded for the fishes. I have also witness something that I do not know. One evening, I found that a small insect had fell into the 1 ft cube tank and was struggling on the surface of the water. 1 or 2 boraras nip at it and when a clown killie came, it just gobble it down! I never knew that the clown killie has such a big mouth! From then on, I was thinking if I can shift the clown killies out but have not find a suitable place for them. Maybe will take them to my office (no more shrimp keeping) or maybe in my nano tank. Will decide where to put them later once my nano tank and office tank is ready. : )

Went to C328 and found a pack of 10 Bumblebee shrimp on sale for $5. Bought them and later put 3 into my Planted Tank 1 and 7 in my 1 ft cube shrimp tank. The Bumblebee shrimps require cooler water compared to cherries. Hope they can do well in my tank. They would be the trial before I plunge into keeping Crystal Red Shrimps (CRS). They are more expensive so need to make sure the bee shrimps can survive before buying them since both require the same environment to grow well. Wish me luck!

1 pregnant cherry died! More changes!

Found a dead pregnant cherry shrimp died! > _ < How can such things happen?!? Have read that a bro had managed to save some eggs from a dead pregnant cherry and managed to have shrimplets. I managed to scrape the eggs off the hind legs of the cherry into a small container and place the container under the sofa(keep it cool). Hopefully I would be able to see shrimplets or dead eggs when I come back from Malaysia... PRAY HARD!!!

Then I proceed to remove all the scarlet badis (left 3) and put 1 into the Planted Tank 2 and 2 into the shallow tank (LHS). Hopefully no more deaths for over the weekend. Also found a dead shrimp after I took out all the driftwood and bogwood before catching the scarlet badis. Actually no more fishes left in my Planted Tank 1 but I spotted a boraras in the Planted Tank 2 and transfer it into Planted tank 1 just now. So there is only 1 boraras left in the Planted Tank 1 now.


Above is the Planted Tank 1 new look.


Above is the Planted Tank 2 before I make minor arrangement.


Above is the Planted Tank 2 after I made minor arrangement.


Above is the female scarlet badis. Not sure if it is truly female as it still have some stripes, as I thought females are only white in color. On well, see how it goes...

Finally, my nana tank which I have mentioned but have a picture to show. The water is brownish as the bogwood branches are still leeching the acid. Need to wait longer to let it be less brownish. The java moss are growing well in there.

1 pregnant cherry died! More changes!

Found a dead pregnant cherry shrimp died! > _ < How can such things happen?!? Have read that a bro had managed to save some eggs from a dead pregnant cherry and managed to have shrimplets. I managed to scrape the eggs off the hind legs of the cherry into a small container and place the container under the sofa(keep it cool). Hopefully I would be able to see shrimplets or dead eggs when I come back from Malaysia... PRAY HARD!!!

Then I proceed to remove all the scarlet badis (left 3) and put 1 into the Planted Tank 2 and 2 into the shallow tank (LHS). Hopefully no more deaths for over the weekend. Also found a dead shrimp after I took out all the driftwood and bogwood before catching the scarlet badis. Actually no more fishes left in my Planted Tank 1 but I spotted a boraras in the Planted Tank 2 and transfer it into Planted tank 1 just now. So there is only 1 boraras left in the Planted Tank 1 now.


Above is the Planted Tank 1 new look.


Above is the Planted Tank 2 before I make minor arrangement.


Above is the Planted Tank 2 after I made minor arrangement.


Above is the female scarlet badis. Not sure if it is truly female as it still have some stripes, as I thought females are only white in color. On well, see how it goes...

Finally, my nana tank which I have mentioned but have a picture to show. The water is brownish as the bogwood branches are still leeching the acid. Need to wait longer to let it be less brownish. The java moss are growing well in there.

Planted tanks update and Pellia from Wilson

Got some pellia from Wilson. This plant is known as Monosolenium tenerum. It is consider a liverwort plant and easy to take care. Previously I bought some from Wilson but did not take good care of them and they got infected with algae. Since then no shrimps to combat the problem, had to throw them away. Now with the limited stock from Wilson, I would try to grow them in my tanks again. They are different compared to moss and riccia but they are used to tie on rocks or wood and let them grow from there. An easy plant so should not have issue with them. They did not die on me the last time but I was my fault for neglecting them. Have transferred the Pellia into my shallow tank (LHS) and will look for some driftwood or rocks to tie them on and let them grow from there. This time I'm more interested in collecting small pieces of driftwood/bogwood or stones for this purpose. I think I got 2 stones in office. May use them when I come back to office.

