xXInkedPhoenixX

Tank maintenance day. First some of you might want the Invictus update. His tank is looking really good, the AR is perking up and things are starting to grow: I added Curlyque the Nerite today from the old CPD tank. Now all that's left in there are some plants and bladder snails most of which may be going into the Medieval tank shortly. Invictus doesn't seem to mind his new tankmate: He's getting prettier all the time and quite the character. I wish his fins were shorter- they certainly are an impediment to him but when he's fully flared he's gorgeous: Punk is probably not pleased about how many fry the Black Neons are pumping out. I think I spotted 4-5 smaller and 3-5 middle sized Neons. It's hard to count since they are fast little buggers and all look the same. I'm either going to have to sell them to a local forum member or put some in the Medieval tank. I haven't decided. But as always he's a character Mr. Punk: All of my Betta have tunnels now. Koianu has has his longer than the others and makes the most use of it. I've caught him sleeping in there many times. He's such a good boy for tolerating the active QT Guppies from my Mum's tank just on the other side of the divider. Then there's Serket. Today she and Hillstream Loach, Kirby were hanging out around the granite rock enclosure where I put the food for Kirby but I KNOW she's eating it too, little fatty: Serket is developing some BEAUTIFUL color- her eyes are glowing green and what's even prettier to me is that the tips of her red fins are getting glowing tips. She is such a good girl too- very social and good to her tankmates that can be a little obnoxious:

Well we're coming down to the flooding wire here. Some of the moss is doing REALLY well, some of it I don't expect to stick around once the tank is flooded. The higher branches on the "tree" aren't doing as well as the lower which hit the middle of the tank. The moss on the big rocks is half and half. The archway, eh, it may or may not stay- that's ok. One piece of Monte Carlo doesn't look great but everything else is green. I'm really happy with the Repens, I hope they make it. Flooding should happen some time tomorrow. My Mum's guppies are doing good, I think we have growth on the one that got the biggest damage. I only have 2 white Guppies in QT left, had one of the trio mysteriously pass- I think they'll have to be the sacrificial Guppies to go in the tank first- since of 6 that's all I have left. I'm not even sure if they're sick- they act normal and look normal. I guess that's a disadvantage of being a white fish- a lot of fish disease have white tones to it!

They take a *really* really long time to grow. They don't get an inch before 3-5 months.

Well, no it's most of one of my legs- but that's because by design I see it every day, more than once. 😁 I hope you get your tattoo some day, that would also be inspiring, but for now, rebuild! ( and take us with you!)

I will share, that the only tattoo I have is a giant Phoenix. It's a reminder of many things but the most importantly- rising from the ashes. As a hobbyist, as a relative, as a friend, as a military person, as a human being- it's one of the beautiful things we as people are capable of. Sometimes it takes a chunk of time to rise, other times it only takes a second....what's great is that the tank will rise again with you- and you get to see it- both there and in yourself.

I also use a lot of pots in my tanks not just for this reason but to create visual interest in the tank. I have a lot of Bacopa and it's true, I've found Eco Complete is harder to use aquascaping tweezers to plant the more delicate stem plants- they do break off a lot. I tend to make a hole in the substrate and cover it over with the aquascaping rake. A two handed operation but I have less breakage that way. I have no issues planting them in gravel or even something like Fluval Stratum.

@Andy's Fish Den I use a lot of cast iron and I always "season" by cooking bacon first!!!! (Crisco later, but a lot of people like grapeseed oil nowadays) I was more excited about what I got my parents, a Birdvue Bird feeder with wifi camera! My Dad has already sent me videos of the feeder visitors

@Chick-In-Of-TheSea I was thinking in this case, small paint brush since toothbrush would be a hard angle.

