Atitagain Fish Room

[Atitagain]

On 3/14/2022 at 7:45 PM, OnlyGenusCaps said:

It keep us happy in our space and makes this enjoyable, which is rather the point

This is so true and I love the mixture of nature, artistic design, and providing fish a space to live. Then they have babies! Ouuuuh WEEEeee this is an amazing hobby.

[Guppysnail]

On 3/14/2022 at 2:18 PM, Atitagain said:

some people 🖐🙋🏻‍♂️with fishrooms think the room is only as good as my last tank set up.

I do not feel this way. As each day each new setup and set back is a learning adventure to me. 

 

On 3/14/2022 at 2:18 PM, Atitagain said:

Get bored of set ups and change things around a lot.

This is me because once it is done and hands off it is no longer a new adventure. 

 

On 3/14/2022 at 2:18 PM, Atitagain said:

only making minor of any changes. I have to stay out!!!

This is only enjoyable to me for as long as I’m enjoying the fish doing new things like breeding. Once things become routine that new adventure is complete. The adventure of trying and learning new things is the part of our hobby I enjoy the most. That is why I end my journal entries the way I do….

”HAPPY ADVENTURES…TRY SOMETHING NEW” 

😁

[Brandon p]

I enjoys doing all those things and all make this very enjoyable, I would be happy to sit with one tank that has almost no work and just enjoy the mini eco system. I was looking at a 150 gal. How ever now I love to sit and wat h the shrimp go I don’t even have cool looking shrimp I has some ghost shrimp meant to be food but survived and multiplied fast.

[Atitagain]

On 3/14/2022 at 11:06 PM, Brandon p said:

I enjoys doing all those things and all make this very enjoyable, I would be happy to sit with one tank that has almost no work and just enjoy the mini eco system. I was looking at a 150 gal. How ever now I love to sit and wat h the shrimp go I don’t even have cool looking shrimp I has some ghost shrimp meant to be food but survived and multiplied fast.

Shrimp are so fun to watch. In a 1G or 150G.

[eatyourpeas]

On 3/15/2022 at 1:57 AM, Atitagain said:

Shrimp are so fun to watch. In a 1G or 150G.

Scaredly entertaining! 😍

[Atitagain]

THE SHELF…TAKE 2

I don’t know what I was thinking with the last set up for the shelf. In no way did it flow with the direction I want my room to go.

🤦🏻 I really liked the older set up but decided to go a total different direction.

I’ve had plants In my aquariums for about a year and a half, Then a couple house plants, Next was immersed growth, wet plants (can’t get enough containers), and I will be doing a planted outdoor pond.

What I’m saying is plants have slowly become a big part of this hobby for me. I have 22 filtered set ups, 22 of them have plants. I truly enjoy Corys motto “enjoy nature daily “ this is what I want my room to reflect. I’m trying to achieve a outdoor feel, I have some plans made and some things I’m exploring. Problems with this is real wood, live edge boards, and other materials I’m looking to use are expensive. Faux may be a bit cheaper but I’m a 30 year carpenter so no way that’s gonna happen. I will be patient. 
What was I talking about?…oh yea the shelf. “That ever happen to you? call me we’ll talk about it!”

I made decision to redo the shelf because over the weekend I took the extra insulation I had packed into window well out. And unsealed it then opened the curtains. Got to thinking how I could use this best? Move all house plants to left, planted with fish/ shrimp containers in middle, then wet plants to the right. Made another shelf to get some plants that aren’t doing the best up towards the lights. And added a light on lower level.

 

[Patrick_G]

I think you’ve got plant fever! 😀 

[Atitagain]

On 4/4/2022 at 8:35 PM, Patrick_G said:

I think you’ve got plant fever! 😀 

Without any doubt. I’m gravitating towards plant sections and garden centers. Maybe it’s more magnetic 🧲 

[Atitagain]

PUTTING IN WORK!

Lately I’ve been only getting minimal time in my fishroom and it looks like it. Evaporation levels have never gotten this low, algae, and plants still floating in same spot when I got them 2 weeks ago. 
As I was topping off tanks and changing water in a couple tonight I was tired and so wanted to kick the recliner back. (such a beautiful sound) I am so glad I got to work! I was seeing things in such a way that puts pep in my step. No pics taken it was just light hitting a certain way, behaviors, plant growing in like I wanted it to, tannins in good colors, or  temps outside are staying warm so I can get started with my first outdoor project. It was one of those nights. 😊

 

[Atitagain]

IM GOING THROUGH CHANGES….

