My three freshwater tanks

Awesome, I did not think of that happening, thanks for the heads up. I just think it would look nice to have the hornwort gently swaying in the slow current in the tank. I could also hide the hose to the airstone that sticks out horribly.

You know, I never thought of calculating the square inches the tank had lol, but thank you for doing it. I have to agree, the sterbais do really stand out from the rest of the species. Between reading stories of their behavior on here, and seeing the video of them in the wild that, I think, amazonpassion posted, I have been wanting some. I may have to PM Rogue and see what he may be able to do, it would be nice to have an F1 generation of fish. I'm pretty sure my water parameters are in check for something that isn't far removed from it wild counterpart.

You do a good job of putting odd mental s of fish in my mind lol. This seems weird, but now I have an of sterbaI corys that look like clowns swimming out of a tiny car. I think something is wrong with my mind . Anyway, I am picturing some nice, low lying, black slate caves with java ferns tied to them for the bottom. I think that might go well with the blackwater and the driftwood.

 

That's primarily why I first got it, fast, vertical growth to hide my filter intake and heater.

My tap tests 7.4-.6 ph and kh of about 2 gh around 2-3 and as I said they're doing great! Just fyi, I keep mine at 79-80 F which would seem on the high end but I haven't noticed any ill effects.

Haha! I'm glad I can stimulate your imagination! Just replace the clown coloring with sterbaI coloring and the car with a cave and you've got it. That sounds perfect for a hiding area for them, mine seem to like the caves that the other fish can't easily access, sterbaI access only! The biggest one is the bouncer and waits at the entrance. There you go, another odd mental fish !

 

Thanks for the link, it is now bookmarked. My pH is right in between the two kits also, but my KH is 11 and GH of 1-2. I have to mix RO and tap to get that even with the peat, but it is worth the extra work. I haven't heard of KH causing issues with fish, unless it was extremely high, and GH is the one that causes problems. GH is why I lost my first rams (pretty sure now) when my well water changed without me knowing. My temperature is the same as yours. So, it seems like I may give them a try.

, thanks for adding another mental , I may not be a kid but I still seem to have an overactive imagination. Between adding caves and the cover the backside of the driftwood provides they should have plenty of cover. Now I just need to decide if I want to try this before or after stocking my new 29 gallon when it is ready. I may need the money for the dwarf chain loach school that is going to run me $13.50 a fish. I hate making decisions lol.

 

Good ol' API! Wow 11, that's a lot of calcium carbonate! You're ph is rock solid I bet. I am accustomed to values in the single digits lol. They'd probably do great in there, your tank emulates their home better than mine. How high did your gh get to kill your rams?

When I got mine it was a group deal and they were $5 each which is like half what I pay around here for inferior stock. Then there's the shipping, I say go for the cories! I'm biased and I don't have to look at an empty 29 gallon either.

 

Yep, and my carbonates use to be way worse at 17 dH. I am considering going to 75% RO with 25% tap, but I need to get around to seeing where that would put me for KH. I have not seen any swing in pH on any of my tanks, except for adding pressurized CO2 which barely changes the pH. My GH went up to around 10 dH without me knowing, which is well past what they can handle even tank bred. So, they were able to handle the pH of 8.0, but it was the stuff I don't regularly test that I believe caused the problems. It is just a thought that I don't want to test again.

Nice, that seems like an awesome deal you got on them. Even with shipping, it is worth it for a fish from a reputable breeder. I am starting to realize that the main supplier for this area does not always have the best stock, and their drivers aren't very careful with their cargo. This makes me nervous with the chain loaches, but I can't find anywhere else to get them. You are starting to sway me towards getting the cories for now since I don't even have the tank, stand, or sump built yet. Then I still have to cycle it. Sorry, I seem to have rambled a bit lol.

 

I'd also suggest trilineatus or panda cories. Cute little fish. I have 8 wild ones.

 

Thanks, I like the panda cories and I stumbled across the trilineatus on aquabid. The trilineatus cory is really nice looking too and started wondering about it, so I'm glad you brought them up. Ah, more decisions lol.

