‘Fairy Cay’: Twenty Gallon High

[Sapere_Ceta]

October 11th, I preformed the last water change before I would be getting multiple surgeries, including a Partial Hysterectomy also with the removal of my Eustachian tube, on October 16th. 
 

 

 

Aside from the temporary fogging, the aquarium was looking good. 

The plants were growing in well, although they looked a little disheveled from the movement and cutting previously done. 
 

October 27th, I photographed the aquarium while I couldn’t preform water changes or maintenance on it, because I was in a long surgical recovery.
 

 

Algae was building up extremely heavily, and I did what I could with the lighting to attempt to combat it, but it definitely was not enough.
 

November 3rd was my first water change after my surgeries, but it was minimal and was very difficult to preform. I was very tired and did not photograph the outcome. 
 

November 12th, I continued to let my body rest, but I did photograph the aquarium looking overgrown. 
 

 

Cosmo enjoyed watching Grume with me. He continued to do well, and was growing so quickly from when we had gotten him at just 6 weeks of age. 
 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

ORD, great journal and journey to follow. Thanks for sharing @Sapere_Ceta! I think the exponential growth of your plants from the summer is to be admired. The aquascape is maturing very well. 

[Sapere_Ceta]

It was at this point, that I decided to completely redo the aquarium. 

I felt that with all of the unintentional neglect it had, that it would be better to give it a complete refresh. 

I also felt like I could have done better with the scape, but that was my least priority this entire time, as I just wanted a manageable aquarium, not wanting to get over my head. 
 

So, away it went. I placed Grume into a temporary heated and filtered 5 gallon, not knowing how long this would take me, and got to work. 
 

 

It took me a grueling 7 hours before I had cleared everything out of the aquarium and cleaned it out to start with a nice, clean slate. 
 

I layered mesh bags containing pea gravel onto the bottom to start with, so I could make the scape higher and take advantage of the added height this aquarium has. The back layer is over 6 inches tall. 

I collected rocks from the side of my neighbor’s garage (they never see me, since I am couchridden 95% of the time, so I’m sure seeing me at the side of their garage scooping up rocks made me seem even stranger to them). My grandpa knows them well, so I knew they wouldn’t mind. 

I cleaned the rocks thoroughly, and then I placed them into the aquarium, starting with the largest rock first to act as my base layer, combining that later with more rocks and then smaller rocks as accents. 
 

I would temporary add the driftwood in to get an idea of how I would want each piece, and then I would remove it. Once I had most of the rocks in to place, I added the driftwood for the permanent placement, and tried to lock them well into place with each other and the rocks. 

Some rocks needed to be added to help make the scape sturdier, and thankfully I did grab a good amount of smaller rocks, which I didn’t originally know how much I would need of. 

 

I used leftover roving wool to act as filler for spots the substrate would pour out of. I do know that it can degrade, but it takes years to do so, which isn’t an issue for me. 

I would check the back reflection to see if there were spots I had missed, and I would continue to press more and more roving wool into those spots until it seemed secure enough. 

I was very worried to pour in the substrate, especially since the back substrate would be over 9 inches high, and I didn’t want any of it to pour into the front, where the sand would be.

Pouring in the substrate little by little, the roving wool thankfully worked as I had hoped it would. 
 

I added more rocks periodically before pouring in substrate to act as anchoring points, in order to hold the slopes, without any substrate slipping. This allowed me to plant the slopes without issue. 

I added the substrate I needed to the front and sides as well. But, I kept it concentrated to the scape, so it wouldn’t show under the sand near the edges of the aquarium. 

 

 

I added the sand and saturated the substrate enough with water, so I could plant the aquarium more easily. 
 

After planting, I filled the aquarium up and checked everything to assure it was safe to add in Grume. I gave the aquarium a few days to settle in before photographing it. 
 

Grume seems to really enjoy his aquarium, and he loved going in and out of the cave he has, along with hiding in the driftwood and popping out of nowhere to wiggle at me.

 

 

 

In fact, I caught him watching me and trying to be hidden, trying to see if I was going to feed him or not. 
 

 

He built a small bubble nest a few days later. 
 

 

Currently, the aquarium is undergoing a Hydra infestation. I have the lights out and have fendbendazole dosed. 

