Atitagain Fish Room

[Guppysnail]

Looking good. It will be so easy to just pick up the planters and move to tanks. I like it. 

[Levi_Aquatics]

Nice scape in the 5 gallon! I love that aquarium!

[Atitagain]

On 2/2/2022 at 8:49 PM, Guppysnail said:

Looking good. It will be so easy to just pick up the planters and move to tanks. I like it. 

Thank you,  I also have been letting roots get going good in the planters. Then transferring them to wherever I want them. 
 

 

On 2/2/2022 at 9:31 PM, Levi_Aquatics said:

Nice scape in the 5 gallon! I love that aquarium!

thank you, can’t wait to see everything grow in and if it will look like I imagined. I love the look and shape of this aquarium as well. The curved front corners, built in filtration, rimless, and built in light. 👍

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

All your tanks look great! Working on a small scale is fun I think you'll enjoy it. 

[Atitagain]

CHANGES TO THE SHELF

The box container in the center had to be redone. The globe where filtration flows to and pushed out of holes drilled in top was very sloppy. As in, water would pop out of the holes and spray well beyond the container. It would lose almost a cup of water everyday. Also the plants on the top seemed to hit a stopping point. I replanted them in their own container with fertilized soil. Im not finished with the box but I got rid of the globe, pulled some of the interior plastic canvas I used to hold lava rock/ crushed coral filtration together, and reset the driftwood. I’m still using the land moss it’s holding up well. I’m also using dwarf water lettuce.

the bowl is filling in good. I added some bolbitus to a nice little crevice in the wood. Had to do a bit of trimming and algae removal.

 

[Guppysnail]

You are so inspirational with these. I’m making one!  Last nights thread (that I so hope you join in on) 

got me thinking…and thinking…now seeing these ….oh my you folks are a bad influence 🤣. Those really are breathtaking!😍🤩

[Odd Duck]

@Atitagain Love the changes to the shelf.  Disappointed the “trees” and globe didn’t work out, but do love the new globe on the wall and the trees in their own container.  Maybe something else will declare itself to you for the height I know you wanted.  I’ll be thinking about “The Box” and see if anything pops into my old brain.  Who knows, I was on a cabin fever driven roll last night, but consequently didn’t get a lot of sleep.

I was semi-successful with a ‘needle-point’ variety of English ivy as a bonsai many years ago and I know they tolerate fairly wet roots if they still have enough oxygen and light.  They also grow fast enough to get decent results early and get better and better with age as long as you keep working them thoughtfully.  Just a quick thought erupting out of my quagmire brain today.

Oh, and I absolutely second you checking out the thread that @Beardedbillygoat1975 started last night that @Guppysnail thoughtfully and conveniently linked for you!  😆 

[Atitagain]

On 2/5/2022 at 8:57 AM, Guppysnail said:

You are so inspirational with these. I’m making one!  Last nights thread (that I so hope you join in on) 

got me thinking…and thinking…now seeing these ….oh my you folks are a bad influence 🤣. Those really are breathtaking!😍🤩

Thank you, I’m have declared my participation on the “scapes from scraps” thread. My MTS is trying to talk me into trying all categories 😬

On 2/5/2022 at 12:35 PM, Odd Duck said:

@Atitagain Love the changes to the shelf.  Disappointed the “trees” and globe didn’t work out, but do love the new globe on the wall and the trees in their own container.  Maybe something else will declare itself to you for the height I know you wanted.  I’ll be thinking about “The Box” and see if anything pops into my old brain.  Who knows, I was on a cabin fever driven roll last night, but consequently didn’t get a lot of sleep.

I was semi-successful with a ‘needle-point’ variety of English ivy as a bonsai many years ago and I know they tolerate fairly wet roots if they still have enough oxygen and light.  They also grow fast enough to get decent results early and get better and better with age as long as you keep working them thoughtfully.  Just a quick thought erupting out of my quagmire brain today.

Oh, and I absolutely second you checking out the thread that @Beardedbillygoat1975 started last night that @Guppysnail thoughtfully and conveniently linked for you!  😆 

the globe is now something I can improve on later. I see a different way I will go about it next time. Thank you for the advice on the bonsai idea it was going fairly well then puttered out before I could make my next bends. Maybe this will kick start it. I’m only watering house plants with sponge filter water.

