Today's Update

As of this afternoon, the congo tetras as spawning.

I've never seen this behavior from them, and I've spent quite a bit of time with this tank over the last year. The male is particularly brilliant, though I do feel this actinic bulb doesn't do him justice. For a time the whole group of 4 was clustered beside a wisteria, and he was rubbing up against them, and chasing away any other fish that came near. Oh, he's doing it now. The females don't seem to be paying that much attention; it must be one female that's his focus. I've read that the female will drop the eggs on the bottom, where they will promptly be devoured by the tankmates. Que cera, cera. However, it cannot be coincidence that they finally have a lovely planted tank and now feel comfortable enough to spawn.

Also, it appears that the caves are appreciated. Bleu Betta - I have decided to call him Rhaegar -  Almost went into the cave I created. The loaches have been poking about.

The other loach, the one in the h-tank, looks tremendously bored. The spots on his tail are gone. There are still two spots on the base of his tail, though. I've dosed every other day. I've got the heat up, and I think I'll stick with that rather than dose again. He's so small, and he's a loach. And he came from Indonesia. I mean, poor guy. Doing daily water changes. Today the ammo was medium, nitrites were high, and nitrates were really high. At least the tank is cycling. It's a shame it has to cycle with him in it. I'll be sure to keep that filter media alive with bacteria.

Fingers crossed, knock on wood, no spots in the 55. Temp is up around 86 anyway. My solo heater is doing a fine job. No more knocking from the other big one that's in the 6.6