Just before doing so, I took a photo of Grume. He’s such a cutie. 

 

Edited December 4, 2021 by Sapere_Ceta

[Colu]

Really nice scape  looks like a Betta paradise

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

I am surprised that Grume hasn't taken care of the hydra problem. My betta DJ Turbo is always picking and scavenging anything that moves. It is a beautiful scape and well constructed and structured. If it matures as well as your other one does it will be awesome. 

[Hobbit]

I loved the old setup but the new scape looks amazing!! And Grume is so grumpy 😄 I always have to remind myself that bettas probably don’t feel as grumpy as they look, but it’s hard when they seem so expressive!

[lefty o]

agree, another very nice looking scape.

[Sapere_Ceta]

I have a large amount of replacement supplies coming in the mail. My HOB broke (this is the fourth one that has for this tank), and I’ve decided to replace it with a Fluval 107 canister filter, because the HOBs and I have never had a good history, and the never ending cycle of the always breaking, eventually unfixable HOBs are something I’m not always enjoying, even when it gives me an “Oh, it’s happened again” laugh. This one has had problems from the beginning (like the design making it so that half of the filter is always partially falling off), but, this one was used to replace the other filter that was another replacement, and so on. 

My Finnex light broke, which was sad, because I only used it for about a year, when I’ve kept it packaged and waiting to be used for maybe six years. I replaced it with a Fluval light and that caused a massive algae bloom in the end, because the spectrums are too different, even when I programmed it to be close to what I had. I returned that light and now have a new Finnex light; it’s great and the algae production has definitely lowered as a result. 

 

(Apologies for the glare. With how the sun is positioned during this time of the year, I have consistently worse glares)

 

I will be replacing the lid on the aquarium with a stronger stainless steel mesh lid, because there will eventually be a worrying amount of holes from where the various HOBs were placed upon joining the HOB graveyard I wish to forget.

The driftwood has a very X-files-esque spongy, black fungus, alongside the spore-like black dots it has had for over a year now. Upon the arrival of this spongy, black fungus, Grume has developed fin-rot, although the Kanaplex seems to be doing the trick and I’m sure I’ll have his fins looking better soon.

Because of this, I’m replacing it. It’s a downer, as I really love the driftwood looking how it does in the scape. But, I don’t want to risk more fungal outbreaks in the future, especially if it’s affecting the water quality.

When I’m ready to redo that part of the aquarium, I’ll be moving Grume temporarily to a tub setup, because I’ll have to drain the water really low, and because of my conditions, the process would be very prolonged.

I’m also going to be setting up some quarantine tanks. I have decided to get a few more fish. I don’t expect them to be particularly helpful for anything other than making me feel gratified, but one species definitely will nibble on the looser algae that forms, and the other species will help keep my snail population lower. 
 

I’ve tested out Grume’s boundaries a bit with playing videos of many species, and logged to what to responds to, which was fish similar to his own color, like I figured (he has only flared at red objects in the past). It definitely isn’t exact to having fish directly in the aquarium with him, but I think it’s a decent way at potentially getting an idea for how he could react. 

I’m unsure if this will work like it has with various objects and with “introducing” him to my cat, but I plan on playing videos he hasn’t had problems with while he eats, so there’s a loose positive association there that maybe builds. I don’t know if that’s possible for a fish, but, he has responded well to it when I’ve done it with my phone, my cat, objects he’s shown uncertainty or an aversion towards. 
Realistically, this wouldn’t get rid of a defensive drive, and I definitely know this. I’m just trying to make fish on videos he responds well to a potentially more positive experience before he’s introduced to the same species in fishy-person. It might help lessen any potential stress.
 

I’m also stocking up on more medications (Maracyn, IchX, and Prazipro), so I’m well prepared for quarantining and treating whatever illnesses that could arise in the future. Outside of that, I’m going to add in more foods to increase the variety. 

Yesterday, before the Kanaplex made the water very cloudy, I photographed Grume, who’s still being a happy-go-lucky wiggly guy, even with the fin-rot and the medication.