Lots of changes in my aquatic vivariums here lately: 125G rescaped, 55G river tank, pea puffer tank rescaped, 75G Oscar tank rescaped, 10G QT/ rummynose moved onto new shelf, lots of plants added outside tub, new timers/ power strips added, WCMMs moved outside, platty breeding project 10G, 5G moved, German blue rams/ electric blue acara/ rainbow shiner/ guppys/ all new, and plenty of other small projects. 
And now I’ve redone the shelf again! The house plants were all moved outside except 2 and all containers are gone. The shelf had become a lot of little things to care for and demand to much time. I have reduced the shelf to two house plants and the 3G bowl. 
 

started with a bit of egg crate and some pea fill

packed that then added sand to help hold together.

filtration is DIY under gravel design inspired by @Beardedbillygoat1975 . Then placing bowl in gravel setting it down and placed at an angle. Volcano rock, then a mix of crushed coral, soil, and small gravel was added inside bowl for filter.

A layer of Fluval stratum then a sand cap for substrate. Plants added inside and out. Stocking is still in question.

 

[Guppysnail]

ORD 😍. I can so relate to the bunch of little things to take care of. Over time tiny things that at the start take almost no time to take care of pile up. Eventually each 2 minute thing added together starts to take a chunk of time.  
My hubbies favorite thing to say to me is you create work for yourself.  🤣

Your bowl is looking good. 

[Atitagain]

ALL TANKS UPDATE:

I decided this morning to take a few pics as my room sits. No cleaning the glass (I rarely do anyway) or other special treatment. My fishroom at this location has been operational for 1 year and there have been many many changes. I’ll kinda do rapid fire a couple pics and short description of each tank.

1) 3G bowl, moderate planting with 5 guppy/ endler babies. trying to get some emergent growth from the plants.

2) 3G tank, 1 plant trying to get growth and propagate. 2 platty fry and a few pond/ pest snails. I think as the platys grow I will replace them with something smaller or new fry?

3)3G (x2) tubs, lots of duckweed and some pothos in each. I’m very happy with these! Both are blackworm setups and are thriving. I feed them to my pea puffers (and sparingly around the room) 3-4 times a week and when I fill a turkey baster I get 10-20 worms each pull.

4) 5G tank, lightly planted with a guppy, some chili radboras, and a couple small snails. I have no plans to change anything except adding a couple more guppys. 

5) 10G tank, will be a grow out tank for fry as needed 🤞

6) 10G tank, used as a grow out tank for pond/ pest snail. I found what I think is a rams horn snail in here yesterday he/ she musta hitched a ride in a plant I’ve bought.

7) 10G breeder tank, full of Java moss and right now has a pair of sunset plattys that I have got 1 fry from.

8 ) 20G tank, plants are to be removed and different will be planted. Houses a glolight tetra, a rainbow shiner, and 12-ish platty. Most likely whole scape will be redone.

9) 20G tank, Hulks Escape has lots of Java moss and another plant the moss has done really well. I’ve been tempted to rescape this tank a couple times but ultimately I love the hulk. Stocking is a bunch of cherry shrimp, green blood tetra, and some ember tetra.

10) 20G tank, bamboo, a couple Anubias, and a dwarf aquarium Lilly. I love the look of this tank, viewed from below really showcases the Lilly’s. 2 pea puffers, a group of lamp eyes tetra, and a colony of cherry shrimp.

11) 29G tank, moderately planted (adding as I can) started with a pair of guppies then added another female now I have fry and everything above that.

12) 55G tank, heavy planted and adding more as I can. This will be a gold German blue ram species only-ish tank. I couldn’t get either of the pair of rams I have to come out for pics. I won’t be showing much of this off now I’m wanting to finish the scaping before I do because I’ve done a couple special features that I want to show off when ready. The nets are in because I still have a few platty to move from here.

13) 55G tank, river tank with moderate planting. This set up is for the rainbow shiners it has a decent amount of flow and some relief areas. Rainbow shiners (x7), gold pond snails, and a colony of cherry shrimp. I have atleast 2 fry in the breeder box (so hard to see them) 

14) 60G tank, lots of fake plants and decorations. Stocking is 2 African cichlids, 2 angelfish, a pictus catfish, and a bristlenose pleco.

15) 60G tank, I have pothos growing from the top and some water sprite floating. This tank is for my electric blue acara. The contrast of their color against the dark water is amazing. 
 

