Atitagain Fish Room

[Guppysnail]

On 12/3/2021 at 9:59 PM, Atitagain said:

I’m actually starting some of my tank builds where 1st thought is what plants? Not what fish/ design? 🤷🏻‍♂️🤔😁

It gets bad. I’m taking guppies to the big LFS Monday. My first thought within seconds of deciding to go was oooooo what plants do they have. My second was looking through each tank to see how many I had space get 🤣 My third was wow I will have that empty grow out with plant clippings I could do a plant farm like yours in 🤣. 

[Minanora]

Sorry that you had to choose to rehome one of your kids. That's always hard.

Plants are kind of my obsession... I love my fish, but dang, plants make me almost just as happy. Put them together, it's just the best ever! Yesterday I got more corydoras to up my school size in the 75G and it was the first time I've bought fish without also buying at least one plant. I wanted to, but I want my next plant to be hydrocotyle tripartita... and I didn't want to buy a $14 tissue culture of that. Too much for my wallet.

[Atitagain]

@Minanora I know what you mean I’m going straight to the plant section. 90% taking one home! 

[Atitagain]

Starting to reset fishroom, trying to be patient. Moved neighbors koi tank over next to hulks escape 

which cleared room to set back a 60G ( i had gave this tank to a friend and he returned it after never setting it up). The tank is too tall for a bottom rack, built a platform to fix that.

Used two layers of 5/8 plywood and a 2x6 blocking. Then pulled tank forward so lids would work easily.

Not for sure but I think I’m gonna have a lot of floating plants in here. Red roots, water lettuce, not sure but want it to flower on top of possible. (Don’t know if either of them do) then on bottom go dark super dark. Probably tannins in the water but that’s not really what I’m talking about. Heavy logs one big massive log and thick branches, no plants on bottom, substrate should be dark sand or mud. 
 

starting to get some supplies for upcoming projects: a couple jars for wet house plants @Streetwiseidea, built shelf for wet plants, got a bowl to also be on shelf. Inspired by @Beardedbillygoat1975

and got some lucky bamboo. A small group of 3. Will be setting it up soon.

 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Atitagainexcited to see what’s coming! That platform to extend the stand for the 60 g is a great solution. 

[Minanora]

Oooooooooooh that 60 is a planted paradise waiting to happen! What plants are you thinking about having go in there? Besides the floating ones. I'm excited for you! Excited about the bowl, too!

[Atitagain]

Pothos and lucky bamboo!

I was given some pothos today then was told it’s from a childhood home where this got started 42 years ago! I have 3 good clippings then I cut each one into thirds. Used some plastic canvas to keep it steady. The lucky bamboo is from a pot that had 3 small pieces tied together. I divided them and used same process to keep sturdy. Hooked lights at both tanks these were planted in. 

then in the Oscar tank , he attacked both plants. So I gave him a heavy feeding and he seemed to leave them alone rest of night. (We’ll see)

Real interested in the bamboo growing out should be neat to watch it get tall enough to hit the bottom of this 60G tank 24” tall so 18-22” of growth. Will change out mounting when it gets 12-16” or if needed earlier.

60G new set up, now thinking shellies did a bit of research not long ago and might go for it. I could get a fairly large group of them going in a 48x11” footprint. Figure I’ll do shellies on bottom and find something that makes sense with them to cruise the top through all the floating plants that will definitely be a part of this build no matter what fish I choose.

gonna start back at work tomorrow, been away for 4 months. I can’t wait to nail something, screw something together, or plan out a huge build. I’m very excited to get back at it. 🪚🔨🪚🔨🪚🔨

[Odd Duck]

Red root floaters definitely flower.  Mine are nearly always in bloom.  This is an older pic, but I could go take a pic right now and find some in bloom.  They seem to like to hit a certain density before they bother blooming.  The flowers are tiny, as are the tiny fruit.

I can’t speak to water lettuce since I’ve never kept those or investigated since they are illegal in Texas (although lots of people have them).

[Atitagain]

On 12/6/2021 at 12:08 PM, Odd Duck said:

Red root floaters definitely flower.  Mine are nearly always in bloom.  This is an older pic, but I could go take a pic right now and find some in bloom.  They seem to like to hit a certain density before they bother blooming.  The flowers are tiny, as are the tiny fruit.

I can’t speak to water lettuce since I’ve never kept those or investigated since they are illegal in Texas (although lots of people have them).

Thank you, I think the red root will be exactly what I’ll need, got a idea for this 60G. Your red root is beautiful hope I can get some growth like that. 

[GeorgeJ]

What an amazing thread.. As a new comer to this forum and getting back into the hobby - this was a great read and well worth the time spent.  Looking forward to learning more and just hearing the stories that surround us all.

Thanks @Atitagainand all the others for this.

