Post-Apocalyptic Tank Build

Okay, so they don’t glow under either the blue light or the black light, but they definitely show up better


Blue light:


Black Light:



Titan doesn’t glow under the lights either, but when I checked Lemy (the yellow male) he didn’t glow, but he looked red! It was really weird but kinda cool - didn’t come out in pictures though

Also, this didn’t come across well either, but the black light actually makes the water glow bright green because of the tannins... I may have to invest in a black light after all!


Yeah it just looks blue here but I promise it’s green irl

 

Okay, still if they’re changing colors it will still serve your purpose. I think that especially since it’s supposed to be from radiation the faint glow or color change would be kind of cool

Also I think that black water is a good idea, especially with your theme since the water turns green

 

You'll have to be careful keeping a black light over them most of the time, it can mess up their vision long term.

 

Okay, still if they’re changing colors it will still serve your purpose. I think that especially since it’s supposed to be from radiation the faint glow or color change would be kind of cool

Also I think that black water is a good idea, especially with your theme since the water turns green

Oh yeah, I think it’ll be cool. So how many of each Cory do you think, now that we’ve established they don’t actually glow?

You'll have to be careful keeping a black light over them most of the time, it can mess up their vision long term.

Good point, but dw about it, I know about that, I’d only turn on the black light (if I get one) when I was either A) Showing someone or B) taking pictures - I was planning on having an “Everyday” light and a “Showcase” light already anyways

 

Maybe do 5 bronze and 2 or 3 albinos? How much into overstocking do you want to go? I think that 8-10 would be the max without overcrowding the bottom since most fish will be going up and down between them

 

Maybe do 5 bronze and 2 or 3 albinos? How much into overstocking do you want to go? I think that 8-10 would be the max without overcrowding the bottom since most fish will be going up and down between them

I was thinking just 6, because if I want to bump the kuhlis up to 6 as well, that’s 12 bottom fish. We can always see how it looks and go from there too though.

 

Oh I forgot that you wanted to bump the Kuhlis up. 6 sounds like a good number. Do you want the mutated fish the be the albinos or bronzes? I think that the bronze guys would look a little better as the mutated fish

 

Oh I forgot that you wanted to bump the Kuhlis up. 6 sounds like a good number. Do you want the mutated fish the be the albinos or bronzes? I think that the bronze guys would look a little better as the mutated fish

I’m not sure.... the albinos look a little stranger... we could go 3/3 and leave it up to the viewer to decide

 

Okay. Never kept either type so I didn’t know

 

Just picked up the shelves... hoping to get all the tanks shuffled around tonight. Someone asked me to do some videos of this tank on TikTok, so I’ll probably document the process there as well

 

Got the shelves set up and the 20L emptied and cleaned. I haven’t gotten things in position because I’m letting my Expert Algae Clean-Up Crew (AKA my pregnant platy girls) take care of the bulk of the algae in Titan’s old ten gallon for me before I empty that and the other 10 gallon on the bench (which I need to move to put the shelves where I want). Titan threw a hissy fit about the platys though so he got put in one of my half gallon transport containers for the night so the girls can work in peace

 

Tank is partially filled, no decor in it, that might have to wait until next weekend. But I was thinking, based on Titan’s reaction to the platys, if he gets upset about the other fish (cave tetras, glassfish, Danios) we may have to remove him. If that happens, I can try Lemy (the yellow and black/blue betta), and if he doesn’t work out either, what are you guys thoughts on maybe a gourami? I don’t know much about them, but they’re pretty similar to bettas right? Like kinda aggressive? Are there any varieties that would work? (They look kinda weird and a bit alien hence why I thought of them)

 

I love dwarf gouramis. There are a few varieties but I like powder blues. Maybe a three spot but I’ve only kept kissing gourami and a few dwarf

 

I love dwarf gouramis. There are a few varieties but I like powder blues. Maybe a three spot but I’ve only kept kissing gourami and a few dwarf

I've never kept them, but I think my dad did back in the day. We'll see though, I'd rather use one of the bettas, seeing as I already have them lol

 

These plants were supposed to arrive Friday, but got help yo because of a snowstorm, then arrived this morning, and I’m at school and my mother didn’t get back until just now (10pm). Yet somehow, they’re all still alive and appear to be in good shape! I told her to plop them in some water and send me a pic, so she did. The variegated sword is for one of my other tanks, but the banana plant and the subwassertang are for the post-apocalyptic one! Super excited for these!!

