Author Topic: Showing off new planted tank with Rainbows (Read 5175 times)

~reefchik~ · « **on:** January 21, 2010, 22:51:32 »

I can't help myself...I'm such a fish addict:

Gratuitous FTS

Ever heard of a Rose Shark? It's in the barb family - gorgeous fish.

Striped rainbow (I believe M. trifasciata) and dwarf neon above

Celebes rainbows and lemon guppies (my first lemon guppies, they are gorgeous too!)

Dwarf cichlid Apistogramma cacatoides (it's mate was a casualty :-()

Hardware: Tank is old 20 X-High, small pea gravel substrate, driftwood, live plants, and Fluval 405 filtration.

Secondgen · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2010, 23:02:26 »

Very nice tank reefchick. I have been playing with the idea of a planted/freshwater tank myself. The simplicity of a freshwater tank is very refreshing. What kinda light do you have on there chick?

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2010, 23:30:19 »

Right now it's a Odyssea 50/50 power compact because that tank used to be SW. I'm going shopping for a regular daylight tube tomorrow. The strip is an obsolete Catfish Lighting strip that takes straight pin PC tubes. Hopefully I won't have trouble finding the right light locally.

Thanks!

jd · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2010, 23:36:20 »

Sharp. I'm setting up a small planted tank also!

HUNGER · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2010, 08:16:45 »

very sharp looks great

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2010, 21:24:43 »

Thanks. Got a new 10K daylight tube but the tank is so deep the bottom plants aren't just totally happy. Plus the awesome driftwood is yellowing the water something awful. I wish there was some way of removing the yellow from the water. Bleach maybe? No wait...

But the fish are happy so far. My old cory cat died this morning, probably old age. I think I've had it 5 yrs or so by now.

Kenn · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2010, 21:37:14 »

Quote from: ~reefchik~ on February 07, 2010, 21:24:43

Thanks. Got a new 10K daylight tube but the tank is so deep the bottom plants aren't just totally happy. Plus the awesome driftwood is yellowing the water something awful. I wish there was some way of removing the yellow from the water. Bleach maybe? No wait...

But the fish are happy so far. My old cory cat died this morning, probably old age. I think I've had it 5 yrs or so by now.

WOW weird ... we had a small cory cat die last night to

Hey BTW if you are looking to replace your cory we have had one for about 3 years and are looking for a good home for him. We are tearing down the fresh water tank and going salt only.

Your tank looks NICE !

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2010, 21:40:52 »

Ok. That IS strange. Did you by any chance see some strange flashing lights outside your windows last night?

Anyway on a serious note...thanks for the offer, but I think I'll see how it goes without one for a bit. The tank is near to being overstocked now, although I've been reading some books on FW planted tanks and how well they can actually be run with decent filtration etc.

lazylivin · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2010, 00:01:12 »

Can you use a little carbon to help remove the yellow from the water or is that not good for planted tanks?

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2010, 00:47:17 »

I'm running two (I think) relatively new packs of Fluval carbon now. I guess I will have to change them out and maybe add more. That's the only thing I know of, too.

Rayman · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2010, 01:05:02 »

Nice tank good luck with getting the water clear, we expect clear water pics soon.

rupertswife · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2010, 14:53:53 »

I've been keeping planted tanks for a couple years, and the colored water can actually be a good thing. The wood will help balance the pH. Are you using charcoal in your filter? Sometimes that will take the color out.

I've had the Malaysian driftwood in my tank long enough that it doesn't color the water anymore, and I kinda miss it. =(

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2010, 15:41:29 »

The new charcoal did the trick. I don't like the tea-stained water look, but I put up with it as long as I can because I know it's good tannins and humic acid and stuff that the live plants like, and maybe the fish, too.

I need to get some new pix. I just got a new light for that tank today, so when I get it running, new pix!

HUNGER · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2010, 16:25:38 »

sweet

chromiumlux · « **Reply #14 on:** March 07, 2010, 01:08:01 »

sweeter still

ghurlag · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2010, 11:11:20 »

Quote from: ~reefchik~ on February 25, 2010, 15:41:29

The new charcoal did the trick. I don't like the tea-stained water look, but I put up with it as long as I can because I know it's good tannins and humic acid and stuff that the live plants like, and maybe the fish, too.

I need to get some new pix. I just got a new light for that tank today, so when I get it running, new pix!

Come on, Steph, where are the pics?

reefman · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2010, 13:10:08 »

Pictures!!

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2010, 21:17:39 »

Ok, took me long enough, didn't it?

ghurlag · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2010, 22:07:35 »

Wow, that's very nice! I am thinking of a planted take for my house as well. Not sure what I will go with, though. I had angels in my first aquarium. I've always loved those things

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2010, 22:08:48 »

What about that nice one with the goldfish in the living room? Can you convert it to planted? It would be gorgeous!

HUNGER · « **Reply #20 on:** March 24, 2010, 22:37:15 »

whats that stick looking fish is that some kind of kat fish

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #21 on:** March 24, 2010, 23:22:23 »

Yep Hunger, it's a farlowella twig catfish - cool-looking huh?

HUNGER · « **Reply #22 on:** March 25, 2010, 08:20:03 »

yes it is

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #23 on:** April 03, 2010, 13:51:01 »

Well, that tank is no more.

I realized that it's too deep for PC lighting to do a good job growing plants. They looked awesome for a couple months but then began to deteriorate. So I broke it down yesterday and put it into my 20 gal. I got some laterite and new sand for the bottom as well. I put the better lighting system on it (Current 24" with new 65w Dual Daylight tubes). I guess we'll see how it goes.

Apparently that tall tank is a 30- X High, because the water volume was much more than this 20 could hold.

Now, how incorrigible am I? I'm already considering setting the 30 X high back up as a fish only SW.

Somebody STOP me!

HUNGER · « **Reply #24 on:** April 03, 2010, 14:34:32 »

we cant stop u we all are addicted

ghurlag · « **Reply #25 on:** April 03, 2010, 18:43:57 »

Quote from: ~reefchik~ on March 24, 2010, 22:08:48

What about that nice one with the goldfish in the living room? Can you convert it to planted? It would be gorgeous!

Yeah, the goldfish will get the plants eventually. I still have some pretty important tweeks to make to the reef first, though

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #26 on:** April 03, 2010, 22:41:26 »

Quote from: HUNGER on April 03, 2010, 14:34:32

we cant stop u we all are addicted

Oh that's right...you're the enablers. I forgot

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #27 on:** April 03, 2010, 22:42:31 »

Quote from: ghurlag on April 03, 2010, 18:43:57

Yeah, the goldfish will get the plants eventually. I still have some pretty important tweeks to make to the reef first, though

Understand. Funny how FW always takes at least a slight backseat to the reefs. At least it seems like it to me.

HUNGER · « **Reply #28 on:** April 04, 2010, 01:42:30 »

ya my fw tank hasnt had a watter change in over a year but i do have big dumb fish

lagalaxy8 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 18, 2011, 13:11:33 »

Where did you get your plants at?

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #30 on:** May 17, 2011, 11:10:12 »

Sorry laga...that tank doesn't even exist anymore. I did get some plants at Jacks but the one by us closed. I also ordered a nice bunch of plants from A-Z Farms. They have various tank packages to suit what you want. I think I also have gotten a couple of plants from Petsmart in Miamisburg. Pretty much, if I see one I like, I get it. Nice plants are hard to find.

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: Showing off new planted tank with Rainbows (Read 5175 times)

rupertswife

lagalaxy8