Back to Two and a Half Gouramis
Full Tank Log
· 32 entriesUpdate
Equipment Upgrade
Upgraded my UV sterilizer from a Aqua Miracle HCF-711-UV to a Aqua Miracle SV800. The new sterilizer has an observation/indication window so I can see if the bulb is running. The old sterilizer will be repressed for Mercy General, my hospital/quarant…
Problem
The Tank Saga Continues
I don't understand what I am doing wrong, here. I know Celaena Snaildothian passed due to nitrite spike stress, it's also why I lost the majority of my gourami fry. Shitty, but not the end of the world. Her shell is positioned in a place of... well,…
Milestone
It's Like Sighting Bigfoot, I Swear
Key moment
Huge game changer today, I got a food grade electric water pump to put the remineralized water from my 5 gallon jug into my tank! It works slow, is mostly silent, was gentle enough not to even disturb my salvinia while it was putting the water back i…
Observation
Time For a Nap
Is it legal for an employer to voluntell you to work at 4am? I agreed the first night, because it was necessary. But the second night I did not agree to, and I am not on-call staff, so I should have been able to say no. But... now im just exhausted.…
Update
Quick Update
Key moment
I have been on Reddit for quite some time, laughing at the jokes about shrimp trying to evolve. I never considered it meant SHRIMP ACTUALLY CLIMB OUT OF TANKS. Anyway I bought a DIY Screen Lid Kit and it came in today. Can't confirm or deny the exist…
Update
Seeding Matrix and Updating Feed Schedules
I placed a bag of fresh (rinsed) Matrix into my tank today. My partner has expressed interest in setting up a small tank for frogs, and having seeded Matrix on hand is a must for a new tank. Ive also considered upgrading my Just Snail(s) tank, mostly…
Solution
I Did It.
Alkaline buffer arrived today. I damn near had a heart attack dosing out 1/4tsp of that crap, dissolving it into 2 cups of tank water, testing the solution parameters (30+ dKH and 8.2pH, if you care) because it looked like it was just going to spoil…
Problem
I'm Not Gonna Do It, I Was Just Thinking About It
I dosed Two and a Half Gouramis with Seachem Equilibrium, because my hardness is so low. My tap water is soft and chlorinated so I don't use that for water changes. My water change water is Primo, from a local refill station, and it is also soft but…
Observation
7/28
The Amanos found the cholla wood thats been in my tank for about a month. The otos weren't interested in it at all, so i assume its been hosting biofilm and other microfaunas, which I know Amanos love. (Go find the tiny patch of hair algae, ya lazy b…
Milestone
Dorian Did Not Approve This
Key moment
It's 7/27, Monday. The first day of my vacation! I started my day by very much not sleeping in, despite not having to wake up for anything. Finished my water change, checked parameters, then slowly added 1/8th of a teaspoon of baking soda (dissolved…
Observation
7/24
I am unsure if there are any fry in the tank at this point. I know my female is gravid. I can see her little egg belly. I know my male is exhibiting courting behavior. I dont know that there are any fry. So Im going to stop feeding First Bites. If th…
Rescape
7/23
Key moment
Rescape is complete. Was originally going to do it in another week or two but the gourami are already acting like they're going to try to make more babies. No bubble nest seen yet, but I have observed some pre spawning behavior from my male, so I mov…
Update
7/21
This time last week I was dealing with a significant nitrite spike while trying to figure out with my fry would survive it. I still don't know if my fry will survive this tank, but if they do, great. The problem now is that their father is seeming mo…
Milestone
7/19
Key moment
As I suspected, Celaena Snaildothian has passed away. I saw her under the filter last night, and tonight, she had not moved. That is unlike her. I picked her up, and she does have detrius worms just starting to... well. Do what they do. I have remove…
Observation
7/18
Observation: I did a tiny dose - I mean TINY, like a quarter dose - of Thrive S last night. Have seen no changes in parameters! Noted: I will not do another dose until I do my water change on Monday. Then, Tuesday, I will do a half dose and see where…
Observation
7/17
I didnt do much tank gazing this morning. I stayed up too late, stayed in bed too long, and only briefly looked at the tank before having to leave for work. Luckily my guys arent on a morning feed schedule... except the fry, for whom I dusted the tin…
Observation
7/16
First thing I noticed this morning (while drinking my morning coffee because honestly I start my mornings with coffee and tankgazing) was Celaena Snaildothian climbing out of the water. Instant panic. I feel like I just overcame a nitrite spike, I st…
Solution
Nitrite Spike: Solution
Key moment
After all that, I woke up this morning and my nitrites were at 0. Yay! Did the tiniest of micro feeds, an itty bitty pinch of micropellets and the tip of a tweezer of First Bites near the fry. Confirmed fry, confirmed gourami are fine, assassin snail…
Problem
Nitrite Spike: Problem
Monday 7/13 I got home from work to discover swimmer in my tank, and an empty bubble nest.I also discovered a nitrite spike. Up to 0.25. Yikes! Immediately did a 10% water change, dosed with Quick Start and Stress Zyme, and monitored. Woke up Tuesday…
Milestone
Day 4: We Have Swimmers!
