#micro-algae in a tank

[leam1983]

I don't know that anyone wants to replace trees, but there's plenty of urban areas, especially in high-density zones, where the space available for foliage was unfortunately stripped bare. As far as urban development is concerned, it might be sometimes easier to put up something like this, as opposed to spend years trying to re-zone enough ground for a comparatively small patch of land to be fertilized, seeded and covered in juvenile trees that'll take years to reach their full potential - if they even do at all, considering their relative lack of space.

My source is my own father, who was a Real Estate appraiser for Montreal, before his retirement. He knows quite well how laughably complex it can be for a city to turn a few square feet of concrete into an area fit for greenery.

The vagaries and woes of urban development... There's always a will to do things in generally smarter means, but that will butts up against store owners who have Eminent Domain over a few inches of that contested patch of ground, against urban promoters who'd have to revise years' worth of blueprints, and against politicians who have clear electoral goals to reach, which sometimes run against sensible projects.

I get it - I'd really love it if we could tear up some concrete and asphalt and re-seed entire sidewalks guerrilla style, but then you'll be stuck with taxpayers whose chief concern is out of which pockets these ad-hoc community gardens will come...

[dentist-brainsurgeon]

I've found a total of 7 babies so far, 6 on one side of the tank but in various spots so it's hard to get a decent picture of those 6 let alone any of em bc they're so tiny. Also I've really only seen the one snail, hopefully it stays that way! Not to mention I've had an explosion of the tanks micro fauna(cyclops, detritus worms, rhabdocoela) which I appreciate. As much as I dislike the algae buildup, everyone in the tank thinks otherwise since they're constantly munching away at it so I don't really get to clear it away as much as I'd like

[glassboxdiaries]

The Easiest Shrimp Tank Setup You’ll Ever See! (No Filter, No Heater, No CO2)

My Blog Post On The Best Shrimp Food - https://glassboxdiaries.com/the-best-shrimp-foods-to-support-growth-health-and-reproduction/ Tank Setup Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6gQkIIldn8

Welcome to the 7-month update for my 6.6-gallon (25-liter) Pearlweed shrimp tank! This tank has been running using the Walstad Method, with a layer of topsoil capped by fine gravel, and relies entirely on plants for natural filtration. Inside, there’s a colony of Bloody Mary Neocaridina shrimp, though spotting them can be tricky with all the lush plant cover.

Pearlweed Growth & Maintenance The pearlweed has thrived in this setup and now requires regular trimming to keep it under control. On average, I trim it every two months, cutting it back by about one-third. While I don’t replant the trimmings in this tank due to space limitations, I’m considering using them to establish pearlweed in another tank. Pearlweed is an excellent natural water purifier and provides great coverage for shrimp, fertilized eggs, and fry.

In fact, I’m planning to use some trimmings to create a breeding base for celestial pearl danios in another tank. Despite this tank being unheated and averaging a cool 18°C (65°F) in winter, the pearlweed and shrimp are thriving. Growth has slowed slightly with the colder temperatures, but it remains healthy and vibrant.

Updates on the Bloody Mary Shrimp Colony The Bloody Mary shrimp in this tank are doing well, breeding happily among the dense plant cover. Recently, I gave ten shrimp to a friend with a larger tank to help him establish his own colony. I’m even considering giving him more in the coming weeks to maximize his breeding potential and possibly receive some shrimp back next summer.

The main challenge with this setup is that the shrimp are so well-hidden it’s hard to keep track of their numbers. Unlike my other tanks, where shrimp come out during feeding, this tank has an abundance of biofilm and algae, so the shrimp are constantly grazing and rarely gather at the front. This can make it difficult to enjoy their activity, which has me considering moving them to a new tank.

I’m currently cycling two new tanks that might work well for the Bloody Mary shrimp. One is a Walstad Method setup, and the other will feature an Anubias lava rock island with a filter. I’m also thinking of pairing Medaka rice fish with shrimp, as their compatible water parameters and added bioload could enhance plant growth while creating a balanced ecosystem.

Water Parameters This tank has been remarkably stable, requiring only top-offs to counter evaporation rather than full water changes. The pearlweed, combined with beneficial bacteria and archaea, keeps nitrogen compounds in check, ensuring a safe environment for the shrimp.

Many worry about TDS levels creeping up without water changes, but that hasn’t been an issue here. The pearlweed absorbs nutrient salts and heavy metals as it grows, helping to maintain balance. I’ve also stopped dosing shrimp salts to increase gH and kH, and there haven’t been any problems with molting.

Feeding Routine The shrimp get minimal supplemental feeding since the pearlweed provides ample surface area for biofilm and algae. I add about a quarter of a Hikari Mini Algae Wafer each day, which the shrimp pick at throughout the day. Interestingly, research suggests Neocaridina shrimp are micro predators, consuming small organisms like nematode worms and microcrustaceans, which may contribute to their diet in this tank.

This has changed how I view Walstad Method setups. Even with such minimal feeding, the plants are thriving, showing how biofilm, algae, and shrimp waste create a self-sustaining system. I’m even tempted to experiment with a pearlweed shrimp jar, feeding only algae and biofilm to see if the system can support itself.

Final Thoughts This shrimp tank has been easy and affordable to maintain, starting with just a single pot of pearlweed and a Walstad Method setup. With no filter or heater, running costs are low, making it a great choice for budget-conscious hobbyists.

The main downside is the dense plant cover, which makes it hard to spot the shrimp. However, regular maintenance and trimming could address this if visibility is a priority.

Thanks for following along with this update! Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments below.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro 00:07 - Shrimp Tank Method 00:26 - Pearlweed Growth 01:37 - Bloody Mary Neocaridina Shrimp 03:04 - Potential New Homes 03:47 - Water Parameters 05:08 - Feeding 07:40 - Wrapping It Up

Some of the links in this video description may be affiliate links meaning I earn a small commission from any purchases made.

[nanojungle]

Fish Wishes!

(Images aren’t mine, snatched from google)

Ok so I’ve thought about this for awhile and I’ve seen a couple of these guys in fish stores and done the research to figure out what’s going to be happiest in my 15G nano tank.

Honey Gourami as the centrepiece fish

When I see these guys iRL, they’re always inquisitive, swimming right up to things and then giving them a little pat with their feelers. They’re cute and interesting to watch. Generally considered a peaceful community fish but Reddit has been full of stories of them bullying their own kind until they die :< As they’re happy solo, I think I can give them a stress free life being the centrepiece fish of the tank with a few easygoing nano fish friends.

Or Sparkling Gourami as the centrepiece?

I love the idea of Sparklers. I fell in love with the YouTube series from Foo the Flowerhorn where they set up a tank with sparklers and amanos. In reality I think it’s very risky for the amanos; I’ve had LFS guys and Reddit posts give me anecdotes about the sparklers eating shrimp or killing them off slowly by beating them into hiding. Let’s be honest, I do this hobby to relax. I’m not going to have violence in my tank! Such a shame as they’re so pretty. The image of these guys with their turquoise scales and a backdrop of a bunch of baby blue jelly shrimps would be soo cool but I know there would be suffering so it would never be worth it.

Nano fish

Celestial Pearl Danios

Excuse the shitty iPhone vid. Sometimes you just have to go to see some fish iRL to figure if you’re really going to love them.

I’ll tell you what, every time I see these guys in real life they make my heart flutter with how stinking cute they are. They have beautiful colours and are so small. The ones I’ve seen in store have been about 0.8” in length.

Chilli rasbora

These are another species that always catch my attention in person. Their little faces and big eyes are too cute to handle and their body shape looks like a miniature red shark. They’re also micro predators so they would have a great time gobbling up the creatures and loose eggs in the tank. Thankfully their mouths are too small to do any damage to shrimps!

Extras;

When I think of all the gross lil non-fish creatures I would enjoy in a tank, my mind always gravitates to cherry shrimp or amanos. With amanos I think i’d like the peace of mind to rely on these lil dudes to clean up the nastier hairier algae if it turns up.

