Atitagain Fish Room

[Guppysnail]

@Torrey is great with plants. What thread is the secret to stem plants hidden in please 😁

[Hobbit]

^ yes please tell us 😇

Haha those Repashy rods look so gross but the fish/shrimp clearly love them!!

[Atitagain]

@Guppysnail @Hobbit it was in a post she made a few days ago in this thread 

On 9/19/2021 at 1:23 AM, Torrey said:

I also discovered a nifty trick:

Roll a plastic canvas to the circumference you want, "stitch" shut with nylon fishing line. I put inside a planter or a food safe plastic tray.

Fill with "rinsed dirt" (like prepared dirt for a Walstad) and cap with larger gravel, or smooth river stones.

Plant.

I discovered stem plants can be planted by pushing the stems through the plastic canvas, and I get less melt😳

Place in aquarium, and cover the base with either gravel, rocks, or other hardscape. Again, this is more labor intensive upfront, but easier long term and gets great tannins.

 

Hope things balance out for you, soon!

😊

[Guppysnail]

On 9/22/2021 at 4:44 AM, Atitagain said:

@Guppysnail @Hobbit it was in a post she made a few days ago in this thread 

😊

Ok I read that one. I was being greedy for more tips and tricks 🤣

[Atitagain]

Back to work in the room today, got a lot done. Started planting some pothos in African cichlid tank

Then made another spawning mop for the rummys breeding tank. And moved 4 more from main tank into breeder. Think I have 2M and 4F in there now. Also starting to think maybe their not mature enough to breed yet(research needed) 

Also moved the betta to the rummy/ cardinal tank. He did not seem happy about it. But it was past lights out and I had to have lights back on.

Got my new water change system set up. Had to cut my python to get it done which makes me nervous because I love that thing 😬. This should make water changes so much easier and faster tho. One thing for sure I’ll be able to be draining one tank and filling another at the same time

Tested all tanks water parameters all were normal, only exception the nitates are finally going down in the African cichlid tank. To many water changes to keep them under control. Now have added the arrowhead plant, pothos, batch of water sprite, and some duck weed. Was hard to get them under 40ppm after a 40% WC was at 25ppm tonight and haven’t done a WC in 10 days.

Last but not least, @Torrey have me a excellent idea to get stem plants to grow faster in my hard water. What I ended up doing was taking a plant pot bottom (plastic) filling with dirt covered it and planted through. I spent almost 2 days trying to come up with a way to wrap the whole pot bottom with plastic canvas. As usual I was over thinking it because it was way to big, a lot of dead space I would have to back fill, and way to complicated would take hours to make one even after I had the design. Getting totally frustrated was almost gonna give up for atleast for the night, and it hit me K.I.S.S. And I came up with this (and after rereading their post I sure this is what was meant)

First I filled the pot bottom with Fluval Stratum dirt and caped with thin layer of gravel.

Sewed with fishing line a piece of plastic canvas. Fairly tedious work wanted to make sure no pulling apart after in the water. 

Had to use a skewer to make hole big enough to receive stem plants 

Then placed in tank and capped once again with gravel. Left plenty of room to do some propagation when ready.

All in all a good fishroom day. Busy day (hopefully) tomorrow as well, gonna try to do water changes with gravel vacs as needed, break down a 3 1/2G tank, finish break down of a 55G, reprogram light schedule for 2 a day cycle on planted tanks. Thinking 5am-8am then 5:30pm-9:30pm. Don’t know, want a morning light to feed then viewing time at evening.

[Torrey]

Yours actually looks more simple than either of my methods @Atitagain!

 

I need to find my thread / post / topic on plant identification & care, and add it to my signature. I'm still learning how to use the forum 🤣

I think you just solved my mid ground issue, Atitagain!

Much lower profile, and I can still use the taller, rolled canvas method behind it to help create a lot more depth. 

 

**adds to idea notebook**

[Guppysnail]

On 9/23/2021 at 2:57 AM, Torrey said:

Yours actually looks more simple than either of my methods @Atitagain!

 

I need to find my thread / post / topic on plant identification & care, and add it to my signature. I'm still learning how to use the forum 🤣

I think you just solved my mid ground issue, Atitagain!

Much lower profile, and I can still use the taller, rolled canvas method behind it to help create a lot more depth. 

 

**adds to idea notebook**

Here is the thread i think you mean I snoop it all the time 😁

[Patrick_G]

@Atitagain I like your attention to detail and how well maintained your fishroom (fishhouse?) is. 😀

Edited September 23, 2021 by Patrick_G

[Torrey]

On 9/23/2021 at 5:44 AM, Guppysnail said:

Here is the thread i think you mean I snoop it all the time 😁

Now, I have to ask @Streetwise how to add it to my signature, lol!

@Aqua Shack Atitagain modified one of my planting ideas that will keep turtles from completely destroying plants.

