Does anyone have an Aquarium? Want to chat about it?

[MikeyTN]

OH PS to get white balance for shooting in a SW tank as its an odd color shade, get a black card and a white card, place them in the tank and have them fill the center 60% of your shutter frame, then white balance to that. Works PERFECT

HTH

Usamimi what kinda sum you got there looks like a really wicked flow system you own.

?

My white balance is set, but since the tank is SO blue, the camera can barely function. It's like a 20k color temp.

20k MH? What brand? I think I had to have the room light on and use flash in order to take a pic cause I supplement with actinics too...

Only have a 75g fresh now...sold my saltwater to have more time for my birds. Plus more room for my aviary...

 

[Purevil21]

I told you I would post some pictures!

The 55 gallon is being made into a DIY sump/refugium. As far as saying aquariums are really easy, it all depends on what you want to do. That's kind of the beauty, they can be and simple or as complex as you want. It also depends almost entirely on what you want to keep. This system is going to be fairly complex, I will be running a GFO reactor, skimmer, and eventually a complete tank controller. But first things first, I gotta build the system. That's always the fun part!

 

[usamimi]

LEDs actually. the Aqua Illuminations allow you to hit any color combo you want and mix is AMAZINGLY blue right now. I love it.

 

[MikeyTN]

LEDs actually. the Aqua Illuminations allow you to hit any color combo you want and mix is AMAZINGLY blue right now. I love it.

Those LEDS have drop in price big time. Good thing I didn't buy that LED light img when first came out...they had a lot of problems, now out of brainwashing cause they loss the lawsuit by a guy that started LED aquarium lighting...

 

[theocnoob]

OH PS to get white balance for shooting in a SW tank as its an odd color shade, get a black card and a white card, place them in the tank and have them fill the center 60% of your shutter frame, then white balance to that. Works PERFECT

HTH

Usamimi what kinda sum you got there looks like a really wicked flow system you own.

?

My white balance is set, but since the tank is SO blue, the camera can barely function. It's like a 20k color temp.

20k MH? What brand? I think I had to have the room light on and use flash in order to take a pic cause I supplement with actinics too...

Only have a 75g fresh now...sold my saltwater to have more time for my birds. Plus more room for my aviary...

Ya forgot that. Try taking the shot with room light only without your aquarium light on. Just make sure you dont scare your fish with flash.

And ya RE: LED, it is THE PLACE TO BE. The tanks I've seen running really high quality LED setups have some of the healthiest looking photosynthetic corals I've ever seen. Plus it looks so so awesome. Not harsh at all. AND it used very little power.

 

[theocnoob]

I LOVE salt tanks! I want to have a wall of my house that's got a salt tank running through the middle... <3 I grew up with fishtanks, unfortuantely, my sister got the knack for aquariums... she's got a HUGE tank with all kinds of freshwater critters. I have my little itty bitty 10 gallon. I've been experimenting with different fish but my stupid gouramis keep eating their tankmates! D: oh well... They just hang out together now, they're all alone in the tank. I had a beautiful betta that mysteriously disappeared, and the three took out my bamboo shrimp early on... poor dude didn't have a chance

Anyways! Here's my tank

Plato and Aristotle
(affectionately named after they didn't belly up... and after the Raphael painting "School of Athens)

Plato

My first betta of college... he died a few days after being in the tank I think the long drive killed him

Mate, you CANT keep those gouramis in a 10. You have a blue and gold thrichogaster Trichopterus. They need 35-45 gallons. They reach 7".

You need to rethink your whole setup dude.

Let us know if you want suggestions. I will gently offer one though:

Idea to change your set up --Have you considered for example a group of cherry shrimp? And a honey gourami? That's a nice set up and very peaceful in a 10G. The honey gourami will eat SOME of the baby shrimp but the population should maintain stable. Honey gourami (Colisa chuna) are available in a two color (black/reddish) which is the wild morph, as well as a man made pure yellow and pure blood red. I suggest a single individual with some cherry OR amano shrimp. Keep floating hornwort plant in there, maintain 80F, and you're good to go.You still get to have a gourami, just a dwarf one, and everything will be peaceful. 10G is small. Don't overdo it. You can add the shrimp, that gourami, a rabbit or assassin snails, or neritina natalensis snails, but dont go nuts. 1" of fish per gallon is a load of crudd. Im sorry to say this, in this way and do not mean to be rude but your current setup and plans are not sustainable.