However, a hoard of cherries swarming the tank and filling it with bright colours would also be so fun! Blue jellies are the cutest but bright orange ones look like you’ve got a tank full of pre cooked shrimp or living cheetos.

Anyways, that’s my fish wishes! Im not going to get every one of these fish, just a centrepiece fish, some skrimps if compatible and a small shoal of nano fish.

Next weekend I might go to the LFS and see what I can find, I’m so excited!

[angel5ofp0rn]

So I have two tanks. The one turned back into a murky Aether so I cannot photograph the inhabitants at this time. There's 3 tetras, a red velvet swordfish, two danios and some kinda catfish in there tho. They are Matt & Micro [the danios], I call the tetras just The Triplets, the swordfish is Honey and catfish I deemed Moustache

That's my 6gal that'salways murky. My 10gal is crystal clear like 24/7 and I chalk it up to Cannibal being really good at cleaning. Cannibal is my Chinese algae eater. She's named Cannibal because the first day I had her she ate one of my pink danios. The big ol chonky beta is Duke [if you've ever played Resident Evil 8 you'd know why]. I have 3 danios, the yellow and pink Things and the striped one. The pink and yellow ones are Thing Two and Thing Who. No it's not specific to either of them, that's just what they are. The striped one is Salvatore. The other funky little calico one is a platy and his name is Hot Sauce.

I LOOOOOVEEEEE

[aquariuminfobureau]

Sewellia lineolata is one of the ballitorid hillstream fishes, that are endemic to Asia. They are not "plecos" or loricarids, nor suckers or catostomids, as they are often confusingly labelled in aquarium retail. Loricarids and catostomids are found in other parts of the world. Often they are called a loach, which is fair, because they nest deeply within the traditional, pre-cladistic assemblage, called Cobitidae. Historically, they were regarded as distinct from the loaches.

S. lineolata are collected from Southeast Asian upland waters, which must always be well oxygenated, though not neccessarily as fast moving assume sources indicate, because these fish are found in pools beside riffles, as, well as in the actual rapids. In the wild, they live on gravel, bedrock, and sand substrates, with few submerged plants. Sewellia make an excellent focus for a biotope setup.

This species grows to about 6 centimeters, or 2 and a 1/4 inches. The trade names for S. sewellia, are the reticulated, tiger, and gold ring hillstream fish. For all I know, other species may be traded under these names. Care for all the imported species and morphs of Sewellia sp , is believed to be the same.

S. lineolata have small mouths for fishes their size, and feed on algae, biofilm, and very small invertebrates. In the aquarium this species will eat algae wafers, micro pellets of the sort offered to shrimp, and defrosted invertebrate based foods. These are not considered difficult fishes to feed, and they have no ability nor inclination, to prey on ornamental tank cohabitants.

I don't know the water parameters where they are collected from the wilds, but in the aquarium, their proper care is well established. Their water ought to be moderately hard, and its pH should be about neutral, with the temperture a bit lower than is usual for a tropical tank, with somewhere between 20 to 23 degrees centigrade being a good temperture to maintain.

In the wild they are diurnal, and spend time grazing and foraging, in unshaded water, so I imagine some daytime temperture tolerance greater than that - but its important to know, they experience cooler tempertures by night, and should not be confused with tropical fishes. Permanent exposure to tempertures over 24 degrees, has been noted to lead to emaciation.

They also experience seasonality in the wild, not only of temperture but of rainfall, with run off depositing organics into the water during the rainy season, surely affecting the water chemistry they experience. My point is, these are hardy loaches that tolerate a range of tempertures and water chemistries, only if the needs of oxygenation are met.

But the ability of fish like Sewellia sp. to temporarily tolerate high tempertures, on a daily or seasonal basis, should not be willfully misunderstood and abused, by people who want yo treat them as though they were tropical fishes. These are "coldwater tropicals".

[mikkeneko]

[Image ID. Screenshot from twitter. User @pixelatedboat aka "mr tweets" (with an icon of a pixelated boat) wrote: "My goal is to be the first person found dead inside one of these"

pixelatedboat is responding to a tweet from the account @yupthtexists who wrote: "Scientists create Liquid Trees; a tank full of water and micro-algae that could be an alternative to trees in urban areas."

Underneath is two photos of the tank in question: a rectangular green tank in a black frame of about human height. There is also an ivory bench attached to the tank. In the background is a street scene with cars, businesses, bike racks and trees. End ID.]

[airoxitube]

Which AirOxi Aeration tube is suitable for your Aquaculture Pond

Introduction:

In fish and shrimp aquaculture, maintaining optimal oxygen levels is paramount for the health and productivity of aquatic organisms. Among the various aeration solutions available, AirOxi tubes stand out as efficient and versatile aeration diffusers for delivering oxygen to aquaculture ponds. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the world of AirOxi tubes, exploring their sizes, types, and applications in various aquaculture settings.

Understanding AirOxi Tubes:

AirOxi tubes are specially designed aeration devices that utilize innovative membrane technology to efficiently dissolve oxygen into water. These tubes come in various sizes, materials, and types to suit different pond sizes and aquaculture needs. Unlike traditional aeration methods, AirOxi tubes offer superior oxygen transfer efficiency and durability, making them an ideal choice for modern aquaculture operations.

Types of AirOxi Tubes:

One of the key advantages of AirOxi tubes is their availability in a wide range of sizes to cater to different pond volumes and stocking densities. From small-scale backyard ponds to large commercial aquaculture farms, AirOxi offers tubes in sizes ranging from a few inches to several feet in length. Choosing the right size of AirOxi tube is crucial for ensuring adequate oxygen distribution throughout the pond, thereby promoting healthy aquatic life and optimal growth.

AirOxi offers a diverse range of aeration solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of various aquaculture setups. Understanding the different types of AirOxi tubes is essential for selecting the most suitable option for optimal oxygenation and water movement in your pond or tank.

Most AirOxi tubes are available in regular material and algae resistant material. The regular material is commonly used for brackish water with salinity 10 ppm and above. The algae resistant tubes are more commonly used in fresh water where algae and fungal growth is expected to be higher.

AirOxi high efficiency tube (AO125250) and Algae Resistant tube 25 mm (AO125250-AR) : These AirOxi tubes are made with special elastomeric material to get micro bubbles giving it high efficiency in oxygenation

   - Oxygenation Capacity: High   

- Water Movement: Medium

   - Maintenance Needed: Medium

   - Blower Suitable: ROOT Blower

   - Recommended For: Growout ponds, nurseries

2. AirOxi low pressure tubes – regular Yellow Line and Algae resistant Green line Tubes AO125225 : These special AirOxi tubes have low wall thickness and work easily with low pressure blowers like air pump and ring blowers

  - Oxygenation Capacity: High

   - Water Movement: Medium

   - Maintenance Needed: Low

   - Blower Suitable: Ring Blower

   - Recommended For: Growout ponds, nurseries, biofloc tanks

3.  AirOxi Star Special Tubes for Biofloc tanks and ponds (AO-125250 Star) : This AirOxi tube is a special patented design for high water movement

   - Oxygenation Capacity: High

   - Water Movement: High

   - Maintenance Needed: Low

   - Blower Suitable: ROOT and Ring Blower

   - Recommended For: Biofloc tanks

4. AirOxi Pearl - Smooth Tube for RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems): This AirOxi tube is very smooth and has very fine bubbles giving very high DO levels

   - Oxygenation Capacity: High

   -  Water Movement: Medium

   - Maintenance Needed: Low

   - Blower Suitable: ROOT Blower   

- Recommended For: RAS setup

5.  Large Diameter Tube with High Airflow (AO250380): This is one of the largest size aeration tube in the world and has a very high flow rate. Also available in algae resistant formulation

   - Oxygenation Capacity: High

   - Water Movement: Medium

   - Maintenance Needed: Low

   -  Blower Suitable: ROOT Blower

   - Recommended For: Biofloc ponds and tanks

6. AirOxi XTRA – This AirOxi tube is made of a different membrane material for low maintenance and low maintenance. It has large bubbles specially for biofloc tanks. This tube has a rough finish

   - Oxygenation Capacity: Medium

   -  Water Movement: Medium

   - Maintenance Needed: Low

   - Blower Suitable: ROOT Blower

   - Recommended For: Biofloc tanks

7. AirOxi 19  – This AirOxi tube is a special aeration tube made for nurseries. It has low wall thickness, needs low pressure to operate and gives high water movement needed in nurseries. It is suitable for 1-2 seasons.

