Setup Feedback Please

[HookedOnFish_MI]

Hello again! I was able to find another giant piece of spider wood for my 75 gallon and rescaped it and did a water change last night. I put the Mongolia leaves in the tank as well last night but decided to move them to a bucket of water this morning until they sink. Please give me your feedback on this setup for breeding Cacatuoides. I have 2 males and 2 females (females in a 10 gallon right now). I know I need more plants especially on the left and in front. Any thoughts on plant types? I have all anubias now since I don’t have fancy lighting or CO2. Also, would you just sit the plants on top of the leaf litter bed, or scatter the leaves around the plants?

 

[CRD]

Looks nice! I don't envy the task of trying to get fry out of there though....

 

[MacZ]

Looks nice! I don't envy the task of trying to get fry out of there though....

With the rasboras I doubt fry will make it.

Still needs leaf litter and floating plants. Then it's perfect.

Well... except... do I see GUPPIES in there?

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

With the rasboras I doubt fry will make it.

Still needs leaf litter and floating plants. Then it's perfect.

Well... except... do I see GUPPIES in there?

Hahaha, I do have 2 male guppies that I’ll move. I have seen posts in here and elsewhere that rasboras make good dither fish because they won’t bother the fry, but I can also move if it comes to it.

The leaf litter goes in as soon as it sinks and I’m looking for frogbit. Do you think I need more plants for the floor?

 

[yukondog]

Those rasboras will eat everyone of them, I had some in with Macs. and the first chance they got they all ran in and ate them all in about 10 sec.

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

Those rasboras will eat everyone of them, I had some in with Macs. and the first chance they got they all ran in and ate them all in about 10 sec.

Well then...thank you for that information. I definitely don’t want to risk that.

 

[Ttw]

I have used Rasbora heteromorpha for years as dither. Never had any problems with them eating fry.

 

[MacZ]

The leaf litter goes in as soon as it sinks and I’m looking for frogbit. Do you think I need more plants for the floor?

Excellent!
Hmm... I like to keep rocks and driftwood for barriers on the ground and use the open spaces for leave litter beds. You can use plants that give cover from above while not needing much space on the ground. Like Nymphea or Nymphoides sending some floating leaves to the surface, while leaving a lot of room underneath.

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

Excellent!
Hmm... I like to keep rocks and driftwood for barriers on the ground and use the open spaces for leave litter beds. You can use plants that give cover from above while not needing much space on the ground. Like Nymphea or Nymphoides sending some floating leaves to the surface, while leaving a lot of room underneath.

Thanks for the advice. Would you mind sharing a pic of your setup?

 

[Mike Wise]

One of your males will be a loser in the breeding game and one will breed with both females. That is why they are considered harem breeders.

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

One of your males will be a loser in the breeding game and one will breed with both females. That is why they are considered harem breeders.

Thanks for the insight Mike. Does it hurt having both males in there, or does it make more sense to remove one?

 

[MacZ]

Thanks for the advice. Would you mind sharing a pic of your setup?

It's not in the best state as the A. hongsloi I have right now are having health problems and most of the floating plants had to be removed due to simultaneously spreading rot. Plants are down to a lot of pennywort that covers most of the surface and a pothos plant in the corner.
But right now I'm kinda ok with the setup. I removed all substrate based plants a few months ago, as the tint made anything die off that grew in the lower two thirds.
Sorry for the quality, just spontaneously took some pics, those are the best I got.

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

It's not in the best state as the A. hongsloi I have right now are having health problems and most of the floating plants had to be removed due to simultaneously spreading rot. Plants are down to a lot of pennywort that covers most of the surface and a pothos plant in the corner.
But right now I'm kinda ok with the setup. I removed all substrate based plants a few months ago, as the tint made anything die off that grew in the lower two thirds.
Sorry for the quality, just spontaneously took some pics, those are the best I got.

View attachment 10005 View attachment 10006

Looks nice, thank you!

 

[MacZ]

Looks nice, thank you!

Thanks, you're welcome!

 

[Mike Wise]

In a tank of your size I think both can live together as long as the subdominant male has a place to avoid the dominant male.. Just be prepared to remove the subdominant male, especially if it is seen hovering at the surface.

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

In a tank of your size I think both can live together as long as the subdominant male has a place to avoid the dominant male.. Just be prepared to remove the subdominant male, especially if it is seen hovering at the surface.

Got it, will be on alert for that. As always, thanks for the help!

 

[Pablos]

I would take Anubias out of substrate

 

[MacZ]

I would take Anubias out of substrate

I was also going to say that, but it seems the Rhizomes are still above the substrate, otherwise they plants wouldn't have grown to that size.

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

I was also going to say that, but it seems the Rhizomes are still above the substrate, otherwise they plants wouldn't have grown to that size.

Yes, the rhizomes are all above the sand, and only have roots burried.

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

Here’s the finished product! I have 8 more leaves still in a bucket being stubborn, but I’ll put them in once they sink. Adding the 2 females right now as well.