This is an example of a great combo for a 10G. 1 male Colisa chuna gourami, 4 nerite snails (neritina natalensis) and about 20 cherry shrimp (no idea sc name)
They're all great pets.

 

[andrea.faerie]

Mate, you CANT keep those gouramis in a 10. You have a blue and gold thrichogaster Trichopterus. They need 35-45 gallons. They reach 7".

You need to rethink your whole setup dude.

Let us know if you want suggestions.

I know they get quite large I'm keeping them for my sister for the time being. They've still got some growing to do she's got a 75 gallon that's she's getting set up. I'm partial to smaller loaches and cory cats and the like honestly she wanted a gold and blue so I got them for her until she gets her water chemistry right

Also, I like your suggestion! I may have to tell my sister to hurry up with getting the sciency stuff right and take her fish killer fish! haha I've considered doing a tank with just plants or a tank with an african dwarf frog or two Not sure what I'm going to do just yet, I've been holding her gouramis for her lol

 

[andrea.faerie]

Also I should have mentioned they're the only fish in the tank right now too haha just the 2 gouramis

 

[theocnoob]

I am a former aquarium servicer professionally as well as a former pet shop fish section employee. I can help you make things work if you want me to -- or leave you alone it is up to you.

 

[theocnoob]

Also I should have mentioned they're the only fish in the tank right now too haha just the 2 gouramis

I'm glad you know they do not belong there. Please rehome them soon, make sure the ammonia and nitrites are zero and we'll get something great in there that you'll enjoy. I think you'd love a shrimp colony, I know I do. Lovely to watch.
By the way I don't know if you have a fish forum with a buy/sell in the carolinas, but we have one here in Ontario. The cherry shrimp I bought were purchased at adult size 100 for $25 dollars. You can find amazing deals like that, say pay $10 for your 25 shrimp (can't put hundreds and hundreds in a 10G )

The snail/gourami/shrimp combo I listed btw, I have run it myself. It is a 100% zero issue setup. Gourami makes bubble nest in corner floating plants, shrimp keep snails and other items free of algae, snails clean glass, fish ignores all of them. It's very Zen.
Maybe put a small anubias in the middle on a log, and have hornwort floating in the corner. That way everything (shrimp, snails, gourami) has a habitat.

BTW use pool filter sand. Any time you have snails. They love it to dig through and it is $10 for 100lbs. The one I use is Nepheline Syanite. It even has stuff in it that is beneficial for growing plants so you can grow java fern (but just ok) in it. . It is 100 percent safe. Me and hundreds of others on other forums have used it. Just rinse it well in the tub before use as it is dusty stuff. If you want you can use other snails (harder to find but I have very much enjoyed having them)

SNALE333.mp4 video by 111olbap - Photobucket Here we have an Assassin and Rabbit snail together. Assassin snails will kill Apple, Ramshorn, and Nerite snails, but will ignore Rabbit snails, so be careful if you will be combining more than 1 snail species . The assassin snail is harmless to all shrimp fish and plants. Just dangerous to certain snail species hence their name. Rabbit snails are all round harmless. They won't eat your plants. Just dig around looking for pieces of food. They like spirulina tabs and stuff like that. They're just a slow mellow snail. Nerites eat sort of fifty fifty algae and sinking foods. The Cherry shrimp ditto.

Movie_0008.mp4 video by 111olbap - Photobucket
Here is the Assassin snail on its own.

The only snail I so nay to for 10G is an Apple snail as, if fed as they'd like, they become baseball sized and overload the biofilter. Hope I can help you further amigo.

