My 55g Living Room Build

Stunning Tank and inhabitants.

Thank you very much!

 

Okay, so I've increased my school of Rummy-Nose Tetras by six, bringing the total up to fourteen.

I'm hoping this batch are as robust as the previous additions.

They certainly look healthy enough as they zoom along the front glass expecting to be fed...

I've been here before though so will be keeping a close eye on them for the next couple of weeks.

Still, it's nice to be back into double figures again!

 

They look great. I also have had a hard time upping my rummy school. I have 13, plus currently have 5 in qt. Recently lost 14 out of 15 in qt to ich. (Thank God for qt!) is rally like to have 2 dozen, but I don’t know if that many will fit with the rest of my stock...

 

They look great. I also have had a hard time upping my rummy school. I have 13, plus currently have 5 in qt. Recently lost 14 out of 15 in qt to ich. (Thank God for qt!) is rally like to have 2 dozen, but I don’t know if that many will fit with the rest of my stock...

Thanks Angel.

Yeah, RNT seem to be so fragile nowadays. I think they're a lot more sensitive to Nitrate than I remember them being.

My current strategy is to get Nitrate as low as possible before introducing them, say 5ppm - no mean feat when it's 50ppm out of my tap!

They then seem to handle a gradual rise to the tank's usual Nitrate level of around 20ppm.

Sorry to hear about your QT losses. I have to confess that I didn't quarantine these guys. I know I'm playing with fire, but I made the cardinal sin of impulse buying fish I wasn't really ready to stock!

Oh, I'd love a couple of dozen too, but I think I'd be over stocked for my liking. Maybe another two or three if everything goes okay with these guys.

 

I don’t think I’ve commented on this thread, more stalking it and looking at the gorgeous photos and videos you take, but I’ve always heard rummynose’s were delicate, but I’ve never experienced it!

I added rummynose’s to my first community tank about a year ago, no qt or anything, and I still have the originals, no rummynose deaths. While my guppies and my bolivan ram were struggling with some moderate ich! Weird. I started with three, as they were the first fish in the tank after the cycle, and the store didn’t have anymore, and a couple months later upped the school to 8, no troubles!

I sincerely hope yours do well, rummys are probably one of my favourite tetra.

 

I don’t think I’ve commented on this thread, more stalking it and looking at the gorgeous photos and videos you take, but I’ve always heard rummynose’s were delicate, but I’ve never experienced it!

I added rummynose’s to my first community tank about a year ago, no qt or anything, and I still have the originals, no rummynose deaths. While my guppies and my bolivan ram were struggling with some moderate ich! Weird. I started with three, as they were the first fish in the tank after the cycle, and the store didn’t have anymore, and a couple months later upped the school to 8, no troubles!

I sincerely hope yours do well, rummys are probably one of my favourite tetra.

Thank you!

I never had a problem with them until I returned to fish keeping about 18 months ago.

Actually, I still have five of the original six I added to this tank, which, thinking about it now, strengthens my low Nitrate argument, as they were introduced just after the tank was cycled!

I've since lost too many to remember - even after three or four weeks in QT. So many in fact that I quite regularly refer to this tank as the Death Tank!

 

Oh wow! That's a lot of rummys, poor fellas are just too sensitive .

Your nitrate argument might just be spot on though. The ones I had have always been added just after a large waterchange, therefor low if any nitrates, as my water, even right before a waterchange, has quite low nitrates.

 

I've had the same issue stocking RNTs a few months ago. I picked up 12 and 5 died in QT, one by one each day or so for a week. After reading that they need a long acclimation to a tank, I did a 2 hr drip acclimation when I moved them out to my 40g. I found another 8 so I did a 3hr acclimation to QT and a 2 hr to the 40 gallon and they all survived so I have 15.

Funny, I had the same problem with praecox rainbowfish dying one by one in QT. I had 13 and went down to 5 (all females). I picked up 2 males from one LFS and another from a different LFS so I'm at 8 and they seem to be doing well now.

 

I've had the same issue stocking RNTs a few months ago. I picked up 12 and 5 died in QT, one by one each day or so for a week. After reading that they need a long acclimation to a tank, I did a 2 hr drip acclimation when I moved them out to my 40g. I found another 8 so I did a 3hr acclimation to QT and a 2 hr to the 40 gallon and they all survived so I have 15.

Funny, I had the same problem with praecox rainbowfish dying one by one in QT. I had 13 and went down to 5 (all females). I picked up 2 males from one LFS and another from a different LFS so I'm at 8 and they seem to be doing well now.

Drip acclimatisation should really only be necessary if the water parameters differ substantially between your tank water and the shop water.

I know in my case, my nearest LFS is less than a mile away, and has identical parameters, and the one I've bought most of my RNT's from has a slightly lower pH, but is otherwise the same.