 

Most of the time, trilineatus cories are falsely labeled as juliis.

 

Thanks, I will have to pay attention to the differences between the juliI and trilineatus if I decide to get them. They seem to have very distinct pattern differences on their heads.

 

Yea. Juliis have tiny dots while trilineatus have squiggly lines.

 

Yep, and my carbonates use to be way worse at 17 dH. I am considering going to 75% RO with 25% tap, but I need to get around to seeing where that would put me for KH. I have not seen any swing in pH on any of my tanks, except for adding pressurized CO2 which barely changes the pH. My GH went up to around 10 dH without me knowing, which is well past what they can handle even tank bred. So, they were able to handle the pH of 8.0, but it was the stuff I don't regularly test that I believe caused the problems. It is just a thought that I don't want to test again.

Nice, that seems like an awesome deal you got on them. Even with shipping, it is worth it for a fish from a reputable breeder. I am starting to realize that the main supplier for this area does not always have the best stock, and their drivers aren't very careful with their cargo. This makes me nervous with the chain loaches, but I can't find anywhere else to get them. You are starting to sway me towards getting the cories for now since I don't even have the tank, stand, or sump built yet. Then I still have to cycle it. Sorry, I seem to have rambled a bit lol.

I can see that being a problem and understand why you want to keep it a theory and not fact.

I've recently came to the same conclusion, as much as I love the people and want to support my lfs, they just don't have great stock. Its hard to buy from them when 50% of the fish die yet my mail ordered fish have pretty much 100% survival rate minus those lost in the mail. Have you checked with Rogue for the loaches? He has access to quite a variety of fish. Ramble all you want, its your thread.

 

Yeah, I am starting to come to the same conclusion. I am the same way with the two main LFS I go to. They are great people and take very good care of their stock, but the supplier must have poor conditions in the part of the fish's life where water quality really counts. Although I am happy I found my angelfish at the store that was privately tank raised locally.

As much I am nervous about having fish shipped, I think I need to get over that to get nicer fish. I will have to PM Rogue soon about the cories and the loaches to see what he might be able to do. I like rambling, but many people don't like reading long posts so I try to keep it as short as possible .

 

I was super nervous the first time I ordered fish through mail, low and behold they made it all the way from S Africa, left the shippers place in florida and got lost. I received a bag of fish slurry a few weeks later but decided to try again and couldn't be happier. Since that first messed up shipment I order from a few suppliers with consistent, quality stock and it has made me kind of think why bother with my lfs? Its always a shoot with them and at least I know, barring shipping problems, ordering from good suppliers will get me a quality fish with a long life ahead of it, good genes and no need to medicate with brand new fish as I so often read on here. There, I rambled too.

 

Haha, but your rambling is helping me, whereas mine is just useless rambling lol. This put my mind at ease a bit more, so if I can find what I am looking for I will try shipped fish. I sent Rogue a message about the sterbais, since they fit my water parameters better than trilineatus, so I will see what he has to say. As always, thanks for all your help!

 

Lol, well I'm glad its helping you, and yours is descriptive, not useless rambling!

As always, no problem.

 

Thanks, do you have any pictures of the tank? I'd like to see if I can find some more ideas for mine.

Yes, here's shots of how it looks right now. It's a tall tank (47gallons), with sand substrate, and floating hornwort, lettuce and pennywort I just added after getting some ideas from your 29.

Going for a peaceful stock similar to your tanks too, right now it houses a dozen or so neon tetras, 8 maybe 9 rummies, and 5 cories. Oh and my newest addition - a farlowella suckermouth catfish.

Needs more plants on the bottom for sure lol! Not sure what I want yet though.

 

Wow i'm jealous, that is a beautiful tank, it is all balanced out really well too in stock and layout. That piece of driftwood looks like it grew specifically for your tank . Now I kinda wish my tank was bright again lol. Anyway, that is some really nice work, and I can't wait to see what else you add to it.

 

Yeah I no doubt lucked out with that driftwood stump lol. I don't plan to keep that sword in there permanently, it just got too tall for one of my other tanks.