George

Edited December 7, 2021 by GeorgeJ

[Patrick_G]

I’m impressed that you were able to get this tank into that space. You should enter some Tetris competitions! 
 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Atitagainshellies and cyprochromis are a perfect combo in that size tank, they will breed no doubt and that may become your most profitable tank as if you get an in-demand type of shellie and cyp LFSs will certainly take them off your hands. I know that Cory visited a really cool fish farm in Israel that had amazing shellies and cyps I think Pisces and the Extreme guys fish farm and several others like Imperial and others. 

Types I would look at in terms of shellies - multies are the easiest to breed, gold ocellatus and meleagris I think are the prettiest/most attractive. I've never had the ocellatus but have had the meleagris and they are gorgeous great patterns and sparkly at the edges of their scales. I have Brevis but their color is nothing to write home about, I think only hardcore Tang people like them in all honesty. Cyps - cyprichromis leptosoma mpimbwe or utinta are my favorites, really let's be honest they are all awesome. 

Highest yields would be pulling the shells to growout tanks and stripping the female cyps and putting their fry in growouts. 

I would do a wall of jungle val in the back with a couple rocks with some decent height with anubias and java fern for the fry to hide in.  

[Atitagain]

On 12/7/2021 at 9:34 AM, GeorgeJ said:

What an amazing thread.. As a new comer to this forum and getting back into the hobby - this was a great read and well worth the time spent.  Looking forward to learning more and just hearing the stories that surround us all.

Thanks @Atitagainand all the others for this.

George

Thank you very much @GeorgeJ. I journal to keep a record of what I experience. Always logging my thoughts as tho I’m having a conversation with a good friend.  Because that’s what I’m doing.

I got a big project just starting up, (gonna do a write up about it in a couple days when I get a idea sketch done) feel free to comment and share your thoughts. Always interested in feedback.

good luck mate 

On 12/7/2021 at 11:44 AM, Patrick_G said:

I’m impressed that you were able to get this tank into that space. You should enter some Tetris competitions! 
 

It is fairly tricky, luckily I have sons that will help.

[Atitagain]

@Beardedbillygoat1975 thank you so much for the info. I will be needing it and using it soon. This tank Ive changed my mind and gonna go a different route. But Shellie’s are still a go. Im gonna move hulks Escape and do a 55G Shellie in that spot to mimic the bump out I added to the left side .

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

I love Lake Tanganyika and it’s fishes, much more subtle colors than the Malawi or Victorians but the behaviors are just something else. 

[Atitagain]

Been busy in My Aquatic Vivariums, reorganizing and a little shuffling again.
 

Let’s talk about fish bowls, I became so intrigued by @Beardedbillygoat1975’s bowl, I told him every time I see it I just want to pick it up and look from all angles. His is so intricate has so much detail in that shape, it jumped straight to the front of my to do list and now I finely have the opportunity so I’m gonna give it a go. 
I started with a 3G bowl, made a diy filter system with @Beardedbillygoat1975help, then went to work!

fairly simple system to get filtration. 3/4” tube with holes drilled in circular part put together on a T. Had to drill access point for air and siliconed joint. 

 

Also with the help of @Streetwise. I’ve put together some wet house plants. A excellent idea he gave me ! I can’t wait to see when roots are grown out. Such a good concept.

water in bowl is super cloudy still, only running about 2 hours I have a diy sponge filter running in it as well

[Streetwise]

Very nice! Your photos show them well. With these little pico environments, you can move them around while full. Just like your comment, enjoy from all angles!

[Guppysnail]

They look fantastic!  Another bowl for me to snoop at enviously 😍. I don’t trust my skills with less than 10 gallons. I have a 2.5 for in a pinch qt but I can never keep it stable 😕. You have me thinking wet plants may be an option for my living room. Looks like I’m going to have to research the how to for them. I love the look of yours. 

[Atitagain]

Don’t usually talk much of details about upcoming projects but this one will take a good while to get all material and stocking together. I’ve got a 60G that sits on a bump out from the rack. 

my first thought has to be floating plants. I’m gonna use red root floaters they will mostly be contained to left side. Then the wheels started turning. I came up with (trying something new again) building a dock around the outside of tank. Post would be on interior of tank then the joist and decking boards on exterior. Probably do some kind of log to finish off the bottom framework. From front view decking boards would be missing, broken, or something to have access and viewing area for top of tank. On right will have decking to shelf house plants. Will be removable to gain access if needed. Also will have a large hole so I can somehow telescope light to a particular point at bottom of tank.

hardscape will be a large hollow log, lots of branches, leaf litter, soil substrate, and whatever else you might find under a dock. Ideas so far for that: fishing line with a bobber tangled on a post, fairly thick rope with a sailing knot tided in it, and maybe find an ornament of a lantern or something of the like. 
As for plants and stocking, this will be a biotope (exact replica of a specific environment like under an American dock) So I’m still researching both of these. Wanna keep as close to Indiana native as possible but might have to expand to Midwest.

