Another molting of Wood Shrimp, reconfiguring the pump, and 2 new residence.

[botia]

Caver, the smaller Atyopsis molted again last night, and has almost
caught up to the slightly larger College. The time beteen molts about
13 days -- much shorter time between molts, than I figured. I guessed
four weeks, and wasn't even close. Of course, now looms the question.
Does the tank environment (food, light, iodine, salt, etc.) play a
dominate role in determining when Atyopsis molt, or a role somewhat, or
none at all? Any thoughts folks? *hears crickets* oO(I guess not).
Well I know I that I have posted the corny disclaimer before but, again
I state; if anyone has some insight to these animals, or the variables
affecting the well being there of....feel free to post or email
me.....really. As well, on that note -- if someone is willing to
spend, alot of time and money, and biologically grounded (as I struggle
with) -- wood shrimp are marvelous animals to have. If goldfish, or
bettas are a mystery to ya; Wood Shrimp are not for you.
That makeshift cloth wrapped cartridge, like the other natural
sponge filter, proved less than adequate, as it completly
disintergrated in only a few weeks. I have now suited the powerhead
pump with a smaller plastic spray bottle attached to the intake hose,
the bottom of the bottle rivited with many small holes, and the bottle
filled about half capacity with pieces of very porous plastic sponge
mesh. The bottle, again, partly buried with some large stones covering
the intake holes, then covered with smaller stones. This time no
substrate covering. In the mean time I have started designing a
ceramic filteration device, which should be completed in a few weeks
(assuming the firing goes well and on time). The goal it to outfit the
tank with a cartridge which does not require so much adjustment. well,
that the hope.
Due to the food dosage cutback, the Daphinia population has stopped
growing, but remains stable. The snails are still becoming an
increased presence, and more ejections into the botia tank the counter
measure. A grass, unidentified has taken residence and growing slowly
(long before the last post, but was unclear it different than the A.S.
alreay there) and a tiny amoeba-like worm (but much thinner) has
sprouted up a colony, but polulation stopped growing that I can tell.
About as thin and as long as the letter "I." The pair of Atyopsis
appear healthy and comfortable.
Present parameters; Tank Two is about 30 gallon tank holding 18
gallons of fresh water with about two tea spoons of Dr. Wells
freshwater aquarium salt, pH 7.0 and stable. Carbonate hardness of
3.5. and stable, water temp 25.5c with a slight upward
fluctuation. Daphinia population moderate and stable. Blood worms
population small and stable. Hydra population small and growing.
Common water Snails small and stable, increased harvesting in effect.
Cyclops
population small and stable. Java ferns (4) stable and growing. Java
moss (four bunches) stable and barely growing. Amazon swords (2)
stable and growing. Lotus (1) stable and rapidly growing. UnID "Spout"
grass, present and growing slowly. UnID "I" worms population small and
stable.