 

 

 

 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Hi, sorry to read of your recent tank issues. It's neat to hear about an animal responding to, well, a video. You may already have this in mind as you seem a thinking person but- if you don't already have a small floating breeder I would get one. That way you can contain your new fish after QT in Grume's tank and let him and the other fish get used to the idea of them being there. As you know even if he eventually loves his new tank mates there will be flaring so let him flare it out and once you're comfortable you can release the newbies!

[Sapere_Ceta]

On 1/31/2022 at 2:01 PM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

if you don't already have a small floating breeder I would get one. That way you can contain your new fish after QT in Grume's tank and let him and the other fish get used to the idea of them being there. As you know even if he eventually loves his new tank mates there will be flaring so let him flare it out and once you're comfortable you can release the newbies!

For sure! I’m thinking that will be the best approach to getting them all as acclimated as they can be around each other because they’re actually introduced to the aquarium. 

I have heard other keepers do it the opposite way, where they reintroduce the betta to the aquarium after adding the new fish, once they make it through quarantine. The theory is that it makes the betta less protective over the full aquarium as their territory, though I haven’t figured out which I would prefer or if one way would be particularly preferable.

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Yes that's the theory but generally talked about when you're building a community tank around a betta. Like you I'd be more hesitant to remove my betta from their own tank for that to happen if they were established as yours is. Bettas are so sensitive to changes I'd be afraid of stressing them too much/making them sick. 

[Sapere_Ceta]

On 1/31/2022 at 2:49 PM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

Yes that's the theory but generally talked about when you're building a community tank around a betta. Like you I'd be more hesitant to remove my betta from their own tank for that to happen if they were established as yours is. Bettas are so sensitive to changes I'd be afraid of stressing them too much/making them sick. 

Yeah, I agree. If anything, it seems like it would make him less comfortable and potentially go on the defense out of confusion. With that as well, if the betta wanted the territory, they could hypothetically just take it. I wouldn’t think that adding them in a certain order would change that. To me, it would make more sense to leave them as is, and introduce the new fish in a safe manner.

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Well I guess we will all find out when you get there. I have faith -you take care in the things you do with your animals. 🙂 

Edited January 31, 2022 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[Hobbit]

The video idea is brilliant! And I think the conditioning with food has to help at least a little bit. You could be a fish psychologist.

Bummer about the driftwood. They make fake driftwood these days (not sure if it’s ceramic or plastic or what). Maybe something to consider?

[Sapere_Ceta]

On 2/1/2022 at 11:13 AM, Hobbit said:

The video idea is brilliant! And I think the conditioning with food has to help at least a little bit. You could be a fish psychologist.

Bummer about the driftwood. They make fake driftwood these days (not sure if it’s ceramic or plastic or what). Maybe something to consider?

Thanks! I’m going to try conditioning with the use of food once I am ready to water change out the Kanaplex. I’ve been refraining from feeding Grume (although I spot him catching seed shrimp in the aquarium on his own), just to avoid any potential bloating or constipation issues, digestive upset, etc. Lol! That would be neat, haha. 

Yeah, it is. That is a good idea! I forgot that there’s more natural looking artificial driftwood now, admittedly. I have driftwood arriving in a few days, so I will be using that after I move Grume over to a temporary tub setup, remove the existing driftwood, drain the aquarium down, and carefully apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rocks, equipment, and sides of the glass. 

I’m hoping to reduce the chance of a reoccurring issue until I can afford a UV sterilizer. The replacement light and filter were costly for my budget, but they were definitely worth it. 

 

 

 

[Torrey]

On 1/31/2022 at 1:19 PM, Sapere_Ceta said:

I have heard other keepers do it the opposite way, where they reintroduce the betta to the aquarium after adding the new fish, once they make it through quarantine. The theory is that it makes the betta less protective over the full aquarium as their territory, though I haven’t figured out which I would prefer or if one way would be particularly preferable.

Grume seems to be handling the temporary tank pretty well. 

It may be a good idea to either introduce the new fish, post quarantine, while Grume is in the temporary tank.

By having Grume out of the tank when the new fish is/are introduced, it gives the new fish time to identify hiding spots in case the initial fish introduction has flaring + chasing. I have found that it has a slightly higher success rate than adding new fish to established fish in a tank. 

I also found returning the established fish (cichlids, bettas, even danios and livebearers) with the lights off, and with a full belly, also increases the odds of successful tank mates.