I really wanna pull off a beauty on top, a dark mess on bottom. I think if the woodwork is solid and eye catching, the red roots really pop, the house plants on top of decking is super important, the spotlight to a pinpoint spot with a lush grouping of plants, and the lantern or whatever I use will be crucial has to be super cool to grab attention, keeping the focus off the dark mess.

hope the pic makes sense, the log kinda blends in and background (which will be hand painted) blends as well .

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Atitagainyou threw in a couple improvements with the zipties and using the wood to cover the ugf up. I’m excited to see it progress. I ran the sponge for a couple months more out of laziness and wanting to put the sponge to good use- so now it’s in a fry/breeding tank. 

The dock idea is genius. You’ve become one of the most artistic scapers on here whether just for fun with hulk or serious blackwaters like your 29 and 125. Cheers buddy well done!

[Atitagain]

@Beardedbillygoat1975thank you, very kind of you. I give credit to this forum and the inspiration it provides me. Such a great place!

the bowl is everything I was hoping it would be. I’ve already learned a valuable lesson, the bowl distorts and makes everything look larger. The mopani log is a perfect piece until it gets distorted then almost looks to big. 

[Atitagain]

Finished up a build today (well still a little tinkering to do) I seen @Beardedbillygoat1975 and @Patrick_G talking about wabi kusa style tanks. I looked up a couple pics and wanted to do my immediate inspiration version of this. So I have no clue if any of this build follows the parameters set by the style. I will now research more about the style and maybe follow the guidelines for the next one.
What I set up the background can be changed with the seasons (or anytime really) if I want. Like I have this set up now maybe in spring I use something more colorful.

I call this “Sunset”

started off with a 10”x10”x4” tank, built a filtration system 

inside is lava rock with the top lightly packed with crushed coral then crushed coral substrate around the perimeter. Then on inside added a top cap of plastic canvas, added approximately 1” of soil, then 1/2” gravel cap.

globe is mounted to plastic canvas with fishing line. Air line and uplift tube siliconed into place. 
Then started adding plants and a few pieces of driftwood. I hung land moss from side draping into water. Secured with toothpicks that are cutoff as far back as possible.

then added some grass to layer that will be swampy dry top wet 1/4” down. I think it’s dwarf chain sword or dwarf sagittaria it might even be vallisneria. Not real hopeful it will grow. If not I’ll replace with better plant for conditions. 

turned on the filtration and started filling the globe. Add a few Anubias nana and set lighting. This has a sunbeam effect that runs through entire tank.

The globe fills with water until it’s weeping holes and drips water into swampy land. Fairly sure I will add a few more.

 

a few lighting options 

spotlight only

overhead only

both spotlight and overhead lights

definitely want grass to grow or replace with something that will work. Really want a grass or something similar.

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Atitagaintotally original, beautiful and fun. Hard trio to pull off. Super excited to see this progress! 

[Torrey]

On 12/7/2021 at 10:05 AM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

@Atitagainshellies and cyprochromis are a perfect combo in that size tank, they will breed no doubt and that may become your most profitable tank as if you get an in-demand type of shellie and cyp LFSs will certainly take them off your hands. I know that Cory visited a really cool fish farm in Israel that had amazing shellies and cyps I think Pisces and the Extreme guys fish farm and several others like Imperial and others. 

Types I would look at in terms of shellies - multies are the easiest to breed, gold ocellatus and meleagris I think are the prettiest/most attractive. I've never had the ocellatus but have had the meleagris and they are gorgeous great patterns and sparkly at the edges of their scales. I have Brevis but their color is nothing to write home about, I think only hardcore Tang people like them in all honesty. Cyps - cyprichromis leptosoma mpimbwe or utinta are my favorites, really let's be honest they are all awesome. 

Highest yields would be pulling the shells to growout tanks and stripping the female cyps and putting their fry in growouts. 

I would do a wall of jungle val in the back with a couple rocks with some decent height with anubias and java fern for the fry to hide in.  

One of the members of our local fish club found that Cory's recommendation (I don't remember which video) of putting a divider in the tank, and using an uplift tube with an airstone to deliver fry to the other side of the divider from the parents. 

Airstone creates sufficient lift, inquisitive fry (attracted  by an adequate outcropping of rocks around the base of the uplift tube) are lifted up along with the water to be "spit" over to the other side of the divider.

Apparently she has found it to be the easiest and most effective way to separate shellie fry from parents. 

[Torrey]

PS: I am mesmerized by the dramatic lighting in front of Starry Skies.

You pulled off a brilliant build.