   - Oxygenation Capacity: Medium

   -  Water Movement: High

   - Maintenance Needed: Low

   - Blower Suitable: ROOT Blower + Ring Blower

   - Recommended For: Nursery

8. AirOxi 1020  – This AirOxi tube is made for use with air pumps with a smaller inside diameter that fits with air pumps.

   - Oxygenation Capacity: Low

   -  Water Movement: Low

   - Maintenance Needed: Low

   - Blower Suitable: Air pump

   - Recommended For: Small tanks with air pump

9. AirOxi NC-16  – This AirOxi tube is a very thin wall, single season use tube, made of perforated food grade material. It is ideal for mud bottom ponds.

   - Oxygenation Capacity: Low

   -  Water Movement: High

   - Maintenance Needed: Low

   - Blower Suitable: ROOT + Ring Blower

   - Recommended For: Growout pond with mud bottom

These are just a few examples of the diverse range of diffusers available to suit different aquaculture needs. Whether you're managing growout ponds, nurseries, biofloc tanks, or specialized RAS setups. You can contact us for other special diffusers that AirOxi makes.

You can also contact us for technical data sheet and more information on any of these AirOxi tubes.

Applications in Aquaculture Ponds:

AirOxi tubes find versatile applications in various aquaculture setups, including intensive shrimp farming, fish culture, and hatcheries. In shrimp farming, AirOxi tubes are used to maintain optimal oxygen levels in high-density ponds, thereby preventing oxygen depletion and ensuring healthy shrimp growth. Similarly, in fish culture operations, AirOxi tubes play a crucial role in promoting oxygenation and reducing stress among cultured fish species. Moreover, AirOxi tubes are widely utilized in hatcheries for providing oxygen-rich water to developing larvae and fry, thereby enhancing survival rates and growth.

Factors to Consider When Choosing AirOxi Tubes:

When selecting AirOxi tubes for aeration in aquaculture ponds, several factors must be taken into account. Pond size, water depth, stocking density, and the type of blower. Additionally, factors such as oxygen transfer efficiency, durability, ease of installation, and maintenance requirements should also be evaluated. By carefully assessing these factors, aquaculture operators can choose the most suitable AirOxi tubes to meet their specific needs and maximize aeration efficiency in their ponds.

Conclusion:

AirOxi tubes represent a cutting-edge solution for aeration in aquaculture ponds, offering superior oxygen transfer efficiency, durability, and versatility. By understanding the different sizes, types, and applications of AirOxi tubes, aquaculture operators can make informed decisions to optimize oxygen levels and promote the health and productivity of their aquatic organisms. As the aquaculture industry continues to evolve, AirOxi remains at the forefront of innovation, providing sustainable aeration solutions for aquaculture operations worldwide.

Contact us

+917041004098

info@airoxi.com

A simple table is provided here for easy reference

[heshamalshafey]

                                                             HOT PRESSED SECTIONAL WATER TANKS

Advantages of Hot press Moulding Tanks using “SMC” (Sheet Moulding Compound)

•     Moulding at 150˚C using isophthalic resin.

•     Moulding under high pressure of 45kgf/cm2 pressure

•     Excellent Ultra Violet Resistance characteristics, which doesn’t allow growth of ALGAE or any micro-organisms.

•     Strong, with excellent performance and stable construction.

•     Uniform shape with good finishing of panels.

•     Dense, smooth finish allows effective cleaning and resistance to bacterial growth.

•     Suitable for water temperatures upto 50˚C.

•      Specially engineered design of bottom panel to withstand water pressure, prevent water leakage and       facilitate easy drainage of water.

•  Using Stainless Steel for inside structure and HDG steel for the outside ensures best protection against corrosion.

Hot Press Moulded GRP panel tanks have multifarious applications but are specially suited in the following situations

Rural, semi-urban water supply schemes.

Water supply schemes for housing complexes.

Water storage for firefighting operations.

Water storage in coastal (extremely hot & cold and difficult terrains).

Overhead water storage in multi-storeyed buildings.

On-site water storage & transportation in remote areas.

Water & Wastewater storage in effluent treatment plants.

Water storage in chemical, pharmaceutical and corrosive factory areas.

Hot water storage for solar water heating systems with the help of optional PUF insulation on panels.

Chilled water storage with the Chilling & Air Conditioning plants with the help of PUF insulation on panels.

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To communicate and inquire

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[lookingstr8]

blog nuisance

[darkwingphoenix]

In my AU, once Amber is granted the Uekoro Palace's pool by Jelani, she winds up slowly making a micro ecosystem in their, complete with sucker fish. She and Maui will settle down near the bottom of the pool and let the suckers eat the issues off of them.

This really picks up speed when Amber goes to the Athenaeum, as she wants the fish to be alive when she comes back, so set up a basic ecosystem and ensured the population was stable.

When she came back, though, many of the suckers had died due to starvation, but had bred. She added more fish and aquatic flora to the tank, which wound up causing enough algae to grow that the sucker fish could live off of algae long enough for her to come back.

Even the most backwater, primitive peoples on Looming Gaia practice some form of self-care. Keeping good hygiene prevents the spread of disease, especially in crowded communities like the labyrinths of Lamai Nation or the cities of Zareen Empire. Sometimes people use Looming Gaia as the setting for their roleplays/tabletop games, so I thought this might be useful for that. Enjoy!

*

Masterpost

Questions?

*

[pureverwatertanks]

Which is the Best SS Commercial Water Tank For 3000 To 5000 Liters? What’s Your Choice?

In the domain of commercial water storage, Duplex stainless-steel water tanks have gained prominence due to their versatility. Made of Duplex 2205 steel, the SS commercial water tank can last for years. These tanks are engineered with a unique combination of ferrite and austenite micro-structures. Both these components offer exceptional strength and corrosion resistance.

If you are considering buying a SS commercial water tank, be aware of the ideal tank size. The stainless-steel water tanks have become the go-to option for a wide range of industries and businesses. The unique properties of stainless steel, combined with versatility and durability, make it an excellent investment. If you want to buy a commercial water tank of 3000 to 5000 liters, the following are the best options to explore.

Tropinox 2205 Water Tank

Tropinox 2205 water tank is one of the best investments for your factory because of various reasons. For instance, it offers superior resistance to corrosive elements. Thanks to the unique properties of Duplex 2205 stainless steel, a Tropinox tank is resistant to dissolved salts, chlorides and acids.

Therefore, if your business installations operate in harsh environments, investing in the Tropinox 2205 tank is a smart choice. The Tropinox 2205 water tanks contain 6 layers which ensures optimum safety while storing water. Another benefit of selecting this commercial water tank is its 1.5mm thickness and Pulse TIG welding process.

Signature Series Water Tank

The Signature Series water tank is suitable for a wide variety of industries. With seven-layer insulation and high PREN value, these tanks can be an ideal solution to your water storage woes. As one of the best stainless-steel water tanks, it has an average thickness of 3mm. It is this thickness that makes it resistant to corrosion. Moreover, you can install this tank in a wide variety of environments.

Made of Duplex 2205 stainless steel, these tanks offer great flexibility in customization and design. You can contact the manufacturer to tailor the tank based on your specific needs. One of the key highlights of these SS water tanks is their 25-year warranty.

Duplex stainless-steel water tanks are non-toxic and hygienic, which ensures the purity of the stored water. The material’s surface discourages the growth of algae and bacteria. This makes them suitable for the beverage and food processing industries.

Pharminox 316L Tank

It is one of the most durable stainless-steel water tanks available for industrial use nowadays. Renowned for their superior characteristics and corrosion resistance, the Pharminox 316L tanks have numerous benefits.