16) 75G tank, pothos from the top, bamboo, and vallisneria inside the tank(so far so good) a bristlenose shares this tank with an Oscar will likely keep stocking as is but maybe move out some decorations as needed. 
 

17) 110G tub, first time for an outdoor set up. Lots of plants some floating, above, and some in the substrate. Also having an issue with hair algae but don’t want to remove because of so many fry. I started with 10 cherry shrimp, 6 White Cloud Mountain minnow, and 10…1/2” or smaller guppies. Very interested to see counts at end of season. I already see tiny fry!

18) 125G tank, lightly planted adding more as I can. Such an amazing tank by far my favorite to watch simply because of the rummynose tetra. Also have cardinal and glowlight tetra. A German blue ram, 2 blue dwarf gourami, salt and pepper cory, peppered Cory, a couple bristlenose, cherry shrimp, and a couple amano shrimp. 
 

 

[Atitagain]

Lot of changes been made in last month-6weeks, mostly tank set ups, stocking changes, and some tank shuffling. I found tool box liner to be a great material to use in a fishroom I’m using it now for cushion under some rimless tanks I have.  I want to get more and use it for curtains/ between top and bottom tanks on my racks will leave front panel of lid out to feed and easy access but divided there to hide cords/ hoses behind. Also got other areas I’ll use it in this way. 
Been thinking a lot lately about all my tanks and how the aquascaping all fall into mostly “natural” themed. Not exact biotope but in that area. Where I’m going with this is more on the concept of the entire room. I’m thinking of creating a middle of the forest vibe. I’m replacing my storage cabinets and work bench with upgraded wood, finish, and functionality. I will be adding more live edge shelving to all or most racks and other places. I want to try to figure out a way to create a canopy of limbs, leaves, and what not. Definitely will use plenty of house plants.

I don’t know tho maybe it’s a little to much but it’s one of those things that can be done in sections so no huge investment just a lot of smaller ones🤫

[Odd Duck]

On 8/28/2022 at 8:07 PM, Atitagain said:

I’m thinking of creating a middle of the forest vibe. I’m replacing my storage cabinets and work bench with upgraded wood, finish, and functionality. I will be adding more live edge shelving to all or most racks and other places. I want to try to figure out a way to create a canopy of limbs, leaves, and what not. Definitely will use plenty of house plants.

I completely love this idea!  Jump in and go for it!  @Guppysnailhas been doing a lot of experimenting with emerse plants, make sure to touch base with her.  I think most of her plants she grows are in her main thread but some is in the nitrates thread, I think.  Tagged her so she’ll chime in here.  We should start a thread that’s just on “What emerse plants have you grown?” or something like that so we can condense the info together and make it easier to find.  I’ve only got pothos, peace lily, and lucky bamboo growing emerse, but plenty of that!

 

[Guppysnail]

Here is my successes so far

pothos, bamboo, syngonium, monstera, Calathea, philodendrons, fitonia, anthurium, spider plants, peace lily, red mangrove, inchplants, snake plants, Purple Heart, polka dot plants edit forgot dracaena

i used YouTube videos for plants that do well with wet feet through water propagation, Plantlife Project and a few others.  My original list when I went searching included close to 30 - 40 types that should theoretically do well in fish tanks. 

Edited August 31, 2022 by Guppysnail

[Guppysnail]

This is my next emergent adventure thanks to @rockfisher

 

[Atitagain]

@Odd Duck @Guppysnail I have pothos and lucky bamboo growing now. I think with all the rearranging I’m doing now should give better lighting to them.  That is a problem I have in my fishroom is getting natural sunlight and adding lights for house plants is questionable due to already having a hundred things plugged in already. Guppy I know you turn your lights to get more to your pothos I’m not sure this is an option for me due too my lights being on siesta timing and me being at work a lot.

with all that being said I think my biggest challenge will be to create a canopy, I feel as though this is a must. Using collected natural/ live branches  is probably a no go because wife will be worried about hitchhiking bugs. I have been pricing  plastic plants but it’s hard to find exactly what I’m looking for and when I find some the price is ridiculous.

[Odd Duck]

On 9/1/2022 at 4:12 AM, Atitagain said:

@Odd Duck @Guppysnail I have pothos and lucky bamboo growing now. I think with all the rearranging I’m doing now should give better lighting to them.  That is a problem I have in my fishroom is getting natural sunlight and adding lights for house plants is questionable due to already having a hundred things plugged in already. Guppy I know you turn your lights to get more to your pothos I’m not sure this is an option for me due too my lights being on siesta timing and me being at work a lot.

with all that being said I think my biggest challenge will be to create a canopy, I feel as though this is a must. Using collected natural/ live branches  is probably a no go because wife will be worried about hitchhiking bugs. I have been pricing  plastic plants but it’s hard to find exactly what I’m looking for and when I find some the price is ridiculous.