OH one last thing. If you feel up to taking on a difficult (delicate) fish and want cichlids

http://www.africancichlids.net/gallery/neolamprologus_brevis_mtoto3.jpg
a pair of Brevis (and nothing else) WILL fit in 10G happily. Truly a 'intermediate to expert' fish though.





a $10 bag of that pool sand btw, was enough for me to set up a 55G, a 15G, and half 1/3 extra . Its whats in the snail tank vids. Cheap safe and even looks nice!

 

[andrea.faerie]

no no! I appreciate the help I've been looking for little shrimps but they're hard to find around where I live. I need heavily armored fish... they have to survive an hour drive >.< at least that's where the closest *good* fish store is from me. I have a battery operated aerator and I transport them safely, but I don't know if I'm going to even keep the tank after my sister takes her gouramis. I might put a pretty half moon betta in there, or some shrimps if I can find them or go catch a crayfish from the river haha

 

[andrea.faerie]

I'm glad you know they do not belong there.

oh no haha I grew up with fish tanks and we had HUGE gouramis in the 100 gal. tank. I don't remember what kind they were because I was little, but I remember they were wonderful Like I said before, my sister is the one with the aquarium gift haha I got 10 gallon and hadn't decided what to put in it yet so I got a betta and she told me to get her gouramis and hold them for a bit while she got her stuff straight with the 75 gallon haha

my favorite fish was batman.... a pleco.. a really REALLY BIG pleco... he was huge...

 

[theocnoob]

no no! I appreciate the help I've been looking for little shrimps but they're hard to find around where I live. I need heavily armored fish... they have to survive an hour drive >.< at least that's where the closest *good* fish store is from me. I have a battery operated aerator and I transport them safely, but I don't know if I'm going to even keep the tank after my sister takes her gouramis. I might put a pretty half moon betta in there, or some shrimps if I can find them or go catch a crayfish from the river haha

You don't need armor dear all you need to do is take the plastic bag and put it on your chest wearing a loosefitting jacket. This softens most impacts, keeps it dark for them, and your body heat keeps them warm.

I once drove 60 miles, on a motorcycle, in the cold, to pick up a bag of fragile cichlids. Put them in my jacket, rode home. They were unscared and at exactly 79F which is 100% safe.

 

[theocnoob]

I'm glad you know they do not belong there.

oh no haha I grew up with fish tanks and we had HUGE gouramis in the 100 gal. tank. I don't remember what kind they were because I was little, but I remember they were wonderful Like I said before, my sister is the one with the aquarium gift haha I got 10 gallon and hadn't decided what to put in it yet so I got a betta and she told me to get her gouramis and hold them for a bit while she got her stuff straight with the 75 gallon haha

my favorite fish was batman.... a pleco.. a really REALLY BIG pleco... he was huge...

If you wish to keep a single female betta in that tank thats fine too. Just keep the single betta (no gourami in this case) and add the shrimp and snails. There is a minor possibility the betta will harass the shrimp that seems to vary from one individual to the next with bettas but yes that would be fine.

There IS a species of pleco called the bushynose pleco that DOES fit in 10G but SOOO just barely. If you really want one I'll direct you to some resources to learn up on them but it'd require serious reworking of the plan here. They max at four inches naturally.

Definitely sounds like you'd enjoy shrimp. Get some shrimp and a bushynose pleco. The pleco will EASILY survive the ride IN A BAG in your jacket for an hour (dont be paranoid) and shrimp ship VERY well. Order 25 cherries online. Trust me.

 

[andrea.faerie]

I thikn I will order some shrimps once I get my water levels right for them, I'll have to ask my sister if she can help me get my "chemistry" right haha I wouldn't put anything in the same tank as a betta, I think they're pretty on their own

We had a disaster with a snail years ago... no more snails for me... so many snails... brought one home from the pond.. a few hours later "ooh! BABIES!" a few days later we were using mom's spatula to scrape them off the side.. it was horrible.. dad thought is was hilarious lol

I've looked at those plecos before! I was considering at the time a 30 gallon tank but I couldn't find one that was just the tank and not a kit. They look so funny... I didn't really want one in my tank haha I was reminiscing.. I just really loved THAT fish haha that particular pleco. he was really pretty... and BIG... emphasis on big...

