Post-Apocalyptic Tank Build

Might want to do your own research, but when I was thinking of getting some blind cave tetras there were several issues with them that I didn’t like. 1. They got to be pretty big (4ish inches) and 2. They don’t do very well competing for food with other fish since they have no eyes. Also if you do get them make sure to have sand (like you wanted anyways) since they like to root around the substrate looking for food

 

Might want to do your own research, but when I was thinking of getting some blind cave tetras there were several issues with them that I didn’t like. 1. They got to be pretty big (4ish inches) and 2. They don’t do very well competing for food with other fish since they have no eyes. Also if you do get them make sure to have sand (like you wanted anyways) since they like to root around the substrate looking for food

Yes, I did see those concerns while reading about them. The size is why I was thinking of only getting 3, which I could move into another tank if they do start to get too big. The site I would like to buy them from sells them at 1 inch, so they should have plenty of time to grow still I think I am also willing to put in the extra work to make sure they get food (I already sit there every time I feed and make sure every single fish gets at least some food lol)

I did find one article that said "Don't worry if your blind cave tetra doesn't see the food. . ." Like nah fam I'd be more worried if it did see the food XD

 

Such a pretty betta

 

So I was thinking more - if I covered rusty metal in epoxy would it be safe to put in? (What kind of epoxy?)
Cause I had been think about putting in some bottles and things that were discussed in the polluted tank build thread, but if I’m going to be putting a post apocalyptic city in the background, sticking old bent metal ribbons in the substrate (and which could go up and stick out of the top) and old metal pipes, that might be cooler. We have a massive scrap metal pile (I live on a farm) that I could pull this stuff from, but I don’t want to like poison the fish, y’know?

 

I think that they would be fine if they were coated in epoxy. Someone was talking about painting it rust colored, but I’m not sure. I think that the rust might die, though from lack of oxygen. Any epoxy would work, just check for no copper or other metals.

 

I think that they would be fine if they were coated in epoxy. Someone was talking about painting it rust colored, but I’m not sure. I think that the rust might die, though from lack of oxygen. Any epoxy would work, just check for no copper or other metals.

Fair enough. I could always coat it and chuck it in a bucket and see what happens before actually putting it in. And I’d have to go look but I’m pretty sure I don’t need to paint anything on the pile rust colored cause it already is for real

 

In your case, you wouldn’t have to paint it unless the rust “dies”. I’m still unclear on whether or not it needs the oxygen to stay on the metal, or just to form, but I’ll keep researching

 

Does anyone know what kind of light I should use for this tank? I was thinking of having two:
1 for every day use and growing plants (probably a bar light)
1 that’d create more of a beam of light for dramatic effect when I’m photographing / showing people the tank.

What kind of light should I look for for the everyday one? Like what kind of specs? I have no experience picking out lights for plants (I usually just get the cheapest one I can find)



Thoughts on this setup? Both pieces of driftwood (from pic below) on the right with anubias plants and that weird vine-y plant I mentioned tied on. In the middle a relatively open area with subwassertang growing on the ground (on mesh) off to the left a little. The Aponogeton Madagascar towards the back. The on the right, bent metal ribbon and a straight pipe sticking through the ribbon and out of the tank (Too small for fish and sealed so they can't go in), and the black tears on the ground near/under the metal. Then the two squiggly kind of plants and red ludwigia on the far right to create a more heavily planted area.

Also remember there'd be black sand with leaf litter and those glowing green stones spread around (I may have another plan for those too)

(To see pics of the plants I plan to get, scroll to the bottom of this document)

And also, thinking for the rocks I thought I'd try to stick them together somehow and do something like:


And putting the "big" rock in the middle of the open space, and make it seem like the other individual pieces are coming from it.

Okay, so I made the order! 6 glassfish, 3 blind cave tetras, and an assortment of aponogeton bulbs are on their way to me and should arrive on friday. I figured I could get the glassfish and cave tetras started on their quarantine period and I could get the bulbs started growing (They were cheaper than full plants, and will probably ship better). The 20 long I plan on using is still housing some fry and needs a good clean out before I can use it as well. So there's still a lot of work to do!

