Hillstream Loach River Tank

[nicolleen]

hi delta,

Originally Posted by NoDeltaH2O

yeast generally makes the output higher, and sugar makes the jug last longer. Unfortunately Fleischmann's Baker's Yeast cannot survive in the presence of alcholo, and as the fermentation progresses, alcohol levels in the jug rises. I think the alcohol is what makes it stop producing CO2, because I have mixed up jugs with tons of sugar and yeast, and it still only lasted about 2.5 weeks max. ALso fresher yeast works better than not so fresh yeast

that's right, baker's yeast tolerates up to about 14% alcohol. you can make the production more steady by adding gelatine, agar oder just jelly-base (those flavoured wobbling things). it also makes it last a bit longer and gives the co2 off more evenly. the other option is (if that is possible in your area) to ask a vintner or so if you can have some wine yeast. there are strains that ferment at lower temperatures (even more, champagne yeast, but that might be a bit over the top! ), it will ferment slower so you need to start off with a bit more yeast, and it will also last longer, as some tolerate higher levels of alcohol.

lg
niki

[NoDeltaH2O]

so do you add gelatin (is Jell-O Brand OK?) in addition to the sugar, or in place of the sugar?

[MrParker]

probably in addition....as it doesnt have sugar in the packet right? you either add sugar, or it uses the artificial sweetner(when making jello)

[NoDeltaH2O]

yeah, I guess you're right! I haven't eaten Jell-O in a long while.

[TLM4x4]

I have been looking at alot of tanks lately and I must say the ones with lots of plants like yours Delta are very appealing...very serene looking. That is one thing I havent ever been successful with are live plants..I remember trying it years ago not having any info to back up how to keep them healthy and not get mushy and die. Maybe some time in the future I will attempt it again. Very nice tank...

[NoDeltaH2O]

Thanks neighbour! Serenity in my tanks is what I stirve for, first and foremost. That's part of the reason why I have described myself as an aquarium person, not a fish person, per se. Fish are one componenet of my serene endeavors.

In my limited experience, I have found one thing to be the single most important factor in keeping plants growing well, intense lighting. When I built the hood for this tank, I was honestly afraid that I had too much light over it (about 80-90 watts of overdriven normal output flourescents). It turned out that this amount was PERFECT. Adequate lighting solves 80% of your problems off the bat. After that is keeping high CO2 levels, solving about another 15% of your problems, and then the last 5% are fertilizing and pruning issues.

Obviously, all are important, but I bet you could grow great plants with high light and high CO2, but not fertilize, as long as you had an adequate fish load. I did for quite a while.

[dss2004]

The tank looks fantastic NODELTA. I was actually reading a hobby book that talked about setting up a river style tank. The example they had failed terribly in comparison to your tank. How are the loaches doing?

[NoDeltaH2O]

The loaches are doing fine, the ones that haven't died, that is. It seems that most people in Oregon don;t have central air, as it rarely gets hot enough to need it. Well, I must have packed up the 100*F weather in my truck when I moved out here, because it's been a scorcher ever since I showed up, and I struggle to keep the tank temps low where they ought to be.

Still no luck in breeding them, but I haven't been trying either. If I ever get the big 180, then I'll devote this tank exclusively to the hillstream loaches, put in finer gravel for them, and fatten them all up. The shrimp really depleted the algae beds I had going in here. They would have to go also, as they clean algae constantly. Fortunately, my lighting is intense enough to keep algae growing on all of the rocks. ANd the plants grow fast enough to not get algae hardly at all. THis tank is so well balanced I am amazed. I wish my other tanks would be symbiotically homestatically equilibriated like this one.

[TLM4x4]

lol Delta...I live wayyyyyyy down on the south coast of Oregon...almost to the calif. border and thank goodness I have central air in my home!!!! I live in whats called "the banana belt" and it gets HOT here...I was surprised more ppl up your way dont have central air cuz i KNOW it gets hot in the portland area as well! My parents used to live up in Beaverton..a short skip from you..and it gets hot there as well. What really surprised me is the amount of snow you can get up there!, so I hope you have long underwear lol

[nicolleen]

Hello David,

sorry i missed the rest of the thread completely.

Originally Posted by NoDeltaH2O

so do you add gelatin (is Jell-O Brand OK?) in addition to the sugar, or in place of the sugar?

in addition of the suger (unless there is already enough suger in the gelly, i don't know jell-o brand ). the idea is to get the substrate immobilised, the yeast goes on top, the suger diffuses through the agar or gelatine matrix.

lg
niki