If you keep your wood pieces small enough to fit in your oven you can bake them at your lowest setting for 30 minutes and no bug worries after that.  You could then use them as structure to disguise metal racks and hold your vines, etc.  If you attach your lights to the shelves above the tanks, there would be enough light to grow a forest.

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 8/31/2022 at 9:47 AM, Guppysnail said:

Here is my successes so far

pothos, bamboo, syngonium, monstera, Calathea, philodendrons, fitonia, anthurium, spider plants, peace lily, red mangrove, inchplants, snake plants, Purple Heart, polka dot plants edit forgot dracaena

i used YouTube videos for plants that do well with wet feet through water propagation, Plantlife Project and a few others.  My original list when I went searching included close to 30 - 40 types that should theoretically do well in fish tanks. 

See, I was doing it wrong.  I managed to get some pickerelweed for free, but I killed it because I tried to grow it fully submerged.

[Guppysnail]

On 9/1/2022 at 8:58 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

See, I was doing it wrong.  I managed to get some pickerelweed for free, but I killed it because I tried to grow it fully submerged.

I’m with you. I got some PW and was told it will grow mostly submerged …it does not. 

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

It's funny how I'm growing my pothos.  I have the dropped waterline so York (mystery) can go up there and lay her eggs, and Hampshire (nerite) likes to go up and enjoy air quite a bit too.  I use the sponge filter tube as a "vase" and it holds the pothos stem, and the leaves are emergent and hang out in the "airea" under the light. 🤣

[Atitagain]

ANOTHER GO AT “THE SHELF”

I’m having trouble growing house plants here so ive removed them all. I have a different plan to get house plants growing in my fishroom but another day. My 3G bowl is difficult to maintain so I always only do water changes on it and “I’ll get the rest later” seems to always be said but… Getting a smaller siphon and tools will help. My biggest challenge is hard water deposits on upper portion when evaporation occurs, plan is keeping a gallon-ish container of water near by and have a keep full policy. Along with the bowl I have a 9G and a 5G on the shelf. Only the 5G has fish right now, 5-chili rasbora and 1-guppy. Not sure what stocking will be on the 9 and 3G. 

 

[Odd Duck]

On 9/2/2022 at 5:31 AM, Atitagain said:

ANOTHER GO AT “THE SHELF”

I’m having trouble growing house plants here so ive removed them all. I have a different plan to get house plants growing in my fishroom but another day. My 3G bowl is difficult to maintain so I always only do water changes on it and “I’ll get the rest later” seems to always be said but… Getting a smaller siphon and tools will help. My biggest challenge is hard water deposits on upper portion when evaporation occurs, plan is keeping a gallon-ish container of water near by and have a keep full policy. Along with the bowl I have a 9G and a 5G on the shelf. Only the 5G has fish right now, 5-chili rasbora and 1-guppy. Not sure what stocking will be on the 9 and 3G. 

 

That shelf is beautiful!  If you’re really determined to grow emerse plants you’ll likely need to add another light above the plants. Plants grow funny if their light is coming from the side or below. 

[Atitagain]

Over last few weeks been making a lot of changes which is exciting but also daunting. I’m gonna have a much more “in the woods” feel to entire room, 1st step hide or blend in cords, hoses, and power strips. Had to (not done yet) rearrange and tuck but mostly I placed shelves above most of my racks then used tool box liner to cover gaps between levels.

My 75G had a wood surround/ canopy built around its rack that could hold tanks above.

those tanks on top were way to hard to maintain even feed. So removed wood surround rearranged filters and what not and placed the 2-20G tanks underneath. Don’t like tanks that low but much easier than to high and set back to far.

I recently purchased 2-20G long tanks at what seems to be a good price for these days but definitely not $1 per gallon. I’m definitely gonna have shell dwellers in 1 of them. And white clouds in the other with open top and cool water.

im going to aquashella Chicago tomorrow and depending on if I buy something or inspired by something all those plans⬆️ could change. I’ve had these tanks 2 weeks and haven’t started to set them up because of this, it’s been hard!!!

[Guppysnail]

Have fun at Aquashella. If you get the notion I would love to see photos of your adventure. And of course the bring home goodies 🤩