Good luck, your landscapes have been gorgeous!

[Sapere_Ceta]

It’s been five days into quarantining my new fish: eight guppies and a striped peacock eel. All of the fish were extremely delayed. Two of the male guppies were shimmying, while I unboxed them, and unfortunately, those two died within three days of adding them to the quarantine tank. The six remaining guppies (four males and two males) seem to be doing okay.  

I’ve been quarantining them with Ich-X, Maracyn, and General Cure.

I’m admittedly a little worried that my water won’t be to their liking. The PH is 7.4, and the KH and GH were within the range Livebearers do well with (I lost the test kit and have yet to replace it, so I haven’t been able to test this for more recent confirmation). 
I haven’t kept guppies in a long time (over five years), and I’ve heard recently that the strains can be pretty sensitive nowadays. 

To begin with, I was surprised that Grume responded better with guppies than any of the other Livebearers I had showed him, although there was only occasional flaring with the species he didn’t “like”. 

The driftwood, the Fluval 107 canister filter, and other supplies all arrived yesterday. 

I drained the aquarium down more than 75%, and used 5 gallons of that water to place into a bucket. I added the heater originally from the aquarium into it. I scooped Grume out with a small plastic container and added him into that bucket.

I didn’t drain down the aquarium completely until the very end, as I wanted the plants to stay submersed for as long as possible, and I covered any plants poking out with wet paper towel. 

 

The driftwood, as suspected, was definitely rotting quickly. Many pieces I could bend without any give, and the driftwood was very soft, with the outside of the wood coming off in my hands. Upon taking the driftwood out, I started to build up the hardscape with the new driftwood. 

 

 

When I thought I completed the hardscape, a single rock at the bottom shifted and caused everything to collapse. So, I had to remove it all, replace the rock with a very large piece of driftwood, and then do a completely different scape, but of a similar idea. 

Once I figured out what I liked would be final, I superglued what I could reach to into place and let it dry for 2-3 hours.

 

 

I drained the aquarium completely to fill in any of the newly created gaps with roving wool, and I added more sand to the places that needed it. Any plants that I had to move from the substrate were planted back, although some may be moved again later on. 

I superglued the epiphytic plants to the hardscape, let the superglue dry for a little over an hour (I sprayed the plants every 15 minutes or so while waiting), and then I refilled the aquarium about 75% of the way up. 

 

 

I unboxed the Fluval 107 Canister filter and followed the installation instructions. I filled the aquarium up to about 95%, when I realized that the wood was still going to float. I took the rock that ruined the first attempted scape and added that on top. I will be unable to work on anything until the driftwood is waterlogged.

 

 

It’s difficult to see the full scape because of the glare. I will be adjusting the substrate and plants eventually as well, but, I am extremely tired and experiencing very bad flare-ups (I was working on this all until almost 5am). 

[Hobbit]

Oh wow!! It looks great! I hope you can take it easy for a few days after all that. Re-scaping a tank is sooo much work. 💪 Hopefully Grume will stay friendly towards the new guppies.

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

That will provide so much interesting terrain for Grume to explore and aesthetically it’s beautiful. Well done! Also tons of sight breaks and places to hide. 

[Sapere_Ceta]

On 2/8/2022 at 2:35 PM, Hobbit said:

Hopefully Grume will stay friendly towards the new guppies.

Yeah, I hope so as well! I think this may work out, especially with so many options as to where the fish could be in the tank. I would have preferred other Livebearers, but he reacted really well to guppies. So, I went with them.

Just to be on the safe side, I found baking soda and added 1tbs per 5 gallons to the QT and to Grume’s temporary home not too long ago. Dosing in small amounts, which I’ll be monitoring of course, should help keep the mineral content to the guppies liking, without it bothering Grume.

Edited February 9, 2022 by Sapere_Ceta

[Torrey]

You did an amazing job with your rescape!

I hope you are able to take it easy for a few days, so your system can heal and adjust.

[Sapere_Ceta]

Unfortunately, four out of the eight guppies are deceased now, and the surviving four aren’t looking well anymore. I’ve continued to gradually dose baking soda, along with some aquarium salt, but, I don’t know if the PH can rise enough to their liking fast enough. They’ve been looking and acting fine and by the end of the day, a guppy would be dead. Tonight, the remaining four aren’t looking like they’ll survive either. 

