adm's 1st tank

[plankton]

It would be unusual for Amanos to breed in the tank, their development needs a really difficult one to get surviving shrimplets.
Water changes can bring on a moult, they'll then hide for a couple of days while the new carapace hardens.
Snails just grow their shells.
If the water is that soft now it may be worth using cuttlefish "bone" to give a calcium boost. The cheapest way is to buy one for budgie beaks and cut a piece off, pop it in boiling water for a couple of minutes and then drop in the tank, they'll graze on it. Put the rest in the fish cupboard and break off bits as they disappear in the tank. It should last years.

[Martinspuddle]

I have never added anything and they multiply rapidly, I believe a change in water parameters (water change) can bring on moulting.

Your thinking of Neocaridina Shrimp.

[adm]

I did a 30% water change this morning. Found all the Otos, and they are looking good with nice little fat bellies. Still can't see many Amano shrimp though - just the odd one or two every now and again, or it may just be the same one.... I may have to get some more.

I got rid of quite a bit of algae, but this morning it did look as if it was getting fractionally less. Maybe the plants are finally outcompeting it for nutrients.

I hate algae.

[adm]

Any reason not to get a (true) Siamese Algae Eater if I can find one? I know they get to about 6 inches in the wild when fully grown, but that could take a while and I may have a bigger tank by then....

[John Linklater]

You probably won’t get rid of all algae by adding algae eaters. It’s more about balancing nutrients and light (as well as good water circulation) versus the amount of plants you have and how fast they grow. I’ve had good results with problematic algae dosing flourish excel (which was recommended on here).

Should add, most tanks will have a wee bit of algae, as long as it doesn’t get out if hand it’s quite normal.

[black ghost]

SAEs should be kept in groups, which needs a very big tank.

[adm]

I bought 4 Dwarf Gouramis today to add to the tank. Bloke at the LFS said "don't feed them for the first day". OK, wasn't going to anyway....but the buggers are feeding themselves on hair algae from my plants.

They seem perfectly happy eating algae (and appear pretty effective at it), so I shall just leave them to it for a bit until either most of the algae is gone, or they decide they are bored of it.

I don't think the Tetras are big fans of the Gouramis at this point though. Hopefully they will all calm down a bit fairly soon.

[black ghost]

I always feed fish as soon as they’re in the tank. They’re always hungry. There’s no logic to not feeding them on the first day.

[plankton]

I hope you only got one male gourami.....otherwise you could have a war in there.....

[adm]

Ummm.....sadly I got two males and two females.

The two males did have a bit of a minor tussle last night but now they seem to be staying at opposite ends of the tank, with plants breaking line of sight between them.

I'll keep an eye on them, but I think I may take one male back to the LFS and trade for another female.