I really like the idea of cherry shrimp Would it be possible to keep just the shrimp? and maybe a few small fish like fancy guppies or something of that caliper? I like bright colors contrasting with the rocks (could be considered a shallow opinion.. (oh look at that a fishtank joke!))

I kept a small painted turtle and a crayfish once, they lived for several years Houdini only had 3 feet and he was 6 when I gave him to my friend Maria (turtle fanatic and wanted houdini bad haha) and Pog (the crayfish) lived for about 4 years after dad pulled her from the pond haha I seem to have a knack for weird creatures...

 

[theocnoob]

I thikn I will order some shrimps once I get my water levels right for them, I'll have to ask my sister if she can help me get my "chemistry" right haha I wouldn't put anything in the same tank as a betta, I think they're pretty on their own

We had a disaster with a snail years ago... no more snails for me... so many snails... brought one home from the pond.. a few hours later "ooh! BABIES!" a few days later we were using mom's spatula to scrape them off the side.. it was horrible.. dad thought is was hilarious lol

I've looked at those plecos before! I was considering at the time a 30 gallon tank but I couldn't find one that was just the tank and not a kit. They look so funny... I didn't really want one in my tank haha I was reminiscing.. I just really loved THAT fish haha that particular pleco. he was really pretty... and BIG... emphasis on big...

I really like the idea of cherry shrimp Would it be possible to keep just the shrimp? and maybe a few small fish like fancy guppies or something of that caliper? I like bright colors contrasting with the rocks (could be considered a shallow opinion.. (oh look at that a fishtank joke!))

I kept a small painted turtle and a crayfish once, they lived for several years Houdini only had 3 feet and he was 6 when I gave him to my friend Maria (turtle fanatic and wanted houdini bad haha) and Pog (the crayfish) lived for about 4 years after dad pulled her from the pond haha I seem to have a knack for weird creatures...

Shrimp and guppies is a very nice peaceful combo that would definitely work. However given that females get too big for that tank size, perhaps get a group of only male endler guppies OR mosquitofish (similar to guppy, smaller) You don't need special water chemistry. Make sure you have a solid biofilter, decent filtration, a heater, and the pH is 6.8-8.5

You will find as long as you feed them and keep water changes up, give them lots of hiding spots and be careful not to squish or vaccuum them up while cleaning (they are hardy but also fragile) your shrimp colony will not only survive but expand a little as some of their babies make it to adulthood. As they are short lived, you will have a group that is always making new generations.

If you have a 'snail problem' then thats when you buy 10 assassin snails. They love eating those little pond type snails, and assassin snails wont breed in your tank. Once they eat all your snails they will scavenge for fish food pellets and still be just fine. HTH.

The shrimp are very easy to get into. Little more is needed than a long flat log for them to live under. You can tie some anubias or java fern to the top for a nice look.

You COULD do cherries and guppies (though 10G is slightly cramped for guppies and I'd suggest endlers, a smaller cousin, or white cloud mountain minnows (the gold ones) instead). But yes that will work.

As far as keeping things with bettas- you can. Just depends what. I had a pair of bolivian rams (see pic first page) living with a female beta in a 40 gallon. All fed together and even grouped and swam together. The female betta thought the female ram was a male betta and flirted with it incessantly.. It was quite hilarious. Other than sexual harassment they got along perfectly.

Yet another option you have is a tank full of hornwort and mosquitofish. Itll look like a little jungle and the mostquito fish breed like its going out of style so you can sell them to petshops and support your tank $ off its own output. You can keep shrimp with them. They are like beautiful micro guppies. You have 100s of options even in 10 gallons. Killifish is another example- say a male australe lyretail killifish and some amano shrimp. But THAT fish will be hard to track down. Almost surely mailorder. They are not common but worth the search as they look like absolute gold but keep super easily in a basic FW tank. Red and orange with white tail. They CAN be vicious against 'competing' size or attitude fish'. Best kept alone or with something unthreatening like the aforementioned mosquitofish/amano group. They will ignore smaller slower fish which they do not consider a threat to their space or food. The same environment as for the mosquito fish is great for the killi. Amphyosemion australe is the one you want.

