My Hobby/Story thread 2

[Pices]

This is my 2nd tank. It’s a 75 gal planted tank with my new angelfish that I bought from a member here. I totally fell for these fish and it will be fun to watch the little ones grow up. The member guided me through many of my firsts with discus here and I trusted her knowledge and stock. I’ve had them a few weeks. They arrived on the 23rd of May. 115872115873115874

[Gabriel13]

Very nice looking angels. They look very healthy indeed. Good luck with them.

[Pices]

Thanks Gabriel,
I think they’ve grown already.

[LizStreithorst]

best of luck with them Patty.

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Patty, what types of angels do you have in the tank and how old are they?
Pat

[Neo922]

Very Nice Angels, Also that blue background gives an illusion of depth :) (Whats that background ?)

[Pices]

best of luck with them Patty.
Thanks Liz

[Pices]

Hi Patty, what types of angels do you have in the tank and how old are they?
Pat
The adult pair are Half Blacks, then German Blue Blushers, and Baby Blue Platinum Pearlscales. I’m not sure how old any of them are. I’m thinking the adults are a year old, but not positive. I will try and find out. That would be good to know. Thanks
Patty

[Pices]

Very Nice Angels, Also that blue background gives an illusion of depth :) (Whats that background ?)
This is just a tape on Petco background. I was thinking of changing it, but maybe I’ll keep it now.
Thanks Neo,
Patty

[LizStreithorst]

The adults are around a year. I really don't remember how old the younger ones. I don't write down free swimming dates. I should but I never do. They are a long way from breeding age.

I noticed the background too. I like it a lot. The entire tank is lovely. You have the artistic touch when it comes to tank decor.

[Pices]

Thanks Liz,
I just bought a little manzanita wood piece that I’m sanding down. My planted tanks always change over time. Never so much so as when I first learned about discus in planted tanks-then it was bye bye plants. It’s kind of nice having a planted tank again.
Patty

[Pices]

Going to try and upload my first video. The adults seem to be chasing the little ones away. I don’t see eggs, but they are definitely getting territorial.
www.youtube.com/pattyciborowski

[LizStreithorst]

It doesn't work for me, Patty.

[thomaswal]

Hey!
I'm not sure but it looks like you provided the link to your profile (which apparently is not accessible by us).
For the video, first make it non-private (either public or unlisted), click on the "share" button and copy-paste the link in the post when you do "insert video".
If you want the video to be embedded instead of just linked, you should use "http://" instead of "https://".

Hope this helps ;)

[Pices]

http://youtu.be/cuoLt2ztqPA

Thanks Thomas. I copied something here...

[Pices]

I just got home and what do I see now?116085116086

[LizStreithorst]

Oh yeah. That was great!

I know that I am prejudiced because you bought the fish from me, but what I told you would happen is happening. The Half Blacks are fixing to spawn and are claiming their part of your tank. I love it.

I expect that they will spawn on the magnet. If you use the magnet often I suggest that next time you stick a piece on 1" PVC in their favorite corner so they can spawn on it in the future.

I love this thread. I think that I love it even more that your Discus thread. I can't wait for more.

[LizStreithorst]

Oops. I was wrong. They chose the lift tube. Goes to show I don't know everything.

[LizStreithorst]

Your Half Blacks had the same thing going on as the Discus had going on. For me it's the best part fish keeping.

I didn't set out to turn you into a breeder. I may have put a bug in your ear that you can't get out until you give in to it. Breeding isn't as easy but at least for me it's the additive. If you are smart you won't follow my lead.

But really, what could be more fun than seeing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjlSiASsUIs

[Pices]

Liz,
I was sure he had decided on the magnet too. I think he changed his mind when I planted the wood piece. I did that before I left today because I thought it was water logged enough. I would have preferred the magnet since it’s on the far left and the little ones could have the right side.
I really don’t use the magnet, but today I bought this new pad that’s amazing. It’s stiff long lasting (bleach and dechlorinate) but wipes like butter.
At this stage of my life I would have been happier with a gay pair of fish. At the same time thinking of a bunch of little half blacks swimming around makes me want to go buy some cigars. Ugh, maybe they will do like my discus and develop a taste for caviar. It’s a soap opera here. Don’t tell them I said the “soap” word. I don’t need anymore drama today!
Here’s a pic of that wipe I’m loving116090

[Pices]

Well for once my fishes plans and mine are the same. There were some unfertilized eggs that were eaten after wc yesterday. The pair were giving the littles ones hell, but this morning peace was restored. Eggs are gone. I moved the magnet cleaner to the other side of the tank and scrubbed it with my new pad.
Hmm pics aren’t loading now..I’ll try again tomorrow.