I also plan on going over to petsmart and scoping out their GloDanios (At petsmart, they're $5.99, at petco they're $6.99, and at my LFS they're $10 and they don't have the green in rn. If the ones at petsmart look healthy enough I may pick them up from there)

 

Cool! Good luck with all of your fish, hopefully they don’t come with a disease. The way that I’m thinking of your tank is going to turn out pretty good

 

Cool! Good luck with all of your fish, hopefully they don’t come with a disease. The way that I’m thinking of your tank is going to turn out pretty good

Thanks! And yeah, I’m really hoping they’ll be disease free. I always quarantine my fish, but I think I’m going to be extra careful this time as I haven’t ordered from this specific seller before, and they’re going in with my most expensive fish lol
And I certainly hope it comes out good! Have you made any progress with yours?

 

Thanks! And yeah, I’m really hoping they’ll be disease free. I always quarantine my fish, but I think I’m going to be extra careful this time as I haven’t ordered from this specific seller before, and they’re going in with my most expensive fish lol
And I certainly hope it comes out good! Have you made any progress with yours?

With what I want to do, yeah. I still have a lot of convincing to do though. I decided on a crow tail betta, and I’m debating on adding my rainbow shark, and seeing if there would be any problems. I think that since there would be so many hiding spots, it would be content to claim some and not bother anything, but it can go back into the tank I have now if it starts beating on any fish

Also! I’ve been looking into Triops because I inherited a ton of eggs(my nephew loves them), and am also thinking about putting some in. They would look great in your setup if you wanted to try them

 

With what I want to do, yeah. I still have a lot of convincing to do though. I decided on a crow tail betta, and I’m debating on adding my rainbow shark, and seeing if there would be any problems. I think that since there would be so many hiding spots, it would be content to claim some and not bother anything, but it can go back into the tank I have now if it starts beating on any fish

Also! I’ve been looking into Triops because I inherited a ton of eggs(my nephew loves them), and am also thinking about putting some in. They would look great in your setup if you wanted to try them

Crowntails are fun I love both my male and my female! And I mean you can always try the shark and if it isn't happy just move it back. Triops would be cool in your tank! I'll probably avoid them for mine, cause like the shrimp they're kinda too freaky for me lol

 

When you say freaky, do you mean their appearance or what they need to be kept in/with

 

When you say freaky, do you mean their appearance or what they need to be kept in/with

Appearance lol

 

Oh ok

 

The search for GloDanios last night was quite ridiculous lol

Stop 1: LFS had 3 - 2 purple and 1 red. No green. Won’t getting more fish until Wednesday, and I’ll be running home Tuesday, then I won’t be home again until Friday. >.>

Stop 2: PetSmart had 5 green GloDanios, 2 had visible ich, all were horribly skinny. Took a hard pass on them.

Stop 3: Petco had no GloDanios at all. None of their other GloFish had visible ich, but some of their other fish did, so they probably all do.

Stop 4: No less than 10 websites. Some of which you could only buy variety packs of Danios (not what I want), some of which wanted like $60 for shipping on just the Danios (no thanks), and my preferred sites were out of stock on only the green Danios. They had all the other colors

Guess I’m going to check back at my LFS for green Danios Friday lol Though maybe I’ll call them Wednesday and see if they’ll hold some for me

 

The search for GloDanios last night was quite ridiculous lol

Stop 1: LFS had 3 - 2 purple and 1 red. No green. Won’t getting more fish until Wednesday, and I’ll be running home Tuesday, then I won’t be home again until Friday. >.>

Stop 2: PetSmart had 5 green GloDanios, 2 had visible ich, all were horribly skinny. Took a hard pass on them.

Stop 3: Petco had no GloDanios at all. None of their other GloFish had visible ich, but some of their other fish did, so they probably all do.

Stop 4: No less than 10 websites. Some of which you could only buy variety packs of Danios (not what I want), some of which wanted like $60 for shipping on just the Danios (no thanks), and my preferred sites were out of stock on only the green Danios. They had all the other colors

Guess I’m going to check back at my LFS for green Danios Friday lol Though maybe I’ll call them Wednesday and see if they’ll hold some for me

Petco has different sump systems for their tank stacks, glofish are separate from the others. Petsmart does not.

Can you ask the LFS to order up some (you can even ask at the petco or petsmart and tell them to call you as soon as they come in) as a special order?

 

Petco has different sump systems for their tank stacks, glofish are separate from the others. Petsmart does not.

Can you ask the LFS to order up some (you can even ask at the petco or petsmart and tell them to call you as soon as they come in) as a special order?

Regardless of sumps, there’s probably contaimination that’s been introduced from nets/siphons/any other equipment/employees. Though if they had the fish and the fish looked healthy enough I might give it a try (quarantining of course, as I mentioned)

As for asking, if my LFS doesn’t get some in on Wednesday I might ask them specifically to order some for me, depending on the price. I didn’t consider asking petco/petsmart though... may look into that - thanks!

