leaf fish tank

[rayn]

I'm starting to consider the salt and pepper look a little. I generally do my water changes with a small pump and tube and replace the water from my jugs, but I am going to have to try ans siphon the sand soon. There is a small build up of detrius starting. I can stir it up and get the filter to suck up more, or turn on the powerhead, but it seems a lot of it resettles down.

 

[jarrod13]

Hmmm... That's kinda what I was thinking, do you think the salt and pepper look would hide it better?

 

[rayn]

That is my guess. I don't notice the brown in any of my other tanks and I generally don't like to siphon the sand in my salt tanks. But if I keep the black I will have to on this one atleast.

 

[namxas]

Hmmm... That's kinda what I was thinking, do you think the salt and pepper look would hide it better?

As I've mentioned, lots of folks try this look with their SH tanx trying to push their color and making it pop against the dark substrate. What you're seeing is exactly what everyone sees...that whitish-greyish fine detritus that settles over everything. The addition of some white grains in the substrate helps to break up that "solid" look, and folks are much happier with the appearance.

IIRC, Carib Sea acually packages a pre-mixed salt-n-pepper substrate.

 

[AlexS95]

IIRC, Carib Sea acually packages a pre-mixed salt-n-pepper substrate.

I think this is CaribSea B&W sand.

I still get some detrius build up. I need to start cleaning it up. :spin1:

 

[rayn]

That would still hide it better then pure black, I like the look.

Happy news tonight. While feeding with the net I noticed I had scooped up a dead ghost shrimp. It was recently deceased as it hadn't changed to the whitish color yet, but didn't move on its own. I scooped it up and moved it around a little and he took it! Far from frozen, but a possible right direction.

 

[AlexS95]

Reading this thread makes me want to have a Leaf tank, but I've never seen one for sale. :thumbdown

 

[rayn]

I have had two now. The first I didn't understand and wasn't really set up to give it the care it deserved. This time I am better prepared and found a better colored one. I have three places currently looking for me a red/pink one and they are having trouble getting one. Check with your lfs and see if they can order you one in.

These guys are really cool to watch. Not the most active, but if you can get into them they have their own type of personality.

 

[AlexS95]

Since it was more readily available, I went with my avatar (Angler) instead. And I love him even though he isn't big on... moving? lol

 

[seahorsedreams]

Rayn, don't pay too much more for a red/pink one. It'll turn into a cream/pale yellow one eventually.


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[rayn]

What?! I was hoping it would retain some of the red although muted I'm sure.

The yellows are 55-60 so I'm expecting the red/pink ones to be 90ish.

 

[namxas]

Hijo le...that seems like a lot for leaf fish, but if there aren't any to be had, the price goes up, I guess.

For reference, this is the same fish (we've seen this in two red specimens):

 

[jarrod13]

We're those kept in "red" tanks? I wonder if they would retain it if they were in a tank covered in coraline, red macro, red mushrooms, red sponges, etc.?

 

[namxas]

All of our tanks tend to be very purple.

 

[rayn]

The price may seem high in certain instances, bt not totally. Live aquaria ranges from 40-65 depending on color and origin, but then there is shipping on top. If I got a large red shipped it would be 95, so my lfs isn't that far off to me.

Is there a reason they change? Is it unhealthy for them, or just possible lack of natural camouflage to simulate?

 

[namxas]

I'm not sure anyone really knows for sure...it could be diet, environment, or both. I HAVE heard of someone who kept a red fish that stayed red, but it was heresay, as I never saw a pic or the fish.

I wonder if bumping up the carotene content of the fish's food would help.

 

[rayn]

If I find and get a good red specimen I'll try a few things in hopes of keeping the red. May not work, but worth a shot. Still have to find one though.

 

[namxas]

There's a supplement a lot of folks use for SH called astaxanthin which reportedly helps them keep brighter colors. If you can gutload ghosties with it, that may help.

 

[rayn]

I will have to look I to it. May even help the yellow have more vibrant colors.

Speaking of ghosties. How long do they normally live and what is the best way to keep them alive? Mi.e seem to last a week at most, then I have a group of dead ones.

 

[namxas]

We can typically keep them for as long as we want in a little critter keeper with an airline or small filter (like a palm filter or Duetto). We do find that there are certain places that treat their "feeders" better than others, and that's where we get our live food.