Fish Folk Posted May 30, 2022 Share Posted May 30, 2022 Just over a year ago, while noodling around online, I came across a stunning US Native fish: Notropis rubricroceus (Saffron Shiner) I have a source for acquiring a breeding group. So, today I am beginning to set up their tank. I’m discarding a 20 gal long that has been cracked and repaired, and setting up a 29 gal on its footprint. I am cordoning off part of the tank space with a matten sponge for filters, powerhead, whatnot. I’ll be attaching a DIY spraybar along the back with PVC… In the end, I plan for the look to be similar to this 29 gal. where I breed Rainbow Shiners… My goal is to get this set up, successfully breed them, and document it all here on the Forum. 2 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Zenzo Posted May 30, 2022 Administrators Share Posted May 30, 2022 @Fish Folk Wow. Those look amazing! What part of the US are they native to? What water parameters do they prefer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted May 30, 2022 Author Share Posted May 30, 2022 On 5/30/2022 at 1:03 PM, Zenzo said: @Fish Folk Wow. Those look amazing! What part of the US are they native to? What water parameters do they prefer? They’re from the Tennessee / Virginia / North Carolina mountain river region of the Appalachian mountains. In non-spawning colors, they’re less impressive… But spawning shoals are a pure wonder of the freshwater world… They’re fine kept in a tank ranging 29 gal. or larger. Temperate — no heater. They do appreciate flow (hence my plan is to use ACO powerhead + spraybar). They can go from 50°-F up into 70°-F. Water hardness probably is variable. I have fairly soft water that I buffer with some crushed coral. I think @WhitecloudDynasty said he’s got some wild out near him in NC area. I’m getting mine through a NANF dealer who I trade NANF fish I spawn with — Rainbow Shiners, Redbelly Dace, etc. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey Posted May 30, 2022 Share Posted May 30, 2022 Wait, @WhitecloudDynasty is in NC? When I finally make it back East, we're going to need to plan a pig-picking so I can meet up with everyone! 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted May 30, 2022 Author Share Posted May 30, 2022 (1) Remove sponge filters & Puddingstone hardscape rocks, rest up in tank water (2) Take out wood, and judiciously select water wisteria and bronze crypt to reuse (reserve in water)… (3) Remove heater and thermometer. Heater will be used later. Thermometer will go back in… (4) Siphon out water & substrate, remove substrate with soft-edged plastic container, reserve substrate in pail (5) Reminder why tank is being discarded (repaired cracks), tank moved aside for later discard, examination of stand with corners set for new tank… (6) Prepare black backing on new 29 gal… (7) Set up new tank on stand… Next to re-add used substrate, cap with new substrate, add tank water from another aquarium, and start up powerhead + spraybar + sponges. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted May 30, 2022 Author Share Posted May 30, 2022 Ok. Next steps…. (8) Add new red planted substrate (9) Insert Hardscape (10) Fill 75% with established water from Discus tank (11) Build and install DIY spraybar (12) Test spraybar! 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhitecloudDynasty Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 On 5/30/2022 at 1:54 PM, Fish Folk said: I think @WhitecloudDynasty said he’s got some wild out near him in NC area. I’m getting mine through a NANF dealer who I trade NANF fish I spawn with — Rainbow Shiners, Redbelly Dace, etc. Sweet I bet they should be easier to spawn than wild stock On 5/30/2022 at 3:41 PM, Torrey said: Wait, @WhitecloudDynasty is in NC? When I finally make it back East, we're going to need to plan a pig-picking so I can meet up with everyone! Yes! I'm here in NC right in the middle lol 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted May 31, 2022 Author Share Posted May 31, 2022 Just put two small sponge filters in for added air, and planted this up. Still cloudy. I expect might take 72 hrs. to clear up… 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 On 5/30/2022 at 8:57 PM, Fish Folk said: Just put two small sponge filters in for added air, and planted this up. Still cloudy. I expect might take 72 hrs. to clear up… My Walstad redo looked like that for 4 days.... It's looking much better now! Can't wait to see yours! On 5/30/2022 at 6:51 PM, WhitecloudDynasty said: Sweet I bet they should be easier to spawn than wild stock Yes! I'm here in NC right in the middle lol Most of my family is in the Triangle area, I will be sure to DM you when I head out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted May 31, 2022 Author Share Posted May 31, 2022 Here we go, morning after set up… 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted May 31, 2022 Author Share Posted May 31, 2022 Talk through the new tank setup and plans… 3 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 I really like the design of the setup. Think that a 40 breeder would be a good size for this sort of setup. Next wishroom is being planned in my head and I think it will be 40 b, 20 L and 20 Hs with maybe a few 29s. I'll let you know when I am ready for some natives. Thanks for continuing to wet my appetite for natives! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabby Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Following. I’m so jealous of those who can keep the American natives, they’re so pretty. Tank looking great already, excited to see how everything progresses. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 Long rambling video for the live of a new unstocked aquarium… Saffrons arriving next week 🤩 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 I’ve just added a batch of Java moss to the “void” in my 29 gal with spray bar for Saffron Shiners (next week!) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 Boiling Oak leaves to slip underneath puddingstone rocks… This gently releases some natural tannins. I’ve found my NANF appreciate the natural leaf-litter addition… 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 On 5/30/2022 at 12:40 PM, Fish Folk said: I am cordoning off part of the tank space with a matten sponge for filters, powerhead, whatnot. This is clever, @Fish Folk! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted June 10, 2022 Author Share Posted June 10, 2022 Saffrons arriving tomorrow… 😍 The only YouTube footage I’ve found of them in a home aquarium comes from something posted on a NANFA board back in 2011… Just going back down memory lane, here’s the thread back when I “discovered them” and posted a year and a half ago… They’ll probably be drab, stressed, young, etc. Going to give them time and document everything here. Stay tuned! 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 On 6/9/2022 at 7:10 PM, Fish Folk said: Saffrons arriving tomorrow… 😍 The only YouTube footage I’ve found of them in a home aquarium comes from something posted on a NANFA board back in 2011… Just going back down memory lane, here’s the thread back when I “discovered them” and posted a year and a half ago… They’ll probably be drab, stressed, young, etc. Going to give them time and document everything here. Stay tuned! ORD 😍😍😍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted June 10, 2022 Author Share Posted June 10, 2022 To moderate my expectations, I find it helpful to look at a broad spectrum of sample photos of any new NANF species I add to approximate what I may see. Here's a grab from iNat of Saffron Shiners. Lots of variety... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 Ooh, I like that one with the red belly in the middle! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 On 5/30/2022 at 5:27 PM, Fish Folk said: Siphon out water & substrate, I may have overlooked it, but what type of substrate are you using? Did you collect it from nature? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted June 10, 2022 Author Share Posted June 10, 2022 On 6/10/2022 at 10:01 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said: Ooh, I like that one with the red belly in the middle! All are the same species. They turn on bright red / yellow stripes when spawning. On 6/10/2022 at 10:08 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said: I may have overlooked it, but what type of substrate are you using? Did you collect it from nature? I first reused black diamond blasting sand that had been in the 20 gal long that I threw out. On top of that, I used Carib-Sea Eco Planted “Red” substrate… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 On 6/10/2022 at 10:31 AM, Fish Folk said: All are the same species. They turn on bright red / yellow stripes when spawning. That's awesome. When using eco substrate, do you have to wait before adding fish and inverts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted June 10, 2022 Author Share Posted June 10, 2022 On 6/10/2022 at 10:58 AM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said: That's awesome. When using eco substrate, do you have to wait before adding fish and inverts? I used the pre-cycled BDBS substrate, two small pre-cycled, sponge filters, established hardscape, and cycled water from Discus tank. Combined with live plants and active bio from the Carib-Sea substrate… the tank was instantly cycled. I did a water test, and all looks good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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