knee Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 I had an impulse Betta buy on Black Friday cause his color caught my attention. Initially setup a 5g top fin retreat for him he decided to jump out of the tank on December 10. My cat actually saved him cause my cat woke me up and that’s how I found him on the floor. He stayed in that spot for 3 days and that’s when I decided to setup the 20 long so he can have more room. here he is day 1 in the 20 long. He seems much happier in there. He was swimming more and exploring unlike in the 5g. photo taken on Christmas Day. He’s already healed and is the tank boss. Tankmates are 2 German blue rams, swords, harlequin rasbora and 3 white cloud minnows. Tanks most current photo taken 01/18. Moved some fish and new tankmates are hi fin platys, red neon blue eye rainbows, CPD, white cloud minnows, 2 GBR, 2 Asian stone catfish. Also added a black background decided to mostly grow red plants in this tank with a green foreground. Not running co2 so growth is not the fastest, but at least this one is already balanced and done battling algae. 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwissAquarist Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Nice tanks! Are you using ferts at all? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted January 20, 2023 Author Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 3:55 AM, TheSwissAquarist said: Nice tanks! Are you using ferts at all? Not at the moment. I just have some old aquasoil from previous setups, which I’ve been reusing since 2018, and I also got this used back then 😂😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannon Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 The red on those plants is amazing! What do you think was the key to their health and color? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted January 20, 2023 Author Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 8:17 AM, Gannon said: The red on those plants is amazing! What do you think was the key to their health and color? Good lighting is always my first recommendation. I will spend extra on the light and get everything else cheaper. Next would be a good substrate, which doesn’t have to be aquasoil. It can be sand with some root tabs, or actual soil capped with sand. Also having a dark background and dark substrate help bring out the reds more. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurrian Hering Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Those reds are incredible! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannon Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 12:03 PM, knee said: Good lighting is always my first recommendation. I will spend extra on the light and get everything else cheaper. Next would be a good substrate, which doesn’t have to be aquasoil. It can be sand with some root tabs, or actual soil capped with sand. Also having a dark background and dark substrate help bring out the reds more. What lights do you use/like? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted January 20, 2023 Author Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 11:10 AM, Gannon said: What lights do you use/like? I'm currently using Week Aqua P series on my 40 breeder and Ledstar slim on this 20 long. The aquarium coop light is pretty good too because it's dimmable but I do prefer lights where I can use an app so I can have better control on the brightness and I won't have to purchase a separate timer because the app also has one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannon Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 1:19 PM, knee said: I'm currently using Week Aqua P series on my 40 breeder and Ledstar slim on this 20 long. The aquarium coop light is pretty good too because it's dimmable but I do prefer lights where I can use an app so I can have better control on the brightness and I won't have to purchase a separate timer because the app also has one. I bought a NICREW planted plus light for my 29 gal. It has both a built in timer and 2 adjustable channels for dimming certain sets of lights. Also has a ramp up and ramp down period customizable. Not a ton of options but its decent for being all built in. I just don't know how good it will be for growing plants. Fingers crossed it does good in the taller tank that is a standard 29. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted January 20, 2023 Author Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 11:54 AM, Gannon said: I bought a NICREW planted plus light for my 29 gal. It has both a built in timer and 2 adjustable channels for dimming certain sets of lights. Also has a ramp up and ramp down period customizable. Not a ton of options but its decent for being all built in. I just don't know how good it will be for growing plants. Fingers crossed it does good in the taller tank that is a standard 29. NICREW is a good led light for a low tech tank, and it can probably grow some more demanding plants if the tank is not tall. Have you planted the 29 already? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannon Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 1:57 PM, knee said: NICREW is a good led light for a low tech tank, and it can probably grow some more demanding plants if the tank is not tall. Have you planted the 29 already? Yes, mostly with scraps from other tanks. A GIANT anubias nana petite that was growing in my 5g tall tank for years, a couple smaller ones, a couple small-medium sized java ferns, a crypt spiralis, a couple jungle val pieces, some crypt species I forgot. I have a journal on here for the tank but heres a picture. The big anubias nana petite is mostly hidden behind the log on the right, still searching for the best place for it. Thats a great place for the plant species but I'd like to better showcase the giant one I have. Also I'd like to try some other plants in this tank. Maybe lilies again as I did good with those for a bit until they died suddently. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share Posted January 21, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 12:01 PM, Gannon said: Yes, mostly with scraps from other tanks. A GIANT anubias nana petite that was growing in my 5g tall tank for years, a couple smaller ones, a couple small-medium sized java ferns, a crypt spiralis, a couple jungle val pieces, some crypt species I forgot. I have a journal on here for the tank but heres a picture. The big anubias nana petite is mostly hidden behind the log on the right, still searching for the best place for it. Thats a great place for the plant species but I'd like to better showcase the giant one I have. Also I'd like to try some other plants in this tank. Maybe lilies again as I did good with those for a bit until they died suddently. Maybe on top of where the driftwood and rock are touching. You can squeeze it in that little crevice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted January 23, 2023 Author Share Posted January 23, 2023 Water change day today. Also moved the intake next to the return. I didn’t like the look of it on the other side of the tank. Top view before moving the rotala wallichii on the left side Also cleaned the filter and replaced the filter floss inside Refilling the tank. Moved the intake to the left but I can’t get it to stay put. Eheim hoses are really difficult to go a certain direction which I like and hate at the same time. Top view after the water change I now have some extra space where the intake used to be and I’ll probably just fill that with wallichii cuttings. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted January 23, 2023 Share Posted January 23, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 12:25 AM, knee said: This is ridiculous! What a breathtaking thing to look at. Well done. I love the style and the different textures, patterns, and colors. You have a lot of skill with the camera and it's lit just right! What kind of sand is that? On 1/20/2023 at 12:25 AM, knee said: photo taken on Christmas Day. He’s already healed and is the tank boss. Tankmates are 2 German blue rams, swords, harlequin rasbora and 3 white cloud minnows. What a difference time and growth makes. If at all possible, try to get some manzanita. It'll accent that redness with the dark mahogany type of tones and will just work in this tank. Really well done! You must have a pretty rigorous dosing regime? Share your methods!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted January 23, 2023 Author Share Posted January 23, 2023 On 1/22/2023 at 8:51 PM, nabokovfan87 said: This is ridiculous! What a breathtaking thing to look at. Well done. I love the style and the different textures, patterns, and colors. You have a lot of skill with the camera and it's lit just right! What kind of sand is that? What a difference time and growth makes. If at all possible, try to get some manzanita. It'll accent that redness with the dark mahogany type of tones and will just work in this tank. Really well done! You must have a pretty rigorous dosing regime? Share your methods!!!! Thank you I really appreciate it. It's pool filter sand from Ace Hardware and yamaya stones 🙂 I like the natural color of the sand and it's cheap! I order it online then get it delivered to the Ace Hardware nearest to me. I don't dose the tank but I am using aquasoil from previous setups 5 years ago. I'm sure it's depleted of nutrients but the high CEC of the substrate, bioload of the tank and some root tabs keep it going. Lights are on from 2pm - 12 midnight and I don't use co2 and I feed my fish daily twice a day so there's plenty of poop, specially from the platies. Using an eheim pro4 600 canister filter and yes, it's over filtered, but I'm gonna be moving this setup to a 40 breeder when I get my 60 breeder for the other setup 🙂 Here’s one of my setups back in 2017 with the same aquasoil I’m using in this tank 😂 here’s one from 2018 with the same batch of substrate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted January 23, 2023 Share Posted January 23, 2023 On 1/22/2023 at 9:58 PM, knee said: Thank you I really appreciate it. It's pool filter sand from Ace Hardware and yamaya stones 🙂 I like the natural color of the sand and it's cheap! I order it online then get it delivered to the Ace Hardware nearest to me. I don't dose the tank but I am using aquasoil from previous