Found that another boraras has died when I was clearing the a dead boraras in my Planted Tank 1. That totals up to 2 deaths in a day! With the algae growing on the glass and some tiger lily bubs dying, I have decided to clear the tank of some dead plants and fishes and did 30% water change as well. I have intended to reduce the lights to 6 hrs (3 hrs interval) now. Will also stopped adding liquid fertilizer for a while to see how things goes. Hortwort grows like crazy. It is a pain and it has come back to me again in such a short time. : ( Did some trimming for the hortwort and removed the excess. Planted the 2 stalks of Ludwigia repens beside the java moss covered driftwood.

Also rescaped the Planted Tank 2 to relocate the hortwort and threw the excess away. Hortwort anyone?? This rescape is to plant the hortwort beside the driftwood and cut off the excess. Too much makes the tank looks like a "jungle". Not my intention anyway.

Just found out that I got a friend who is into planted tanks and shrimps like me as well. That is you, Jimmy Sim. : ) Glad to know one more friend is in the same boat as me. Got another into fishes (bigger ones), Stephen Chew. May start a small outing to get these guys to meet and go around shopping for stuff. : ) Since all currently live at West side, can go around LFS around the west. Need to ask if they are interested first before confirm this.

Planted tank updates and a lot more ...

I have changed the names for my 2 ft planted tanks to "Planted tank 1" and "Planted tank 2". Since I did not use CO2 for both of them, not right not to put low maintenance tank for the first tank as well and to keep the names short so I can type less. : P

Above is the planted tank 1. Recently rescaped and now looks a little overrun by the hortwort in this tank. Will do trimming coming Monday or when I have time for them within this week (weekend not in SG). Also put in 2 types of new plants (Amazon Swordplant (Echinodorus amazonicus bleheri ) and Ludwigia repens (if I get it correct) into this tank. Can identify there the new plants are??? The Amazon Swordplant is behind the bogwood (background) and Ludwigia repens (2 stalks) are still floating on the water surface (have no idea where to put them). : ( A bit crowded now. Also I have introduced a driftwood with well grown java moss (left side of tank) to replace the old one as the old one is too small and do not provide enough moss growth for shrimplets to hide. Since I saw at least 2 cherry shrimps pregnant, should be releasing their shrimplets by a week or 2. So eager to see my first batch of shrimplets in this 2 ft tank (cannot wait they fill this tank). : ) I also experiment with keeping scarlet badis with shrimplets as they always have an eye on anything that moves. That makes them cute but dangerous to shrimplets. If not much shrimplets for this batch, the scarlet badis will join the guppies or the other crowded planted tank. I want my precious cherry shrimplets! I think I noticed a dead cherry shrimp (overturned on the moss) but at night, I cannot find it anymore. Not sure it was just sleeping or pulled away by some shrimps for their feast! These cleaning crew (cherry shrimps) are fast workers!). Oh, also saw a dead boraras in the tank this morning. Was too busy to catch it out. If still there, will remove it when I get home. I also noticed algae on the glass and wondering should I use a 36W light set instead of a 55W one.

Above is the new look for the planted tank 2. Definitely looks better than the "desert look" previously. Also added the 2 new plants (Amazon swordplant and Ludwigia repens) that I bought from JE217 last Sunday. Behind the hortwort (RHS) are the Ludwigia repens which did not show in this picture. Will post one later with them. I think I should be relocating the hortwort to allow the Ludwigia repens behind it to get better light coverage. The amazon swordplant is placed in front of the inlet of the HOF pump. If they grows well, will hide the ugly pipe fot the pump inlet. This tank is quite crowded with fauna (cherry barb, white cloud mountain minnow, rummy noses, amber tetra, cardinal tetra and malayan shrimps). Looks better right?!? : ) I do not like the rock on the right and intend to put it on the left (too much rocks at the right. Need a better picture of the full tank. Next time...).

This is a close-up picture of the retying of the 2 nana on the driftwood. Took me at least an hour to complete as driftwood too big and not easy to secure the nanas on it with fishing line. Will be trying to tie some moss on the driftwood to complete decorating the driftwood. Hopefullt this time round the moss grows (last time all turn brown due to light not bright enough problem). : ( With so many fishes, you will know what I mean by crowded. Hate the humming noise from the OHF pump. Will replace it with a canister filter or just get another pump instead.