I'll probably hold off on filling out the bottom with plants until I get my CO2 going. I'm strongly considering moving this tank close to my 40 breeder I am working on a layout for. Close enough to run Co2 into both of them simultaneously.

But keep us all updated on your setups. I'm enjoying them all very much so and I think it's safe to say that others here are as well.

 

20 gallon update

I got a few things done between yesterday and today to the 20 gallon. The plant growth between the hygro and cabomba is crazy, while everything else is still growing pretty quick. I trimmed some plants yesterday, the pennywort, hygro, cabomba, riccia, and the java moss. The rotala indica's (which I found out is not true indica) new growth has a dark red color to it, the stems have become much thicker, and the new leaves are a little wider and shorter. The cabomba has been growing a few new plants off the base of the stem, and they got big enough for me to trim and replant them. A few of my other plants that were growing somewhat slow before have picked up, and the new growth is also healthier.

So, seeing all of this I think I am going to continue with the current amounts for EI dosing and bump up the CO2 slightly. I've watched the fish over the week since I turned it up some, and there is not any distress. By the end of the day they are just as active as they were in the morning, and aren't sticking to the surface. I cleaned out the AC50 nitrate factory and change out the peat in it, so now both of my filters are clean again. The filter diffuser tube I made a while ago got cleaned out, and changed the end back to the opening it had as a UGF. This got rid of the dead spot in the cabomba and rotala, so now I don't have waste being deposited there because of the lack of current.

Hopefully this weekend I will remove the light cover for the bulbs and refinish it. There is a lot of stains from when it was used as a saltwater light and they don't come off. I added to the stains with hard water . That is all, now for the pictures .

 

That is simply beautiful!

 

Man your plants are exploding! They look great, I really love the dwarf clover (I think that's what it is) I just love the way it grows. Looking at it now I can't believe I suggested adding a cave awhile back! It would definitely be crowded if you had.

Have you tried just plain white vinegar on a rag? That's worked wonders on me for old hoods in the past.

 

That is simply beautiful!

Thank you

Man your plants are exploding! They look great, I really love the dwarf clover (I think that's what it is) I just love the way it grows. Looking at it now I can't believe I suggested adding a cave awhile back! It would definitely be crowded if you had.

Have you tried just plain white vinegar on a rag? That's worked wonders on me for old hoods in the past.

No kidding, I am going to have to get rid of some of the trimmings soon . Yep, that is dwarf clover, it came with all the java ferns I got. This is the first time I've had it though, but seeing the carpeted tanks with it I think I am going to like it. Before having it I had never seen it, but you are right about the way it grows. Seems easy to propagate too. Oddly enough, none of the fish even use the existing cave, it is just for looks now. As long as this growth keeps up, I will be able to plant the new 29 completely when it is set up.

I did try white vinegar and it worked a little, but I could only get a small amount off. I'll just sand it with some various grits of sandpaper, and then go over it with some polishing compound. It should be as clear as glass once I get done with it lol.

Oh, I almost forgot, the purple cabomba is starting to get more color, so that may make you happy.

 

Wow! Look at that stem, very healthy! I can see its starting to color up, I think it would look great mixed in among caroliniana and furcata.
I like how that clover just looks like it wandering around, something about it.

Not trying to force the vinegar on you or anything, lol, but it works best for me when I get a rag dripping with it so there's plenty to saturate the surface.

Do you have a ram pair in there or just a female? If just the female maybe they'll use the cave when you get another.

 

I agree, I think it would look good with the caroliniana and furcata. That would be an interesting group of colors. I hope the clover does exactly that, the green coloring to it looks completely different too. If I don't kill it, it will solve my foreground plant problem .

Haha, I actually had poured some of the vinegar on the plastic and had the rag soaked, but it just didn't want to come clean. One part is even pitted a bit for some reason. I'm the third owner of the light, so it is hard to tell what it has been through lol. Maybe I should just build an LED light fixture, this seems like the perfect excuse.

I just have the female right now since I can't find any male rams that are close to the same size as her. All the males I've seen are almost double the size . I hadn't really thought about that though, but you are right. My old pair had used the cave, so I guess I should leave it in the tank.