It has been difficult to maintain a higher PH than my original 7.4, adding to the trouble. With how I’ve been feeling, I’ve been sleeping off and on excessively each day since last week and am very immobile. Because of this, I’ve often woke up many hours or a day to a day and a half later to find a dead guppy with a small ammonia spike. I have to do a small water change then, enough to rid of the ammonia spike, but can’t raise the PH high enough after.
 

With how much work everything has been in total, with the main aquarium and the quarantine tank, and how even the main aquarium only has been taking an even more straining toll on me over time, I’m beginning to regret having an aquarium again. I was scared to add more fish anyways, but I was hoping this would help lessen some of my maintenance done (which would lessen my strain), but, now it’s been even worse. Yesterday night was the first time where I really started to consider selling everything. Since having this aquarium, it rarely ever has been what I had hoped, although I really love and appreciate Grume. I’m hoping to continue doing what I can, although it has been a lot on me physically and because of that, now getting up there mentally. Though, I may start looking into potential options if it really goes that route, and if someone has had to do something similar with a full setup, feedback would be appreciated.

[Torrey]

@Sapere_Ceta I am so sorry you are experiencing so much loss and frustration. 

I have to admit, coming to terms with my health constraints has been difficult. Getting covid in 2020, losing my entire colony of carbon rillis, losing too many fish...

I was ready to give up.

Surprisingly, the 2 tanks I held culls in and the turtle pond turned things around for me. They also helped me create a niche.

1. The water mass was sufficient that I barely had a spike with a dead fish. One small endler in a heavily planted 4' tank doesn't even register on the ammonia test.

2. These fish had survived a turtle. A very hungry turtle. A very hungry turtle who was hunting pond fish and worms because I was too sick to do anything with any of the animals for almost 2 weeks, and obviously no one could come over to help because we had covid, and we were quarantined with a baby who also had covid.

3. These turned into bomb proof fish. As long as they have a planted tank, they will survive. These longfin danios and these endlers are the result of Darwin's actual observation: the most adaptable survive.

I strongly agree with Cory that bringing a little nature inside improves our health. But not if all it does is add stress.

Have you considered just getting plants going for a while, and focus on your health and needs, Grume, and plants?

And once you have a densely planted tank that is growing well, look for some bombproof fish? Maybe find a local breeder who uses the tap water (identical parameters) would allow you to have a few not quite show/store quality fish?

[As an example, I thought allowing the water to cool off with the season would decrease endler and danio spawning...

Nope. They are spawning in 58° water right now]

[Torrey]

My brain is more awake this morning. @Sapere_Ceta at 7.4 pH, most livebearers are pretty happy. If the water is soft there can be problems with pH swings. It sounds like your pH is staying stable at 7.4 pH.

The guppies may need some calcium, but baking soda will be adding sodium bicarbonate, and unless they came from one of the countries that use a mix of brackish and fresh water, there may be more sodium building up than their kidneys can handle.

If the pH out of your tap is 7.4, and if you stick an airstone in it overnight and it is still 7.4 pH (or a little higher if you are on municipal water), then the fish may just need several small water changes over the course of the week to lower the sodium levels. 

Does that resonate at all?

[Sapere_Ceta]

On 2/14/2022 at 11:08 PM, Torrey said:

@Sapere_Ceta I am so sorry you are experiencing so much loss and frustration. 

I have to admit, coming to terms with my health constraints has been difficult. Getting covid in 2020, losing my entire colony of carbon rillis, losing too many fish...

I was ready to give up.

Surprisingly, the 2 tanks I held culls in and the turtle pond turned things around for me. They also helped me create a niche.

1. The water mass was sufficient that I barely had a spike with a dead fish. One small endler in a heavily planted 4' tank doesn't even register on the ammonia test.

2. These fish had survived a turtle. A very hungry turtle. A very hungry turtle who was hunting pond fish and worms because I was too sick to do anything with any of the animals for almost 2 weeks, and obviously no one could come over to help because we had covid, and we were quarantined with a baby who also had covid.