I always temperature acclimatise mine for about half an hour, then mix bag and tank water for another half an hour, adding a cup of water every five to ten minutes. Then net them out and introduce to the tank.

I'm convinced that Nitrate has been my main problem, as I've not had any losses since I've reduced it to about 5ppm before introducing fish.

However, go with whatever works for you!

 

Gorgeous tank & fish!!!

 

Gorgeous tank & fish!!!

Thank you very much!

 

Okay, so I've increased my school of Rummy-Nose Tetras by six, bringing the total up to fourteen.

I'm hoping this batch are as robust as the previous additions.

They certainly look healthy enough as they zoom along the front glass expecting to be fed...

I've been here before though so will be keeping a close eye on them for the next couple of weeks.

Still, it's nice to be back into double figures again!

Nice vid. Checking out the vid and noticed a small blue fish with a split tail from 26 - 30 seconds on the right side of the tank as you were panning. Type?

 

Nice vid. Checking out the vid and noticed a small blue fish with a split tail from 26 - 30 seconds on the right side of the tank as you were panning. Type?

Thanks!

Ah, you spotted Elvis, my escapee Endler...



He hitchhiked in with my Clown Plec and I was home by the time I noticed he was in the bag!

Elvis because he "Left the building"

 

Wow your tank is stunning, I was just curious as to where you got such a nice piece of driftwood?

 

Wow your tank is stunning, I was just curious as to where you got such a nice piece of driftwood?

Thank you!

It was sitting on a shelf at my LFS when I wandered in one day. I actually didn't think it was going to fit in my tank, but I shoehorned it in in the end!

 

Drip acclimatisation should really only be necessary if the water parameters differ substantially between your tank water and the shop water.

I know in my case, my nearest LFS is less than a mile away, and has identical parameters, and the one I've bought most of my RNT's from has a slightly lower pH, but is otherwise the same.

I always temperature acclimatise mine for about half an hour, then mix bag and tank water for another half an hour, adding a cup of water every five to ten minutes. Then net them out and introduce to the tank.

I'm convinced that Nitrate has been my main problem, as I've not had any losses since I've reduced it to about 5ppm before introducing fish.

However, go with whatever works for you!

While I'd normally agree with you, I've read RNTs are very sensitive so doing the 3hr drip acclimation resulted in 100% survival. I set it up for 2 drips per second. I usually do a 30-60min drip acclimation for most fish and the LFS's I buy from are usually less than 5 miles away.

 

While I'd normally agree with you, I've read RNTs are very sensitive so doing the 3hr drip acclimation resulted in 100% survival. I set it up for 2 drips per second. I usually do a 30-60min drip acclimation for most fish and the LFS's I buy from are usually less than 5 miles away.

Like I say, do whatever works best for you!

I just wondered if the water parameters are similar between shop and tank, what it is that they're being acclimatised to?

 

"Stunning" fish. To be so Lucky! Another addition to my wish list. Blue Star Endler (Poecilia wingeI blue)?

 

View attachment 450138

"Stunning" fish. To be so Lucky! Another addition to my wish list. Blue Star Endler (Poecilia wingeI blue)?

Yes, he's certainly a handsome little devil!

Unfortunately I have no idea of the exact species but looking at some s on Google he's very similar to the one you suggest.

I went back to the shop where he came from a couple of days later to get him a couple of mates, but they were all gone.

However, he doesn't seem to mind schooling with the Rummy-Noses or the Spotted Blue Eye Rainbowfish!

 

Been a while since I've updated this thread and some of the inhabitants were looking very colourful tonight so I thought I'd share a few shots.

Elvis the Endler was definitely the most colourful little guy in the tank...



And the Spotted Blue Eye Rainbowfish were showing off their remarkable blue eyes...



While my Rummy-Noses were doing great Rudolph the red nose reindeer impressions...



The stocking is still the same apart from the pair of Cockatoo Cichlids, which I lost within a day of each other. I have no idea what happened as parameters have remained steady for months. I did a large water change a day before I lost the first one, and the temperature may have dropped a bit lower than normal, but certainly not outside their range. It'll remain a mystery I guess!

I'm still toying with the idea of increasing the number of Rummy-Noses, especially since I've not lost any since introducing the last group.

Otherwise I'll just leave everything ticking over and will continue to enjoy the tank!

 

Really nice setup! Wish I had the patience to do a step by step on one of my tanks. Maybe one day it’ll happen

 

Really nice setup! Wish I had the patience to do a step by step on one of my tanks. Maybe one day it’ll happen

Thank you!

I do this sort of thread for all of my aquariums. It's fun to look back at how things have progressed over the years. Just got to remember to take photos as you do the milestone type stuff!

Hope you find the time and patience to put one together yourself!

 

Okay, so here's another aquarium thread I haven't updated in quite a while.

There's not much changed to be honest.