[Torrey]

On 2/5/2022 at 11:53 AM, Atitagain said:

Thank you, I’m have declared my participation on the “scapes from scraps” thread. My MTS is trying to talk me into trying all categories

You are not alone!!!!

 

ORD 🤩🤩🤩

[Atitagain]

Only had time for some lurking and a couple short post here lately. Wanted to show a bit of the progress. Not calling it a rebuild but kinda an update on entire room. Lot of technical stuff, sorting wires, cosmetics, and finishing touches. So I have been putting in a lot of time in the fishroom. Redesigning and rebuilding work bench (again). 1st draft was just temporary to get a feel if one would work then I built a bench that I liked but was a bit crowding.I didn’t mind it but my wife did not like it at all so rebuild it is. Half way through that project.

placed live edge slabs at top of workbench cabinets, “the shelf”, and front of the 125G

I’ve reset my blackworms into 2 - 3G-ish containers. They are doing great both groups are fragmenting /reproducing very well.

breakdown of 3 tanks 3G and 2- 10Gs. No updated pics on them. (Must wait till 4/1 😀) I have been working on them as well. 
And lastly I redid the shelf again ( at-it-again). Added a background with a  build out up top to cover airlines and added a lighted moon. Got a new light it’s a grow light my wife got me so I’m trying it out. Couple more containers and new hanging planters. Not finished yet still need a few plants and tweaks. Here’s a couple different lighting options. 
 

 

[OnlyGenusCaps]

I love it! 

You and @modified lung should get together to perfect home blackworm culture.  Then I can just copy it and not have to do any real work.  🤪

[Atitagain]

On 2/21/2022 at 10:58 PM, OnlyGenusCaps said:

I love it! 

You and @modified lung should get together to perfect home blackworm culture.  Then I can just copy it and not have to do any real work.  🤪

Thank you so much, I have seen his set up I will be trying his tower idea.

[Odd Duck]

Liking what you’re doing!  The live edge shelves are terrific!  I’m also following along on blackworm cultures.  Mine do OK and seem to be doing a little better this time around with no substrate and stirring with a razor scraper to break up worms.

[GeorgeJ]

@Atitagain you have so much going on - I don't know where to look first!   Thanks for the great journal - it's become my weekly mandatory reading..

George

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@OnlyGenusCapsand I are in agreement. I have spent way too much on failed blackworm culture. My way is not the way obviously. 

[Patrick_G]

@Atitagain, I have some of those flexible arm lights and so far they seem to work pretty well. I think your are brighter than the ones I have. 

[Torrey]

Looking good!

Top photo is great for mood ambience, I suspect that you will discover that working under the grow light for too long leaves a headache, though. Having it come on to signal the beginning & end of the day for an hour or so? Not as likely to see algae growth, and it's a great, low stress way to end the day. 

The moon is gorgeous, did you paint it?

[Atitagain]

@Odd Duck @Beardedbillygoat1975 I use distilled water that has minerals already added back in. Have cascading water flow and stir atleast once a day. (I’m gonna start using my razor scraper to do this tho, great idea.)

@Patrick_G I like the light so far, maybe I need to work with it more but I don’t think I can use a timer with it because it has a built in timer but only works as a 4,8, or 12 hour period, that seems to start when you start it. You can’t program certain times I think? @Torrey the moon is a actual light it’s battery (rechargeable) powered. 
 

On 2/22/2022 at 6:50 PM, GeorgeJ said:

@Atitagain you have so much going on - I don't know where to look first!   Thanks for the great journal - it's become my weekly mandatory reading..

George

this is great to hear. Thank you so much, i just like to document what’s going on. I’m glad your enjoying it. 
 

thank you everyone!

[Patrick_G]

I have several different lights that use the built in timers. The timer starts at the time you first set it but then turns off 4,8 or 12 hours later and then turns back on the next day at the time you originally turned it on. Some of mine will work in conjunction with WiFi plugs and some won’t. 

