CalmedByFish

If all goes well, you'll need a chainsaw. (Or you'll need to mail me one! 😛 )

Well, since it's usually healthiest to have more plant bulk than critter bulk, you're probably set! *Impressively* set. LOL

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't even 1 sword eventually swallow a 20 gallon? (I have 1, so I'm particularly curious.)

Would the purpose of extra water changes be to remove bacteria from the water column?

Great start! Looks good too!

Welcome!

Straight white vinegar breaks up soap residue. Just rub the vinegar on well, rinse well, and you're good. There are different kinds of soaps. Some really do rinse well on their own with hot water and rubbing. Others, like dishwasher detergent, leave residue (which is not always visible). That's where the vinegar comes in.

I heard @Cory mention in an old video that guppies are his "desert island fish" - the species he'd keep if he could only keep one. Since sustainable joy is high priority to me, I've been thinking about which one single species I'd keep if I could only ever have that one for the rest of my life. I'm currently thinking endlers, but I'm not certain. And I think my "desert island plant" might be vallisneria. To keep it joyful, let's assume you'll never have to resort to eating your choice. Do you know what your "desert island" fish or plant might be? 🙂

Thank you! I've never even heard that term. I'll google it.

I must learn from you, Obi-Wan! I very much dislike messing with root tabs. Do you have "heavy root feeders?" If so, do they get much fish poo? I'm intrigued!

Yeah, I wouldn't worry at all for probably a month. Catch is, I'm looking at ~3 more months that the plants will have to stay potted.

It was recent that I was still at the "betta in a bowl" level of knowledge, so I've kinda bought 1-2 each of a very wide variety of items, trying to get my fishkeeping healthy and stable. Plants are the most fun of the purchases though.

@Mmiller2001 @Koi @Keeg Check me on this idea, please. I could get plastic baskets with a lot of holes (such as those commonly used in bathrooms or for packing strawberries.) I re-plant my val and sword into them, in gravel, with root tabs in the middle. From then on, I cross my fingers that nutrients from the water column will come through the holes and be enough to keep the val and sword in decent health. Can y'all think of any red flags about that idea?

Your angels look like moons. 😍

When I'm doing anything more than about 3 steps, I write out step-by-step instructions to myself first, and set it where I can look at it while I work. That catches goofs before I make them, and it makes the actual activity much smoother - and smoother means less time, energy, and stress spent. Win win win. As for stressing the critters, I net the most spazzy ones into a bucket for a few hours - or longer with an airstone. If the container is clear, it can be set inside a paper bag, or surrounded with something, to keep them from being startled.

I love Star Trek, particularly Voyager. I really relate to the character of Janeway, as if she's who I would turn out to be in very different life circumstances. The catch with sci-fi is that it easily leads to nightmares, so that limits what I watch.

I appreciate hearing this about the moss. My first-ever moss is currently en route to me. What's darkstart? The happy success story is good to hear. Makes me smile. ❤️

SHE does though! 🤣

Forgot to add that I also crush a tiny bit of a chlorella tablet in the pill crusher, along with crushing the high protein and high fat food, and keeping a piece of cuttlebone on the bottom of the tank. So: They need green food, a lot of protein, (I think) some fat, and a lot of Calcium (from both food and GH). They also eat bacteria, algaes, biofilm, and other such tiny living things. It's massively helpful to have snails in their tank. The snails can eat leftover food, so you don't have to be too concerned about overfeeding, and the shrimplets eat snail poop!

I took the little container of water they were in, and drizzled the water (not shrimp) into another cup. That way, if a shrimp swooshed in, I'd still have it safely in water. When I got the container of shrimplets down to very little water in it, I set it in the tank and tipped it, letting them gently fall out. (Then I'd use the now-empty container to drizzle water again until I could get the cup back down to shrimp and very little water. Same process.) I'd be concerned about using cloth due to it likely having at least a little detergent on it.

Though I can't seem to find it now, I know Cory has a video involving an outdoor shrimp pond. I can't imagine it had a ton of filtration or air, so until you can get a simple air stone or nano sponge filter, just plop fast-growing plants in to create oxygen. For that (potential) filter, and the one you already have in your non-quarantine tank, I'd suggest a sponge with smaller holes than what ACO sells. Perhaps wrap filter floss around the intake, held in place with rubber bands. The tiniest of the new shrimp could definitely fit in the bigger sponge holes. I've been feeding my little shrimp by turning nano pellets (high protein and fat) into fine powder, using a pill crusher. Then I shake a tiny bit in water and dump it in the tank so it spreads out. I also put a piece of cuttlebone in the water for extra Calcium. I wouldn't worry about not having substrate, since that will help them find the powdered food. Could be wrong about this: I think they can eat the same bacteria that comes in a liquid bottle, so I've been adding a drizzle every few days. Can't hurt. Since you were already planning on shrimp, you probably know this, but aim for a high-ish GH, pH of at least 7.0, and perhaps a temp in the low 70's. I got my first shrimp 6 days ago, so on one hand, I know nothing, and on the other hand, I've been researching a lot recently!

@Jungle FanI'm somehow just now noticing this thread. I love how natural, lush, and jungley your tank is. Really beautiful. Nicely done.

Wow! He's gorgeous! And he and you are both funny. 🙂 I love that comment about your wife owing you one. 😂 All my best to Casper's owner. I hope he gets back into a stable and happy situation soon.

Surely like hair. But I'm just saying that because it's the only way that it makes sense for the cut tips to still show the cut line.

I've never had java moss, but I ordered a little shortly before you posted. 🙂 I'm thinking it'll look cool and work, but I hear tale that it spreads. You'd just have to make sure it doesn't grow into the sponge. I also hear it's very slow growing, and very fast growing. 🙄 So that may or may not be difficult.