Just before Christmas my AquarianEco LED lamp failed, which was annoying as it was only a couple of months out of warranty. I'm actually hoping it was the power supply that failed as you can pick them up quite cheaply.

Anyway, I replaced the failed lighting with a Nicrew unit, which is a brand I use on my 30 gallon bedroom tank and produces a nice white light.

So here's what the tank looks like at the moment...



Stocking is still the same with 12 x Rummy-Noses, 6 x Bronze Corydoras, 8 x Spotted Blue Eye Rainbowfish, 1 x Clown Plec, 1 x Endler and 8 x Amano Shrimp.

I'd still love to up the number of Rummy-Noses to 20 and it may happen this month!

Watch this space...

 

Absolutely gorgeous!!!

 

Absolutely gorgeous!!!

Thank you very much Dawn. So kind of you to say.

 

Impressive!

 

Impressive!

Thank you very much!

 

Okay, so my school of Rummy-Nose Tetras has finally been increased to 16, with 4 new additions going in yesterday.

They've still got to colour up, but they're feeding and swimming with the original Rummy-Noses, so they seem to be settling in well.

 

Well done !

 

Well done !

Cheers!

 

Dude this is amazing you make it look way bigger than a 55 gallon lol

 

Dude this is amazing you make it look way bigger than a 55 gallon lol

Hehe! Thank you!

 

Okay, so this tank is ticking over nicely. The new Rummy-Noses have coloured up now and the school of sixteen is looking great.

I was aiming for twenty but think that may look a little overcrowded so may just leave them for now.

Maybe I'll add another two or three Bronze Cory's instead.

Here's what the tank looks like at the moment...



Oh, remember the AquarianEco LED light that failed? Well it turned out to be a failed power supply! I picked up a replacement off Amazon for £6 so now I have a spare 4ft light - perfect for the 75 gallon I'm planning to setup this summer!

 

Just read the entire thread, very nice tank and inspirational!

 

Just read the entire thread, very nice tank and inspirational!

Wow! Thank you! That must have taken quite a while! Glad you enjoyed it though!

 

Wow! Thank you! That must have taken quite a while! Glad you enjoyed it though!

It did take me a while, lol. I have a 55 gallon also though the dimensions aren't the same. I actually think I'd prefer if my tank were 18" deep and had a little more room from front to back. Mine is 21" high and that's about armpit deep for me. I've only had mine about 7 months and this is my first rodeo with fishkeeping, it's been an adventure. I'm currently in the process of remodeling my tank now that I have some idea of what I like and would like to do. The initial build was just what you'd expect from a beginner, not well thought out, overthinking other things etc... Thanks again for posting your updates, I'll try to keep up!

 

It did take me a while, lol. I have a 55 gallon also though the dimensions aren't the same. I actually think I'd prefer if my tank were 18" deep and had a little more room from front to back. Mine is 21" high and that's about armpit deep for me. I've only had mine about 7 months and this is my first rodeo with fishkeeping, it's been an adventure. I'm currently in the process of remodeling my tank now that I have some idea of what I like and would like to do. The initial build was just what you'd expect from a beginner, not well thought out, overthinking other things etc... Thanks again for posting your updates, I'll try to keep up!

Yes, I like the dimensions of this tank. I've also got a 40 gallon with similar dimensions, only 3ft long.

As you can see from this build, I think half of the fun of fish keeping is in the journey - the planning, multiple remodels, fish research and equipment updates!

Good luck with your remodel and tag me into your build thread if you've got one!

 

Okay, so its been just over a month since my last update for this tank and I've decided to have a bit of a change!

I'm in the process of removing all of the artificial plants and will eventually be replacing them with real ones.

The artificial ones seem to be collecting quite a bit of algae, which I think is being caused by them being too close to the power head on one of the UGF uplift tubes.

I'll probably end up driving the uplift tube with an air pump and air stone instead.

Here's what the tank looks like at the moment...



The mass of greenery on the right side of the tank is Guppy Grass I removed from my 15 gallon Box Room tank and is doing a great job at reducing nitrates!

Stocking is still the same but I'll probably increase my school of Bronze Cory's next time I see some.

 

Okay, so I thought I'd post a quick update.

Nothing much has changed since my last post, in which I mentioned that I was removing the artificial plants which were collecting algae for some reason.

They've now all gone but that has brought with it a new problem.

Unfortunately the algae has now taken up residence on my real plants!

Here's a shot of one of my large Crypts that is probably the worst affected...



The Amano Shrimp usually do a great job of cleaning up, but they don't seem able to keep up with the rate that this stuff is appearing!

My plan is now to remove everything, replace the powerhead and internal power filter with air driven alternatives, and then rescape with new plants.

Stocking is still the same but more Bronze Cory's will be added once the rescape is complete...

 

Nice set-up, and I like that piece of wood you have.