If you like this approach better than creating a plant safety box, you will need to first grow the plants until they have a significant enough root ball that the turtles can't pull them out (so grow in another tank for a while) and then trade out plants  as they get munched on to give plants time to recuperate. The turtles munching on plants will encourage super bushy growth.

[Atitagain]

On 9/23/2021 at 10:22 AM, Patrick_G said:

@Atitagain I like your attention to detail and how well maintained your fishroom (fishhouse?) is. 😀

Thanks I wish I felt the same way sometimes lol OCD a blessing? A curse? =TBD
i always have such a long list of things to do and the last item on every list? Start new list 😂😂😂

On 9/23/2021 at 10:45 AM, Torrey said:

Now, I have to ask @Streetwise how to add it to my signature, lol!

@Aqua Shack Atitagain modified one of my planting ideas that will keep turtles from completely destroying plants.

If you like this approach better than creating a plant safety box, you will need to first grow the plants until they have a significant enough root ball that the turtles can't pull them out (so grow in another tank for a while) and then trade out plants  as they get munched on to give plants time to recuperate. The turtles munching on plants will encourage super bushy growth.

So I understand, you would grow out the plant in one of these planters, then place in turtle tank, after he munched and wrestled with it (because the root ball is below the plastic canvas) you could swap with another pregrown planter and let the damaged one recover in QT tank ? Then bring back after recovery?

awsome idea really cool!

@Torreydo you have pics of this idea but different design?

Edited September 23, 2021 by Atitagain

[Aqua Shack]

Love this thank you @Torrey@Atitagain, time to go plant shopping again 😂

[Atitagain]

On 9/23/2021 at 7:13 PM, Aqua Shack said:

Love this thank you @Torrey@Atitagain, time to go plant shopping again 😂

Thank you,

@Torrey @Aqua Shack do either of you have pics of variations of these, have an idea clanking around in my head for a different design. Would love to see your take on this.

[Atitagain]

Not much at all got done today. Spent some time with my grandson in the fishroom this morning. He absolutely loves the headlamp flashlight, mostly shines it in the AC cave. He also helped me feed repashy to all the bristlenose. 
All fish are in their new homes and all seem to be adjusting well. The betta is the one I’m worried about the most. He went from a 3 1/2G by himself to a 60G with about 45 other fish and 150+ shrimp. He hasn’t been looking/ acting the same last week or so. Not sick looking but bored looking. I haven’t had time to interact with him lately even forgetting to give him his mirror 😬. But that’s another reason I had to scale back a little to make sure I can give each fish, shrimp, snail, and plant atleast the minimum attention it needs then figure out ways to give more. 
The rummys in the breeder tank (6) are all looking good!!! The red of their noses is almost back to full brightness. All schooling together makes me very happy. really have a lot of research and work to do if i want to seriously breed them. 
I’m loving the platy/ angels combo very much all the movement in there is wonderful to watch. If the platy don’t start breeding in next month or so, I’m gonna pull a couple and go Atitagain with them. Last time I wanted to breed 12 to add to their tank got 14 it the isolation tank, had an emergency move of fish about 2 weeks in and lost all but 3. They are in the main tank now. I’ll go for 10 next time. Again another good reason to scale back I’ll have more QT tanks if needed.
 

[Jeff]

Just seeing this thread.

Love the chair in your fish room. That's how a fish room should be, IMO. A nice chair/couch to sit and enjoy it.

Very nicely done!

[Torrey]

On 9/23/2021 at 5:30 PM, Atitagain said:

Thank you,

@Torrey @Aqua Shack do either of you have pics of variations of these, have an idea clanking around in my head for a different design. Would love to see your take on this.

I did not think to take pictures?

I have learned that a very determined ornate ornata will take apart the canvas "plant in a box" (like a jack in the box, but with more frustrated words when making) if you have a stroke and don't change out the plant after the turtle chews it back all the way to the plastic😅.

That's why I tagged Aqua Shack to see your version, and I will be building new boxes this weekend and take pictures this time.

[Hobbit]

Your betta looks bored in a 60g with 45 fish and 100’s of shrimp??? Just when you think you’re starting to understand fish…

[Atitagain]

On 9/23/2021 at 11:10 PM, Jeff said:

Just seeing this thread.

Love the chair in your fish room. That's how a fish room should be, IMO. A nice chair/couch to sit and enjoy it.

Very nicely done!

Thank you,

I think you are talking about the first pic in this thread, (others have referenced in same way) where the big TV is centered and it’s a wall of tanks. As much as I loved that set up because that’s where as a family we spent a lot of time. That is a pic from my old house, the second pic starts my new fish room. It’s a trade off, I love having all my tanks in one dedicated room that I can do what ever I want with design or whatever (yea right wife still has finial say) we as a family don’t spend much time in there. Which makes it more difficult to find time to be in there.

thanks again for reading and commenting!

