22-Gallon Adventure

[ricbennett3]

I thought since can't see my tanks every day for a bit, I'd try my hand at creating a journal of the experience. It will likely take a bit of fine-tuning for me to learn what information is relevant. 

I bought this tank from an online retailer a bit over a year ago. I like it's unique shape (though it did make stand shopping a challenge). 

Initially, I set up the tank using a variety of stones and plants. I liked the idea of creating a rockwall using slate stones (inspired by yard I observed in my neighborhood, walking the dog). Here was the result (though I will admit the tank went through many phases-slight changes and plant switches and such):

The tank ran for a year, many baby White Cloud Mountain Minnows were born. I started with about 7 from Petco (gasp), and ended up with 15-20.  I picked a few of the long finned variety from the Co-op.  I also started with 10-12 Blue Dream Shrimp and some Ramshorn snails. Overall, I enjoyed this tank, but it became overwhelmed with hair algae and I was itching for a rebuild. 

 

The image below inspired me. I can't remember where I found it, but somewhere online:)

I went to a landscaping rock yard, checked rocks for PH issues and selected a bunch that would work. I then set up the tank with net bags filled with Fluval aquasoil capped with sand (nod to MD Tanks). 

Here was the initial build:

I added all the plants I had salvaged from the last set-up and filled it up:)

It's been running for a few months now. I currently only see it one day a week (Maintenance Day!). I've added three Borneo Loaches from the Co-op, a few Amano Shrimp, a couple Nerite snails, and 4 Kuhli Loaches I had in another tank.  

The KH is 0, like it is being sucked out of the tank. The PH is super low, like 6.4-6.6, and the GH is next to nothing, but everyone seems happy. The Blue Dreams are exploded (I counted over 25 babies recently). The Borneo are so fun to watch. I rarely see the Kuhli Loaches, but that's nothing new. They did excavate many tunnels under the rocks though and catch glimpses. 

The White Clouds are breeding much more slowly than in the last set-up. I wonder if the loaches are eating eggs. 

Here are some current pics (I put a second heater in because I can't check the tank daily. Temp is 75):

Edited November 3, 2022 by Zenzo
Removed competitor website link

[OceanTruth]

You’ve got some great aquascaping and photo taking skills!

[ricbennett3]

My Borneo loaches didn’t make it through my time away, unfortunately. Not sure what happened there. The Kuhli loaches and white clouds are doing well. I keep selling blue shrimp to the local shop at $1 each and there are still at least a hundred more. They seem to like this tank, though I’d think the water wouldn’t work for them…KH is zero and PH is 6.4. The parameters have been stable though they are very different from all my other tanks, which have a KH of around 3 and PH closer to 7.  Not sure why. Hundreds of shrimp and snails thought. Plants doing okay. Kuhli loaches are too fat, and the white clouds aren’t breeding anymore (maybe no more females…or maybe Kuhli loaches like eggs for breakfast:)

[nabokovfan87]

On 3/4/2023 at 2:40 PM, ricbennett3 said:

I keep selling blue shrimp to the local shop at $1 each and there are still at least a hundred more.

Do you have a cull tank or how do you handle that?

Very beautiful work with the rock and hardscape. Nice tank!

[ricbennett3]

On 3/4/2023 at 10:46 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

Do you have a cull tank or how do you handle that?

Very beautiful work with the rock and hardscape. Nice tank!

I don’t have a full tank exactly. If there are any shrimp I don’t like the look of, I give them to the fish shop for free, or I put them in with one of my bettas. I had hoped I could keep shrimp in the betta tanks, but they both fancy themselves an expensive meal now and then:)

[Theplatymaster]

@ricbennett3that betta tank is AMAZING!!!!

[AllFishNoBrakes]

On 3/4/2023 at 3:40 PM, ricbennett3 said:

They seem to like this tank, though I’d think the water wouldn’t work for them…KH is zero and PH is 6.4.

I have very similar parameters in all of my tanks and my shrimp tank crushed. Hundreds of shrimp went to the LFS. 

[ricbennett3]

This is the other shrimp eater. I’m struggling to keep his beautiful fins healthy. This is just a holding tank while I try to medicate his fins.

Here is how they should look. He is about a year older now though. I think he must be about three years old currently.

[PineSong]

He is beautiful, and you're sure not the only one who struggles with keeping such lush finnage in shape. Gorgeous tanks! 

[ricbennett3]

On 3/5/2023 at 5:28 PM, PineSong said:you're sure not the only one who struggles with keeping such lush finnage in shape.

I have come to appreciate the plakat betta shape more recently. The tight fins match the betta attitude and exploration habits better, in my opinion.

[ricbennett3]

[knee]

On 3/4/2023 at 2:40 PM, ricbennett3 said:

They seem to like this tank, though I’d think the water wouldn’t work for them…KH is zero and PH is 6.4.

I've had neos do that as well. I kept some red cherry neos with blue bolt caridinas. GH is 2 or 3 and KH barely registers but they were pumping out more babies than the blue bolts 🤷‍♂️

[nabokovfan87]

@Chick-In-Of-TheSeaa

@Cinnebuns

Check out those shrimp! Holy smokes.

[Cinnebuns]

On 3/6/2023 at 8:14 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

@Chick-In-Of-TheSeaa

@Cinnebuns

Check out those shrimp! Holy smokes.

Blueberry flavored!  Yum!

[ricbennett3]

After today’s maintenance. Growing in nicely. I added a couple more crypts today. Made $30 selling shrimp. I even get to see the Kuhli loaches every once in a while, though I couldn’t guess how many are still thriving. Hopefully four, though I only ever see them one or two at a time. I’m going to add some checker barbs once they finish quarantine.

[ricbennett3]

Shrimp everywhere. I counted 50+ adults and that’s not even counting the ones hiding in the floating plants.

Edited Sunday at 06:56 PM by ricbennett3