The IAPLC 2009 is back!!!

The International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest 2009 is back, the application form will be available in the  end of January 2009. Is a great time to start preparing for the contest, and this is my 2nd time to participate. I believe getting more & more people joining this year, and a lot of Guru did well in the passed year.....learnt a lot from them.

More info in here >>> http://en.iaplc.com/

Low temperature tank

Recently really too busy to take care of the tank, until everywhere seeing the black brush algae, since yesterday I had some times to clean up the drift wood & did some trimming works too. But recently at my place has cooler weather, so the water of the tank get very low temperature at 23~24 degree Celsius, and first time I see my tank so cold. When early in the morning at 23dC, until all lights on at noon only 25dC, the best temperature for plants to grow and the shrimps also very active.

Apple snail & shell detoriation

Snail spawns on the a leaf

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Baby snail's size about 2mm

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Teenager snail size about 6mm

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Turning to adult, size is bigger approx. 1cm

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Snails & shrimp was playing together.

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This is serious! Shell detoriation of an adult snail.

The most important thing to remember is that the rigidity of the shell is provided by a strong, calcified inside, with a protective protein layer at the outside. It's the latter that prevents the chemical detoriation of the calcium at the inside. Once the protective outer layer is damaged, the calcium layer is exposed to the water. This shouldn't be a big problem, as long as the water is rich in calcium and is not acid, but once the pH of the water drops and the water becomes acid (pH below 7), the calcium starts to dissolve. As long as this process advances at a slow speed, the snails is often able to enforce the calcium layer, although only at the inside. The outside of the shell is dead material, and cannot be repaired by the snail itself, so once damaged, it will stay that way. The oldest parts of the shell (the shell top) and those places that are often hot when a snail fall on the bottom are also the places that are most vulnerable as the protective outer layer is often damaged at those parts. Problems arise once the shell is detoriated that much that holes are formed, exposing the soft tissues below. In case of large holes, the snail can get problems with keeping the mantle cavity open, with lung collapse and other problems as result. Nevertheless, smaller holes an pose a problem as well, especially in a crowded tank, as other snails and fish won't hesitate to eat the exposed tissues. Luckily, snails do have some kind of repair system: they simply calcify the exposed tissues to protect them.

Return with a new design!!!

Lately very busy until not enough time to take care the tank, it was like a jungle, but after changed of water, cleanned the canister filter, and did some rescape works, now looks better.

The plant above is ELATINE TRIANDRA, it is a fast growing plant, but after few triming works, it's melting. Fertilizer & lighting all good, still have no ideas why & how now.

Fianlly! new generation of apple snail

After the last "Woo~hoo" of the snails, now can see some youngs crawling in the tank. Hopefully it grows in a healthy manner and seeing more and more young generation. It is very cute with a tiny round and transparent shell, and very hard working eating those algae day & night. It's size getting bigger just in a week and can't really imagine how fast it grows. Anyway, what can we do is waiting them to grow.