Basil’s Tanks

As I posted in my betta tank build thread, Eddie Betta and his brother arrived yesterday. I purchased his brother as a house warming gift for a good friend and her kids. They have been betta-less for a while since they were moving. My friend has kept bettas for the 20 yrs that I’ve known her. The kids named him Splash.

 

Of course it took me longer to set up my tank than planned.
I had the substrate in for over a week. Sunday I finally planted the crypts and sag I had purchased and clipped a nice big hunk of java fern out of the 75 for it.
I realized I could not fit both pieces of curved wood once I had attached them to the slate so I just used one. I think if I had put the wood in first and then put the substrate on top, it would have worked. Oh well, live and learn lol!
I left the tank sitting with no filter yet and filled up only 2/3 of the way as I had more plants coming.
But the bettas were arriving earlier than expected so I put in the sponge filter that had been seeding in the 75, turned on the heater, placed the Seachem ammonia alert, and filled up the tanK.
Then I noticed the ammonia alert was showing green. Hmmm.
I was going to test all the parameters anyway to get a baseline on everything.
But the ammonia tested at about 3 ppm and nitrites at 0.25. Huh. Well, something was cycling that tank already. I’m guessing there were BB on the java fern but I have no idea what added that amount of ammonia.
Then just on a hunch, I tested the made-up RO water. I always make too much when I do water changes in the larger tanks so I have some for the smaller tanks. Well, that water tested at 0.5 ppm of ammonia.
Now that is weird! I then tested the RO water I had prepared about 2 hours earlier and it was 0/0.25 which is always what the api test reads.
So I guess I’m going to be testing the “leftover water” for a while to see if I always get an ammonia reading after it sits a day of so.
Anyway, did about a 90% WC and the alert immediately started back to yellow, the safe zone.
Retested the tank and it was 0.5 ammonia and 0 nitrites. I don’t use Prime regularly since I use well water to make the RO/DI but I keep a bottle on hand. So dosed the tank with Prime.
Eddie is doing fine this morning and the alert is “safe”. But there is the slight haze of a bacteria bloom so I’ll certainly keep checking the tank and do WCs as needed.

 

Yesterday moved the tiger barbs and flying fox (only have one( lost the smaller one ) to the 75.
All are doing great this morning!
Final stocking in the 75: 6 Queen loaches, 19 tiger barbs, and 1 flying fox.
Picture of the flying fox in quarantine ( and the green harlequin tiger barb) and of the 75 this morning. Though it’s a terrible time if day for tank photos due to the window glare.

 

Received 6 sparkling gourami from Trimsfish yesterday to stock the bedroom tank.
They seem to be doing great and ate both frozen bloodworms and bug bites today.
I love them and hope they continue to do well!

 

Why does all but one have blue eyes ?

Received 6 sparkling gourami from Trimsfish yesterday to stock the bedroom tank.
They seem to be doing great and ate both frozen bloodworms and bug bites today.
I love them and hope they continue to do well!
View attachment 739701View attachment 739702View attachment 739703View attachment 739705

 

Why does all but one have blue eyes ?

They are all supposed to have blue eyes so I think it’s the lighting and camera phone.

 

Whoops posted in the wrong area...such a noob

 

After observing the 40 breeder tan during its WC yesterday I’ve decided I’m definitely tired of its current state lol!
It has a BGA outbreak that I just can’t get under control and I’m thinking that it’s because the golden diamond barbs keep pulling up every plant that I try to plant so they just aren’t growing well enough to use the nutrients. I’ve added a couple of silk plants to provide cover but I hate them. I could rehome the barbs but I hate rehoming any animal and prefer to find ways to give them the best.
Sooooo, I’m hatching a plan to rescape tne tank and use mostly java fern and anubias on driftwood and a couple floaters (already have anacharis floating). Hoping they won’t find anubias that tasty. They do nibble on the current java fern but not as much as the vals and crypts. The vals and crypts will go in my other 40 b after a dipping to kill any cyano. Luckily, my local hardware store still has PFS in stock do I just ordered it for pickup tomorrow. I have a nice scape in mind so stay tuned!
Oh, and current stocking of this tank is 3 golden diamond barbs ( puntias semifascialtus), 5 cherry barbs and 9 Dadios (Laubaka dadiburjori).
Yes, I’ll post a picture of the hideous tank.....after I uncover it from its blackout!

 

 

Probably will be after Thanksgiving until I get to the rescape. I was looking at plants that are supposed to be goldfish safe. Haha! I’ve tried a good many of them and my barbs laugh at them!
However, I just read that anubias like hard water. Hmmm. I make my RO/DI at about 5 dGH, 2 KH, and 7.4 ph.
I only have one anubias in the 40 b black but it’s doing ok. So hopefully, my not hard water will be ok.
I also want to find a nice floater that doesn’t mind current.
I have what I think is duckweed in most of my other tanks but it never established itself in this tank. Water sprite went bonkers when I first got it and then died out. Anacharis also slowly dies out.
Any suggestions? Red root floaters? I really like them.

