Post by starlight on Mar 20, 2005 15:41:14 GMT -5
Background info: I set up a 5.5G two months ago. The tank was disinfected and two new small filters were cycled. The pair I wanted to use wasn't ready and the tank remained running. The water quality was so good that I used the initial filters in other tanks and cycled a few more filters in it.
The tank is about 1/3 filled with Java Moss. There's a certain amount of debris with any plant and I must admit that I didn't vac it out like I do with a tank with fish in it.
I've been conditioning a pair for a while. With a storm coming, last night I began to get the tank ready for them. I siphoned out a gallon of water (there's a little under 3G in the tank) I got all the debris off the bottom, moved the plants and added back a gallon of water.
I tested water params pH 7.0, KH 3, Ammo 0, Nitrite 0, water temp 80-81
The tank looked gorgeous and the water params right on target. The plants were lush and the water clear. For one brief moment; I thought I had ascended to a higher reality. But then it happened...I took my magnifying glass out. There were many almost too-small to see with just eyes- creatures that almost looked like brine shrimp on the bottom and sides of the tank. They are white and not worms or planarians. I think these things are called pods and are generally not suposed to be harmful. Iirc. I think gouramis like them. I did a series of water changes using a fine siphon. I probably removed nearly another gallon in 3-part stages. At that point the numbers were greatly diminished.
I added the bettas to the tank late last night. The female is in a glass chimney. The male is just starting to build his nest. I observed the male eating a few of these but without much relish. I thought he'd clean them all out. Since they are so small, they really don't interest an adult betta. I briefly released the female but she didn't pay them any attention.
I'm wondering if I should be concerned about these pods? Will they be a problem to eggs? I know once there are fry, they'd clean them up with out any problem. I hate putting anything in a fry tank.... Should I put a drop or two of Maroxy in the tank? Would that kill the pods? Or will these pods be a good 2nd food after the infusoria in the tank?
I'd rather not siphon too much more water with the male starting his nest since he's not the best nester. Should I forget about these little creatures? They probably eat debris rather than eggs. I'm thinking that if the male has eggs in the nest, he'll probably kill anything that moves.
The tank is about 1/3 filled with Java Moss. There's a certain amount of debris with any plant and I must admit that I didn't vac it out like I do with a tank with fish in it.
I've been conditioning a pair for a while. With a storm coming, last night I began to get the tank ready for them. I siphoned out a gallon of water (there's a little under 3G in the tank) I got all the debris off the bottom, moved the plants and added back a gallon of water.
I tested water params pH 7.0, KH 3, Ammo 0, Nitrite 0, water temp 80-81
The tank looked gorgeous and the water params right on target. The plants were lush and the water clear. For one brief moment; I thought I had ascended to a higher reality. But then it happened...I took my magnifying glass out. There were many almost too-small to see with just eyes- creatures that almost looked like brine shrimp on the bottom and sides of the tank. They are white and not worms or planarians. I think these things are called pods and are generally not suposed to be harmful. Iirc. I think gouramis like them. I did a series of water changes using a fine siphon. I probably removed nearly another gallon in 3-part stages. At that point the numbers were greatly diminished.
I added the bettas to the tank late last night. The female is in a glass chimney. The male is just starting to build his nest. I observed the male eating a few of these but without much relish. I thought he'd clean them all out. Since they are so small, they really don't interest an adult betta. I briefly released the female but she didn't pay them any attention.
I'm wondering if I should be concerned about these pods? Will they be a problem to eggs? I know once there are fry, they'd clean them up with out any problem. I hate putting anything in a fry tank.... Should I put a drop or two of Maroxy in the tank? Would that kill the pods? Or will these pods be a good 2nd food after the infusoria in the tank?
I'd rather not siphon too much more water with the male starting his nest since he's not the best nester. Should I forget about these little creatures? They probably eat debris rather than eggs. I'm thinking that if the male has eggs in the nest, he'll probably kill anything that moves.