My office tank is undergoing major water change in hope to get the water parameters right again. Still see algae on the glass (just did some clean ups on the glass just now). Also did 80% water change for this tank and will do more water change weekly (or twice a week if I can). The last cherry has given up and died on Tuesday. Now left the sole survivor, my nice coloured boraras. It seems to be able to withstand the harsh conditions that I put it through and I really want to bring it home and redo the tank but resisted the idea. Will keep it there to test the water before I get more boraras to join him (2 more weeks time?).

I have added some spiky moss and mini moss into the 1 ft cube shrimp tank. They are stored in a cylindrical glass vase and cup. I was trying to find out if these moss can grow well in this tank compared to just inside tub beside the window. Main reason is to separate them so I know which is which and also transparent so they can receive light.

The nano tank that I have setup is still waiting for the bogwood branches to stop browning my water before I decide to put in fishes (first in the list is boraras, then scarlet badis, then decide later...). Did a 100% water change yesterday.

My shallow tank is now full (currently have 2 java fern with driftwood on them in there while the taiwan moss is growing well, spreading to occupy more than half of the tank (LFS)) so no place to put in new moss to allow it to grow.

I realise that the taiwan moss tied on the stone is not growing but still green. I think water temp a little high for it to grow. Will put it into the shallow tank or shrimp tank soon. The Singapore moss that I placed beside the window is growing well, but not at a fast rate. May want to try to put it in the shallow tank. Oh dear, shallow tank no space and more and more plants need to go in, should I get another tank?!? Hmm... Maybe try to occupy other tanks first. See how. Anyone got FOC small tank to give away??? At least keep it small my wife would nag me that much, I think. : )

Was at C328 yesterday. Found quite a few of clown killies there. Quite tempted to buy but resisted the temptation. Do not intend to increase my bioload for my tanks if I can help it. Office tank not ready yet. : ( Selling 1 for $1. They also sell kuhli loaches at $0.50 per pc. Smaller than the ones I have got but still ok. These are not easily found fishes so grab them before they are gone! Was at Biotope some days back and saw some boraras which their colours are showing well but a little big. Also stopped myself from getting any there. Once my office tank is ready, will then decide what to put in.

Bad news on office tank and some minor updates: (

Went to look at my office tank this morning and found that the bigger cherry shrimp has died in the tank. : ( So now the tank is left with 1 boraras and 1 small cherry shrimp in there. I have decided to make water change weekly (for 2 weeks), hoping that the tank mates and water condition will be more stable before I add in more boraras and cherry shrimps. Also realise that someone fed quite a lot of fish food in my tank. All gone to waste (the boraras did not see it and also shrimplet did not bother it too and hopefully does not spoil my water too much. Also the 3 snails that Victor brought all KIA. None can survive the water condition then. Really want to kick myself for not doing anything until it is too late. : ( Just did water change and hopefully no major problem coming long weekend. Will also off the lights for this weekend (scare temp to high during the weekend). Cannot be sure about the temp.

Also saw a dead cherry in my shrimp tank at home (maybe due to old age). The malayans are busy feasting on it. I did not bother to take it out and let them eat the dead shrimp. Other than this, no major change.

My nano tank looks ok. The bogwood branches are still soaking in there. I intend to get some java moss from the shrimp tank (got quite a lot of overgrowth) and tie them tonight after I get home or in the weekends. Not sure will they look nice or not. Currently no intention to put any fish or shrimp in the nano tank. Only when the moss grows well then I would consider. Also Jeanxavier also mentioned that the IKEA vase that he bought breaks with the water and airstone pressure. Not sure we are talking about the same vase. Need to take note of this, just in case.

Some good news... Some bad news...

Some bad news first. : (

Borrow my digicam to my mother-in-law so no pictures to post for a while. : ( At least I would still be updating on my tanks.

When I came back to office yesterday, 3/4 of my boraras died. Also left 2/8 cherry shrimps in my office tank now. I think it is due to the water (got fishy smell of my sinking food). Wanted to change water last Friday but need to attend a presentation and missed water change. The tank's glass is also covered with algae or some slimy stuff (quite difficult to clean off the glass). The whole tank was a disaster! : ( Did a major cleaning of the tank yesterday, cleaning the algae on the glass and moss (some got stuck on the moss when cleaned off the glass), changed water and also reposition the filter to allow more space between the driftwood and black sand. Now looks cleaner now but will monitor the situation before getting more fishes and shrimps.

One of my 5 scarlet badis died this morning (the biggest one, I think. Maybe due to old age). Found some cherries feeding on it. It's eyes looks swollen and colour looks pale yesterday. Wanted to take it out but scared it died like the smallest scarlet badis that I took out to properly feed it. So sad to see them go since they look so cute and nice.