setups 5 years ago. I'm sure it's depleted of nutrients but the high CEC of the substrate, bioload of the tank and some root tabs keep it going. Lights are on from 2pm - 12 midnight and I don't use co2 and I feed my fish daily twice a day so there's plenty of poop, specially from the platies. Using an eheim pro4 600 canister filter and yes, it's over filtered, but I'm gonna be moving this setup to a 40 breeder when I get my 60 breeder for the other setup 🙂 Very cool. I had some capped aquasoil in the last tank, trying high CEC this time around and having some struggles, but it'll get there. Thanks for sharing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted January 30, 2023 Author Share Posted January 30, 2023 Did a water change today and added some new controsoil to raise my substrate for the new crypts Also currently overrun by ramshorn and bladder snails but the betta does eat some of them 😅😂 Balloon Ram and my crown tail betta hanging out Balloom ram pair, female is starting to color up nicely. Deciding on which snail to eat 😂😂 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyM Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 On 1/29/2023 at 11:01 PM, knee said: Deciding on which snail to eat 😂😂 Good to see another ramshorn fan! 🐌 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted February 2, 2023 Author Share Posted February 2, 2023 On 2/2/2023 at 2:37 PM, MattyM said: Good to see another ramshorn fan! 🐌 I love ramshorn and bladder snails! 🙂 Do you also keep bladder snails? Cause I know they're usually brown/greyish but I see some white ones in this tank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyM Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 On 2/2/2023 at 5:30 PM, knee said: Do you also keep bladder snails? I do! Some of mine get kinda goldish - pretty neat. Most are just brown. I also have trumpet snails in my tank with sand, they do a good job turning it over. Hardly ever see them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwissAquarist Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 On 1/23/2023 at 6:58 AM, knee said: Thank you I really appreciate it. It's pool filter sand from Ace Hardware and yamaya stones 🙂 I like the natural color of the sand and it's cheap! I order it online then get it delivered to the Ace Hardware nearest to me. I don't dose the tank but I am using aquasoil from previous setups 5 years ago. I'm sure it's depleted of nutrients but the high CEC of the substrate, bioload of the tank and some root tabs keep it going. Lights are on from 2pm - 12 midnight and I don't use co2 and I feed my fish daily twice a day so there's plenty of poop, specially from the platies. Using an eheim pro4 600 canister filter and yes, it's over filtered, but I'm gonna be moving this setup to a 40 breeder when I get my 60 breeder for the other setup 🙂 Here’s one of my setups back in 2017 with the same aquasoil I’m using in this tank 😂 here’s one from 2018 with the same batch of substrate Those are some really beautiful scapes! Any major difficulties in creating them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted February 3, 2023 Author Share Posted February 3, 2023 (edited) On 2/3/2023 at 3:25 AM, TheSwissAquarist said: Those are some really beautiful scapes! Any major difficulties in creating them? Thanks! I didn’t really have any major issues making these scapes. My main concern mostly was trying to balance the co2, ferts and lighting schedule cause they’re high tech setups, and the plumbing if I’m doing DIY stuff. The 2017 setup was with a DIY Rex Griggs reactor and my first time doing it so I was a bit nervous about it leaking I think the most difficult part is figuring out where to get the money to buy everything I need 😂😂 Edited February 3, 2023 by knee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted February 7, 2023 Author Share Posted February 7, 2023 Did a 50% water change with some RO/tap water. Fish seem to like the lower tds and the tank looks clearer to me Some photos of the tank boss I think I made a mistake with the stocking of this tank. Most of the fish in here blend in with the plants so tank looks empty most of the time 😂 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 One of these days when you chop a ton of plants... We'll have to figure out how to get some to me. 🙂 Beautiful tank. Seriously. On 2/6/2023 at 7:34 PM, knee said: I think I made a mistake with the stocking of this tank. Most of the fish in here blend in with the plants so tank looks empty most of the time 😂 Do you have room to add something? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knee Posted February 7, 2023 Author Share Posted February 7, 2023 On 2/6/2023 at 8:58 PM, nabokovfan87 said: One of these days when you chop a ton of plants... We'll have to figure out how to get some to me. 🙂 Beautiful tank. Seriously. Do you have room to add something? For sure! I think shipping plants is way easier. I can definitely send you some trimmings. I still need to get some bottom dwellers since my order from Aqua Huna was delivered to the wrong address. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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