Antibodi: Journey Between Nature & Aquarium - Page 5 - Aquascaping

HoustonFishFanatic · 03-02-2007, 11:42 PM

Its an awesome tank and as close as you can get to the natural biotope.

Dabolox · 03-04-2007, 08:22 AM

Hi super Ed

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Yeah it is! I don't think they'll actually need it this low, I'd just add very little minerals back in your RO water to make the water ultra soft, then possibly add some peat in your filter to lower the pH. You should be able to get it to 5 - 5.5 like that.

I think that one of the better way in order to lower the ph is to use the natural elementals like "pignette d'Ontano" (in english wich is the name???

)

Anyway here is a photo: (But wich amount?)

Ed... what about this?

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Got Linke and Staeck. In fact got it open on the Dehane page as I type!!!
The colouration on pelvicachromis can be so variable that if they were sold to you as 'Dehane' then that's almost certainly what they are! Tail spotting especially seems to be a very changeable quality. I know people have bred highly spotted P.pulcher forms by careful selection.

The morph in Linke and Staeck called 'Nange' is the presumed natural hybrid between 'Lobe' and 'Kienke' forms where they overlap in the wild.

It's a very well made book!
And thanks for info about hybridation of species.

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Are they wild, F1 or tank bred fish? If you know! I'd just keep up what you're doing mate, sounds like you're on the right track and know your stuff.
If you can get more pictures of the Pelvics please post them, especially of the unpaired fins and any face markings.

Sure i'll put them into the community as soon as possible...
I think they are F1, the trader has said to me therefore... i'm not 100% sure...

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The other thing that may be worth trying is some competition. If you can't get more of the ones you have now, then you could add a few ordinary Kribs to spur them on - it seems that a bit of competition for territory gets them going. Be prepared to fish the others out though when the pair get too aggresive!

This is a very important step... i'm waiting for a group of Neolebias Ansorgii from 4 months... They are rare here, and I was thinking about some species of Killi, what do you think about it?

Dabolox · 03-04-2007, 08:23 AM

...thanks Houstonfanaticfish...

ed seeley · 03-04-2007, 10:46 AM

Anything organic like that should work ok. I use peat as I know it works well for me and is nice and natural too! If adding cones works for you, use it! I have no idea what species the cones are, maybe a cypress? If you haven't used them before be wary.

It's not really hybridisation of species. Species are defined as reproductively isolated populations, these populations aren't isolated completely so really they are just different forms. In the wild they probably vary slightly as you travel down the river, it's just that we only have a few collections from different areas of the river and they look like distinct forms. In the wild they will just be variations of the same thing differing from spot to spot. I really shouldn't have used the word 'hybrid' in the first place, sorry! It is important IMO though that the different forms are kept separate in our tanks to preserve some of that wonderful variation.
Hope I've made that a little clearer.

Never kept Neolebias, they're very rare in the UK too. Killis would be a good choice for a biotope. I think Aphyosemion bivitattum are sympatric with taeniatus in at least one location. They want the same water conditions and should do well, I've kept them with Pelvicachromis subocellatus 'Matadi' and they did fine, just never managed to save any eggs. Never mind getting some more next week and these I will breed!

Dabolox · 03-05-2007, 02:56 PM

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I use peat as I know it works well for me and is nice and natural too! If adding cones works for you, use it! I have no idea what species the cones are, maybe a cypress? If you haven't used them before be wary.

I have already used them before...
Here you'll find some informations about this tree...

Ok I will try it !

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It's not really hybridisation of species. Species are defined as reproductively isolated populations, these populations aren't isolated completely so really they are just different forms. In the wild they probably vary slightly as you travel down the river, it's just that we only have a few collections from different areas of the river and they look like distinct forms. In the wild they will just be variations of the same thing differing from spot to spot. I really shouldn't have used the word 'hybrid' in the first place, sorry! It is important IMO though that the different forms are kept separate in our tanks to preserve some of that wonderful variation.

Perfect...

Really clear...

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Never kept Neolebias, they're very rare in the UK too. Killis would be a good choice for a biotope. I think Aphyosemion bivitattum are sympatric with taeniatus in at least one location. They want the same water conditions and should do well, I've kept them with Pelvicachromis subocellatus 'Matadi' and they did fine, just never managed to save any eggs. Never mind getting some more next week and these I will breed!

I will wait for just some days... then I will make one chosen.
I hope that "Bivittatum" are easy to find... not like Neolebias...

Thanks again Ed...

Dabolox · 03-09-2007, 11:08 AM

Ed have you seen the link about "Alnus glutinosa" ?

ed seeley · 03-09-2007, 11:44 AM

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Originally Posted by Dabolox

Ed have you seen the link about "Alnus glutinosa" ?

Yeah and when I saw them I nearly kicked myself for being so dumb and not recognising an Alder!!! My Ecology professor would be turning in his grave (if he was dead!).

There's also a thread running on Apistogramma.com about them and apparently they have anti-bacterial properties as well as producing tannins and lowering pH, so definitely give them a go! I'm thinking about trying them too! There are some Alders at my school.
http://forum.apistogramma.com/showthread.php?t=3855

krisw · 03-09-2007, 11:53 AM

At the Catfish Convention last year, Ian Fuller described using alder cones when breeding cories, to act as a mild fungicide for the eggs.

Dabolox · 03-10-2007, 03:30 AM

Thanks for advice...

I have collected a full bag of alder cones...

Now which is the better method in order to use them in Aquarius?
Directly in water, like i have made sometimes in the past... or there's a better method to use them for you?

ed seeley · 03-10-2007, 08:59 AM

Choice is yours mate - you can either just put them into the tank or you could put them in a filter. Obviously this would be easier in a canister filter so it might depend on what filter you've got!

I know some people boil peat and create an extract which they add to their tanks to get the benefits, but I just prefer to put peat in my filter. Maybe you could do that with the cones? Boil them in just enough water to cover them and keep boiling for a few hours to get a nice dark liquid that you could add to the tank. Personally that sounds like too much hard work for me though!