You're in NC right? Or was it SC? Want me to help track down distributors of some of this rare stuff in your area? Private message me. Most of this stuff is bred in Florida. You're not that far from it. It'd ship to you fairly cheap and arrive in good spirits.

Forgot to mention besides the bushynose another micro pleco you can keep (but only keep ONE pleco of ONE species as you are space limited) is Panaque maccus. Usually called Clown Plecos in the pet trade. They need to eat soft wood to survive in addition to pellets to make sure to have a piece of malaysian driftwood (which is soft). Alternately feed SERA CATFISH CHIPS which already contain wood. Beautiful fish. Only active at night while the bushynose is active 24 hours. Also unlike the bushynose, clowns dont clean your tank of algae much at all. They just kinda live in there. It's a look at it fish not an it serves a purpose fish.

PS cute bearded dragon lizard

All these fish retail dirt cheap btw.. You can pull this off on pocket change

Mosquito fish run 2 for a dollar
Clown plecos run five to ten dollars
the shrimp run 100 for 25 dollars (cherr)
or 10/$10 (amano shrimp)
the honey gourami is $4
Bushynose pleco as a juvenile is $1-4
Enough hornwort plant to fill your 10G is $10
Only the killi may break the bank as prices vary wildly. Anywhere from $15 to 80 depending on availability in your zone. Or $100 or so for a pair. They breed easily and the babies are a goldmine if you're into raising fish to sell to other pet owners. They look so neat that you put ads up in your local craigslist and you can't keep up with the phone calls.

The hornwort/shrimp/mosquitofish also breed fast enough that you will always have a supply to trade to your pet shop and be able to get your foods and water conditioner free making a self supporting (financially) aquarium. I've done this before. Aquariums... they're even nicer to look at when you know they involve no out of pocket expence.

Crawfish make good pets and even blue ones are available in the pet hobby. They require more space than 20x10" (ten gallon) to walk around though so please don't get one unless you have (IMO) 29x12" (29 gallon) or better) Though again, there is an exception. The 'orange dwarf crawfish' which is utterly rare, fragile, and brutally expensive ($100?) Only reaches 2" and DOES fit in a 10G community tank. And you COULD keep one. Would likely eat shrimp but ignore snails, other fishes.

I really like the idea of cherry shrimp Would it be possible to keep just the shrimp?

Some of the nicest tanks I have ever seen are pure shrimp. The shrimp prefer it because they feel fearless.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVtvMXd5pP0"]Freshwater Shrimp Aquarium - YouTube[/ame]

It is still possible to add the odd tiny fish without the shrimp noticing. This person has an Ottoniculous catfish, see? But mostly just shrimp. Lovely setup. You can get cherry and bumblebee and amano shrimp like this guy and mix them. They do not harm eachother. If just going shrimp, they prefer a black sand or gravel bottom with black rocks over lighter colors. Plants are not needed if they aren't your strong point. I do recommend the hornwort as it'll grow anywhere no matter what and the shrimp love living in it. It'll be fine even under the most inferior of aquarium light

that much usually is only one dollar

You would enjoy watching shrimp. You learn to tell them apart by markings. There is a 'lead shrimp' who you will learn to identitfy and they all have personalities. One always runs for the surface to try to catch food. One always sits on the same log. One always picks algae from ONLY one spot. Lots of laughs and so affordable I love em and hope to get back to shrimp keeping one day when I have the extra space and time to get set up again.


Hope this was Helpful please ask any other Qs

 

[theocnoob]

Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp
Tonnes of places sell all the kinds of shrimp online and offer a guarantee and ship them to you.