3. These turned into bomb proof fish. As long as they have a planted tank, they will survive. These longfin danios and these endlers are the result of Darwin's actual observation: the most adaptable survive.

I strongly agree with Cory that bringing a little nature inside improves our health. But not if all it does is add stress.

Have you considered just getting plants going for a while, and focus on your health and needs, Grume, and plants?

And once you have a densely planted tank that is growing well, look for some bombproof fish? Maybe find a local breeder who uses the tap water (identical parameters) would allow you to have a few not quite show/store quality fish?

[As an example, I thought allowing the water to cool off with the season would decrease endler and danio spawning...

Nope. They are spawning in 58° water right now]

It’s alright. Having this aquarium has been a lot more stressful and straining than I expected. My first original betta arrived with a severe case of gill flukes and quickly died thereafter while attempting treatment. I later got another betta with a school of Indian ricefish, which had a horrendous bacterial disease and the survivors had to be euthanized. I had Gandr, a crayfish in a paludarium, who arrived with an unknown disease or condition that I could only get to go into periods of “remission”, only to have it cause his death in the end. Grume has been the only fish doing well. Getting these fish has resulted into only more death and physical strain and stress. This has been in maybe 1.5 years at the most. 

With that, there have been four setups total, one completely dismantled and scrapped to try and limit the future spread of that bacterial disease, another mostly dismantled (although reused) because the maintenance and water changes became more work (looking back on this, I think this may have been the start of when the driftwood that was rotting extremely badly), and the third redone and partially dismantled (with all of the driftwood and some of the rocks scrapped) into the current setup because the driftwood was having continual quick-rotting and fungus issues, which began to affect the water quality enough to cause Grume fin-rot. 
 

That is really unfortunate about your health issues and you and your family getting Covid, alongside your shrimp and fish loss. It’s definitely understandable why you would want to give up. That’s a very rough situation to be in. 

Though, that’s good to hear  that those two aquariums and the turtle pond helped offer a much better and less stressful experience for you. 
 

I originally had gone that route with the two past setups, but that in itself has been difficult to maintain. I do think a large portion of that was because of the rotting wood, and the amount of procedures, surgeries, and flare ups that have made things really difficult to maintain a balance. The third setup I really enjoyed, until I noticed that the driftwood was definitely needing to come out, and during that, when my light and filter both broke and fixing either was to no avail. I thought that getting these guppies an the striped peacock eel may help in the future  by 1) keeping the snail population in check, since the striped peacock eel enjoys snacking on them (my suspicion was actually correct on the snail population being so extremely high because of the rotting driftwood, though, as now, there’s little to none), and 2) letting the guppies snack on some of the algae that may develop to lessen my maintenance (I’m very slow at water changes, and it is very difficult for me to do any maintenance because the water severely worsens the mobility in my hands, and the movement worsens my vertigo, pain, and my general motor skills and range of motion. So, it takes me upwards of three hours to spot clean any algae, trim any plant leaves if needed, vacuum up detritus, and then do the rest of what’s required for a water change, and to fit in the needed breaks. When there would be increased maintenance, it would regularly take me upwards of 5 hours). Since it all causes flare ups with all of my health conditions, and they tend to set one another off, I then have to recover up until the next water change and maintenance, and sometimes that’s not long enough.

I am hopeful that this setup will be a lot better because the rotting issues are gone, and it already seems to be less work. The plants have melted back a lot, and that’s expected with how much I had to change. But, pairing this with the ongoing issues of the QT, and then with how the aquarium overall has been more unmanageably straining on my body, It’s been tough to try and stick it out til then to see if it actually does get easier, and that’s outside of the times I have a procedure or surgery, which more is to be expected of. 

I think that trying to someday find some bombproof fish in my area could be a good idea. I’ve yet to find anyone locally online. There are aquarium clubs, but, they’re farther away from me and I cannot usually leave the house for anything other than a doctor’s appointment (I’m unable to drive, so my mom would have to take me, although she works over 40 hours a week and gets home at night, so even I could, I wouldn’t want her to have to do that). I think there could definitely be local breeders out there, who maybe could ship them or drop them off if they were close enough and comfortable with it. It’s just a matter of finding them. 
 

That’s wonderful that your fish are spawning in those conditions. They do sound like hardcore, bombproof fish, haha.