[Pices]

I almost bought a new i pad yesterday, but the picture quality is not much better than the one I have and they should be coming out with a new one in a few months. I decided to wait for the new one. Still, it seems I can load some pics from my phone which is new and has better quality pics and for some reason I can’t load them now. I loaded a bunch last night on my other thread no problem. Seems there’s a devil in my angel thread! Ugh

[LizStreithorst]

Patty, I use the large green scrubby's made by 3M. Have you tried those and is the one in the picture better?

[Pices]

3M sounds familiar. I’ve used a variety including scotch brite, scrub daddy, and a green thin one. None of them took the algae off my black overflows. I wasn’t expecting this one to take it off either and just gave it a light back and forth and I couldn’t believe the result. I just found my receipt. They were $3.00 each. I highly recommend for algae and seemed to do real nice job on the glass too.

[LizStreithorst]

Did you buy it at a fish store or on line? i looked on both Amazon and eBay and found it on neither of them.

[Adam S]

Found this:

"Where can I buy aquavitro® products online?
aquavitro® is not sold online. Seachem is committed to supporting the independent dealers. For this reason, the aquavitro® line is exclusively available in independent dealers."

They have a store locator (http://av.seachem.com/DealerLocatorStart.php) but not selling online is a bit of a head scratcher.

[Pices]

I bought mine from my fish guy. I’d say local fish guy, but he’s almost an hour away. He was saying how great they are so I bought 1 for each tank. I’m also surprised you can’t buy them on line.

[LizStreithorst]

There is no dealer within 60 miles of me. I'll call the number tomorrow.

[Pices]

Let me know what you think. If someone had told me I would someday be a scrubbie connoisseur, I’d have told them they were nuts. Well look at me now! Ha ha. More proof that what Pat said (in your thread) is true.
Patty

[Pices]

For some reason I can load pic in my other thread, ut not this one. I’ll try 1 more time

[Pices]

Someone is mesmerized with the glass cleaning magnet again116240

[LizStreithorst]

Here they go again.

[Pices]

Still enjoying the peace. I tried to take some pics but it’s so hard. Every time they see me they rush the tank and won’t stay still for a second. The largest German Blue Blusher is starting to lose his blush, so they are growing. The eat like it’s their last meal though I feed them no less than 3 times a day.116293116294

[Pices]

116295

[Pices]

I bet I have eggs in the morning. The half blacks are lined up my in intake hose and just waiting for the lights to go out.

[Pices]

116314. I think this pic shows the baby blue coming out. I need a light that brings out their colors and are good for the plants. My T 150 allows me to leave the light on all day, but doesn’t bring out the colors of the angels.

[LizStreithorst]

The young Angels look wonderful. Just look at those big fat bellies! I can see why their growing so fast for you.

You already know what will happen once the half blacks decide to do the deed. All the younger fish will be put in a corner until the eggs turn white and the parents eat them. The same thing will happen when the Blue Blusher and Blue Platinum Pearlscales reach breeding age.

[Pices]

Thanks Liz
When I feed them, they stay right at the top gobbling as if they’re in an eating contest.
The half black male stares at the intake tube as if it’s his mate and then stares at the magnet the same way. The other fish are swimming and acting like fish and he just stares all day. He doesn’t pig out like the others either. His mind is elsewhere. When she’s ready, she’ll start harassing the little ones. I do love them these fish and their quirky behavior.

[Pices]

Night before last, my male was pecking at the magnet and she was chasing the youngsters away and going over to the magnet. There was pecking and I thought I’d see eggs in the morning, but nothing.
Last night I came home and saw this116407
He liked the magnet. She liked the intake tube. He says, Yes dear. The beginning of a long and happy relationship, ha ha
Patty

[LizStreithorst]

Any way she wants it that's the way she gets it. ;)

[Pices]

She ate the eggs again which is fine by me. When I see the little ones next to the the female half black, I can see they are catching up to her, but I can’t seem to load a pic tonight. 116447 at least not the one I want to load. This is my littlest German Blue Pearscale Blusher.

[Pices]

116448

[Pices]

116462
The one I was trying to load yesterday.

[Pices]

Since I’m having luck loading pics I’ll add one more116463

[LizStreithorst]

WOW! Those Plats have really grown!!!!!

[Pices]

I know! One of the German Blues is really getting big too.

[Pices]

116479
I took Adam’s advice and added a large sword to the right side of the tank. I think it looks good. Also managed to get everyone in the pic after feeding them some live brine.

[Pices]

Here’s an interesting change116660116661116662

[Adam S]

Breaking in the new furniture already! He(?) needs to dump the new gal(?) though and go back to the other HB. Not a good pairing imo.

[LizStreithorst]

Pat doesn't care. She doesn't want breed. The eggs already look white in the pic but if they are fertile the other fish will eat them if they make it to free swimming.