[Atitagain]

I’ve been really slacking on updates and everything forum for the last couple of weeks. With a new work schedule, some family issues, health issues, and spending every available minute working on my aquatic vivarium. I have been making some organizational changes. Biggest one I moved my refrigerator, it was causing a big dead space I could use for storage/ another tank?

after

a couple more changes:

found a pail/ bucket with hooks built in. At first I thought I could use it to hang over tanks when cleaning/ trimming plants. The hooks are not spread far enough to fit over the rim. So I came up with

This cabinet was a nightmare to organize,

My plants all seem to be doing great-ish. I feel as their slow growing I’m not going to use CO2 I’ll probably use more light. Right now everything except “the shelf “ gets 8 hours of light a day, going up to 10.

I have a few new tank builds as well but not sure which ones I’ll be using in “scapes from scraps” so I’ll skip them for now.

now the exciting part. NEW FISH!!!

German blue rams 

fancy guppies 

White Cloud Mountain Minnow

 

Chili rasbora 

I am also making some changes to how I operate. My 125G I am no longer considering it a blackwater tank. I will still be adding some botanicals  IAL, alder cones, maybe others. Enough to keep my shrimp happy and help make infursoria for fry. I decided it was to much to keep this many gallons dark. I have moved my blackwater efforts to a 20G and a 60G. Wife let me watch a live stream couple days ago during our TV time. (Yes I’m also way behind on all videos as well) Cory was talking about time management in the fishroom. If you only have 1 tank you can get an enormous amount of enjoyment from it. You can also achieve the same enjoyment from 30 tanks but it will be spread out among the 30. You have to find your balance where you get the enjoyment and the fish are properly taken care of. I have 20 systems going right now and it’s a lot of work every week but I enjoy that. Always something to do especially because 16 of the 20 are “show”tanks. So I started thinking how could I enjoy more. I’m going to feed out all of my blackworms then shut the 2 systems down. I spend too much time tending to this project without getting enough in return. My population seems to be shrinking, so I’m really only getting a couple small feedings a week. That’s clearly not enough and too much more work to produce more, I will start buying blackworms from my LFS and refrigerate.

I’ve certainly missed being here amongst all my fellow nerms. I know for sure I won’t be able to post as much as I have in the past but I will keep up to date as much as possible. 

[Guppysnail]

Was wondering how things were going. Seems a lot of us are getting hit with health. Those GBR are fantastic!

I often end up with too many irons in the fire, then scale back, then expand-wash-rinse-repeat. Good to see your tanks are all doing great. 

[Patrick_G]

It’s nice to see you’re still active. The new fish look great. What kind of setup do you have the the German Blue Rams? 

[Atitagain]

On 3/14/2022 at 11:59 AM, Guppysnail said:

Was wondering how things were going. Seems a lot of us are getting hit with health. Those GBR are fantastic!

I often end up with too many irons in the fire, then scale back, then expand-wash-rinse-repeat. Good to see your tanks are all doing great. 

Thank you, yes wash rinse repeat 

cory also talked about (this is how I interpreted what he was saying) some people 🖐🙋🏻‍♂️with fishrooms think the room is only as good as my last tank set up. Get bored of set ups and change things around a lot. I am setting goals with all my tanks to only making minor of any changes. I have to stay out!!!

[Atitagain]

On 3/14/2022 at 1:36 PM, Patrick_G said:

It’s nice to see you’re still active. The new fish look great. What kind of setup do you have the the German Blue Rams? 

Thanks Patrick, I got 2 pairs of GBR. One pair In my 125G community then second pair I have in a 20G with lots of plants, large flat stones, and cave-ish hiding spots. I’m planning on doing a post about them in next couple days.

It has grown out a lot since this pic was taken.

[OnlyGenusCaps]

You know, sometimes things like moving and rearranging take far more time, effort, and focus than the showier things.  Despite that, I think it's highly important to make sure we are taking care of these details, even if it doesn't come with accolades of a new scape or new fish.  It keep us happy in our space and makes this enjoyable, which is rather the point.  Nice work on your space, and it's good to see you here when you have the chance!