 

Ooo what about these corys? They’re bronze and the same species as the albinos, but they’re high finned, which would fit the theme

Red Longfin Cory Catfish (Corydoras aeneus), Tank-Bred - Aquatic Arts

And anyone have experience with golden tetras? If the cave tetras outgrow the tank might they be a good replacement?

 

Glassfish shipped! Should arrive Friday!

 

I love these corries. I thought that Banana plants have to be grown submerged

 

I love these corries. I thought that Banana plants have to be grown submerged

So you like the high finned ones? I think they might be an interesting option if I can’t get some.

And what do you mean about the banana plants exactly?

 

I mean partially in the water, partially out of it

 

I mean partially in the water, partially out of it

As far as I know, you place the tubers on the substrate, then the roots grow down into the soil, and it send lily pad-like leaves that make reach (and float on) the surface. I could be wrong on that though

 

Glassfish arrived... 1 DOA, 1 not long for the world, I think. 1 kinda iffy... the other 3 seem maybe okay. For arriving in 10 degree weather, that’s pretty okay I think!











(you can see the one that’s probably not long for the world in the plant in this one)
Overall though, I’m impressed with how pretty (and big!) they are

 

Tank update!


It’s super messy right now. I wanted to start aquascaping today but I realized I didn’t have enough dirt OR sand, so I have to go find some more to buy, and I’m not sure if I’ll do that today or not. I also am slowly filling the tank because the shelves are new and I don’t trust them. I did put together the in-tank shelf, and I think it’s really fun!




Titan already likes it. It’s a tad ugly but it should end up being hidden a bit.
I think I know exactly how I’m going to plant things (once I can)
Although my red root floaters are NOT happy and I’m not quite sure how best to save them.... any recommendations?

 

What's what for anyone who needs to catch up quickly:
Here's a google doc for visualization
Tank specifics:
Aqueon 20 Long
Aqueon heater for 20 gallons, adjustable (Temperature ~76 degrees)
This Nicrew Light
Aqueon Quietflow Internal Filter for 20 Gallons
Cheapie sponge filter for 10 gallons
Airstone of some variety

Stock:
1 betta mahachaiensis (Have)
6 kuhlI loaches (Have 3/6)
3 Albino Corys (Have 2/3)
3 (High Finned?) Bronze Corys (Need)
4 Horned Nerite Snails (Have)
6 Glofish Danios (Have)
3 Blind Cave Tetra (Have)
5 Glassfish (Have 5/6)
1 Black Long Skirt Tetra (Have - He's a relic)



Plants:
Red Root Floaters (Have)
3 Various Anubias (Have)
1 Aponogeton Elongatus (Have)
2 Aponogeton Ulvaceus *
2 Aponogeton CapuronI *
*I have four plants, but they all look identical, and not like either of these, so I'm unsure if I have the correct things or not, but it's okay
1 Aponogeton Madagascar (Need)
1 Bucephalandra Belindae (Have)
1(ish?) Subwassertang (Have)
2 Banana Plants (Have)
1 Marimo (Have)
1 White Ribbon Plant partially submerged (Have -temporary?)
Pothos? Maybe? I think we have some in a pot in the living room, I might nab some

Hardscape and stuff:
Soil underlayer (Need)
Black sand layer (Need)
Indian Almond Leaf Litter (Have)
1 Manzanita Driftwood (Have)
1 MopanI Driftwood (Have)
Various glow-in-the-dark stones (Have)
Epoxy coated metal pieces (Have-ish, just need to go find some good pieces in our metal pile)
Shelf thingy (Have)

Next thing to do: Get soil/sand and get scapeing

 

For the soil I like to use organic miracle grow. It doesn’t have too many wood chunks, and if you rinsed it out, there will be none. My plants love it, and I haven’t had any spikes in water quality. Maybe just mist it to make it damp so you don’t get your water eaten and end up with a swamp. Happy to see all of your ideas coming together.