 

My furcata is getting really red now and I expected the caroliniana to just stay green but at the tops its getting bushy and almost pink, pretty cool. The clover almost looks gravity defying when you can't see any roots and it just has all these little stems sticking up, really neat look, if I didn't already have some DHG lined up I would get some too. From what I understand it isn't terribly hard to keep going, I'm sure you'll do fine.

Okay Okay, I'll let go of the vinegar idea! I'm a fan, I use it for disinfecting and cleaning anything to do with my fishies because its safe and does the job. I wonder what pitted plastic? Some kind of solvent or something I would imagine. WARNING, ENABLING AHEA Making your own is an idea, you could just keep this one as a backup.

I didn't know size was that big of a factor for them pairing up, learn something new every day! I would keep the cave in there or else its space will be overrun within a week.

 

That's awesome, I didn't even know the caroliniana could turn any other color than green. Hmm... I like the description of looking gravity defying, it fits well from the pictures I saw. You can go wrong with DHG, it looks nice almost all the time .

I don't know what I would do without vinegar, it is so useful and works well. From how my friend described the person he got the light from, I wouldn't be surprised if the guy didn't try to use acid on it lol. As much as it would be nice to have a backup light, I don't think it would sit around long because I would find another use for it lol. If the aluminum heat-sink and controller wasn't so expensive I would have ordered everything already. Maybe I should save the LED's for a large tank to go all out on.

That's what I've been told, but seeing their aggressive pairing behavior I could see why the male shouldn't be big, male GBR's don't seem to give up lol. Haha, you make it sound like I have a problem, but you're right either I, or the plants, would fill it in. There would be a lot more space if I took the cave out...

 

EI dosing all the way!

Are you still using the Fluval 88 as your CO2 diffuser?

 

Yes! It is so much cheaper than liquid and more effective. I can't believe I waited so long to go to dry ferts.

For now I am still using the 88g, but it will be replaced with an inline diffusor for the return line on the new tank and sump. It works well and doesn't seem to clog easy, but I doubt it is very efficient right now.

 

Haha! Yeah, if you have a fixture laying around then you start thinking: well, I just need a filter, heater and tank. I know, I have a spare 48" laying around.


I took some pictures of the cabomba to show you.
Carloliniana, sorry about the barb, if I come near the tank it must be to feed right?
also, it didn't come out as pink as it looks in person:

Here's some furcata, it came out kinda purple for some reason but its really red:

 

What are you waiting for, you need to set up another tank lol.

Those are some nice pictures, the furcata looks really nice. Yeah, the pictures I took of the purple cabomba can't seem to show the purple underneath the leaves well. Haha, people say fish aren't smart at all, but they sure know how to beg for food and do other things to show they are more than just based on instinct.

 

I know! Its a dual t5no so I'm thinking maybe another 55g, low light planted.

I think I'm going to try a video soon and see if that is more true to the actual look, I have my shutter speed up so high normally for photographing fish that also may have messed with the color. I mean, my barbs are soooooo colorful, you just can't see it in the pictures, the one above if a female but the males are so vivid, red fins and bellies and really metallic green lateral lines.

They've definitely shown me they can learn a thing or two, they're paying attention all the time, a little consistency on our part and they quickly learn routines ime.

 

That sounds good to me, well me as an enabler . I agree, you should do a heavily planted low tech tank lol.

A video would be really nice to get the full effect of the tank. Ah, now it make sense how your barbs weren't blurry. I was sitting here trying to figure out how an active fish was perfectly still for even a second lol. It seems like pictures can never really capture the colors of a lot of fish, unless you use a nice DSLR. From your description, I hope you can get some good shots of the plants and fish, it sounds like they look amazing.

Yeah, consistency is a big part. Although, I think my angelfish has learned what the food container looks like. The angel stares at that container like the food will magically come out of it and go into the tank without me nearby . It is almost like training a dog.