Scare that the cardinals would cause harm to the shrimplets and other fish fries in the planted tank, had a hard time taking them out of the planted tank. > _< Now left scarlet badis and boraras in my planted tank now, with cherry shrimps.

Now to get over with the sad news and on with the good news. : )

Bought 3 female badis (at least what I think) from C328, hoping that by chance that they might breed in my tank. Also got a dwarf sword plant to add to my planted tank.

Found a cherry shrimp carrying eggs in my planted tank. That would be the first batch of shrimplets in this planted tank. I'm so excited, Hopefully can see the shrimplets in a few weeks time. May need to get more moss to provide more hiding space for the shrimplets. Hmm.... How do I do it?!? Tank is quite full already... : P Also the plants given to me by steven seems to be growing well but a bit slow (I'm not complaining, less maintenance to me). Saw some runners for the background plants and also my hairgrass.

Also went to Sim Lim Square (SLS) to shop but did not get anything there. Nothing worth to buy for now. Then went to look for loose crystals (like lapis sand size) to put in the IKEA glass vase (intend to have a nano aquarium) but want a different idea (not nature scape which I have been doing) but need to work on it. Finally bought 400g of loose crystals (different colours) and had soak them in the IKEA vase. Then went to get some broken bogwood branches add some small tree effect (will tie moss on it later. Need to soak it and make it sink first). May be keeping 1-2 small fishes in there and maybe cherry shrimps too but fauna not finalised yet. Still on the drawing board phase and see what I have to add on. Will need to do water change weekly for such a small setup.

Would be going to Malaysia (Muar) next weekend (20-21 May 06). Hopefully I can go to the LFS there to check out some equipment and may buy fish back (just find out can be done), if it is worth the effort. My fishes would go hungry for a few days. Hope they don't wipe out all my plants. : P

Noisy pump and minor updates

My OHF pump has been making a rattling noise that irritates me. Have not found the cause. My intention is to replace it with a canister filter that I have all along intended to get. Due to the size of the tank, there are only a few options available. Was introduced to some canister filters by the lady at NA.

- Eden 501
Can be use for tanks up to 1.5 ft. Cost less than $52. Powered at 5w and flowrate of 300L/H. Due to small size, cannot handle too much bioload, but it looks so cute. Sure a eye catcher.

- Atman 3335/F600
Flow rate is 600L/H. Have valve to control the flowrate. Cost $59.

- Tetra 60
Most expensive canister filter. Cost $140. Don't think it is worth that much.

- Ehiem classic 2213 (currently using one)
Lowest power rated (8w) with flowrate at 440L/H. Cost $80. But does not have valve to cut water for easier cleaning and heard Ben say there is no basket for it now. High in my buy list.

- Hydor Prime 10
Have valves for maintenance. Cost $80. Second in my buy list. Power rating at 10w (second lowest power consumption). Flowrate is 300L/H.

Will check it out in Malaysia for any good buys before I get one, before end of May. I got another option which is to use the Hydro Prime 20 that my wife had bought but with a cracked case. Need to find a case (hopefully around $25 the last time we asked) and the motor is still able to work. Need to test the motor at Dad's place (left there to collect dust). : P

Went to Wu Hu (Ben) today to check out the price for the canister filters. Instead, found a new fish that I can consider to keep with my boraras and cherry shrimps. It is the dwarf pencilfish (Nannostomus Marginatus). It looks cuter than boraras and similar to cherry barbs but with small patches of red on the fins and longer. Had to resist buying any so as to find out more about them before I mass buy some more fishes. More $$$ spend on fishes again. Sure get scolding from my wife. What to do, I'm always on the lookout for suitable small fishes to keep with my cherry shrimps. Just found out they like shrimplets so got to kill the idea in getting them.

The cherry shrimps are seen more often in my 2 ft planted tank now. This is not possible when my other fishes are around. Now the protein layer on the water surface is getting worse. May need to scope them out during the next water change. Does not want it to affect my light penetration to the plants. The new plants in the tank are still ok up til now. Still too early to say. Without CO2, everything grows slowly. The Singapore moss is still getting used to living in water as quite a lot turned brown. Never mind, they will recover but need to take months. : (

I have more shrimplets in my shrimp tank! Saw quite a few last week. It seems that the 2 pregnant cherries have release their eggs. Now no more pregnant cherries at the moment. Sure wish this can happen every month so I can start putting them in my 2 ft planted tank soon.