The Pharminox 316L tank comprises six layers and boasts an advanced manifold connection scope. This feature allows you to use the tank for multiple applications. Tanks made from 316L stainless steel have a smooth and non-porous surface that inhibits the growth of microorganisms. So, the Pharminox 316L tanks are ideal for hospitals and medical care facilities.

Stainless steel tanks are a superior choice in industrial water storage solutions. If you want to purchase one of the best SS water tanks, Purever is a reliable brand to buy from. They are the only accredited and BASF-insulation-certified tank manufacturers in India.

[glassboxdiaries]

✨ My Celestial Pearl Danios (CPDs) have officially been in their tank for a whole month, and I couldn’t be happier with how things are going! 🐟

💨These little fish are always on the move—darting around the hardscape, playfully chasing one another, and even breeding!

They absolutely love NTLabs Micro Crumb, but I’ve also been creative with their meals, grinding up other foods in a pepper grinder.

So far, they’ve devoured everything I’ve offered them. 🍽️🐠

Despite all the breeding activity, I haven’t spotted any fry just yet, but with all the hiding spots in the tank, there’s still hope. 🏞️✨

To help keep algae in check, I’ve added five cherry shrimp to the mix. 🦐🌿

The CPDs seem to ignore the shrimp, but I haven’t seen any baby shrimp so far.

Let’s see if the shrimplets can stay out of harm’s way! 🤞

One little issue I’ve noticed is some staghorn algae making an appearance. 🌱⚠️

To tackle it, I’m starting partial water changes to balance out any sneaky excess nutrients my test kit might not be catching. 💧🔬

Overall, the tank is thriving, and the CPDs seem super happy in their new home. It’s amazing watching this beautiful little ecosystem evolve every day. 🐟💚🦐

[thecandywrites]

Micro-mermaid Chenera Part 1

So, I know I'm, like two months late for Mermay, BUT. I had this amazing dream about micro-mermaids.

So hear me out- mermaids- half fish half human right? Deep sea mermaids/sirens would get HUGE to combat the pressure and stuff right? Well take it the other direction tiny pools in the amazon or the tropics, where we find guppies and betas and little very vibrant, very little fish but with a fantasy twist- micro-mermaids. Adults as big as your fingers, with kids and babies the size of your fingertips and finger nails, based on real fish, like betas, guppies, oscars, mollys, tetras and the like.

My mom ALWAYS kept at least one fish tank growing up, usually fresh water, one time she kept a brackish tank too, saltwater tanks were always too pricy for us BUT SO PRETTY TO STARE AT- AT THE FISH STORES. It's a life long hobby for her that she passed down to at least one of my sisters, my other sister is into guppies and betas almost exclusively and the different kinds and colors just within those two varieties are almost endless. And watching fish swim in a beautiful and healthy fish tank is documented to help out mentally and ease anxiety and even depression. Imagine what it would be like to have a tank of micro mermaids! Especially multiple kinds the way most will have multiple kinds of fish in a tank. I also got the idea from watching a documentary about how TINY little seahorses can be and of course My Little Mermaid- inner tween said 'tiny seahorse needs tiny micro-mermaid to ride it!' And of course seahorses especially are notoriously difficult to keep in captivity. If micro-mermaids were real, I'd imagine the same kind of thing. An expensive hobby that most would dump money into just for the privlidge of having their own wonder of nature.

And just like we have fish stores and fish breeders, think micro-mermaid breeders. Some are really good, others can be crappy, and this story follows a responsible, loving breeder, (more or less based on my mom who I love immesurably)

But me, being...well me, I can't write anything and not have a bit of angst, a good pinch of romance, eventual consentual smutty goodness and eventual happily ever afters. So...heads up.

Also since little fish tend to have shortened lifespans of only a few years, I'd imagine a micro-mermaid's lifespan would be similar in that they'd be shortened as well, so when you read cycles, that's in days. But also don't think of it as to the mermaids being years, if a micro-mermaid is 22 cycles, aka 22 days old, it's approxomately 11 years old in human terms so these guys are literally babies and kids when we meet them and get to watch them 'grow up' so to speak. So again, cycles=days divided in half= human years as point of reference.

But considering most merfolk in the ocean would live for who knows how long- if the average beta can live 2-5 years, lets say micro-mermaids can live to be 5-8 years old. Which compared to most little freshwater fish, is still, practically ancient. time passes differently for different beings, like dog years/human years/elven years kind of thing.

Cool? Cool. Let's dive in! (pun intended)

Micro-Mermaid

Chenera

Part 1

Ethel watched with baited breath from outside the glass as your parents gently used their billowy fins to circulate fresh oxygenated water across their eggs that had they laid in their small cave, made out of a large, fancy geode that Ethel had put into their tank to use as their cave to lay and hatch their young, the pockets of facets in the geode assisting to keep the eggs secure so that they would stay put and hatch successfully.

Ethel was a micro-mermaid breeder, and your parents were considered “royal chameleon” merfolk, a breed made special in that they could, like a chameleon, change their colors to suit their environment, but their fin structure and body confirmation was as if you crossed a beta with a mermaid, but in the micro scale, their large, billowy fins, long hair and plump bodies, an ethereal ideal for the subspecies.

And at a certain stage in their lives, she would put the adolescents into a much brighter colored tank, with things like hunks of gold and platinum and special rocks surrounded by color shifting fabrics on the outside of the glass so that the adolescents would always change into fancy, bright colors with precious metal accents and shifts of colors and special effects to their fins so that they could attract an equally colorful, healthy and vibrant mate and therefore, be worth much more on the market to enhance already immaculate genetics.

Ethel’s other tanks had schools of other micro mermaids of all kinds, from guppies, oscars, swordtails, molly’s, tetras and the like. Ethel was quite the collector and seemed to have every variety of micro mermaid both in nature and that could be bred in captivity and she was highly sought after in the industry because she treated each micro mermaid with the same tender loving care that she would treat her own children, if she had ever got to have them and her home might as well have been a mini aquarium since she ran one of the high end, micro-mermaid aquariums in the city and her home was where she bred the majority of her stock and her personal favorites that she was especially attached to.

Ethel preferred to sell mated pairs of micro-mermaids since micro mermaids preferred to mate for life but others preferred the “harem method” having a few females to a single male to get more clutches of eggs and thus, more micro-mermaids to sell since all the females could be laying clutches of eggs but that was usually harder on the female since she would have to care for the eggs mostly on her own since the male’s attention would be divided among all the clutches of eggs and even in the harem style, the male would prefer the company of his favorite and thus her eggs as well, and while that method got more micro-mermaids in volume, it usually always lacked in quality, the micro-mermaids would be slim, aggressively competitive and prey driven and would only live half as long, but wild caught micro-mermaids usually died before they could produce a clutch in captivity and capturing wild micro-mermaid clutches could be almost impossible since they usually hid them so well. Especially since male micro-mermaids could be very territorial once as mated adults. But before the mating process as adults, males could be housed together as kids and teens while in captivity.

Ethel had one particular tank though where she called it the “odds and ends” tank, where usually the last of her older micro-mermaids had clutches and died before the eggs could fully develop, where she would move the clutches into the large tank to be cared for by the community, something like an orphanarium for micro-mermaids that had a little bit of everything in it and to see so many varied individuals, and sometimes divided off into schools, it was one of her favorites to sit and watch and drink her tea.

She would even get clutches from other breeders, who would usually get overwhelmed or would run out of funds to keep the tanks going since micro-mermaids could be a very expensive hobby because they had a very specific and very demanding feeding and housing requirements depending on the subspecies, the salt water varieties being the most so. But in this particular room, was the “freshies”, she had other rooms in her house, the “brackies” or brackish water types, and her most coveted, the “salties” that room she kept under lock and key since the occupants of that room were worth thousands of dollars each and everything had to be controlled specifically and carefully.

