Hey there,
it’s been a while, had to give up my L104s a few years ago, moved back to Europe and finally got a „new“ aquarium…
This is my first experience with cories though.
We started cycling our tank mid December, and after the NO2 peak, beginning of January, we put 6 cories - Hoplisoma julii (or possibly trilineatus) in along with 15 axelrodia risei and 10 neocaridina Davidi. They were so much fun to watch as they surfed all around, I went and got 2 more the following week. They continued being all (hyper)active 24/7.
Then last week we put in a group of five L236 plecos.
Since then the cories are acting somewhat subdued. They still eat like champions, but split up in smaller groups and don’t engage in as much free swimming up and down and along the length of the tank.
Should I be worried, or is this normal? Maybe they need to get used to their new tankmates, or are growing up?
1. Water parameters
a) temperature 27-28 C
b) pH 7-7.4
c) GH 4
d) KH 3
e) Conductivity or TDS - don’t know
f) Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite levels - no ammonia or nitrite showing up on the test. Haven’t done nitrate.
(Using JBL test liquids)
g) Water change frequency - 1-2x weekly, 10-30%
h) "Routine" water treatments - RO water (only using RO for water changes after setting up with 50/50 RO/Tap, had a rock that was raising KH, removed that, now aiming to minimise KH and lower PH to 6.5-7)
Amtra pro nature+ with water changes.
2. Tank set up
Juwel Vision 180, photo attached (sorry, not the newest, but light isn’t on yet)
a) Size 90xca40x50cm if I remember right, it has a curved front glass and is higher than long.
b) Substrate fine gravel (2-3mm)
c) Filtration currently running Juwel bioflow M and Oase Biomaster 250 concurrently - have been for 2 weeks, plan is to remove the bioflow in a week or two.
d) Furnishings lots of wood, 8 pleco caves a few rocks and plants. Added more swimming plants since the photo was taken.
e) Other tank mates
(Edited to add/clarify) 8 Hoplisoma Julii
15 axelrodia risei (ok, 4 were misidentified at purchase - likely 2 hasemania Nana and 2 hemigrammus hyanuary)
5 hypancistrus sp. L236
10 neocaridina davidi „red Rili“
Snails
f) How long has it been set-up?
Since mid-December, fishless cycle with fish food added daily.
g) Food used and frequency
2x daily. Flakes, granules, tabs, frozen, pumpkin - a pretty wild variety I admit.
h) Recent changes in the tank which occurred shortly before the disease/problem appeared
added the L236 plecos, raised the temperature 1 degree C
3. Symptoms / Problem description or history
They’re just subdued - before, they had a non-stop party… just seems odd and I don’t know if I need to be worried.
I don’t see much friction between the plecos and cories, except when a Cory wants to explore a cave that has been claimed by a pleco. But then, the plecos are rougher towards one another even out in the open and let the cories mostly be.
4. Action taken (if any)
None yet. We are getting a new 200L tank with a bit more „floor space“ next week. (After setting the old one up, we noticed the silicone seals are starting to separate from the glass)
5. Medications used (if any)
None yet. Don’t even know if there actually is a problem…
Did a 30% water change yesterday, to see if there’d be a change.
Hope someone can tell me if there’s a problem I need to watch, or if they’re just miffed at having to share their playground…
Thanks!
