No more eggs. Sad.

All the orange eggs I saw on my cherry shrimp earlier this week, is now gone.

Yes, gone. No longer under the abdomen of the female cherry shrimp.

Found out that the shrimp knows whether to keep or release the unfertilized egg. Unknown how they know, i guess it is the best solution for the cherry shrimp community I have in my tank.

I guess I have to wait for another round and male cherry shrimp is mature to fertilize the eggs.

Let's just wait!

My cherry shrimp once thought died,now back to 4 and maybe more!

Eh.. what is the red and orange color thing there ?

Oh! It is my pregnant cherry shrimps!

Once thought 1 of the cherry shrimps died, but after few weeks, tonight I saw all 4 and one of them is pregnant!! yay! Happy la!!

My planted tank update 2

Little O2 pearl on the rock moss.

O2 Bubbling Java Fern.

Cherry shrimp near the surface on my drift wood.

My cute little Otocinclus.

More about Otocinclus:

The perfect little catfish for the community aquarium the oto will do a fine job at keeping the algae in check. Small to large aquariums will benefit from their service as this fish bothers none and is usually left alone.

My planted tank update

Dunno what these two plants are. Anyone can help?
There are roots coming out from the branches. When I bought it, it is stuffed in a ring holder, can see it on the right? Now the roots is growing down into the soil.

Identified: HOTTONIA PALUSTRIS
Hottonia palustris is a pinnate-leafed aquatic plant native to wetland areas throughout Europe, where it is threatened, endangered, or extinct in certain parts of its range. It is usually found growing totally submersed except for the long flower spikes each bearing a set of light purple flowers. It is often used as a medicinal herb. Although relatively uncommon in the aquarium trade, it is used extensively as a decorative plant in ponds.

2 of my cherry shrimps saying "hi" to each other.

One of it.

Current condition of my planted tank.

Benefits of DIY CO2

Yup. Finally my DIY CO2 is producing CO2 constantly throughout the day.

I start to see O2 bubbles produced on the plants. This is the scene I loved the most because it is just marvelous, how the plants can breath and photosynthesis. It is a beautiful scene of God's creation.

So what's the benefits?
1. Plants is able to photosynthesis better. (Without the CO2, I never see any O2 bubbles)
2. Plants is growing faster. Hopefully not inviting algae. =)
3. It is cheap to DIY CO2 because you don't need a specialized tank.
4. Lower the pH of the water, everything in the tanks seems livelier than before.
5. My fishes too. There were some mucus on the tetra's stomach and spread to few tetras. After the constant release of CO2 into the water, the condition has improved.
Slowly seeing mucus on the Tetra's stomach to diminish.
6. Using it with Flourish Excel is no harm, of coz you must follow the suitable dosage daily.

So, are you thinking to DIY your own CO2? Try today! Get your ingredients and tools ready!

DIY CO2 Part 2

CO2 in the making in the bottle. Finally got the mixture right. =)
With the same recipe, I will update again on the duration of CO2 it can produce. Watch this space!

Steady stream of CO2 bubbles forming on the CO2 diffuser.

Another view of the CO2 diffuser.

DIY CO2

The stuffs needed for the DIY CO2:

1. Used Water Bottle (preferred 1.5 ltr)
2. Glue gun
3. Instant Yeast
4. Sodium Bicarbonate (Soda)
5. Bubble counter
6. CO2 diffuser
7. Measuring Spoons
8. Small air valve
9. Air pipe , preferred transparent type
   
10. Measuring cup for baking (Not in picture)
    

Poke a hole through the bottle's cap using screw driver and inserted the air valve into it.

Bottom view of the cap.

CO2 diffuser with anti-backflow valve. *Anti backflow valve removed as it will hinder the low pressure CO2 gas from reaching the CO2 diffuser effectively.

Managed to DIY all these last night and test the recipe and i works. Took about 1 hr then I see the small bubble flowing in the bubble counter. Yay!

But it is not yet diffusing in the tank yet, as it takes another few hours to build up in the bubble counter bottle and pump into the CO2 diffuser. Shall see the result tonight.

Follow up on this development:
The 1st CO2 mixture was a failure as I used wrong quantity of sugar. It caused the reaction to be slow and short-lived.
Then I re-do the CO2 mixture with correct quantity, within 30 minutes, I see CO2 bubbles forming in the bubble counter.
And for the next half hour, I start to see CO2 released into the water through the CO2 diffuser.
Success on the 2nd try!

Another update on the CO2 brew: The recipe will last you 9 days of CO2 supply, after which you need to brew it again. Took me 5 mins to prepare it, getting pro! haha.