Ethel usually had the laying and hatching process down to a meticulous science, she liked to keep her tanks at a specific temperature for the “incubation” process, where the eggs themselves would incubate at what Ethel had found over the years- was the “perfect” temperature so that almost all the eggs would hatch, the adults would be comfortable, but at the same time, the food she would put into the tanks to feed the micro-mermaids would not rot and attract flies or other scavengers who would try to fly into the house and prey not only on the mico-mermaid’s food but on the micro mermaids themselves.

You were one of the first to hatch, the egg’s shell breaking to allow you to break free as you squirmed out and into your father’s hands before he caught a few of your siblings who did the same before he cooed to you and greeted you happily as you opened your big eyes up at him and snuggled into his chest before he waited for your siblings to get their first and only milk from your mother, that would set up your gut to eat for a lifetime, before you were swapped out with your siblings and once you had your first milk, then you were brought up to the surface to get just a small breath of air so your air bladders would be filled and so you could navigate the whole tank easily before both of your parents touched your head, and the heads of all your siblings to the gold nugget in the tank so that all of you would have golden heads and hair, a trait that both your parents and Ethel prided themselves on.

It also served as a marker for which group you came from, your parents were the “gold standard” of the subspecies of beta-micro-mermaids. And other pairs had different metals or different colored stones so that each pair and their children would have that “mark” to signify which ones came from which parents for future breeding purposes, so that just by looks, they could decipher your genetics instead of having to go to the master gentics manual to decipher it all the time.

Now with the air in your air bladder and your first milk in your system, now your life fully began as you fully woke up and became conscious and thus wriggly and your siblings began exploring the tank as Ethel sprinkled in “baby bits” which was a composite of larve, krill, mackerel, anchovy, feeder-fish as well as algae as you and your siblings happily began “hunting” your first real meal, some of them using the surprise attack, whereas you and a few of your other siblings used the “stalking” method, hiding behind the roots and foliage of the plants at the top of the tank before you “pounced” and grabbed ahold of your favorite little bit and bit down into it, like a big loaf of bread that got softer to eat the more it was in the water as your tiny little teeth helping you eat it as you chewed it and held it between your two tiny hands and swam down back down to the bottom and sat in the soft sandy area, which was affectionately known as “the sand pit” with your other siblings who had hatched within the last few moments as your parents were busy helping the others that were hatching and repeating the process over and over until the whole clutch hatched.

“Well hello there beauties!” Ethel greeted as she waived with a big smile as you looked over and while your first instinct was to freeze and change into the color of your surroundings, to see your parents waiving back seemed to relax the rest of you.

“It’s ok, that’s Ethel, she’s the one who takes care of us and feeds us.” Your parents introduced before you used your tiny hands to waive back like your parents had as Ethel’s smile grew wider and more excited before she sprinkled in more “baby bits” for your siblings that would be hatching in the next few hours before she left and went to her other tanks to check up on the couples and the other clutches of eggs to repeat her process as she then tried to take notes of the other hatchlings and trying to count to see how many had hatched that day and once you were all full, you piled up in the silky soft sand to take your first rest from your first full day.

Since micro-mermaids aged quickly, it was only a few weeks and all of you had grown into playful rambunctious kids, swimming and chasing each other around the tank, building up strength and stamina, Ethel had turned the temperature of the tank down to a cooler temperature to incite your appetite and help you bulk up and gain a layer of fat over your buddening muscle and your parents had given all of you names to keep you accounted for as you learned language and all the various kinds of communication, at this point in time, all of you had the same gold heads and hair but could take on the colors of your surroundings so that some of you took on the sandy color of the “sand pit” or others had taken on the green color of the foliage of the plants that grew in the tank or the colorful geode and if it wasn’t for your gold heads, Ethel would have the hardest time finding any you in the tank besides your parent's who's colors for the most part had "fixed" into permanant colors. Your mother a colorful pearlescent, your father a striking metalic green, blue, purple and black.

The very few eggs that didn’t make it, your parents had given to Ethel to dispose of respectfully so as not to incite cannibalism and in the exchange you each got to touch Ethel's larger, but wrinkled hand and had carressed it as Ethel cooed at you, watching you all fondly and noting each one's unique colors and personality.

You had been one of the ones who liked to play in the foliage and plants at the top of the tank, often leaping out of the water to splash in the water at the top of the tank, a few times, hitting the lid, at first, it was on accident, then it was on purpose, to let Ethel know that you and your family were hungry as Ethel often chuckled at your antics when you would watch her make her rounds and feed the rest of the tanks.

“Who is keeping who here?” She would often chortle as she laid a few pieces of raw mackerel into the tank to watch your parents, you and your siblings, use little shards as "weapons" from the geode as well as little pieces of bones from previous meals to stab and attack the pieces and devour it, often having to fish out the bones out later with her little net. Micro-beta-mermaids had one of the most demanding and specific diets whereas the others wouldn't be so picky. But the better the food now, the better quality the micro-beta mermaid and better health and long life you would enjoy in later life. For Ethel, it was worth the money, time and effort to make sure each little being thrived the best they could.

Ethel's younger "adopted children" who she employed were more tech savy and had cameras set up on Ethel's most beautiful tanks with the more precious and prized occupants and set up a YouTube channel and live feed channels and seeing baby micro-mermaid babies hatch was always popular and Ethel's business boomed.

And while Ethel didn’t have children of her own, she seemed to adopt many who came into the micro-mermaid hobby and you saw many of the same people, most who worked for her would come and check up on Ethel on her days off and bring their children who often stared with big, starry eyes at you and your siblings as well as the others so that all of you got used to seeing different people so that when you would eventually be mated up, being moved into the store front wouldn’t be that big of a deal to you. It had been a tried and true method for Ethel for the last forty years and most followed her excelent example.

Then, one day, a small group fairies broke into the place and roused you from your sleep as you saw the glittering glows move around the room as you left the sleep pile in the sand pit to see what was going on and swam to the top and by now, you had grown big and strong enough to lift the lid as you cracked it open just enough to see better. But that seemed to be just what another was waiting for as you were grabbed and yanked from the tank as you screamed, all the water in your lungs splashing out as you watched in horror as other curious ones had also been yanked from their tanks and were being moved to a large plastic bag with hardly any water in it, as you squirmed and thrashed and took your little stone pick like blade that you always had tucked into the longer scales around your tailfin and stabbed at the vicious creature trying to fly you to the bag as the bag was picked up and several fairies were trying to fly it out of the house.

But your attempts to free yourself from it's grasp worked, it let you go and you thankfully landed onto the back of the other fairy, pick first so as to stab it by the heart, before you bounced off of it’s back into another lid of the tank, this tank being the odds and ends one, but the force of you hitting the fairy, bouncing off the fairy, and hitting the lid- shut the lid to keep anything else from getting in or out and had actually drowned the little vicious fairy trying to steal what it could from that tank and in the darkness, you swam until you felt the gravel of the bottom of the tank and swam until you found the deepest depression, under another cave and hid yourself in the darkness, using it’s dark nature to turn yourself as black as the night’s darkness itself, except for your gold head and hair which you used to hide in the deepest part of the little crevice like cave, moving the gravel around under it to make room for you to ball yourself into.

Come morning Ethel awoke to the horror to see that her home had come under attack as none of the micro-merfolk would come up from the bottom of the tank as she opened all the tanks and once opened the odds and end’s tank to see the drowned fairy floating on the top which caused rage to fill her as she knew that someone or something had incited the fairies of all beings to break in and steal her precious stock as she immediately tried to do some damage control and try to figure out who and what was taken as it seemed each tank had micro-merfolk-children missing because a full adult would have been too big and too strong to steal and would have drowned whoever or whatever might have tried to take them as she went to her other rooms, the brackish room was thankfully locked, but she could see little scratches and claw marks at the doors and especially around the saltwater room. But the freshies were in her livingroom and thus, open to the rest of the house, that’s why it got hit. Almost all the tanks were missing at least one child, the name of each child missing being written in the little bit of algae that had accumalated on the glass since the last cleaning as Ethel used a big magnifying glass to see it and then translate it from the merfolk's language as Ethel just kept crying, her tears streaking down her wrinkled and weathered face and falling onto her reading glasses.