On 9/24/2021 at 1:56 AM, Hobbit said:

Your betta looks bored in a 60g with 45 fish and 100’s of shrimp??? Just when you think you’re starting to understand fish…

The betta was bored in the 3G now that he’s in the 60G he’s seems to be doing a lot of exploring. Just checking everything out still don’t have much spunk but I’m hoping once he gets comfortable he’ll get his groove back.😎

[Atitagain]

Did water changes this morning using new set up, had to dial everything in so didn’t go as fast as it will next time. Wasn’t able to fill tanks at same time I was gravel vacing but I’m sure I will be able to on next round. Gravel vac was way over do on almost all tanks. The suction on the siphon was much stronger than using the python.

I worked out a way to keep the water hose stable so it didn’t come out of bucket. The big can is just for protection, I want all water to stay in the 4G bucket. If I had a longer siphon hose maybe no need for this but even then I’ve always had problems with end of hose flip flopping so this controls where water goes without worrying about it.

I took a 5G water bottle and drilled a 2 1/2” hole so air could come from top when water starts (bottom of water bottle will become the top) then drilled a 1” hole to accept fitting for siphon hose.

attached hose with zip ties (need to replace with clamp so it will be easily removed if needed). Secured into place with spring clamps over bucket that holds pump
 

 

everything worked very well pump had plenty of power to lift water out of window. Had to adjust pump for the higher tanks at high speed and the lower tanks at low speed because of the water flow of the siphon was so much stronger on the taller and high tanks. The bucket I used has a false bottom so any particles that were to big to go through pump would fall below.

Not much fell through almost everything went through pump to the outside.
Very happy with this system better vac suction, faster, saved a ton of water, and not sending sand and what not to eventually clog my drain.

had to replace siphon hose 1/2 way through with a more ridged hose. The one I started with was a cheap piece that was leftover from another project and kept kinking up. 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Atitagain

[Atitagain]

So I got to thinking today about the movable planter and different ways of applying this method, I have more than a couple to help stem plants grow faster. But what about other plants almost anything could be used. A big problem I have is depth the two main tanks I want plants to grow in are 60G and my lights are not good enough to do carpeting plants. Any thing that has a “dwarf” or “micro” attached to it are out. One of the main ones I want is Monte Carlo, I had bought 4-5 pots of it for my 29G and it was doing ok then I moved. Didn’t protect it properly and I’m down to less than 1 pots worth now. I want to see how much I can make from that bit so here we go. Atitagain 

A more detailed layout of the overall make of this pot ⬆️Previous post⬆️This is of coarse the same method inspired by @Torrey but also @Guppysnail was talking to me about how she hangs plants with airline holders closer to the light to get them started before moving them further down in the tank. So thank you both!

Have to make a wood holder for the pot bottom, then wrapped it in yarn thinking it would look better. Then went with the same plastic pot bottom as last build but instead of filling full with dirt and capping with gravel I realize with Monte Carlo it would be best to have the dirt as close to the plastic canvas as possible. And need to keep weight down as much as possible also. To put gravel down first would be too heavy. So I made a spawning mop and placed it in first, substrate (fluval stratum), then plastic canvas. And started filling with all the MC I have.

placed in tank high up using airline holders and a couple heater clips. May need to move down probably to close to light now. Even got a rider after about 5 minutes in.

 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Atitagain
Pic in wrong place

[Torrey]

On 9/24/2021 at 1:44 PM, Atitagain said:

Not much fell through almost everything went through pump to the outside.
Very happy with this system better vac suction, faster, saved a ton of water, and not sending sand and what not to eventually clog my drain.

It would be awesome if you could make a 'how to' video tutorial and upload to YouTube!

Especially with so many invasive species infiltrating our waterways (zebra mussels most recently), this is something that every aquarist should be using to keep tank water out of our water ways.

[Guppysnail]

On 9/24/2021 at 11:48 PM, Atitagain said:

So I got to thinking today about the movable planter and different ways of applying this method, I have more than a couple to help stem plants grow faster. But what about other plants almost anything could be used. A big problem I have is depth the two main tanks I want plants to grow in are 60G and my lights are not good enough to do carpeting plants. Any thing that has a “dwarf” or “micro” attached to it are out. One of the main ones I want is Monte Carlo, I had bought 4-5 pots of it for my 29G and it was doing ok then I moved. Didn’t protect it properly and I’m down to less than 1 pots worth now. I want to see how much I can make from that bit so here we go. Atitagain 

A more detailed layout of the overall make of this pot ⬆️Previous post⬆️This is of coarse the same method inspired by @Torrey but also @Guppysnail was talking to me about how she hangs plants with airline holders closer to the light to get them started before moving them further down in the tank. So thank you both!