 

Chanyi is really great with plants & water chemistry.

 

I also want to find a nice floater that doesn’t mind current.

I have had "Good" success with Frogbit. The long roots hanging look "Beautiful", but the leaves do block some light from reaching the other plants. I do want to try the"Red root floaters".

Good Luck!

 

However, I just read that anubias like hard water. Hmmm. I make my RO/DI at about 5 dGH, 2 KH, and 7.4 ph.
I only have one anubias in the 40 b black but it’s doing ok. So hopefully, my not hard water will be ok.

Anubias are forgiving and can be grown in many water conditions. They would prefer soft water (almost all plants prefer the softest water possible (low low low KH)).

I also want to find a nice floater that doesn’t mind current.
Any suggestions? Red root floaters? I really like them.

Red root floaters, salvinia, dwarf water lettuce.... although any floater will get pushed around in current.

Look into sourcing some Ludwigia sedioides, its a surface plant but it has a stem to root itself with.

 

I have some frogbit with roots over a foot long; on the other hand i've never gotten red root floaters to grow

 

I’ve read several “care” articles stating that the sparkling gourami are shy fish. Mine have not read that.
They are gregarious little things lol! Right up to the glass when they see me! Food??!! And they stalk their food before pouncing in it.
OTOH, I think they are also stalking Big Blue, my big ramshorn. He’s been hiding in his shell a lot and not as active. May need to put him back in the snail tank.
And speaking of snail tank aka the 10 g quarantine, umm, the ramshorns may be a little too happy in there since there are no fish to bother them. They’ve been busy lol!
I do have two empty tanks, a 30 cube and a 29 that I could set up as a snail and plant grow out tank. Hmmmmm.

 

Trying another picture upload for Mike

 

Dark and cloudy today so almost zero window glare. So here’s the tank o’ shame lol! And now that we are doing a staycation ( thanks COVID ), I’m planning on getting the rescape done at the end of the week. Already ordered a bunch of anubias.

 

anubias! Which type of anubias. gold coins? nana ? pinto? glabra ? bateri? Congensis? Jalapeño? minima? Afzelii ? one of each ?

 

Lol! Well, if you must know.....2 lanceolata, a pretty large barteri broadleaf, and a barteri golden coin plus I have an unspecified type in one of my other tanks that I’m going to use. I’ll start there and then decide if I need more.

 

I kinda wrote a novel on what I did with the 10 g today in the “What are you doing to your tank today” thread. Oops.
Short version: pulled a few vals out of the betta 10g and planted them in the bedroom 10 g. Did a slight rescape to the bedroom 10.
The plants in the betta tank are growing like crazy with only root tabs placed near the crypts and dwarf sag. I have no idea why the great growth but I’m certainly not going to complain!
Meanwhile, I’m still fighting some hair and fuzz algae in the bedroom 10 g. I just added a handful of ramshorn snails from the quarantine tank now aka the snail tank lol! Hopefully, they will help with the algae.
Of course, the darn sparklers were right on them. I might need to regularly stock that tank with snails.
Pictures of both 10g tanks. The betta tank before the light trim and the sparkler tank after a slight rescape today. And a sparkler bothering a snail.

 

Rescape finished!
Although I feel like I’ve been on the beach all day. I managed to get sand everywhere lol!
It does look a bit bare but once the java fern and java moss start growing on the wood, it should fill out a bit more. I’m also contemplating getting a few more anubias. But I’ll just observe for the next few days and see what I want to do.
Any suggestions?
I do want to try to some floaters with longish roots which world fill up the top and make my Dadios happy.
Top photo after the fish were back in and tank was in moonlight mode.
Second photo was the scape before I started refilling.

 

Here’s a photo of the rescape in daylight. I like it. I think I’ll wait until I get some floaters established before I decide of I need to add more anubias.

 

What kind of floaters you thinking of getting?

 

Chanyi suggested Ludwegia sedioides and Dustins has that in stock so I may try that. It’s pretty! My second choice is frog bit since I’ve read it tends to stand up to plant munchers.
I have duckweed everywhere but this tank lol! But it only gets kind of long roots (and only about an inch) in the betta tank where it isn’t getting blown around.

 

Chanyi suggested Ludwegia sedioides and Dustins has that in stock so I may try that. It’s pretty! My second choice is frog bit since I’ve read it tends to stand up to plant munchers.
I have duckweed everywhere but this tank lol! But it only gets kind of long roots (and only about an inch) in the betta tank where it isn’t getting blown around.

I was thinking some red root floaters in the 5g. Or Salvinia.

 

I was thinking some red root floaters in the 5g. Or Salvinia.

I love the red root floaters but read they don’t like current. I’ve tried water lettuce before and that was a “no go” with current.

 

I love the red root floaters but read they don’t like current. I’ve tried water lettuce before and that was a “no go” with current.