Key moment
I woke up in a rush this morning and my male was dutiful checking his nest. I knew we would likely have free swimmers today or tomorrow so I stopped at my local fish shop and got First Bites, for da bebes... I came home from work 9 hours later and th…
Layout change
Little bit of a change up
Key moment
Due to the gourami having active larvae, I needed moss for them to hide in after they leave the nest. So I shifted some things around.I added a moss covered coconut hut. Later I plan to adjust its position but I cant get it where I want it without di…
Milestone
Day 2, Bubble Nest Saga
Key moment
Woke up this morning to see a baby bladder snail in my bubble nest. Problem! The father took care of the problem. Tiny little wiggly things were seen in the bubble nest. Not with the naked eye, but yes with zooming WAY in using a phone camera. Excite…
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Milestone
Just A Father Tending His Young
Key moment
My sparkling gourmai built a nest on the underside of a leaf in the bottom right back corner of my tank. I didnt even realize I had a (breeding) pair of gourami until I heard him chirping at her the other day. Alas, I had already destroyed their firs…
Update
PH management
In the beginning when I set up the tank, it was just substrate, filter, and plants. I could not get my PH over a 7.0, and took a couple weeks to get it higher. Then I started adding fish, and still would see my PH dropping occasionally. So I added cr…
Update
Hair Algae and other updates
I havent noticed any more or new hair algae since removing snd replacing the sponges a week ago and scrubbing the driftwood. There is still some, I deliberately did not get rid of all of it, but it seems to have been kept at bay. I am still kind of c…
Update
Catappa leaves
I added three mini catappa leaves today. Gonna see if it helps bump the PH slightly lower. Also purchased a digital TDS meter. TDS seems high to me but im not sure? Strip test thinks general hardness is way lower than what the TDS meter reads. I dont…
Update
Bladder snails
On 5/18 I ordered salvinia minima, also known as water spangles, and put them in my tank. Of course I gave them a little rinse... a seriously good rinse. But not enough. Soon I noticed two bladder snails. I should have gotten rid of them then Fast fo…
Problem
Hair Algae
I first noticed the hair algae growing on my sponge filter sponges in early May. I cleaned the sponges, but also had a cloudy and green tinted tank, so I added a UV filter, the Aqua Miracle HCF-711-UV, on 5/22. I ran the UV lightfor 24 hours straight…
Observation
6/26 Observation
Observation - Detrius worms in tank. Not a problem, just an observation.
Milestone
Added fish
Key moment
Initially I started with just plants and hardscape. Then I got some otocinclus to help with what I knew would be natural algae growth, and I liked them so much. I picked out a betta for what I wanted to be a community tank, but it died after less tha…
Rescape
Addition of plants
Key moment
Initially on 3/24 I had a Java fern, three Amazon swords, and a banana plant. On 4/24 I added an anubias, some dwarf saggitaria substances, and later on 5/20 added some water spangles. I also, on 4/10, suction cupped a polka dot plant, an aluminum pl…
Milestone
Initial Tank Setup, March 2026
Key moment
Imagitarium High open glass aquarium tank, 20 gallon tall tank. Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum for Freshwater Fish Tanks added. Deggox Aquarium Sponge Filter (20-55 gal) model YU229C added Crushed Coral added to filter media. Aqua Miracle HCF-711-UV…