Not a betta Fluval Spec V

Hey fishlore! ive decided to make my build thread. I was seriously upset at how often people say you can only get a betta or just a shrimp tank with these tanks so I hope to inspire some people into thinking bigger!

My current tank setup (2/17/15) :
Fluval Spec V
Standard Fluval sponge filter + Pump
BioMax rings and LFS sponge media
Eco-Complete
Live plants + driftwood from Hewster
Hydor 50W

Current Water:
CYCLING (but processing 4ppm ammonia in 12 hrs and nitrite in 16-18)

Planned fish:
5 Rasbora Brigittae
3 Blue Dream RCS
Slowly adding more plants to it now, but currently have some java moss on driftwood, a marimo ball that I'm hoping will flatten a bit and a little crypt parva garden that is slowly melting :'( . I'm planning on getting a tall plant or two to add some height to the plant for visual effect.

Freshly planted crypts and the junky heater.



Currently with the Hydor and melting crypts

 

Looks good, the boraras brigittae would appreciate some more taller plants, they can be quite shy in small numbers so more hiding places makes them feel more secure, mine spend a lot of time in and amongst the plants.

 

Just an opinion here, but some val spiralis would look great planted behind the wood, along with some floating plants with long roots, as chilI rasboras like lots of cover.

 

You are probably getting there. Are new fish in a QT? Waiting for more pictures

 

You are probably getting there. Are new fish in a QT? Waiting for more pictures

not yet. LFS has them ready but I am taking my time making sure the bacteria are at a sustainable level.

Just an opinion here, but some val spiralis would look great planted behind the wood, along with some floating plants with long roots, as chilI rasboras like lots of cover.

That is a solid idea. what floating plants would you suggest?

 

Please forgive me if you consider me a pest, but your new fish needs to be in a QT in your home, not only in order to make sure that they are illness free, but mostly because fish need lots of time to get used to new environment: new water, new dechlorinator, new water parameters, new food, new lights..,, you name it. This us why QT takes so long. My most happy=healthy=successful (never got sick) fish spent at least 6 weeks in a QT.

 

He doesn't have any fish in the tank. Not really any need to QT new arrivals when they're the first and only fish going in...

 

He doesn't have any fish in the tank. Not really any need to QT new arrivals when they're the first and only fish going in...

thank you junebug. I also have an amazing LFS that has nothing but incredibly healthy fish. Shout out to Absolutely Fish in Clifton NJ!

SIde note. My crypts have perked up quite a bit since the pictures!

 

Hey fishlore! ive decided to make my build thread. I was seriously upset at how often people say you can only get a betta or just a shrimp tank with these tanks so I hope to inspire some people into thinking bigger!

My thoughts exactly. As a keeper of many smaller tanks it irks me when people think they are only suitable for inverts or bettas.

 

My thoughts exactly. As a keeper of many smaller tanks it irks me when people think they are only suitable for inverts or bettas.

This happens when people are helping beginners who are going to be buying from petco or petsmart. While there are plenty of fish that do well in small tanks, they're expensive, sometimes sensitive, and not easy to find.

 

not easy to find.

precisely what I ran into. My tank is crushing 4 ppm ammonia in about 16 hours now. and processing the nitrites in about 16-18. Have my heater cranked to 89, and I'm hoping to be fully cycled within the next week, which would be the four week mark

 

Heater up to 89?! Turn it down low (lol) to 82 or 79...


-fishdude

 

Heater up to 89?! Turn it down low (lol) to 82 or 79...


-fishdude

higher temps encourage quicker bacterial growth. Since he has no fish in the tank, there's no reason not to have the heat up.

 

Heater up to 89?! Turn it down low (lol) to 82 or 79...


-fishdude

bacteria broski! my nitrite processing has gone down in time by 4 hours in three days. the heat works!

 

Oh
Hehe


-fishdude

 

Tank is fully cycled. was processing 4ppm ammonia within 12 hours so I went and got my Rasbora Brigittae, or so I though. And three RCS. I also finished my crypt parva garden with one more potted crypt, which was huge. I broke the single pot into 11 individuals. I also got several corkscrew vals, and one japonica blyxa.

PLEASE PLUG THE HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SPEC. I lost one of my fishes within 12 hours, he wasn't doing so great, and was just hiding in the crypt garden, then in the morning I found him in the biorings.



Full story, is the LFS was selling rasbora naevus as brigittaes and now that is what I have. I'm not super happy about it, but that was all they had that would fit with my tank. I will have to order more of the proper fish.

 

The tank is looking good & once the plants grow the rasboras whether brigittae or naevus will look lovely against them

 

Awesome how a small space can bring so much joy. Glad to see your "outside the box" thinking.

 

Wow, for a Spec, that looks huge! Incredible sense of scale here, well done. And great choice in plants too, Looks fantastic.

 

sad news, lost two rasboras to the filter and one shrimp to stress. going to get some more when the weather is more friendly to shipping fish. I plan on getting 5 blue rilis and 5 more rasboras. and I believe the val is starting to melt. time to get some ferts.

 

Got seachem ferts, and have the survivors settling in. As for the plants, the val has started to get scraggly and the crypts are laying out.

 

Ouch!!! From what I read, Vals look like they are dying when first planted in the tank, and when you are about to get rid of them, they surprise you by doing real well take cáre

 

Ouch!!! From what I read, Vals look like they are dying when first planted in the tank, and when you are about to get rid of them, they surprise you by doing real well take cáre

I have heard the same thing with replanting and / or starting ferts. so its a little column a little column b