Steve b's new begining diary.

[steve b]

Thought I would start this for my own records and for others to follow.
July 30th
I have in my cellar/basement 5 x 30 gal Tanks on a system with a 60gal sump, 3 x 60 gal Tanks, 3 x 90 gal Tanks, 2 x 20 gal Tanks.

The 3x30gal tanks and 1x 20gal tanks have 4 breeding pairs of Jewels, 2 full of 1/2" fry.
The 3x60gal tanks have grow outs at 2"-4" both full....
The rest are empty

In the process of moving on the young to my LFS ready to start a new chapter.

[brewmaster15]

Sounds like this will be a great return Steve. I am looking forward to following along. What kind of discus are you looking to keep and are you planning on breeding or just keeping?
Al

[steve b]

Will try breeding again and might also try L046? Will post some photos but a bit cramped.

[Iminit]

Sounds like a nice setup. Will be watching. Surprised the Jewels are easy to move. Not an easy sell. Beautiful fish but vicious. Don’t see them much anymore. Next been reading about the zebra pleco’s Lo46. I had them 30yrs back. Seems like there’s a conspiracy theory running that the breeders of these fish don’t sell the females. Seems they’re easy enough to breed from what’s written. But still not many on the market. When I see them they’re well over a hundred a peice. I’m on a few forums and havnt spoke to anyone who’s successfully bred them. Spoke to a few who’ve tried but no luck.

[LizStreithorst]

They really are beautiful. I had them once and loved looking at them. The problem is that they will breed like flies in even disgusting water so there is little demand and you have to sell them cheap or give them away to get them out. They're the only fish I have ever seen that will eat, and even fight over slugs!

[steve b]

Sounds like a nice setup. Will be watching. Surprised the Jewels are easy to move. Not an easy sell. Beautiful fish but vicious. Don’t see them much anymore. Next been reading about the zebra pleco’s Lo46. I had them 30yrs back. Seems like there’s a conspiracy theory running that the breeders of these fish don’t sell the females. Seems they’re easy enough to breed from what’s written. But still not many on the market. When I see them they’re well over a hundred a peice. I’m on a few forums and havnt spoke to anyone who’s successfully bred them. Spoke to a few who’ve tried but no luck.

Yes they (L046) are around £100 each for an 1" fish they do drop down to £80 if you buy 10!. The Jewels are slow to move but they are going, fantastic colour when breeding intense red/blues.

[brewmaster15]

I love jewels.. beautiful fish. I rarely see them any more around here.

The L046 ... I kick myself all the time I think on them. I had a chance to buy 3 cases of wild ones for dirt cheap..but at the time I was focused on buying and selling wilds.. fool I was...I passed the offer. Dumb dumb dumb.

Ah well..live and learn...good money there.People love the L046

Think about the Leopard frog plecos too. L134. Had a tank for years ..real nice plecos

Al

[Sandip]

Steve, I will be following your diary. Please post pictures regularly.

[steve b]

I love jewels.. beautiful fish. I rarely see them any more around here.

The L046 ... I kick myself all the time I think on them. I had a chance to buy 3 cases of wild ones for dirt cheap..but at the time I was focused on buying and selling wilds.. fool I was...I passed the offer. Dumb dumb dumb.

Ah well..live and learn...good money there.People love the L046

Think about the Leopard frog plecos too. L134. Had a tank for years ..real nice plecos

Al

Noooo.... hindsight is a killer. I've not had a planted mixed tank since I was a kid. I just love to try and breed and raise the fish, get a real kick even if they are common.

[steve b]

6th August

Well Christmas has come early for me, a box or two of replacement bits and bobs.
DSCF4152.JPG

.. and managed to move another dozen Jewels, they do seem to be on the rare side not seen many around... better get some more growing on.
DSCF4151.JPG

[Iminit]

Ok not sure what you’ve bought there? But it sure looks like a dc motor and servo for an rc car. You training fish to race .

[steve b]

Ok not sure what you’ve bought there? But it sure looks like a dc motor and servo for an rc car. You training fish to race .

It's a booster pump/transformer/TDS twin meter/5 pod filter flow meter/resins/metal,Chloramine,pre filter/2 75gpd membranes/3 resin refillable pods.

[steve b]

13th August

Warts and all,
thought I would post what my cellar fish room looks like before any work to bring it up to date. The height is 6ft ish and I am 6.2ft so bendy back but I can work near the fridge as it's about 7ft where the stairs are. As they say a picture tells a thousand words.

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[steve b]

2nd Sept

Well 4 days ago I saw a female coloured up in the main tank and thought I would put her with a single male and now I have a good batch and good parents looking after their brood.

[steve b]

6th Sept

Well, done a 50% w/c on my breeder tanks and all 3 pairs have a large batch of eggs.