Stephen's 550L tank log (summary & continuation)

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Stephen
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I spoke to Steve (the boss) at Aqualife on Friday.
He confirmed that the Corydoras burgessi are local bred and that he has not had any issues with the Corydoras burgessi.
He said he had 4 Corydoras burgessi in stock last week but only has 2 now.
Due to it being the Christmas period he is not posting out fish until the new year (that makes sense).
He will have a chat with his supplier (local breeder named Bob) and asked me to monitor the last two surviving Corydoras burgessi and then contact him again in the new year and he will sort something out.
That sounds quite fair.
Aqualife Leyland are a good supplier and will sort out any issues, I have used them a few times without issues.

Despite doing a large water change on Tuesday this week, I decided on doing another on Friday.
I also had another syphon of the sand although it was fairly clean. I also removed then scrubbed and rinsed some bog wood (in the kitchen).
I then removed some foliage that were unsightly (to me they were, but I'm fussy) and finally topped up the sand with a 10kg bag of Unipac Samoa fine sand.
When syphoning the sand you tend to lose a bit and those bits eventually mount up so I topped it up.

The next job consists of blackening a line below the water line.
I have masked a level line approx 1 inch below the water line following a lowered water line.
I will use black insulation tape to fill that gap; this will allow me to slightly lower the water level.
The reason behind this is that algae builds up on the glass supports (braces) due to the water level being very close to the glass, the spray bars causing a ripple on the surface of the water (oxygenation) plus the lights are immediately above the supports. A lowering of the water level by around 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch will hopefully prevent the algae build up on the supports (that's the theory). The insulation tape will also hide/mask the lowered water line.
425L SeaBray Elite aquarium - Rio Mamoré (Bolivia) theme
4 x Cupid Cichlids, 14 x Cory caudimaculatus, 13 x Cory sterbai 52 x Reed Tetra, 4 x Honeycomb Bristlenose (L519)

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Stephen
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January 2022 update:

I will be visiting my favourite LFS tomorrow (Thursday).
On my shopping list are 15 x Corydoras melini which will replace the one's recently lost.

Corydoras melini (stock photo)
Image

Aquarium observation:
I have been watching my aquarium most days but today I can confirm that 2 x Cupid cichlids (Biotodoma cupido) seem to be pairing up.
One of the males is constantly guarding one of the females and chasing off the others.
This is quite encouraging as I wanted to breed this fish species.
I have a mixed group of 9 x Cupid cichlids, at least 2 are male. I've had these cichlids for almost 2 years now and it is only at this stage that they may start breeding.

If I can, I will separate the pair and place them in the 120L aquarium, this will be quite a difficult task but I did manage a similar task previously.
My aim is to have 2 (or 3) pairs in the aquarium and the others will be returned to the LFS for credit (previously agreed with LFS manager).

Quite exciting times ahead, hopefully.
425L SeaBray Elite aquarium - Rio Mamoré (Bolivia) theme
4 x Cupid Cichlids, 14 x Cory caudimaculatus, 13 x Cory sterbai 52 x Reed Tetra, 4 x Honeycomb Bristlenose (L519)

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Staffylover
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Love the diagonal stripe on this Cory, very striking, I imagine a group of them will look amazing,
Good news about the Cupids, nice that things are all looking positive again :)
500l - Africa river - https://www.aquariumforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6873
2x200l - https://www.aquariumforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=7790
Others - https://www.aquariumforums.co.uk/viewto ... =15&t=7411
230L 6ft - Shallow stream
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Stephen
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Staffylover wrote: Wed Jan 05, 2022 20:01 pm Love the diagonal stripe on this Cory, very striking, I imagine a group of them will look amazing,
Good news about the Cupids, nice that things are all looking positive again :)
Thank you. :]
425L SeaBray Elite aquarium - Rio Mamoré (Bolivia) theme
4 x Cupid Cichlids, 14 x Cory caudimaculatus, 13 x Cory sterbai 52 x Reed Tetra, 4 x Honeycomb Bristlenose (L519)

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Stephen
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Further update:
Stephen wrote: Wed Jan 05, 2022 18:08 pm January 2022 update:

I will be visiting my favourite LFS tomorrow (Thursday).
On my shopping list are 15 x Corydoras melini which will replace the one's recently lost.