Personally, it a cross that I would like to work with. I wanted to make blue half black pearlscales. It would have been quite a project and taken a lot of crossing sibling to sibling and keeping my fingers crossed. The German blue blusher that Patty is a pearlscale. It's just hard to see except on it's shiny parts. With enough work, and time, and tank space she could make stripeless blue half black pearlscales. If she got that she would have the world beating a path to her door.

Patty, IME pairs rarely wife swap, especially with a fish of a different strain. I think this is way cool.

[Pices]

Breaking in the new furniture already! He(?) needs to dump the new gal(?) though and go back to the other HB. Not a good pairing imo.
It’s actually the female HB and male GB pearlscale. He is a rookie though and totally missed the eggs. The male HB is sulking in the front corner of the tank.

[Pices]

Pat doesn't care. She doesn't want breed. The eggs already look white in the pic but if they are fertile the other fish will eat them if they make it to free swimming.

Personally, it a cross that I would like to work with. I wanted to make blue half black pearlscales. It would have been quite a project and taken a lot of crossing sibling to sibling and keeping my fingers crossed. The German blue blusher that Patty is a pearlscale. It's just hard to see except on it's shiny parts. With enough work, and time, and tank space she could make stripeless blue half black pearlscales. If she got that she would have the world beating a path to her door.

Patty, IME pairs rarely wife swap, especially with a fish of a different strain. I think this is way cool.

Really? I thought it was weird, but didn’t know it was rare. The stripeless blue half black pearscales would be something. I need to buy a lottery ticket this weekend so I can dream of my own fishroom. The German Blue needs to practice his shot on the next batch of eggs if they stay paired up. He is a good egg protector though. These fish are like discus in that they never get boring! Thanks for your input. You’re going to turn me into a breeder yet. First you gave me the angel bug, then you sent me a slutty half black......ha ha
Patty

[Adam S]

For whatever reason, HB blues don't work out the way they should on paper. Should be a simple F1xF1 and 25% HB blues, but I never got a clean pattern in two generations.

Glad they took a liking to the sword. Always fun watching them interact with the scape.

[LizStreithorst]

No. Half blacks almost never follow the rules. The pair that were the parents had produced 100% HBs in a spawn of around 200. They had just two culls in the entire batch. There's a thread here about them somewhere.

[Pices]

For whatever reason, HB blues don't work out the way they should on paper. Should be a simple F1xF1 and 25% HB blues, but I never got a clean pattern in two generations.

Glad they took a liking to the sword. Always fun watching them interact with the scape.

Thanks for the suggesting a sword Adam. We all like it a lot, lol
Patty

[Pices]

Well the pair are at it again. The eggs look white in the pic but are actually fertilized. My water is hard so I’m not expecting these to hatch. One of my platinum blue pearlscales is trying to claim the rest of the tank as his domain. He’s a bigger terror than my pair. My German Blues and other plat are hiding out till this storm passes. Looks like I only have 3 fish in a 75 gal tank! 117345117346

[Adam S]

My water is hard so I’m not expecting these to hatch.
Don't give up on that idea just yet. I had a miracle pair of het albino blues that consistently had 60-70% hatch rate in 460 TDS tap. Of course that was an exception, but angels are tough from day 0.

[LizStreithorst]

It's good to see that dad has won back his woman from that interloper.

[Second Hand Pat]

Who needs TV with all this drama going on lol. Sounds like you are enjoying your angels Patty :D
Pat

[Pices]

Don't give up on that idea just yet. I had a miracle pair of het albino blues that consistently had 60-70% hatch rate in 460 TDS tap. Of course that was an exception, but angels are tough from day 0.

I’m not ready for them to breed. I’d need more tanks for that. On the other hand, I am always looking around for new places to put tanks. Ha ha. Shh don’t tell my husband!
Patty

[Pices]

It's good to see that dad has won back his woman from that interloper.

He definitely got his groove back. He’s not as bad as that little plat. The parents chase him and then he goes after the others like a torpedo zeroing in full speed! I had to give him a time out in the net last night so they could get a little to eat!
If the other plat is the opposite sex, they’ll make great parents someday.
Patty

[Paul Sabucchi]

I’m not ready for them to breed. I’d need more tanks for that. On the other hand, I am always looking around for new places to put tanks. Ha ha. Shh don’t tell my husband!
Patty

Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission!

[Pices]

Funny you should mention that Pat. I have a built in entertainment center and was just sitting here thinking how nice a tank would look on each side of it. Maybe I should hope for a hatch since I can’t think of a better excuse to convince my husband.
Patty


Who needs TV with all this drama going on lol. Sounds like you are enjoying your angels Patty :D
Pat

[Pices]

Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission!