Well folks this week I've decided it's time to flood the tank, put in the final plants and etc before moving the first residents in. Probably bladder snails. I'm going to finish "paving" the stone floor by laying down a few more rocks then I'm going to attempt to put black sand down between the stones. Would have been easier if the rocks were dry but because of the moisture in there it will be a bit tricky. We'll see if I can handle it. If any of you have an easy idea for doing that please feel free to fill me in. I have funnels I plan to use and paint brushes. I'll dry the tops of the rocks the best I can too. So in the next 5-7 days you'll see an update on the build. I've decided to go ahead and flood the tank now since the moss seems to have taken hold, the Monte Carlo isn't really spreading fast and the Repens seems to be about where it's going to be for a bit. I expect some die off but at least the plants have rooted so I'll just take it as it comes!

Hello folks! We are almost to the very end of this journal! I've decided, that with no real significant further progress with the plants in the dry start of the Medieval Tank (separate post for the build): read: I think it's as good as it's going to get for now, I'm going to be flooding the tank this week and beginning the process of moving fish in. Hoping that in the next couple/few weeks White, our final rescue Betta will be in his new home. It's about time too, since the poor guy has been waiting patiently in a crappy unheated 3 gallon QT. I personally can't wait. But he must not be too unhappy, tonight during his every other day water change I discovered that he started a small build himself: So he's not too miserable I guess. Stay tuned!

Welcome to the forum! I love that your wife saves the snails haha!

YES, but it was more like THIS, before: When Invictus came out he actually had to turn his body sideways so getting in there is no easy feat. I use my phone typically however the lights were high enough at this point. I did NOT expect him to have gone in that far!

Merry Christmas Fishy Friends!

First night spent away since Betta formerly known as Red, now named Invictus was placed in his new home. I returned from my trip and was checking my tanks as I usually do. First I checked on the newbie in the newbie tank. DISASTER!!! Oh no! Where is he? Nowhere in this tank, not in his new 3D printed tunnel, not in any of the plants, not the rock cave. UGGGHHHHHHH. So I started the long hard search around the tank for the evidence of a body. Did he jump out? Did one of the cats finally reach into a tank (I was worried about the gap that Aquatop is now leaving on its glass tops). I was so mad at myself! ....then.... I remembered what used to happen when I had the Dragon in the tank before but it was never like this.... I checked to see if any part of him was hanging out because this was how it was before... Couldn't really see....get closer... ......could it be???? ..heart attack avoided, but I've never wanted to strangle a fish more in my life....

@Chick-In-Of-TheSea only time Punk does it is in the morning during feeding time. He seems excited

@Odd DuckI will try with the next one I find. I was never good in biology class so we shall see.

Could be my Subwassertang as well

Merry Christmas @John in NZ, beautiful fish!

THE PARENT TANK: Mystery continues... Well I'm now up to 26 deceased Otocinclus (1 of which was a Tiger, have also found 1 deceased baby- but I cannot tell how it died, it very well could have been mosh-pitted to death as they are getting much bigger and there are so many in the breeder box). They are still getting fed Repashy with Metroplex (the babies aren't). It seems the deaths have slowed but haven't entirely stopped. I'll be doing a water change tomorrow and seeing if there are any more bodies lurking in the tank.

Speaking of reproductions.... Found 4 more newer Black Neons in my tank today.... They keep doing this I'll need to pull somebody! The little turds are cute though. Just like teeny tiny versions of their parents. Chowed down on frozen baby brine this morning....

It looks amazing friend! What a cool Christmas present!

Yes. Any reproductions in my tanks are accidental. I do none of this on purpose. I don't need any more fish!

Visited Mum and her tank today. For formerly known as Purple fans, Miss Zaggi is doing well- though since I had to take Mum's 2 Guppies from the tank due to tail damage (that we suspect Zaggi did, but have no proof) Mum says that Zaggi seems bored. There are 2 Neons in there for her to terrorize but she seems uninterested. I thought maybe we can think about getting Endlers for the tank- they are faster and have smaller tails! Anyway, she keeps changing colors and is just a beauty:

I'm still of the mind this is damage. I bet he didn't look like that prior to being shipped. Did the seller ever respond?

No joke. I get pretty choosey. I feel like I've found a few for my tanks- maybe that's part of the fun- finding something that isn't lame!