Ethel offered her condolences to the families that lost little ones and made a memorial for the ones who had been taken and fed all the tanks a “funeral” meal, which was the most expensive and most comforting food she could as she made some calls to her friends and business partners and employees, as well as the police to see what could be done as soon the police arrived and detectives arrived along with all of Ethel's friends and neighbors came to give Ethel comfort as the police and investigators tried to document the break in and get statements from everyone about the theft and make notes so that Ethel, who had each and every single one of her micro-merfolk insured, could contact her insurance company and begin the claim process.

Meanwhile Nona had awoken to see a couple of his adopted siblings had been attempted to be taken but something had shut the lid on the fairy so their particular tank had survived from losing anyone. Although with it being the odds and ends tank, not much of really high value was in the tank to begin with. But looking out over to the other tanks in the room, he could see that the other tanks were mourning the loss of their own as the police were there, although they were finishing up the investigation and leaving with the drowned fairy and other pictures as proof of what had happened. But that also meant that they got a whole raw mackerel for the whole tank as everyone was feasting on it while he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, something gold - flashing, catching the light before it disappeared again.

He paused in eating and took off a hunk and went over to where he thought he saw the glint of gold and heard the gravel move under the cave before he got down on his belly and peered into the crevis under cave that was it's own little cave he supposed but he didn’t see anything but black but felt the most subtle pressure wave, as if something was moving around in the crevice under the cave. He took a chance and simply set the hunk of mackerel down at the mouth of the cave and went back a fair distance to see if anything would come out and take it and hid behind the base of one of the plants and waited a few long moments before he could just barely see a small glimmer of gold again, before a small, light sandy colored hand attached to a small goldish sandy colored arm reach out and grab the bit of mackerel before it quickly took it back into the crevice and he could have sworn he heard munching sounds of someone eating it.

He quickly went back to the whole mackerel and tried to swipe a larger piece and carry it back to the crevice and tore it into two pieces and laid one at the mouth again as he slowly chewed on the other half, only he didn’t swim away, instead he sat and tried to peer in to see what was in there before he saw a glimmer of gold then it quickly vanished.

It was definitely another micro-merperson. He just had never seen anyone like it before.

“Hello?” He called into the crevice but you were still too scared to venture any closer.

“Are you ok in there? Are you hurt? What’s your name?” He asked but instead you just tried to sink down into the darkness. The water was different in this tank. It didn’t smell or taste like home. It was foreign to you and you didn’t know what tank you had fallen into. You knew some micro-merpeople did not tolerate intruders and you were afraid that if you ventured out, you would be attacked, you were unarmed and only an elder child, you were no match for an adult or even subadult.

So instead, Nona finished his hunk of mackerel and gently used his colorful tail fin to push the rest of it into the crevice before you took the offered piece and ate that too, not knowing when you would get another chance to eat again.

“See? I’m not gonna hurt you. But I just really want to know if you’re ok. Are you’re ok in there?” Nona asked worriedly as he came in and you backed up as far as you could and tried to make yourself as small as you could, folding up your own billowing fins as small as they could be before he came in and started gently grasping around the crevice for you.

“It’s ok, I promise it’s ok. I’m not going to hurt you.” Nona tried to reassure you as his fingertips grazed your fin and you quickly dove to another corner of the crevice to get away from him, but your movement caused the little bit of light to glint of your golden head and the shimmering black of your body as you moved and Nona could hear your labored breathing as he felt the water move around as you moved and settled again before he found the back of the cave and stretched out his hands as wide as he could and began to go forward again before you dove for the other corner on the other side, this time your outline was shown against the light coming in from the mouth of the crevice and all Nona saw was gold from your head, down your hair before it flowed into a shimmering pitch black again before Nona realized that you were no bigger than he was, in fact you were a little smaller than him and the scent on the water told him you weren’t from this tank, from another but he couldn’t recognize the scent because a clutch had never come into this tank from yours before. You were a kid, obviously from another tank, you must have been dropped in by the fairy, having grabbed you from another tank and trying to grab a second from his own tank.

“My name is Nona, and I’m 22 cycles old and we’re in the odd’s tank. You’re ok, you’re safe, no one is going to hurt you, not in this tank. Ethel’s really good about if there are any bullies, she pulls them out and puts them in the bully tank. You are not in the bully tank so you’re safe. I promise you, you’re safe. No one is going to hurt you. I won’t hurt you and I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you either.” Nona tried to reassure you as he came forward again as he closed his eyes and focused on the sounds of your breathing and even he could feel your fast heart rate pulse in the small crevice’s water, this time his hands forming an open reaching motion before his hands settled on your face and jaw before he opened his eyes to see two gold ones blinking back at him rapidly as he could feel your fast heart rate stay fast before it eventually started to slow before he chanced a small swipe of his thumbs on the apples of your cheeks as he just stared in awed wonder at you before you finally broke down and flung yourself at him and pinned him down onto the floor of the crevice, clinging to him and crying.

“It was awful, I saw all these pretty moving lights, it was glowing and glittering like the jewels do only it was from on the outside and I swam up to the top of the tank and once I did I was yanked out of the water and my mother always told me to keep a weapon in my tail so I took it and I stabbed at it as much as I could and it dropped me and I hit another fairy and I lost my blade and I fell down and I could feel the other monster that was at the top begin to drown but I just dove down and tried to find the safest spot I could but I didn’t know what tank I’m in and I thought I was in one of the shark tanks and I thought if I left, I was gonna get eaten!” You wailed into his chest as he wrapped his arms around you and comforted you.

“Do you know what tank you’re from?” He asked.

“No, I just know that my parent’s names are Avarian and Miralia.” You shook your head no.

“Ok, well I’m sure when Ethel cames back for dinner, once she sees you, she’ll know which tank to return you too so you can be with your family.” Nona consoled you.

He had never felt another mergirl’s hair as soft as yours, it was like it was softer than anything he had ever felt before, or felt one who was so young to have hair so as long, it went to your tail and usually only the elder micro-mermaids had hair that long but they kept it in braids to keep it from being tangled. But you were also a bit heavier than most girls would be at your age and your fins were bigger than his! He was a delta guppy micro-merman himself, known for their massive and colorful tails but his own was dwarfed by yours.

“So, what’s your name?” He asked again.

“Chenera.” You sniffled.

“Well it’s nice to meet you Chenera, like I said, my name is Nona.” He repeated.

“Do you know how old you are?” He asked

“I think only 19 cycles, 20, counting today.”

“Ok, so you’re younger than me.” Nona realized.

“Are you sure you’re ok? You’re not hurt or anything?” He asked again.

“I am.” You finally admitted as you could already tell there was bruising all over you and scratches from that vicious fairy’s claws.

“Ok, well do you want to go to the healer or do you want the healer to come to you?” He asked.

“Can they come here? I don’t want to leave.” You admitted.

“Ok, well, stay here then, and I’ll go get them, I’ll be right back ok? Two flicks of a tail.” He reassured you before he gently eased you off of him before you curled in on yourself in the darkness and he got out and raced towards the eldest merperson in the tank, who was especially inept at healing magic.

“I found someone.” He said as he tugged on her arm as she sat and ate the head of the mackerel, the best part of the fish.

“Found who?” She asked.

“The fairy that drowned in our tank, trying to steal the little ones, it was carrying another from another tank, she got away and hid under the big cave where we keep the half clutches. She got really hurt. Her body is all puffy.

“If she’s a goldfish micro- her body should be a little puffy.” She argued.

“She’s not like any other goldfish micro. She’s something I’ve never seen or smelled before.” He insisted.

“She’s hurt, she’s scared, she’s younger than me by a few cycles, she’s in the wrong tank and thinks if she leaves, she’s gonna get eaten. It took a lot just for me to get her to talk to me. Her name is Chenera, and she doesn’t know what tank she’s from. All she knows is her parent’s names. She says she’s hurt, she needs you.” Nona pleaded desperately.