You always give the best advice Paul! Too funny! :evilgrin::devil::evilgrin:
Patty

[Pices]

I saw a planted tank on SD that inspired me to redo my 75 gal. It was okay, but didn’t wow me. Today I redid mine. I’ll put my angels back in tomorrow.117530117531

[LizStreithorst]

You have the artistic touch, Patty. I'm looking forward to seeing the Angels in it.

[Pices]

Thanks Liz,
It took me all day, but wet hands are not smoking hands! I like the way it turned out. I had to get rid of that flourite if I’m going to get Cory Dora’s. Now there’s nothing to cut their barbells on. I could maybe even get a couple of Adams cool *** plecos (if he sells them). I love those blue marbles of yours btw. I’d get some, but the 6 I have fight like the Hatfields and the Mc Coys! Ha ha
Patty

[LizStreithorst]

You poor dear. Keep your hands busy. I'll be thinking of you.

[Pices]

Well I haven’t totally quit. I allow myself 3 a day and no one gets killed. :)
Patty

[Paul Sabucchi]

Well I haven’t totally quit. I allow myself 3 a day and no one gets killed. :)
Patty

Hang in there, sending you positive thoughts

[Pices]

Thanks Paul!

[Second Hand Pat]

I saw a planted tank on SD that inspired me to redo my 75 gal. It was okay, but didn’t wow me. Today I redid mine. I’ll put my angels back in tomorrow.117530117531

This is super nice and can hardy wait until it grows in some. :)
Pat

[Pices]

117533
Thanks Pat. I realized I had some anubias on wood that I’d forgotten about so I put that in. I’m hoping that java fern on wood takes off. I’ve had good luck with it before. I’m hoping for it to look like a tree in time.
I think the angels like it too and they have more things to hide behind when the aggression inevitably starts again.
Patty

[Pices]

It’s hard to pick a favorite of the bunch, but I really like the colors in this guy.117593

[Pices]

Just some pics. 117827117828117829

[Pices]

117830more eggs
117831more guarding117832117833at least now the rest have more places to hide117834This crazy little plat won’t leave their area and is just to the right of their sword plant.

[Pices]

One of these days I’m going to dig out my RO filter and let these babies hatch, but with company coming Thurs and a trip to Key West next weekend, it won’t be this batch. I wish the rest of the house looked as good as my tanks ha ha!
Patty

[LizStreithorst]

Patty, you have no idea how good it make me feel to see that my fish are doing so well and have such a great home.

If you breed, the Half Blacks are the best ones to work with. They are hard to find and bring real money on Aquabid.

Dang, next I'll be teaching you how to ship. If you look at what you may be in for, you may want to just keep things as they are.

[Pices]

Thanks Liz,
I do love these fish. I don’t really want to breed, but I’m feeling guilty for not letting them live the dream so to speak and I would love to see a bunch of little baby half blacks just once. I tell you they go from angels to hells angels when they have eggs. Otherwise they just have attitude. Ha ha I find myself watching them more than the discus. I’m still doing daily wc and I can see the littlest one is having a growth spurt. I’m so glad I saw that pic you posted. Your fish are so beautiful and I couldn’t be happier.
Patty

[Pices]

Some final photos: The Cory additions 118059. The Little German Blue had a growth spurt 118060 Eating dinner [ATTACH]118061.
Waving good bye118062
It’s been great fun taking part in this contest. My experience with my angels has been rewarding. I m surprised by how much personality they have. They remind me of Discus in establishing a pecking order and just when you understand it, the pecking order changes.
My planted tank was what I originally kept in my discus tank. After all the money I’d spent on that “planted” discus tank, only to find the forum when they got sick. Long story short I threw the swords in a 20 gal tank and told my husband I’d would use them in another tank as he was less than pleased to put all this money in just to shovel it out.
Finally when the Discus graduated to the 125 gal tank. I looked at the empty 75 gal and started planning.
I hadn’t decided on fish. I thought about shrimps and endlers and Cory’s and other tropical fish. Then I happened on some pics of Liz’s half blacks, then I saw her German Blue Pearlscale Blushers and that was it. I knew what my fish would be. I made a good decision as I’ve become a big fan of angels.
My tank looked okay, but nothing special. I started looking at planted tanks and decided to do a make over. I’m happy with my fish and scape now. I’ve also added my Cory Cats from the 125 gal and will add some more later. The fish have more places to escape when The aggression starts.
We never really get to view a group of people and their journey over months typically so that was the best part. I’ve felt others excitement and discouragement. It was great being part of it. I feel like I’ve gotten to know the people in the contest and others who commented. It was a genius idea that sets Simply Discus apart from other forums. I’m glad I took part in it.
Patty