55 Gallon Tank Restart After Ich Outbreak

thanks. no one has called or emailed me about the balas yet.

 

decided to return the anubias because of how expensive they were.




with that same money, I went to another LFS and got all this... amazon sword, micro sword, anacharis, moss, and I forget what the ones in the corners are called. all for under $20.

I think the corner plants are Pileas - which are acctually terrestrial plants which last a few months in the aquarium before rotting/decaying/dyeing. Also, id you take the plants out of their bunches/pots? They don't do very well when kept in the bunches long term - and it's best to remove them from the pots as they can become unhealthy it they live in the pot for a long time. I love that wood by the way - I wish I had a piece like that!

 

none of them plants are in pots. those corner plants weren't sold under the name pileas.. I can't remember but they weren't called that.

 

pretty much all my plants are dead or dying now. the anacharis is completely wiped out. the micro sword has holes in the leaves. the amazon sword seems to be alright, but def. not flourishing.

 

HI Swifterz.

Sorry to hear about your plants. Do you have a CO2 system with your tank? (sorry if I'm asking, wished I had more time to read your whole thread :anim_63

Some of my plants are dying too even though I have a CO2 system with it. Not sure if it's enough but my other plants are fine.

Check out this link,
The Aponogeton Crispus. They're quite interesting plants and can really thrive and survive without much demand. I have one in my tank, bought it last week and it's really growing fast compared to my other plants.

Hope that helps Good luck!

 

well I read this whole thread....whooa...and I agree with all previous post about the fish.....

but in reference to the most recent issue..the plants........ I attempted when I first got my 60 gallon. (before any fish) and all my plants died too.... plants need a lot and IMO better to start small and get experience with keeping them alive before putting them in a tank that is every changing at this point.

what kind of lights do you have? certain plants need high output of light to grow. they also need Co2 system. (there is a DIY thread on how to make one at home cheap). you also have cichlids which EAT plants and will Rearrange your plants, move them, uproot them. your water parameters can effect plants also. hardness of water, etc...also your substrate (sand) doesn't have nutrients in it for the plants. (alot go with ecocomplete substrate for plants). also sometimes you have to give your plants food and viatims. when my died off the tank got really nasty.......adn I went straight to african cichlids and haven't looked back...... ; ).
good luck

 

none of them plants are in pots. those corner plants weren't sold under the name pileas.. I can't remember but they weren't called that.

They are Pileas - Pilea is acctualy the name of the genus it belongs to (I believe you have P.cardierei), so they might have been sold under an english name - in the houseplant trade it's known as 'Aluminium plant' but it might be called something else in Aquatics. I have seen it for sale as an aquatic plant before so it's not unheard of.


They look similar, right?

If they didn't come in pots, did they come in bunches? If so you need to take them out of the bunches, or I'm not surprised if they aren't happy! I've never seen them for sale without pots or bunches.

Also, since you have sand and there are no fish/snails stirring it up by digging in it (that's why I love MTS snails!) the sand may become compacted and crush the roots. Just a thought which could be the culprit; it would make sense because Amazon sword has really strong roots.

You might want to try growing Cryptocorynes or Ambulia - I have honestly no idea how to kill them as they are indestructible in my experience!

 

^^ that's them. I had them in bunches.

thanks for the help everyone. pretty much every plant died or was dying. i'm back to no plants at all.

 

I repositioned the driftwood and it looks so much better now. the big piece on the left is pushed further back and slanted. the one on the right was turned on it's side and "wedged" into the tank. I want to go get a third "central" piece in the next couple of days but so far every one I have found at the LFS didn't really interest me.

 

I'd like to see an updated picture of your tank if you can get one. You have some pretty awesome aquascaping skills.

 

I just snapped a few pics of my firemouths and they for once turned out great. give me a few and I'll have them uploaded.

 

 

Great pics and beautiful fish!

 

 

I second the post asking for a pic of the new tank arrangement!

 

I haven't taken another pic yet because i'm waiting until I get my third piece of driftwood. I went to 3 places today and none of them interested me enough. I have something pretty specific in mind as far as size and shape, I just need to find something that's close..

 

awesome pics and video, the firemouths look great!

 

Beautiful Firemouths! Will be looking forward to more photos from you.
Ken

 

thanks everyone.

if my plan actually unfolds I should be able to rehome the balas and i'm giving a couple tiger barbs to a friend who wants to increase the size of his school. this will free up a ton of room so I can get some convicts or whatever else I want.

 

here's the other firemouth

 

aww, what a cutie!
Did you ever find that 3rd piece of driftwood you were looking for?

 

sadly, no. I keep looking but i'm pretty picky. i'm shopping online right now actually.

 

I know what you mean, when you have an idea in your head of what you want something to look like and then you have to get it just how you pictured it in your head.

 

yah I do have something specific in mind. thing is I might not ever find a piece quite like what i'm looking for. I hate to order online, cause you have to pay shipping and I like to be able to hold (and turn) the piece in my hand. I get a feel for it's size obviously and exactly how i'd position it when I am looking at it in person.

 

Yeah, those are kinda the disadvantages of shopping online. If you haven't visited this site yet I would recommend it just because it has a pretty good selection of driftwood.

Good luck shopping!

 

thanks!

 

one of my bala sharks died today

 

one of my bala sharks died today

I'm so sorry you lost a bala rip boy
but back in july you were advised this might happen...what happened to re homing them?

 

local guy with a 125G tank won't take them cause it's all african cichlids. the store I got them from won't take them back at all.

 

local guy with a 125G tank won't take them cause it's all african cichlids. the store I got them from won't take them back at all.

post them for free on craigslist then you can find the proper home by asking proper questions about tank sizes

 

You mention in your previous posts that there are 6 pet stores in your area, but you only state that you've tried to return the balas to the store where you purchased them. Have you tried taking them to any of the other 5 locations? They may offer you partial, full, or store credit, or nothing. But if they are dying, you're not getting your money back anyway. GL.

 

So sorry to hear about your fish loss.
Best wishes!
Ken

 

one of the stores is a chain (3 in the same city). they won't take the fish at all. the balas came from petsmart, and there are 2 of them here. so that's 5 of the stores right there. the other is a place that I don't really like dealing with.

I just got to thinking, what fish would I get in their place, and nothing really jumps out that I like that much.

 

I wouldnt add anything until you can rehome the bala's

 

I wouldnt add anything until you can rehome the bala's

that's what i'm saying. if the balas are out then I have no idea what i'd want. the only thing I can think of is acei's and yellow lab's but they aren't compatible with my other fish so I don't know.

 

that's what i'm saying. if the balas are out then I have no idea what i'd want. the only thing I can think of is acei's and yellow lab's but they aren't compatible with my other fish so I don't know.

you are correct, they will not go with your existing fish...have you tried posting on CL for free to good homes? I see someone selling some bala's and barbs in your area so a free to good home add might get someone to jump at it!

no one likes to take others fish as they don't want their tanks infected on the chance of someone elses fish...which to me, is great they care that much for sure but stinks when a store sells fish too large for a tank without letting you know this prior...keep trying and don't give up!!!!

 

Hey Swifterz! Sounds like you have MTS without the M. Just don't fill the tank just to fill it...wait for something you really want that you CAN HAVE

 

yeah that's just the thing. I pretty much know what all is out there, and none of it jumps out at me as something I could get and not second guess myself. I really don't want to do that anymore.

 

What is your current stocking list without the balas (you are getting rid of them so maybe we can come up with ideas for when they are gone)

 

without the 2 Balas...

2 Firemouth Cichlids
10 Tiger Barbs
1 Rainbow Shark