 

I think that they would be fine if they were coated in epoxy. Someone was talking about painting it rust colored, but I’m not sure. I think that the rust might die, though from lack of oxygen. Any epoxy would work, just check for no copper or other metals.

any suggestions on specific epoxy's? ideally not high gloss...

 

any suggestions on specific epoxy's? ideally not high gloss...

^I have the same question lol

Okay! So I got an email that one of the sites I like has their green Danios back in stock so I ordered 6, and they should arrive on Tuesday (Along with the wild splendens I ordered a while ago ). I also got 2 Obessa barbs for my barb tank, but that’s probably a different thread

I was also contemplating.... Do you all think this:

Might be something I could incorporate in an interesting manner? I could make a little cave area or something

 

Yeah, maybe put it next to your netting area?

 

Yeah, maybe put it next to your netting area?

Wait which area?

What about something like this?



Both driftwoods on the left still, (Anubias on the Manzanita, the plant I don't remember wrapped around the mopani). Center area more open, the Aponogeton Madagascar in the back still, but in front, the Black Tears. Then on the left, the shelf, with the subwassertang on sand there, growing off/hanging down(?). The metal ribbon bent so it comes down, touches on the shelf, then goes down to the ground. Not sure about position (Or inclusion) of the small pipe. Then, in front of/around the shelf would be all the other aponogeton varieties and ludwigia, so the "cave" would be set back in the heavily "forested" area

(Don't forget you can find pics of most of the plants I plan on using here: Post Apocalyptic Tank)

 

I meant the left of your tank

 

Ordered the snails today! And as a spur of the moment change, I decided to add a banana plant or two. Dunno where yet... just saw them mentioned on another thread and decided I wanted one, and that it was weird enough to possibly qualify for this tank lol

I meant the left of your tank

That'll take some thought for me to get looking decent... What if I just flip flopped the tank design I mentioned above?

 

Yeah, just the area where there would be more “trash” I’d what I meant

 

Yeah, just the area where there would be more “trash” I’d what I meant

Ah, I see, I won't have time today but I'll sketch something out tomorrow

Will probably clean/begin decorating this weekend.

Do you guys think I should quarantine the new fish (Glassfish, cave tetras, danios, snails) in the tank? I think that that's a lot of fish for my 5 gallon quarantine tank lol However, if one of them does come down with something, the live plants could potentially limit the treatment options I have. Plus the danios are from a different seller than the others... maybe the danios (and barbs) in my 5 gallon QT, and the glassfish and cave tetras (and snails) in the 20L?

 

Sounds smart

 

So, the GloDanios got delivered this morning (along with the Odessa barbs), and the idiot UPS person left it at the end of our driveway (2/5 of a mile from the house), so while my mom was keeping an eye out for it at the house, and I was at college and in classes (so I couldn’t check my email), the poor fishies sat outside for an hour. My mother ran out and got them, but she was running late to start a long drive for work, so she only brought them in. Now I gotta drive all the way home to unpack them. Poor little things, they’re probably not having very much fun.

I had asked the seller to mail it on Thursday so it’d arrive Friday, when I’d be home. Guess they didn’t listen to that request lol. The other two sellers I bought from were perfectly happy to accommodate me, however.

Guess it’s a good thing both of those fish like cooler water!

They sent me an extra barb, an apology for not sending it when I asked? Who knows lol

But! The glofish look great under the light I got for the tank. It has just a normal setting and a normal blue light setting that they fluoresce under
Normal light:





Blue light:




Super pumped - these guys are perfect

The rocks also arrived. They do glow in the dark (I had them under the same tank light for like 15 minutes)but unfortunately - because of their color, they don’t show up under the blue light at all, even when glowing. Hmm... I might have to play around with the rocks some more

 

So my mother had already left the house for work, I'm in my second to last class of the day, and the post office called asking if anyone was home because tHe PaCkAgE nEeDs a SiGnAtUrE like guys that's just cause it's live fish just put it on the porch its finneeeee - but now I gotta drive an extra half an hour to go get them when I head home. Oh how I love this

 

So apparently the glassfish were out of stock and they’re sending them next week instead, luckily they’re paying the shipping on that though - it’s a pretty penny.
The blind cave tetras arrived safe and sound though! I only got 3 cause I knew they’ll get big, but right now they’re dinky! A little smaller than the danios. They’re interesting to watch though, they never bump into anything. They’ll get close but never actually touch it. I’ll get some better pictures later




Their fins are a little ratty, and I’m hoping it’s from them nipping each other before I bought them or while they were being shipped, and not fin rot. Seeing as many tetras are fin nippers, I’m guessing it’s probably that though. We’ll see

Plants and bulbs arrived too!