 

For the soil I like to use organic miracle grow. It doesn’t have too many wood chunks, and if you rinsed it out, there will be none. My plants love it, and I haven’t had any spikes in water quality. Maybe just mist it to make it damp so you don’t get your water eaten and end up with a swamp. Happy to see all of your ideas coming together.

Awesome! I’ll look for some of that when I run into town tomorrow! And thanks - I’m super excited to be finally putting this together too

 

So I’d mentioned before that I had planned to do an “everyday” lighting, then have a “show” light, for like pictures and showing off the tank to people... everyday lighting is just like what you’d have on any old aquarium, but here’s the “show” lighting:



the blue light that the GloDanios will fluoresce under, and a directed “cone” of normal light - well I’ve finally got thedesk lamp for the normal light!


its basically just a light bulb on a bendy thing but it’ll work great!


Also remember how I’d purposefully only filled it part way? I’m glad I did, the metal is bending a bit because the tank doesn’t reach the edges, so I’m going to drain it and put some boards under it to even put the weight some more. And then I’ll get aquascaping!

 

So I’d mentioned before that I had planned to do an “everyday” lighting, then have a “show” light, for like pictures and showing off the tank to people... everyday lighting is just like what you’d have on any old aquarium, but here’s the “show” lighting:

View attachment 667347
the blue light that the GloDanios will fluoresce under, and a directed “cone” of normal light - well I’ve finally got thedesk lamp for the normal light!
View attachment 667348
its basically just a light bulb on a bendy thing but it’ll work great!


Also remember how I’d purposefully only filled it part way? I’m glad I did, the metal is bending a bit because the tank doesn’t reach the edges, so I’m going to drain it and put some boards under it to even put the weight some more. And then I’ll get aquascaping!

I've been lurking for a while, this is going to be so cool!

 

Tank update!
View attachment 665216
It’s super messy right now. I wanted to start aquascaping today but I realized I didn’t have enough dirt OR sand, so I have to go find some more to buy, and I’m not sure if I’ll do that today or not. I also am slowly filling the tank because the shelves are new and I don’t trust them. I did put together the in-tank shelf, and I think it’s really fun!
View attachment 665233
View attachment 665234
Titan already likes it. It’s a tad ugly but it should end up being hidden a bit.
I think I know exactly how I’m going to plant things (once I can)
Although my red root floaters are NOT happy and I’m not quite sure how best to save them.... any recommendations?

Red roots don't like much surface agitation, I had to make a corral for mine. If they sink a few times they kinda stop growing.

 

Red roots don't like much surface agitation, I had to make a corral for mine. If they sink a few times they kinda stop growing.

Yeah, I know, I’ve had them for a while. The surface of this tank hardly moves rn. They’re just upset about the move, I think

 

I would definitely do black sand it would give you a very diseased scorched look, and the kuhulI loaches will work nicely but be careful sometimes loaches and sand don't mix

 

I would definitely do black sand it would give you a very diseased scorched look, and the kuhulI loaches will work nicely but be careful sometimes loaches and sand don't mix

Yup! I already have some black sand that I know my kuhlis do well on I used it in the tank they were in before, I just haven’t gotten around to putting it in because I need soil, and I think I may need to pick up a second bag of sand as well

 

I’m a little torn... when I’m scaping tomorrow, the majority of the new plants are in my quarantine tank. I can either A) pull them out and do a just-in-case bleach dip, then complete the planting aspect of the scape or B) leave them in the quarantine tank, where, right now, they’re providing shelter, resting places, and general plant-things for the (very many) fish in there - though if I leave them in the scape will not be finished this weekend... or C) I could pull out 3/5 of the plants, leaving the two biggest in the quarantine tank for those fish, and could partially finish the scape, but I might have to shuffle stuff around a lot later

Which do you guys think I should do?