Well my duckweed did not. It slowly died and was gone in one harvest.....lol I have Bacopa floating in the 5g right now. Its right under the light and growing roots like mad. I have a incandescent light but it is a powerglo bulb and the Bacopas turn pink under it. Its a good T8 bulb for sure!

 

I was going to use the 30 cube as a snail/plant grow out tank but I decided to set my 29 g back up instead. The stand for the 30 makes it too tall for me to teach the bottom of the tank unless I stand on something. Not good when one is planting!
I also purchased 3 nerites and 2 blue mystery snails for said tank. Although they may go into another tank if needed at some point.
Picture of the 75 and 10 bedroom after WCs today. And jinjerJOSH22 , a video of “Surfer Dude”, my flying fox. He is such a cool fish!

Oh and I almost forgot the coolest news. I’m 99% sure I heard a sparkler croak this morning.
I woke up just as the lights were coming on in the tank and I heard a distinctive croaking noise. Just one but I don’t have any frogs in the house lol!
And I forgot to post the pictures of my new snails!

 

Looking Good!
I see the "Flying Fox" doing its job on the healthy "RTL". My favorite plant.

Good Luck!

 

Looking Good!
I see the "Flying Fox" doing its job on the healthy "RTL". My favorite plant.

Good Luck!

One of my favs also. But he isn’t discriminatory, he likes the java ferns also!
And thanks!

 

Added three cute veil tail cherry barb girls to the 40 b tan tank. Yeah, I added them right to the tank. I *may* have filled the quarantine tank with snails. And I don’t want to kill off my pretty blue mystery snails should I need to treat for Ich. I wasn’t really planning to stock many more fish but I only had three female cherry barbs and two males. Then I just happened to be perusing the stocking of my northern LFS and saw the veil tails.
I’ve also thrown together the empty 29 g as a plant nursery and snail tank. Except the snails haven’t moved in yet lol!
LFS had some nice plants so I bought some to try and grow a bit until I figure out what tank to put them in! And I had already added a few that I pulled out of other tanks that just weren’t growing well

 

Aw I love the long finned cherries! Everything is looking better by the day!

 

Haven’t updated in a while!
The bedroom 10 g is down to 4 sparklers from 6. Not sure what happened. I did see some chasing but it was brief. I thought about upgrading them to a 20 L but I think I’ll just monitor for a while and see what happens.
I love the 29 g that I set back up as a snail and plant grow out tank. I’ve taken a bit of a cavalier approach to it which makes taking care of another tank very easy.
Yesterday I went to my northern LFS as they had SAEs in stock. Purchased one little guy for the 40 b black tank. He is zipping around with the dwarf chain loaches and brilliant rasboras and ate flakes with gusto this morning. Haven’t seen him eat any algae yet though lol!
I realize he will outgrow that tank. I was thinking about combining that tank and my 75 g into a 125. But now I’m thinking I’ll just upgrade the 40 b to the empty 75 that is sitting in my garage. I can add more fish that way!
And a 75 will fit right where the 40 is now.

 

Hubby said the floor under where the 40 b black now sits will support a 75. Yay! I won’t upgrade until spring when it’s a bit warmer for washing sand.
Already formulating a scape. And for stocking, I’m definitely going to add to the dwarf chain loach gang. There’s only 7 right now so I think at least another 5 or 6.
I have 12 rasbora borapetensis and the SAE (who is definitely growing since I got him!).
And I’m thinking of adding either another rasbora species or a small barb. I’m liking the Odessa barbs but have read conflicting information on their final size. I’ve seen anywhere from 2-4 inches. Anyone have them?

 

I've kept Odessa Barbs in the past. A four inch one would be unusual.
Two or three inches more typical.
Odessas like cooler temps. 70 - 78 degrees. Very pretty fish. The males are more colorful & hyperactive in the morning hours.

 

I've kept Odessa Barbs in the past. A four inch one would be unusual.
Two or three inches more typical.
Odessas like cooler temps. 70 - 78 degrees. Very pretty fish. The males are more colorful & hyperactive in the morning hours.

Thanks!
Hmm, I keep the current residents at 77-78. I do worry about having them at the top of their temp range. Maybe I should look for something else?

 

As long as there is plenty of aeration things should be fine. A 75 gal. is just big enough for a group of Dawkinsia Filamentosa, "Filament Barbs". I like them a lot better than Odessas. Filaments top out at about four inches & are tight schoolers.
Once they attain adult colors, very pretty.

 

Thanks! I looked up the filament barbs before. Very pretty.
Well I have a few months to think about. Plus a lot will depend on what I can find locally. I definitely prefer to purchase from one of my LFS. Glad I didn’t tear down the bedroom tank when I moved the sparkling gourami. Guess that will become my quarantine.

 

I also buy locally. No online. My LFS actually special ordered my Filament Barbs. No shipping cost & they acclimate the new arrivals to area water.
I think most quality fish stores will special order.

 

Can't wait until you start it up!