And I picked up the terracing thing ($12, but with price matching and $5 off, I got it for like $4)

 

Snails arrived today but I thought they were delayed until Monday so they were out in our mailbox for who knows how long and I just got them into the quarantine tank they’re cute any tiny and the ones on top of the other and apparently I just drink too much on the weekends so hope this pic is acceptable ish


my finger is in it sorry

 

Get a black light. Actinic?

 

Get a black light. Actinic?

For the glofish? But they kinda glow under the blue how would a black light cause the flourwaxing to differe tho I suppose I think we have a black light flashlight around I could use that before buying a bigger thing

do you have glofish?

 

For the glofish? But they kinda glow under the blue how would a black light cause the flourwaxing to differe tho I suppose I think we have a black light flashlight around I could use that before buying a bigger thing

do you have glofish?

I ordered a tank from top fin that had bright pink plants and neon stuff and I learned that actinic or black lights are what makes all that stuff glow. The fish look good with blue but better with actinic and that’s what will make the decorations and ornaments glow. The filter it came with was broken so I returned it. Black lights and actinic fish tank lights cover the same spectrums. This is just something I quickly found about it. The last pic has a link here it is Actinic Light vs. Blacklight - Highlighting Fluorescent Livestock and Decor

For the glofish? But they kinda glow under the blue how would a black light cause the flourwaxing to differe tho I suppose I think we have a black light flashlight around I could use that before buying a bigger thing

do you have glofish?

I had added some pics in that previous posts but they took them down bc of copyright stuff so I edited that out and I hope these are okay!

 

All snails are survived shipping! Though the one is still riding around on the big one lol
I put the plants into the quarantine tank for now (which I don't usually do) as I ended up not having time to clean out the 20 gallon, but neglected to get a picture.
I also compared the glofish under the blue light setting, versus under the blacklight flashlight we have, it was just about the same tbh. When we compare fluorescing bacterial colonies with GFP or RFP in the lab, we have a little blue light tablet thing we use. Stronger than this bar light, of course, but still blue. Since I'm a touch low on money, I'll put off buying a true blacklight for now.

 

All snails are survived shipping! Though the one is still riding around on the big one lol
I put the plants into the quarantine tank for now (which I don't usually do) as I ended up not having time to clean out the 20 gallon, but neglected to get a picture.
I also compared the glofish under the blue light setting, versus under the blacklight flashlight we have, it was just about the same tbh. When we compare fluorescing bacterial colonies with GFP or RFP in the lab, we have a little blue light tablet thing we use. Stronger than this bar light, of course, but still blue. Since I'm a touch low on money, I'll put off buying a true blacklight for now.

Yes I’m sure awesome w blue too’

 

Part of the reason I didn't try harder to make time to clean out the 20L was because it's on the floor rn, and I wanted it to be up on a shelf of some kind, which I did not have. Well! I found one super cheap on facebook, it's not perfectly what I want, but like I said, super cheap. I'll be picking it up this Friday, probably. This will make it so much easier now

 

Just got home and was checking on my fish - the pepper cory died . The albinos are still fine. When I originally got the cories, I got the peppers, and right off the bat most of them died. The LFS people and I speculated that it was the stress of being rehomed, but now I wonder if maybe there was some sort of genetic weakness or something, as nothing was visibly wrong with any of them.

That said, now I only have the 2 albinos, I’ll definitely need more. Should I get 4 more albinos? Or should I do 2 more albinos, and 2 of another variety that will school with them (I believe there’s a cory that is the same species as the albino, but just the normal coloration, and they’ll school together fine, but I don’t recall what they were) like we had discussed doing with the pepper before (a “non mutant” specimen).

Also, is there anyone on here that sells these cories? I could buy them online anywhere or at my LFS, but if I’d be more happy if I could support someone on here

Edit: poked around a bit, I think the albinos are actually bronze cories - I could do one or two of them for the “normal” fish

 

Sorry to hear about your Cory. If you do the color “mutation” bronze against the albino would look amazing! It’s more up to what you have. One thing to think about is that if the albinos glow underneath your black light. If they do, I think that you should have more bronze than albino.

 

I can totally check that here in a few minutes!