 

Okay, so after reading over Wardonianfungus 's thread ( Polluted tank build? | Freshwater Aquarium Builds 437637 ) I kind of want to try something similar.... but whereas their aI'm is "Polluted natural stream" I kinda want to do like post-apocolytpic/toxic waste/alien tank kinda thing. (If someone suggests mutant ninja turtles I swear). I have definitely also taken a few of the below ideas from the thread mentioned... sorry
I will not be able to do this for quite a while probably, but here's what I've been brainstorming:

20 Gallon Long Tank (Have)
Black water

Decor:
Driftwood - more than 1 piece, dark in color?
Indian Almond Leaves (Leaf Litter) (Have)
Various broken bottles + cans? PVC pipes?
--- epoxy sealed and sanded so not sharp
Substrate: black sand? White sand?
No rocks? Or I have some medium size smooth black ones?

Plants:
Red root floaters (Have)
sußwassertang?
Aponogeton capuroniI and/or something similar shaped like Aponogeton ulvaceus?
Bucephalandra black tears?
Aponogeton Madagascar?

Critters:
1 Betta Mahachaiensis (Have)
3-4 KuhlI Loach (Have) (Add to #?)
2 Albino Cory (Have) (Add to #?)
1 Pepper Cory (Have) (Add to #? If I add would just put all peppers in a different tank - Or can he hang with the albinos? He is rn and seems fine)

Horned Nerite Snails?
I’d say Glass catfish but I think the minimum is 30 gallons right?
Glassfish [instead]?
Glofish’s green and/or orange Danios (if I can find, and would they be okay at 78?)
Some blind cave tetra? (78 too warm?)
Pencilfish?

Maybe a goby? I know nothing about them but they’re weird and alien-looking sometimes? Though I think only a few are freshwater, right?
I wish Birchir and ropefish didn’t get so big - they’re fun looking lol
Shrimp may be cool but I have no experience/interest in keeping them at the moment - they’re too freaky for me


Now I'm definitely not saying I want to put all that in there, nor that all that is compatible. I would, however, like to put my wild betta in at least, I think. He's chill. But hopefully you all get kinda the idea of what I'm going for/thinking of. What do you guys think? Suggestions? Compatibility (Are there any I should nix right now?)? Ideas?

(Wild Betta for reference on what he looks like rn:
View attachment 653787)

Where do you find wild bettas from?

 

Where do you find wild bettas from?

Frank’s Bettas! You can find his Facebook business page at franksbettas (all one word). His fish are beautiful and healthy, and he’s great. He also does some conservation work, which is awesome

 

Are you just wanting to leave the plants in for the fish’s sake, or because you’re afraid of something on them?

 

Are you just wanting to leave the plants in for the fish’s sake, or because you’re afraid of something on them?

For the fish. The glassfish in particular seem to hang out in and around them.

I guess I am slightly worried, though I’ve yet to observe any sicknesses - but like I said, it’s nothing a quick and easy bleach wouldn’t take care of if there is anything to be worried about

 

Ok. Since the glass fish have been in quarantine for a week, and (I'm assuming) they’ve had no problems, maybe you scape, let the sand settle for an hour or two, and put the glass fish in. Not sure if you have the time, but it is a thought.

 

Ok. Since the glass fish have been in quarantine for a week, and (I'm assuming) they’ve had no problems, maybe you scape, let the sand settle for an hour or two, and put the glass fish in. Not sure if you have the time, but it is a thought.

I think I’m going to give them two weeks in quarantine - the others have been in quarantine roughly 3 weeks now? Or maybe 4. But I had to put the glassfish in with them, so that basically reset it. Ik Ik stupid **** I didn’t have a lot of time that day. Titan, the corys, and the kuhlis are already in the 20L just chillin cause I wanted to put Lemy in the 10gal they were in before. I’m basically juggling fish

I think I’m leaning towards option C... but it’s also like 2am and I’m tired so lol

 

Then plan c sounds the best to me. What are the two big plants?