Journal 75P - Journey Into High Tech

[PNW_Nick]

Thank you 3! I didn't elaborate, but I do want the container approved for potable water storage. I like the idea that if I'm storing 100 gallons of water, it could be consumed in an emergency (and I'm sure it's better for the fish). And like @JayP mentioned, the cost of simple 55 gallon drums is appealing. Worst case, I think I could get away with one of the large round storage options, but a rectangular one would be much simpler to conceal.

 

[PNW_Nick]

Full Tank Shot


I had a huge clump of Rotalla uproot again this week. I decided I'd only keep a few stems, which I've replanted. Not certain what caused the uproot 2 weeks in a row, so I'm hoping by planting the stems individually, that'll increase the odds they stay down.

Cleaned off some of the anubias leaves with a brush, they look better, but man is challenging to get in there with the brush and put pressure on the back of the leave at the same time. I need to get like a dog finger brush or something.

My BIL was over this weekend, so he helped me design and 3d print a plug for the lid opening where I speculate the Killifish escaped.




Still debating if I need one for the lilly pipe area or not. I would think yes, I'm a bit hesitant.

More fish are coming this week, so that's always fun!

Still debating the long term water storage setup. I found this RV water storage, but I'm not certain I could get any pumps and heater into it. It seems like it's closed and mostly designed for storage. I guess I could make holes and things, but it may end up being easier to just get a round water storage container.

 

[Koan]

found this RV water storage

This is very cool they have a number of these flat narrow sizes, good potential to fit in a closet!

I guess I could make holes

Looks like it comes with an access hole kit?



Using a hole saw with heavy duty HDPE is simple and ridiculously satisfying I just used one to put return pump accesses into these

Note to self: don't do it in the kitchen, there will be shavings

 

[Koan]

ordered 20x Black/Blue snowflake Caridina shrimp from Shrimp Ambition

How are these guys doing?

 

[PNW_Nick]

It's been a minute since I've provided any updates, so here we go (mostly in chronological order):

4/21/26: More fish arrived from Dan's Fish!


1x Aphyosemion bivittatum 'Funge', Pair (1M1F)
1x Aphyosemion bivittatum 'Funge', Male
5x Neon Blue Goby
1x Teardrop Goby
1x Long Fin Albino Bushynose Pleco
1x Full Green Guppy, Trio (1M2F)
1x Bamboo Shrimp
2x Reticulated Hillstream Loach

I was stalking Dan's since I lost my Killi male, so very happy to have been able to get not 1, but 2! The male Guppy arrived with some sort of wound at the base of it's tail. I moved it into a hospital tank where it's been mostly resting on the bottom of the tank, but will swim up/around to eat, then go back to resting. I moved him into the main tank after a couple of weeks in the hospital tank, but found that he was still struggling to swim, so he might be in the hospital tank for a while. I'm thinking I'm going to set up a low tech 10 gallon guppy tank at this point and see what happens. The 2nd female died unfortunately about a week after they arrived. No injuries as far as I could tell, so not sure what happened. I've also found that the smaller Gobys aren't doing well in the tank. I've had a few that seem to just exist without swimming and die the next morning. Uncertain of exactly what the issue is, I've now successfully rehomed 5 into my 5 gallon beta tank. 1 has a growth/fuzz and is currently undergoing treatment. Unsure it'll make it though.

Full tank shot from 4/22/26. Note how much all the new fish have cleaned up the rocks (I manually cleaned the front right rock previously).


The Albino Pleco, named Wanda. Such an elegant looking fish!



Full tank shot 4/26/26 - Notice how much cleaner the rocks are!

How are these guys doing?

@Koan I've had this drafted up, so I'm happy you asked.... They became very expensive fish food. I thought I had been seeing less and less of them, so I thought it was something I did. I ended up catching Clyde in the act of eating one. I watched him drop it, then attack it again. He proceeded to eat it like a snake for about 5 minutes before the other 3 Killifish came near and he bolted. That explained where they all went


Around 5/9/26 I had my full left side of baby tears uproot. I pulled some out for a friend previously, so I think I must have uprooted it or something. I ended up essentially pulling it all out because it was too buoyant to replant as one piece.


I'm due for an updated full tank shot, but this is all I've got in the camera roll for now.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

LOVE that sword. What variety/species is it?

 

[PNW_Nick]

LOVE that sword. What variety/species is it?

It's a UNS Echinodorus Rose Tissue Culture. I actually removed one at the same time as the dwarf baby tears to bring to my friend. They've grown like weeds! I'm not sure how to propagate them, but I'd be happy to figured that out and send one your way as a thank for all of the info I've learned from you

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I'd pay you for one of those swords for sure!

 

[Kwyet]

I think gobies need high oxygen, the same as hillstream loaches.

 

[PNW_Nick]

I think gobies need high oxygen, the same as hillstream loaches.

That would make track with how they were reacting now that I think of it. They were never at the surface. Always at the bottom of the tank, but heavy breathing and struggling to swim. The hillstream loaches seem to be very active, but I'll keep that in mind in case I see any signs of oxygen starvation.