They sell lovely shrimp like this Cardina species at that place I linked

6 for $18

You could match those, some amanos, and some cherries, for instance (though I notice this guy overcharges for cherries. They should be 50 cents a piece. Or less. Only $1> if they are a really bright red)

PS if you just want 1 single fish that will recognize you and come beg for food and just be a gorgeous animal altogether, but WILL attack most other fish, snails and shrimp, so is best kept alone, get a single male paradise
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsEZttTeLGE&feature=related"]Pez paraiso tratando de desovar/ paradise fish trying to mate - YouTube[/ame] (The colorful one is male. It is following a gravid female trying to get her attention. 10G is too small for a pair of these though.)


Sorry for the extended blurb but I hope that it was informative.

 

[theocnoob]

Forgot to show you the Lyretail Killi. You could keep those as well. A male and 2 females and hornwort. Super fun fish.
Have a great day.

 

[nofearengineer]

Ocnoob, you're driving me nuts LOL. I had somehow manged to "back burner" my aquarium habit, but you're dragging me back in.

I love shrimp tanks. I've never owned one, but I've recently thought about what I would start out with. Maybe a 30 long, planted with orange eyed blue tigers. Man...that would be sweet.

 

[theocnoob]

nofear, why don't you go for it? A shrimp tank is the easiest to maintain, and the shimp are very peaceful. You already have the tank. In a 30 long
All you need is an internal filter. I use these for shrimp tanks

http://di1-4.shoppingshadow.com/ima...ra+whisper+in+tank+power+filter+pf+40i+20.jpg
I put a prefilter sponge over the bottom. I use it because the intake is wide and weak enough that with a sponge over it even the baby shrimp won't get sucked in. If you can get an Eheim Aquaball, even better!

because they create an optimal water flow pattern. If you live where JBL CRISTAL PROFI is available THAT is optimal.

Whatever you get, fill it with aquaclear sponge, ie the tetra 40i. All you have to do is wring it out once in awhile and you have permanent filter material. You sound like you already know how to run a planted tank. Tigers are an intermediate shrimp. Maybe start with amano, ghost and cherry to make sure they all do well for you. Then add a couple of tiger shrimp later if you feel comfortable. Ask me ANYTHING. I love to help. Feel free to PM. I know a lot about fish.

Your shrimp tank will bring hours of peace. It is the ideal situation to also add a few peaceful colorful fish. That tank setup plus maybe 7 bright red plattys would be heaven. Get your plattys from a good supplier. The mass market ones are inbred junk. Private supply are excellent. Plattys do not harass shrimp.

You using aquatic planting soil for this? Ideal since its dark brown or black and shrimp like dark substrate.

And again IMO for ideal internal filters (I like to put tanks right against the wall)

Tetra i series
JBL Crystal Profi
EHEIM Aquaball

If you have lots of $$ flying around get an Eheim 2215 with an intake sponge and use the output spraybar with an output sponge on the end for low water speed but good turnover.

Did you know you can also keep giant shrimp in a planted tank? Here's a shed from my old giant malaysian prawn.

There are non aggressive ones too (Prawns are mean). Once you get the hang of your amano tiger etc you can add a wood/bamboo shrimp as well. They are peaceful and 4" long.

All FW shrimp enjoy planted tanks with any plants you want, just make sure they have room to get around. They especially enjoy cleaning tough leaved plants like anubias, java fern, val, amazon sword. In essence, they prefer the easy to grow stuff anyway, so super bonus there. The first time your amanos feel comfy enough to come out and pick at food infront of you, you fall in love. It's a lovely pet and I 100% suggest you DO go shrimp if you want to come back to aquariums. It's a wonderful experience.

Join a shrimp keeping forum to get the best advice for setups, sellers, etc.

http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n88/111olbap/?action=view&current=Movie_0001-2.mp4

I converted this 15G to shrimp shortly after taking this. Left the bushynose in there as it is harmless to them. In the vid it includes some snails, a male/female black paradise spawning pair, a female bushynose pleco, a baby 'nano' cichlid who was growing out, and some anubias, and a tetra 20i filter, and pool filter sand. This is all you need for shrimp. They're very easy going.