“Ok, ok, I’m coming, I’m coming.” She finally relented before Nona practically dragged her to the mouth of the crevice.

“She must be a young one to fit inside here.” The elder- Thya noted.

“Chenera, I have the healer here, but she can’t fit in there, can you just come to the mouth of the cave so she can see you?” Nona asked before he stuck his upper body inside.

“It’s ok, she’s not going to eat you.” Nona reassured you.

“Here, I wouldn’t introduce you to anyone dangerous. Take my hand, it’s going to be ok.” Nona encouraged as he reached his hand out to you before you tentatively took it and he gently guided you to the mouth before you stuck your head out, your long golden hair suddenly picking up the cross current and being taken away in that.

“Oh my gills.” Thya murmured in awe.

“Hey Chenera was it? Hi, I’m Thya, I’m the eldest mermaid here and the healer of the tank, can you show me what hurts?” She asked.

“My head, and my back and, my arms, and most of my tail, just, everything.” You answered as you looked from her to Nona, back to her worriedly.

“Nona, go get Abaria and Fonta, she’ll need a mother’s touch.” Thya urged Nona but your tightened your grip on his hand ,kept him from going.

“Here darling, take my hand, let him go get some more help, he’ll be right back ok?” Thya offered as she offered her own hand to you before Nona simply put his hand next to hers so it wouldn’t take much for you to let go of him and hold onto her before you hesitantly transferred your hand from Nona’s to hers before he quickly swam away again and came back with three mother looking figures, the two Thya suggested and his own.

“Oh you poor thing! Did that vicious fairy drop you into here?” Abaria asked as she came and sat closest to you as the other mothers crowded around you as you nodded.

“Well you’re in the best tank in the place, we’re all found family here. No one is going to hurt you here. It’s ok to come out. Or are you too hurt to come out?” They asked.

“Come here darling. It’s ok. I know you must miss your mom something awful, but until we get you sorted out, I’m adopting you and I can be your mom until you’re reunited with your other one ok?” Abaria offered before you looked from Abaria back to Nona.

“She’s one of the best moms in the tank besides my own. She’s mom to most of the kids in the tank and she takes care of everyone like she laid the eggs herself.” Nona reassured you before you hesitantly crawled out of the crevice as the others scooted back so that all of you could come out.

“My goodness, how did all of you fit in there?” Thya asked once you were out and your fins unfurled. You had bigger fins than the adults even.

“Like this.” You contracted all your fins until it was just your body and a thin folded fin was behind you.

“You’re a plump little thing aren’t you?” Fonta noted.

“Not any more than any of my siblings, we’re all shaped like this.” You defended, unfurling your fins to cover yourself- self consciously as you pouted under her scruitinging.

“Well that’s good, that means that you and your siblings are well cared for and are fed well. And with a head like yours but a body like yours, it’s hard to know what tank you’re from.” Abaria sighed with an apologetic smile as she pet your head, feeling your silky soft hair before the other kids came around to curiously look to see you, all of them of different ages, some as young as three cycles and some as old as 30, one of the oscar-micro-mermaids, who was 27 cycles, already seeing all he needed to see, you were, in his opinion, the prettiest girl in the tank, therefore, you were going to be his future mate as the other girls in the tank looked at you with both weary suspicion, jealousy and a bit of pity because you clearly didn’t belong in the tank and with as black as you were form the chest down, you stuck out like a sick fin, but with a head and hair like gold, it was still a beautiful combination.

“Who’s that?” They asked.

“The fairy that attacked us last night, took her from her home tank and dropped her in here while they were trying to steal you guys.” Thya answered them.

“She didn’t fall from the fairy that came into our tank, she fell from way higher, like another was carrying her from way higher, she hit the fairy, hit them into the water, bounced off of their back, hit the lid and made the lid close and drowned the fairy, she saved us.” The kids that had been involved offered.

“Oh my gils, is that what happened?” They asked you as you nodded yes as Thya used the glowing of her hands to highlight all your bruises and cuts so that most of body glowed blue from injuries before she went through and healed each one, and noticed that the black then took on a midnight blue appearance, which she had never seen before and puzzled everyone around you.

“Oh you poor baby, come here.” Abaria gathered you into her arms and comforted you, and held you to her chest and gently rocked you comfortingly once your upper body was healed while Thya worked on your tail.

But sadly, Ethel left to go to work before the others could grab her attention. You spent the rest of the day talking to Thya and Abaria about what your tank looked like and what the names of your siblings were as it was clear to them that you were one of the more ‘special’ tanks but because of your coloring, you didn’t look like any of the other tanks that they could see from there.

By night time, though, the automatic feeders fed all the inhabitants of all the tanks and then not long after, the lights shut off, signalling it was time for bed.

But when Ethel came home late, the movement of her and her using the flashlight in her phone to make her way to her bedroom, was too much like the fairy’s light as you quickly squirmed out of the sleep pile and dove for that crevice again, hiding away as she passed and went to bed herself but once again, you were scared of coming out.

Your squirming had caused Nona to wake up again since he was nestled close to you, his hand in yours as his own instincts told him to stay put on the bottom of the tank until the light passed by but when he looked over to see where you had been sleeping with Abaria, her mate and their brood, you were gone but he had a feeling he’d know where to find you.

But the thought of sleeping on the gravel instead of the soft sand just hurt him to think about, so he swam around and collected bits of moss and leaves so he would cover the inside of that crevice so you would have a comfortable place to sleep for the night at least.

“Chenera,” Nona whispered when he came closer.

“Nona?” You asked as your head peeked out and saw him.

“A cave under a cave surrounded by gravel is no place to spend the night. Here, all this should make it a little more comfortable at least.” He offered what he had collected before you smiled gratefully at him, your white pearly teeth and golden head a sharp and beautiful contrast to the darkness before he passed each thing to you before you had Nona come in and help you to move even more of the gravel out of the way and dig down so that there was a deeper and more comfortable depression inside before Nona and you set the leaves down first and used the moss to make something of pillow before you laid down and refused to let go of Nona’s hand.

“Can you please stay here with me?” You asked, your big golden eyes too much for him to resist, even at his relatively young age before he laid down beside you, keeping himself between the mouth of the crevice and you as you cuddled into his chest, your fins wrapping around him as his’ tried to wrap around you in turn as he used his arm as your pillow as your hair was almost like a blanket for both of you as your colors changed again, a dark emerald, shimmering green now with black and gold as you settled down before he soon felt you relax completely and fall asleep before he did the same.

[fablepatron]

opinion on bioactive tanks

I wrote up a whole thing and my app crashed let me mourn for a moment…. Okay let’s go.



So. I absolutely love bioactive tanks. All the tanks in my house and the one not in my house are bioactive and I don’t think I’d ever want to not run one unless it wasn’t a choice.

I think there’s this sorta idea that bioactive is more difficult than non bioactive, but it’s really not. It’s basically like keeping a house plant you never have to water LOL, and clean up crews you can generally just sort of leave alone to do their own thing.

Bioactive tanks really great if you don’t have a lot of time to take care of a tank. If you have fish you know about the nitrogen cycle (hopefully), basically, fish produce ammonia -> bacteria turns it into nitrite-> bacteria turns that into nitrate. Generally this is where the cycle ends, and nitrate build up can and will kill ur fish if it gets too high. HOWEVER, plants can actually help with this. If you have enough of them for ur bioload then they can actually recycle that nitrite removing it from the water, which means less water changes yaaaay. In our 75 gallon we only do water changes every few months since it’s so efficient.

Real plants also don’t come with the Plastic Plants Hurt Fish Sometimes issue. Long finned fish like bettas, and scaleless fish like kuhlis can actually get very stretched up by plastic plants, which can lead to various health issues including the fatal disease known as death.

There are some fish you cannot keep in a bioactive tank, the main ones that come to mind are goldfish, which will eat anything that fits in their mouths, and cichlids, who require a very high pH, are generally assholes, and have an interesting behaviour of digging up the substrate to make it how they like it, which will take ur plants with it LOL.