Have to make a wood holder for the pot bottom, then wrapped it in yarn thinking it would look better. Then went with the same plastic pot bottom as last build but instead of filling full with dirt and capping with gravel I realize with Monte Carlo it would be best to have the dirt as close to the plastic canvas as possible. And need to keep weight down as much as possible also. To put gravel down first would be too heavy. So I made a spawning mop and placed it in first, substrate (fluval stratum), then plastic canvas. And started filling with all the MC I have.

placed in tank high up using airline holders and a couple heater clips. May need to move down probably to close to light now. Even got a rider after about 5 minutes in.

 

I love that you figured a way to hang your planter closer to the light! Great job!

[Atitagain]

Went to LFS today got what I went for but didn’t get what I wanted 😏. Needed fast growing stem plants. They always have a real good selection plants and fish and everything. Absolutely love this store. Never been in a real fish store till about a year and a half ago. 28 1/2 years at big box then walk in there, ouuu weee! Got exactly what was on my list except guppy grass and I knew it would be sold out anyway. 
Anacharis /Narrow Leaf, Wisteria, and Ludwigia / Broadleaf. The Ludwigia I feel like I’m kinda taking a chance on but I’ll never get better if I stick with plants I’m comfortable with.

The anacharis and wisteria I put into a 20G I’m gonna make a plant grow out tank. Will probably remove all substrate and decorations use pots if I have rooted plants to keep in there but for now I’m using a technique @Guppysnailtold me about, using air line holders on suction cups to keep them as close to the light as possible till they start taking off.

The Ludwigia I did something different with, my journal last night I set up a movable planter and planted some Monte Carlo in it. Problem is I really didn’t have much to plant, and I need stem plants going more than I need a carpet. I left the MC but…

I also moved the planter down away from the light as well. I was afraid it would get burnt up being as close as it was. Had a busy day so other than some general organization nothing else got done today. 
Sad news tho the betta I was worried about passed today. Before I went to LFS I checked on him and he was very droppy and I haven’t seen him eat since the move. Planed on resetting his tank to isolate when I returned but it was to late. He had not been active for a while but other than that I didn’t notice any signs of illness, figured the move would excite him.😒

[Guppysnail]

On 9/25/2021 at 10:04 PM, Atitagain said:

Went to LFS today got what I went for but didn’t get what I wanted 😏. Needed fast growing stem plants. They always have a real good selection plants and fish and everything. Absolutely love this store. Never been in a real fish store till about a year and a half ago. 28 1/2 years at big box then walk in there, ouuu weee! Got exactly what was on my list except guppy grass and I knew it would be sold out anyway. 
Anacharis /Narrow Leaf, Wisteria, and Ludwigia / Broadleaf. The Ludwigia I feel like I’m kinda taking a chance on but I’ll never get better if I stick with plants I’m comfortable with.

The anacharis and wisteria I put into a 20G I’m gonna make a plant grow out tank. Will probably remove all substrate and decorations use pots if I have rooted plants to keep in there but for now I’m using a technique @Guppysnailtold me about, using air line holders on suction cups to keep them as close to the light as possible till they start taking off.

The Ludwigia I did something different with, my journal last night I set up a movable planter and planted some Monte Carlo in it. Problem is I really didn’t have much to plant, and I need stem plants going more than I need a carpet. I left the MC but…

I also moved the planter down away from the light as well. I was afraid it would get burnt up being as close as it was. Had a busy day so other than some general organization nothing else got done today. 
Sad news tho the betta I was worried about passed today. Before I went to LFS I checked on him and he was very droppy and I haven’t seen him eat since the move. Planed on resetting his tank to isolate when I returned but it was to late. He had not been active for a while but other than that I didn’t notice any signs of illness, figured the move would excite him.😒

I’m sorry about your betta. I hope your ludwiga does great. I love mine. The color makes me smile. 

[Torrey]

@Atitagain I'm so sorry for your betta.

I might get another one, some day. A new fish friend breeds them about an hour drive north of me, I'm thinking that I might get 3-5 sisters in the spring and do a sorority in the dining room 4' tank....

 

I'm just not sure. 

I know that I won't be buying from the stores any longer, my last rescues illustrated a lot of the aquarium breeding problems Gianne spoke of...

I love what you are doing with the plant grow out tank!

I need my brain to get on board with plant names, I keep messing up the rotala and the ludwiga...

But bacopa carolinia I solidly identify! It has to be the slowest growing stem plant I have **ever** worked with.... it's also impossible to kill.🤷‍♂️

[Atitagain]

On 9/25/2021 at 10:20 PM, Torrey said:

But bacopa carolinia I solidly identify! It has to be the slowest growing stem plant I have **ever** worked with.... it's also impossible to kill

Sloooooooooooow I love the look and got some thinking it’s a stem it’s has to grow fast. Ugggg