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I managed to get hold of them from work, I’ve never seen them anywhere else, even online. The only ones I ever encounter are the standard tank busting species to be honest!

@@alexb_aquatics Such seasonal fishes, so maybe wrong time of year anyway. I found sometimes of year I'd order them and they would always be subbed. Not sure if many are even ordering knives? It seems from Peru the focus is certainly tetra, common Loricariids and along those lines. Shame as you say they are mostly tankbusting, although usually only the one Gymnotiforme species gets imported. Gymnotus I certainly think needs a little more attention.

Thank you, that’s very kind of you! I’ve always enjoyed reading it so hopefully if you do get it again you’ll continue to enjoy. Let me know if there’s anything in particular you’d like to see in it that would convince you to give editions that I produce a go!

@@alexb_aquatics well I’ve only got 5 tanks, really wish I had a fishroom. But all I keep for now is killifish. I was obsessed with them when I was a kid as they were unattainable but now approaching 40 and they’re a fish I’ve found has a really nice following. Some gems out there.

Definitely agree with you there, some wonderful species of killifish out there! It’s something I’ve not jumped into yet other than the clown killifish. Definitely need to do a species of annuals one day

@@alexb_aquatics they certainly grow fast. I would need more tanks and space to keep and breed some so I am sticking to non annuals for now. Have a 120 litre tank with Gardneri Rayfield offspring in it, lovely active fish to watch.

That’s very kind of you!

I’m glad you think it is too! I love watching them to just chill

Thank you, very excited to get started 😊😊

That’s very kind of you 🙌🏼

Thank you buddy!

Definitely exciting, and also daunting. Without challenges you don’t grow though so hopefully this will make me a better aquarists and writer!

Thank you!!

Thank you!

Thanks so much!

Yes definitely exciting!!

I won’t forget don’t worry! I’ll still need somewhere to do my weird brown water things

Thank you!!

Yeah I’ve certainly got lucky having some very interesting jobs! Hopefully I can take PFK to new and exciting things so it would be lovely for you to follow along the journey.

To be honest I have never attempted neons! Maybe one day I’ll give it a go but I’d imagine it can be done in a similar way, just with much lower pH and less light!

Thank you!! It was the plan to be a mix of natural/botanical and planted aquascape

Hygrophila polysperma

@@alexb_aquatics hygrophila difformis vs hygrophila polysperma which plant you choose for beginners low tec set-up?

Haha I understand your frustrations, but if I do that I can’t film/photograph directly through the glass as there’s no space… so it’s not gonna happen I’m afraid

@@alexb_aquatics ok ok...you get a pass lol

Thank you ❤️❤️😅

I originally planned to have a nice chair and desk in here but I used the space for more tanks and now I have no room!

@@alexb_aquatics 🥰 it is a common problem multi tank syndrome. I have learned to live with it, and feed the problem. Im happy and dont need a cure 😍 Pop the end rack where your single is shuffle tanks to put the bottles in the new corner unit and park the chair in that right corner.

Oh really, how come? What would you put in them that wouldn’t be suitable for the 3ft tanks in there currently?

Thank you!!! ❤😊

I’m not sure it will ever pay for itself but that’s certainly aspirational

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

Certainly is for those that have insect based diets in the wild!

Thanks mate, yes same here! Even fussy fish like licorice and samurai gourami happily take this when settled

Ahh amazing, free stuff is always great but when it’s good quality too it’s just perfection 👌 I bet the guppies love it, and thank you! ☺️

That’s awesome, I bet they look incredible

I’m not sure they’re available easily, they are produced for zebra danio labs and I managed to pick this one up second hand. Sorry for not being much help

DO IT!!! You won’t regret it 😄

Thanks I’m glad you enjoyed it, everyone does have their own methods I just find the having a boiling step is just a little safer and is the best thing to advise. I have used some botanicals too large to fit in my pan without the boiling step without trouble. When collecting in the Uk I only collect from areas I know that pesticides and such like haven’t been used for at least several years (like mine and my families gardens, and parks where I know they don’t use them). Buying botanicals from reputable sources is a great and even safer for sure though I just like to try and save some money where I can and also reduce shipping dead leaves around the world.

Thank you very much, as always, for the support!

@@alexb_aquatics 👍

Yes I’ve often thought about doing something like that, but each tree even of the same species may be slightly different so I am not sure the information gained will be that useful? I have a little experiment planned to see how quickly scaping soils remove tannins, I’m hoping to start that this month

Yeah, I stash those at the back of the aquascape when they start looking ragged. Something always eats them up in the long run.

@MeanOldLady do you find any other type of leaf to be more durable. I'm about to start a 32g fluval flex. My 15g was a flex and I really like the design

I personally found live oak to be the most durable and least ‘messy’ but all botanicals will create that brown sludge like mulm across the substrate! It’s actually super beneficial but I understand it’s not the aesthetic that every tank needs. I’ve used alder cones in a sump before, but I think if you don’t want that detritus build up you’ll just have to swap the leaves out before they start to break down! But that will use up a lot of leaves and a lot of time… I vote for embrace the dirt 😄

That’s very kind of you!

That’s awesome and congratulations on getting offspring from the large male! Aggression is definitely an issue, my first male (I kept only a pair) held eggs many times but eventually got chased out the water and died just like you said. They are definitely a species I would love to come back to one day

I’ll don the Crocs for the next video 👍🏼😂

@@alexb_aquaticsnot don the crocks 😂😂😂

I think they definitely have the potential to impact microfauna that disperse into the water column, those that stay in and amongst the detritus I would imagine any impact is probably minimal. I also think the filter media choice plays more of a critical role in this than the type of filter. Any fine wool like polishing media will strip out microorganisms better… whether this kills them or ends up being a concentrated source of them I do not know. Not yet it’s definitely on my to do list to attempt it. How did you manage to get yours to spawn?

@@alexb_aquatics interesting, I agree. Thanks! They do not seem to be too difficult to get eggs from. Live baby brine shrimp daily for a week and a 50% water change triggered them for me recently. They lay eggs on leaves near the surface of the water. A floating Anubias plant works perfectly

Thanks for the info, mine have had live bbs and daphnia routinely but probably not every day for a week followed by a water change. When I have some time I’ll see what I can do with them. I probably don’t have Anubias spare but I’ll try out some Hygrophila polysperma initially

@@alexb_aquatics no problem! I definitely think the live foods for several days helps. I also moved them from one tank to another once and they immediately started laying eggs. So a sudden environment change seems to be something they react well to. Good luck with yours!

That’s great thanks for the tip! I’ll let you know how I get on and whether I manage to grow any fry