Which it comes to the clean up crews of tanks, things get a bit more difficult. Different shrimps require different pH’s (cardinias low, neocardinias middle, suluwesi high) and are generally very delicate critters, with a higher risk of dying due to imbalances in the tank. They require drip acclimation as well which can take a while. Snails aren’t nearly as difficult but I have literally had such bad luck. The only one I’ve manage to keep alive is my assassin…

I don’t know muuuch on salt water but I know a bit. Salt water bioactive tanks are a Lot more complicated… like all things when it comes to salt water LOL. Keeping micro algae from what I’ve seen is similar to plants, however the real challange comes with corals. Corals need special light, with a certain amount of it, certain amounts of water flow, and certain temperatures. And this is different for different corals. Not all fish are reef safe either. Meaning that they can and will eat your corals. Which with the cheapest generally going for around 50-75$ and the more expressive ranging in the 1000s (the highest ive seen was around 10 000 I believe..?), you really don’t want to happen. Corals also require you to actually intentionally feed them, so they need a lot of attention.

I thiiink that’s all I’ve got for now.. I’d talk about co2 but that’s not really necessary..

[whumpbby]

Hi! So this is kind of a random ask, but I know you have beta fish, and I’m considering getting one. I’ve had beta fish in the past, and despite educating myself on how to take care of them they haven’t lived very long, so I’m hoping you’ll be able to help me. For my past beta fish, I keep them in a five gallon tank (for clarification, I never had more than one beta fish at a time. So I didn’t have multiple of them in the tank don’t worry—they just all lived at different times in the same tank) that had a filter with a pretty low flow on it. I never saw any of the fish have problems swimming with it on. I always used a highly rated water purifying product for the tank water (I forgot what it’s actually called) and I never had any sharp plants that would hurt their fins. I fed them a little every two days because I heard that feeding them everyday was bad for them. Do you happen to know what I was doing wrong? It was frustrating for me because I put a lot of effort into keeping them alive and healthy and then I would see people who kept them in small half gallon bowls have their fish outlive mine. It’s been a couple years, and I want to get another, but I don’t want to accident hurt/kill another one. How do you care for your beta fish? Do you have any advice? Sorry about the rant, but I follow you for your Jason content and happened to stumble upon some of you fish posts and need help. Thanks so much for reading this, and if you do end up offering any advice, I want to thank you for that too!

Hi dear, sorry if I took long to answer - tumblr notoriously does not inform me of messages>> 

I understand your pain - especially that the situation with bettas is very frustrating. They tend to suffer from quite a few genetic defects (they are prone to tumours, for example) and are a very abused fish in the aquatic industry.  Oftentimes by the time they will get to a caring and dedicated owner, they’ve already went through a lot:0 We just don’t know how healthy the fish is before we got it. 

I am by no means an expert, I have lost a few babies since I started the hobby a couple years ago and I can only assume what a few of them suffered from:( One thing that seems to work is leaving them and the tank alone for as long as you can once it’s all set up and cycled and running - apart form the regular maintenance. I am a chronic fiddler who needs to change and add plants, filters, etc, so I constantly have to hold myself back form doing things to the tank. My sister has the same betta for a second year now and the only thing she does with her tank is water changes once every couple weeks - and both him and a thousand of cherry shrimp that live there thriveXD 

Some things I nowadays pay attention to that may be useful, however, are:

- water temp has to be consistent, on the warmer side. I keep mine at 26-27C (I don’t know how much that is in F, sorry>>). To that effect the tank needs a lid - it will trap the warm air, protecting the betta form inhaling cold air then they come up for a breath. They labyrinth breathing organ is quite sensitive to that.

- I feed my boys twice a day, so I am not a part of the ‘feed them little’ club. I give them a little pinch of the good flake in the morning (Bug Bites is nice) and a 3-4 granules of a King Betta or a pinch of a protein-rich micro pellets in the evening. A betta breeder I talked to a couple times advised that it’s better to feed the boys a couple times a day in small quantities rather than once - keeps their digestive tracts working and they can avoid constipation. Constipation happens often with bettas and is a headache to solve. I leave frozen bloodworms for special occasions and just rotate the dry foods for variety.  

- I change water every week - and every other week make sure to vacuum gravel the substrate. In the planted tanks I vacuum only about 2-3cm of the top layer to not disturb planting substrate below and not to suck up any shrimp, so it’s a gentle operation. In the gravel where there is no growing substrate I go deep - the reason being that I want to free any possible air bubbles stuck underneath where bad bacteria may grow. 

- Pick a filter and stick to it. I was very bad at that, but I finally managed to hotwire a combo that seems to work so I will stick to it;) If you can stand the noise, I advise a sponge filter - it’s so easy to clean and manageTT If you can’t stand the hum of the air pump and the bubbles, I recommend a matten filter - or hotwiring an internal filter to a sponge filter - like so - instruction in German, but the visuals are very self-explanatory;] I used gel superglue to connect the filterhead to a sponge filter and now all I have to do once a month or rarer is to pull the sponge off and squeeze it few times in the used tank water! And sometimes clean the showerhead from algae;] It saves you so much money on the cartridges (corner sponge filters are a couple £/$ and last years) and provides extra filtration. My shrimps also eat off it;] 

- get a snail. Seriously, I have a snail in every tank - a single nerite will do best for a 5gal. They don’t breed in sweet water, don’t grow large and will keep your glass clean for you - I have not cleaned my tanks’ glass since... ever>> Joe I and Joe II do it for meXD They also provide company for the betta and something fun to look at. And he will scarf uneaten food form the gravel. 

- I assume you know about the nitrogen cycle, so I will not bore you here about bacteria and such. But a best chance of saving the betta form stress when you get him home is a cycled tank. You can get an ammonia testing set - or, if you find that a bit intimidating (I do for some reason) you can go to an aquarist shop and they will check your water for you. My local store in town does it for free. I am not sure about big box stores, tho. If you see something being wrong with the betta, check water and see if it needs to be changed asap. 

- water changes are mandatory and have to be regular. A 5gal is a convenient size - I am using a 5l bottle left over from mineral water as a measuring tool;) This way I know I am always changing roughly 1/4th of the tank’s water. It’s very easy to see how much water I removed and how much I have to put back in - I can control the water temp and add dechlotinator/vitamins etc before it goes into the tank, so I do not shock my critters with too hot or too cold water. The rule I practice is leaving the dechlorinator in the bottle for about 10 mins before pouring it all into the tank. 

- you don’t have to be intimidated by planted tanks:) A little bunch of anubias on a stick is often enough to start with and a good look for a tank, in my opinion. It also makes for a more natural space for the betta he will certainly appreciate. The less fancy stuff the better - I got my first natural rocks form the side of the road (ofc I boiled the life out of them before they got even close to the tank) and they are usually quite cheap on amazon. A stick with a plant and a rock and some small-size gravel is often enough to look good. The plants will also help with eating up nitrites and keeping the water healthy.

- goodness, what else. Medicaiton. Ok. I have tried many meds for my boys and once the fish is in a bad way not much will help, form my experience :( My med set consists of Melafix - I add it to water according to instructions whenever I see my betta without appetite or acting off. It’s a mild anti-bacterial mixture that does not affect snails/shrimp. If that does not help, I use eSHa 2000 or eSHa Exit - they are two very comprehensive meds that deal with a variety of problems. I have never used aquarium salt, but some people swear by it - there’s no specific reason I don’t use it, I just never got around to it.  

This is all the chaotic advice, but things to remember (I am not trying to be condescending, I just don't know how much you know;]) are: cycled tank, regular water changes&filter maintenance, consistent temperature and quality food. Bettas are hardy little suckers, but sometimes they are also frail in ways we can’t see until it’s too late. I am already seeing a tumour growing on one of my boys and there is nothing I can do about it except giving him the best life I can - he is still going strong, but I know he will probably not last to the end of the year. It’s a hobby that sometimes seems thankless, but if you do everything right, even if they leave early, at least you’ve given them a good and peaceful time before that:)

If I you have any more questions or just want to share woes, feel free to message, I will do my best to answer:)