Levi’s Mini Fish Room Journal

[Levi_Aquatics]

I have been wanting to set up some sort of a “fish room” for a long time now. Because I’m a teenager and thus don’t have a lot of money or space to build a large room, I decided to build a mini fish room in a 4x8 insulated grow tent. First I had to set up the tent which was quite an ordeal. The only place I had to put it was in the basement which stays at 60 degrees or so in the winter. I hope to still heat the tent itself.

Next I moved my 75 gallon into the back of the room against the wall

After that I had to start building the rack to hold my other aquariums. 

After placing them on the racks all I had to do was fill them up and enjoy!

Edited November 17, 2022 by Levi_Aquatics

[TheSwissAquarist]

I admire the lengths you have gone to for building your fish temple! What fish do you keep in your 75 gal??

[Levi_Aquatics]

Thank you for the encouragement! I currently have odessa barbs, bristlenose plecos, and a featherfin synodontis. I hope to convert it to a South American themed aquarium with angelfish, cardinal tetras, and corydoras at some point. 

[TheSwissAquarist]

On 11/16/2022 at 5:57 PM, Levi_Aquatics said:

South American themed aquarium

I think @Aiden Carter has one, if he’s willing to comment!

 

On 11/16/2022 at 5:57 PM, Levi_Aquatics said:

bristlenose plecos,

My BNP babies:

[Levi_Aquatics]

Awe, baby plecos are always fun!

[The endler guy]

On 11/16/2022 at 11:41 AM, Levi_Aquatics said:

I have been wanting to set up some sort of a “fish room” for a long time now. Because I’m a teenager and thus don’t have a lot of money or space to build a large room, I decided to build a mini fish room in a 4x8 insulated grow tent. First I had to set up the tent which was quite an ordeal. The only place I had to put it was in the basement which stays at 60 degrees or so in the winter. I hope to still heat the tent itself.

Next I moved my 75 gallon into the back of the room against the wall

After that I had to start building the rack to hold my other aquariums. 

After placing them on the racks all I had to do was fill them up and enjoy!

Your parents let you do that!? Mine barely even let me have two tanks!

On 11/16/2022 at 11:59 AM, TheSwissAquarist said:

I think @Aiden Carter has one, if he’s willing to comment!

 

My BNP babies:

My tank isn’t super South American (with Cherry shrimp and white clouds) but I try!) on the mention of plecos, I was looking into a pair of clown plecos that is saw at my lfs, just thinking doing a little research, but I highly doubt I’m going to be getting any plecos/ any more fish any time soon 

On 11/16/2022 at 11:57 AM, Levi_Aquatics said:

Thank you for the encouragement! I currently have odessa barbs, bristlenose plecos, and a featherfin synodontis. I hope to convert it to a South American themed aquarium with angelfish, cardinal tetras, and corydoras at some point. 

Can’t go wrong with cory cats!

[The endler guy]

On 11/16/2022 at 11:57 AM, Levi_Aquatics said:

Thank you for the encouragement! I currently have odessa barbs, bristlenose plecos, and a featherfin synodontis. I hope to convert it to a South American themed aquarium with angelfish, cardinal tetras, and corydoras at some point. 

You also could do Amazon tiger shrimp they are peaceful but look like they would kill anything in their path (like dragon gobies)

[SugarBassJoe]

On 11/16/2022 at 9:22 AM, Aiden Carter said:

Your parents let you do that!? Mine barely even let me have two tanks!

I feel your pain, my roommate hates the idea of me having more tanks, took me a few months to get her to agree to the first one, and I'm 30, paying half the rent. She's slowly but surely coming around though.

That's pretty awesome though, would love to do that in the garage. I bet a small space heater would work for heating the tent, I would imagine you'd have to run a dehumidifier in there as well though.

[Levi_Aquatics]

Thanks! @Aiden Carter they generally support my aquariums which has been nice lol. And that still sounds super fun! Do you have any pics of it to share? Yep, I miss my corys and want some more!

[Levi_Aquatics]

On 11/16/2022 at 12:34 PM, Joey1991 said:

I feel your pain, my roommate hates the idea of me having more tanks, took me a few months to get her to agree to the first one, and I'm 30, paying half the rent. She's slowly but surely coming around though.

That's pretty awesome though, would love to do that in the garage. I bet a small space heater would work for heating the tent, I would imagine you'd have to run a dehumidifier in there as well though.

Thanks! And the plan is to run a dehumidifier which will double as a heater connected to the temperature contril system.

[TheSwissAquarist]

This topic seems to be turning into quite the young aquarist place 😂!

On 11/16/2022 at 6:36 PM, Levi_Aquatics said:

Yep, I miss my corys and want some more!

I’m trying to get my Palaeatus to spawn…sigh!

[Levi_Aquatics]

I take it that's not going well... best of luck though!