 

Beautiful tank the plants are doing wonderfully I think I may have to do a little replanting myself wish I could get purple plants over here

 

Update with lots of pictures

Update 12/08/12

Finally got around to refinishing the plastic shield for the bulbs on my 20 gallon. It isn't perfect, but it is much better than it was. I started with 400, and followed with 600, 800, 1000, and 1500. Then polished it with some rubbing compound. I didn't spend a lot of time on it though, so some scratches remain.

Most of my stem plants have doubled in size over a week, and everything else is still doing well. I finally found a smaller, male, GBR to today at petsmart. So far the female has taken to the male very well. Oddly enough, she was the one that approached him and began exhibiting some odd behavior that I believe is a mating display. When she was near the male, she would fan the sand and bury herself down into it. Since the male had been in the tank for a half hour, he didn't show much interest lol. No pictures of the male yet though. Funny thing is, with my first pair I wanted bigger ones, but could only find small, and now when I wanted another small one I couldn't find one.

The amazon frogbit has double its amount during the week and the leaves on them have become much larger. It seems EI dosing has helped its growth a lot. Also, somehow my cryptocoryne wendtiI 'green' started pearling, which I did not even expect. Anyway, my weekly trimming actually turned into a midweek trimming with the growth rate lol. I still need to work on balancing out my fertilizers though.

No FTS this week, just some pictures of the plants. I picked up something else for the 29 gallon and will make some changes to that tank after my finals.

 

Very nice!

 

I'd say that's a huge improvement in the light! Nice work. In your first random shot I thoguht that was riccia but what is the big leaf?

Awwww, your female is so pretty! I can see why you don't want to throw a big ol' male in with her. The frogbit looks great as well, really large pads and in previous posts I liked the hanging forest of roots.

 

Thanks. I didn't actually realize how bad it was till I looked at it compared to the fish tank. It kinda reminded me of frosted glass. There is some riccia in that shot, but the large leaf is the brazilian pennywort floating behind it.

She has really impressed me with how well she is doing since I got her. Hopefully the new male will go the same route. It is funny seeing her do her little display dance around him. She keeps trying, while the male is just trying to get use to the tank lol. The roots hanging down from the pennywort and frogbit work great for my fish, and shading the low light plants some. It is a little out of control right now though since I haven't thinned it out for a while.

 

I bet your right, he's got to get comfortable to avoid performance anxiety. It is cool that she's so excited to have her man, I hope they make a great pair for you.

I'm planning on using the pennywort and frogbit in my low flow low light 15g, for cardinals and a betta, I'm sure they'll love the cover. In the tank are also hornwort and java fern so I think that will be all as far as plants for that tank.

 

I am just going to leave that one alone lol. I do hope they work out well together. I'm not really looking to breed them, just want them to have company to live a longer life.

That sounds like a good plan and a great tank for it. The pennywort doesn't seem to care about the current since it keeps growing into it and the filter housing. The frogbit on the other hand, I had one piece that got close to the outlet of the filter and the leaf died off within a couple days. I wanted to see how it would react, so I didn't move it. Anyway, that does seem like it would be a good balance of plants without going overboard.

 

Well, I got a lot accomplished on the 10 and 20 gallon today. The 20 gallon got thinned out because a lot of short plants were being shaded too much. The 10 gallon underwent a complete overhaul .

The new 10 gallon list
- Fluval stratum (1 8.8 lb bag), sloped up to the back
- 2 Aero-tech 5000K full spectrum CFL bulbs (figured them to be worth a shot for $4, much brighter)
- Rotala rotundifolia, cryptocoryne wendtiI 'green', sunset hygro, riccia covered rocks, and a moss ball (most came from the 20 gallon thinning)

I am not sure how well the bulbs will do for the plants, but I will find out soon enough. The gravel was pretty bad even with regular, weekly, cleanings. That is another thing I will never use again. The stratum was pretty dusty, even with rinsing, but it has cleared up pretty fast. There is plans for adding more plants, but I haven't decided on what yet. A majority of the java ferns are going to be used in the 29 gallon to complete my plan there . Sadly there was one fatality in the 10 gallon redo, my 2 month old fluval heater. I'm not sure what happened, but the light stopped working suddenly and I am waiting to see if it still heats.