FishStix

Well, we've finally set up our tank and decided to go with live plants in there! We have a better light on the way (should be delivering tomorrow with a few more supplies we ordered)...the one you see here is about 20 years old lol. I figured it would be okay for one day.

We can't find ammonia ANYwhere here so I guess we are going to have to use fish food for the cycle. We are also going to use Tetra Safe Start (but without fish!) which should be in the delivery we are expecting tomorrow.

What do you think - does this look like it will be a happy fishy home (if you see anything wrong please tell me!!) We LOVE the tree stump and there are lots of hiding places inside it and below it, especially with the plants all around it. We have one large Java Fern that is growing on a lava rock, three Amazon Swords (I think), some clumps of mossy stuff that I don't know what is(??) and two banana plants. I sure hope we can keep all of these alive!

We can't WAIT to get some fishies!!!! Gonna start with three dalmation mollies!

agabr123

it looks great

Chrisson

Agreed.

FishStix

uhhhhh....hubby and I were just admiring our tank before going to bed and have discovered that we have TWO creatures in there!!! They must have come in on the plants? Is this good or bad?

articwolf

This is really similar to my tank..that is cycling right now
I love how you set yours up, it really looks lovely.
I also did a fish food method, and I have one regret that I'll share. Food is messy, and I put too much in each time. If I were going to do it with fish food again, I think I'll try putting it in an empty filter cartridge that is sealed on 3 sides. The type I get are open on the top and I would dump out the charcoal and put food in it, and close it back up and put it in the tank. I don't know for sure that it would be easier, but I can't see it being any messier then what I dealt with. Best of luck on your cycle!

Lori

MeGustaUnaPez926

That looks to me like a Malaysian Trumpet Snail. They aren't bad, but I think they eat your plants and reproduce like nuts! Unless you want to be over ridden with snails I would try and get rid of them. Either net them out, or put in a peice of cucumber, they should start to eat it, then you can pull them out.

FishStix

Well, I definitely dont need them eating my plants! If I remove them does that mean I have to kill them

agabr123

definitely malaysian trumpet snails. if you remove them you can just throw them away (put the cucumber in the tank, remove it the next morning, and toss it), you dont actually have to kill them.

aquarist48

Beautiful

Llama

Looks beautiful

As for the snails, if you don't mind killing them, breed them in another container and feed them to the fish when they come, think they'd enjoy a bit of meat.

peacemaker92

Beautiful tank! It must've taken forever to finish such a beautiful set up! GREAT JOB! Hope everything works out!

toiletmechanic

Beautiful tank!! Is that a real stump in there?

Jonah

Awesome tank!

Like the use of the mangrove root oranament in the centre

FishStix

thank you all for the kind comments!!

Toiletmec-No its not a real stump, it is poly resin - but it does look real - I love it so much - its hollow in the center and has lots of little holes for the fish to swim in and out of it (plus hubby drilled out a few more ha ha). Because of all the "roots" on it there is a lot of space underneath it for the fish to swim around or hide. I got it from Drs foster & smith...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...6&pcatid=18456

here's a view of underneath it:



I havent decided what to do about the snails yet! We were so surprised to find them that I was freaked out but I guess it seems to be a pretty common occurance!