Corydoras melini (stock photo)
Image
The Corydoras melini look great and are acclimatising at present.

Further good news:
Remember that I was originally getting some False Rummy-nose Tetra (Petitella georgiae) but the LFS was sent the wrong fish (sent Hemigrammus bleheri) which I accepted because they also fit in with the theme.
Well ..... the LFS has now got some False Rummy-nose Tetra (Petitella georgiae), I saw them.
The good news is .... the LFS will swap my Hemigrammus bleheri for Petitella georgiae. They are now reserved at the LFS and I will be collecting on the 15th (weather permitting).
I am well pleased.
:D :D :D :D
425L SeaBray Elite aquarium - Rio Mamoré (Bolivia) theme
4 x Cupid Cichlids, 14 x Cory caudimaculatus, 13 x Cory sterbai 52 x Reed Tetra, 4 x Honeycomb Bristlenose (L519)

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Stephen
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Stephen wrote: Thu Jan 06, 2022 17:38 pm The Corydoras melini look great and are acclimatising at present.
The Corydoras are in a temporary holding tank (quarantine) with a heater, air stone and minimal filtration.
Today (Friday) they all look fine in their temporary home. Although I'm not trying to disturb them, I can see them through the transparent sides of the plastic box.
I will continue to monitor and observe them before eventually adding them to the big aquarium.
425L SeaBray Elite aquarium - Rio Mamoré (Bolivia) theme
4 x Cupid Cichlids, 14 x Cory caudimaculatus, 13 x Cory sterbai 52 x Reed Tetra, 4 x Honeycomb Bristlenose (L519)

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Stephen
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Today's plan:

1.
Water change of both aquariums.
Syphon the sand.
Clean filter #1
Tidy up the aquarium.

2.
Catch the paired up Cupid cichlids (Biotodoma Cupido) and transfer them to the smaller 120L aquarium.
I have calculated that there is room for two pairs in the 550L aquarium (three pairs maybe).
By placing the paired up cichlids in the smaller aquarium then hopefully this will allow for another pair to pair up in the 550L aquarium. When that happens that pair will be temporary removed and all the others will be re-homed (as agreed with the original LFS who supplied them, re-confirmed on Thursday with the LFS manager).

3.
After the water changes and general tidy up I will put the recently purchased Corydoras in to their new home.

That's today's plan of action. ;]


Additional thoughts:
The second light unit which gave up a few weeks ago is actually full of water (despite being a sealed unit). Any remaining water will be drained off.
I am not in a position to replace this unit at present (costs approx £200 including new T5 tubes).
I have been thinking about replacing the current 6 foot aquarium with another 6 foot aquarium with custom lights that can be dimmed, timed etc.. That will cost quite a bit, so not spending £200 on a new light unit could go towards a new aquarium. I'm not in a position to replace the aquarium at present but maybe in the the next 12 months or so.
I do have these thoughts and will put a plan together with costings etc.. ;]

Edit:
Catching the pair of cichlids will be done on another day. :dodgy:

Further Edit (at 16.52):
I'm knackered. :cry:
425L SeaBray Elite aquarium - Rio Mamoré (Bolivia) theme
4 x Cupid Cichlids, 14 x Cory caudimaculatus, 13 x Cory sterbai 52 x Reed Tetra, 4 x Honeycomb Bristlenose (L519)

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Stephen
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before someone says (you know who I mean)
Just a snapshot of my 550L aquarium and the Corydoras melini.
( click image to enlarge)
Full tank shot
Image

Corydoras melini
Image

just a snapshot. ;)
425L SeaBray Elite aquarium - Rio Mamoré (Bolivia) theme
4 x Cupid Cichlids, 14 x Cory caudimaculatus, 13 x Cory sterbai 52 x Reed Tetra, 4 x Honeycomb Bristlenose (L519)

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F3l1ss
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Looking great :D
Small tank - 125L - 7 Corydoras sterbai, 2 Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi
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Stephen
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F3l1ss wrote: Sun Jan 09, 2022 14:09 pm Looking great :D
Thank you. I'm pleased :)
425L SeaBray Elite aquarium - Rio Mamoré (Bolivia) theme
4 x Cupid Cichlids, 14 x Cory caudimaculatus, 13 x Cory sterbai 52 x Reed Tetra, 4 x Honeycomb Bristlenose (L519)

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