[The endler guy]

On 11/16/2022 at 12:36 PM, Levi_Aquatics said:

Thanks! @Aiden Carter they generally support my aquariums which has been nice lol. And that still sounds super fun! Do you have any pics of it to share? Yep, I miss my corys and want some more!

Here is an older (like two weeks) they are also in my South American ish biotope journal 

On 11/16/2022 at 12:56 PM, TheSwissAquarist said:

This topic seems to be turning into quite the young aquarist place 😂!

I’m trying to get my Palaeatus to spawn…sigh!

That Cory is coming certified Goober activity 

[Levi_Aquatics]

I love that look! I'm definitely not taking notes lol

[Guppysnail]

I just read this journal. Great ingenuity!  Your SA tank is stunning !

[The endler guy]

On 11/16/2022 at 1:29 PM, Guppysnail said:

I just read this journal. Great ingenuity!  Your SA tank is stunning !

I also think it’s great!

Edited November 16, 2022 by Aiden Carter

[Levi_Aquatics]

Thanks @Guppysnail Unfortunately I can't claim the best South American Aquarium on the thread lol @Aiden Carter yours looks amazing!

Edited November 16, 2022 by Levi_Aquatics

[The endler guy]

On 11/16/2022 at 1:32 PM, Levi_Aquatics said:

Thanks @Guppysnail Unfortunately I can't claim the best South American Aquarium on the thread lol @Aiden Carter yours looks amazing!

I think if you aren’t satisfied with yours a way to improve it you could add more branching structure (ie tall thin plants or spider wood) because there is nothing cooler then seeing your fish peaking out of a Amazon sword or darting in between branches! But it looks very good as it is now especially depending on what part of shouts America you are trying to replicate, you could have 20 Amazon biotope and none of them could represent a different habitat!  

[Levi_Aquatics]

On 11/16/2022 at 1:40 PM, Aiden Carter said:

I think if you aren’t satisfied with yours a way to improve it you could add more branching structure (ie tall thin plants or spider wood) because there is nothing cooler then seeing your fish peaking out of a Amazon sword or darting in between branches! But it looks very good as it is now especially depending on what part of shouts America you are trying to replicate, you could have 20 Amazon biotope and none of them could represent a different habitat!  

Thanks for the ideas!! The plan is to add some taller plants and tanins to the water then get some angels and other fish.

[The endler guy]

On 11/16/2022 at 1:44 PM, Levi_Aquatics said:

Thanks for the ideas!! The plan is to add some taller plants and tanins to the water then get some angels and other fish.

Are you planning on using botanicals or the tea trick to add tannins? 

[Levi_Aquatics]

I haven't really thought that far ahead yet. What would you recommend? @Aiden Carter

Edited November 16, 2022 by Levi_Aquatics

[The endler guy]

On 11/16/2022 at 1:53 PM, Levi_Aquatics said:

I haven't really thought that far ahead yet. What would you recommend? @Aiden Carter

Both have benefits, botanicals look nice and provide good food, but it is a reoccurring cost to buy leaves and they decompose leaving you to clean them up

[Levi_Aquatics]

Thanks for the insight! I will have to look into it more to decide what I want to do.

[TheSwissAquarist]

I think @Chick-In-Of-TheSea has done the tea trick (if help is needed..)

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 11/16/2022 at 2:28 PM, TheSwissAquarist said:

I think @Chick-In-Of-TheSea has done the tea trick (if help is needed..)

These are the instructions I used, and they work great!  But I can't take the credit. These instructions are from @xXInkedPhoenixX's thread:

"I have Indian Almond leaves on a subscription order with Amazon. My water changing system for my 5 tanks is as follows: 

I keep 1 gallon empty water jugs from drinking water- anywhere from 9 to 11 of them (that changes due to them wearing out or if I'm using one for Epsom water etc). 

I bring to a boil 2-3 full sized IAL leaves in an 8 quart stock pot, once boiling I turn off the burner, put on the lid and steep anywhere from 8-12 hours.

I then fill each of the 1 gallon jugs with SOME of that tea water (anywhere from 2 to 4 fingers high) then fill the rest of the way with tap water and fritz dechlorinator. 

I let the jugs sit out 12-24 hours uncapped then cap and use as needed. 

This lasts me anywhere from a week or 2 depending on my water changes- right now I start to run low within a week due to frequent QT water changes for my four patients along with my resident tank water changes. 

This is likely way cheaper than buying anything that "contains" the extract. Plus I have leaves on hand all the time if I just need to plop one in a QT or tank for "extra"."

I have a smaller scale operation going.  I only have two of the 1-gallon jugs.  Any extra dark water that I have boiled I just put it in jars and stuck it in the fridge until I do a water change and free up one of the 1-gallon jugs again. 

Edited November 16, 2022 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea