NoCo Tap Water's home office / fishroom oasis journal

[NoCo tap water]

Hello all!

 

11/23- Last updated with current photos and descriptions.

 

I keep this journal of my fishkeeping journey for myself. I have for the most part kept to my self with this hobby until recently. I also want to share my journey with likeminded people as for the most part, fishkeepers are pretty cool.
 

I keep this first post as a general overview, and I post some daily projects and interesting observation. Most of my forum activity is from my I-phone and my grammar is very poor to begin with, bare with me in that regard.

 

I'm doing my best to turn my office into a stress reducing space, having nature anywhere I look while working has been a big help mentally, it’s kinda why I’ve gone deep into the hobby, it helps.

 

I’ve been fish keeping since I was a kid, heck I even brought a tank to college (fish do not enjoy beer). I consider my self an amateur/enthusiast fish keeper, no where near 10,000 hours yet. It faded from my interest in my 20's and had a kid, until about two years ago. I'm 100% work from home and am in my basement home office all day. The perfect spot for a fishroom oasis.

 

I have plants growing all over the place, most drawing from aquariums. I enjoy finding solutions with minimal resources. I'm big into DIY filtration and trying new things outside of the box.  That said I'm very conservative when it comes to the actual care of the fish. I like to avoid any chems whenever possible, but will add meds and such when needed for quick correction. 
 

I'm constantly changing things, moving stuff around and such, I’m always tinkering.

 

Almost all of my tanks are built starting with the idea of what fish I want to keep, I then scape and consider tankmates from there. Most of my tanks are overstocked, but most of my tanks have limited number of different species. I run an excess of filtration (see below) and plants to offset the negative environmental effects of all that waste but temperament, health and fish care wise, 0 issues. That said the few tanks I have that don't have many plants, I don't overstock. Basically I don't do many wide range of fish community tanks, i think they are called specimen tanks.

 

List of my MTS problems, I mean aquariums:

- 75G Rainbow tank

- 75G African Cichlid tank

- 55G Silver Dollar tank

- 40G Long, Barb tank

- 30G Tall, Angelfish tank

- 29G Rainbow Darter tank

- 20G My sons Glo-fish community tank

- 10G Killi colony tank

- 10G Nano reef tank

 

Overviews 

 

 

 

 

Rainbow Tank - 75g with a canister filter and a “living” overhead sump. I consider this my main tank. It’s the one I stare at while pretending look at the camera or getting yelled at on the phone. It has a mix of rainbows, full grown forktails and juvenile bosmani, a dwarf neon, yellow, madagascar red, and a turquoise. Supporting cast includes Cory cats, rubber lip plecos, amano and some misc 2-3 orphans.  This tank is overstocked due to a lack of self control in the fish store, I will have to remove some when they are larger.

There are also some filter feeding bamboo and viper shrimp.

Viper shrimp aggression prior to tank remodel and figuring out how to YouTube = https://streamable.com/2ccswv

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver Dollar tank - 55G, Tidal HOB lengthwise, overhead living sump. I've just stocked this tank, everyone is very young. Silver Dollars, Blue Acara, and left over guppy fry from a previous build in this tank that are slowly getting eaten.

 

 

Darter tank -. 29 acrylic, UGF and a canister filter. Canister is used mostly for current but when it was between a powerhead in tank or a external canister, I chose canister due to the tank being cold water and powerheads heat up tanks in from what I’ve read. Currently housing Rainbow Shinter, Rainbow Darters, Hillstream Loaches and some Amano. These darters are an absolute blast, tons of weirdo personality.

 

 

 

Barb tank - 40long. Canister filter and an overhead sump.  Recently remodeled from a platty/feeder fish tank. Currently has a bunch of tiger barbs, considering a smaller secondary barb school. There is also an albino BNP, amano and some khuli loaches.

 

 

 

 

Angel Tank - 30 tall acrylic (footprint of a 20 but tall). This tank is still very young. UGF and a mini overhead sump and a tiny hob. Angels, African Butterfly Catfish, Calico BNP and some Amano. Recently added a blue ram for some substrate movement.

 

Tank Anger - 75g Male Malawi Cichlid tank. Canister and a home made sponge filter. I’ve had some of the fish for a while, lots of hardscape experimenting, figuring out how to have plants by discouraging digging in some areas and encouraging it in others by using large buried rocks that also are used to weigh down the plant. Learning lots about behavior and aggression curbing in this tank. There are also a couple of BNP and a monster of a Redtail

 

Killi/neo shrimp tank. 10gal. UGF and a micro HOB. This tank was an established colony breeder until it collapsed a couple of months ago. I've redone it twice since then. Here it is in it's current form.

My son’s glo fish tank - 20gal. Sponge filter. Assorted glofish and fish I didn’t have room for anymore. As long as I remember it's there this tank is easy to maintain and is a nightlight for my son.

 

10gal reef.

$30 used set up. To lightly stock with fish, want this to be a coral tank. This is my first foray into salt/reef.

Edited 2 hours ago by NoCo tap water

[tk_yt]

Thanks for sharing! J enjoyed reading about your tanks and the inhabitants.  The glow in the dark setup was very interesting, looks almost like real jellyfish in there 🙂

[NoCo tap water]

On 10/10/2024 at 10:25 PM, tk_yt said:

Thanks for sharing! J enjoyed reading about your tanks and the inhabitants.  The glow in the dark setup was very interesting, looks almost like real jellyfish in there 🙂

Thanks. I’m jealous my son gets that as a night light.
 

When I was a kid I remember glowing fish being inhumane it was injected color or something. I haven’t really read up on it due to lack of interest but it I’m pretty sure it’s dna modified now , I saw some glo angels at aquashella that were out of this world! Super cool stuff !

[Schuyler]

On 10/10/2024 at 8:47 PM, NoCo tap water said:

One tank has turned into 6, 7 if you include “my sons” glo-fish tank.

Lol I just started putting together a tank "for my daughter" today

On 10/10/2024 at 8:47 PM, NoCo tap water said:

Killi won’t eat the scuds

That's so weird... That feels like they would be perfect killi food. I used some larger killis to clear scuds from one of my tanks before.

[NoCo tap water]

On 10/11/2024 at 1:24 AM, Schuyler said:

Lol I just started putting together a tank "for my daughter" today

That's so weird... That feels like they would be perfect killi food. I used some larger killis to clear scuds from one of my tanks before.

They want to, they are too small to get the bigger ones. Scuds will tease them like a squirrel to a dog.

 

Edited October 11 by NoCo tap water

[NoCo tap water]

Good shot of the wavey hand guys in my rainbow tank

[NoCo tap water]

Morning breeding colors

 

Barb tank starting to fill in. STILL waiting on the rest of my plant order

Edited October 12 by NoCo tap water

[NoCo tap water]

 

This is why you don’t facebook marketplace.

It has the footprint of a 20, but taller. 30gal ish..    $20 for the tank, stand I had on hand.

I have no intention on setting it up yet, couldn’t let the deal go on a not 20gal that fits in this spot that isn’t a corner curved glass tank

Edited October 13 by NoCo tap water

[NoCo tap water]

How I help keep my autofeeders from caking/clumping.

This is some diffuser grid with a plant weight wrapped around it. Helps a great deal plus it kinda “taps” the feeder when it turns cleaning up the outlet.

I don’t like to fill these more than 25% if I don’t have to. They get moist, I can’t find a way around it other than raising it and I don’t want to do that.

I was told by a sera rep that their staple food is designed for auto-feeders. In my experience there is no difference 

[NoCo tap water]

I’ve also changed the fan on my darter tank to a hygger cooling fan. I’ve only had it for a couple of days but I have some observations.

It’s a good product, though not without a serious design flaw. Overall on the lowest setting the fan is no louder than a computer fan. Medium is noticeable. On high it is demanding your attention.

The main reason I purchased this fan is due to its thermostat function, brand and price. The thermostat will allow the fan to only turn on when tank temp reaches 68 or higher and will turn off once cooled. Works perfectly.

Major design issue - the vent director does not move to a downward enough angle to enter the tank. I’ve messed with the mounting and could not get it to blow into the tank, just run across the surface. Granted this is an acrylic tank, but the opening is pretty standard.

I ended up using a cut piece of a clear desk protector and tape it to help direct the air, works great now, but like most of the mechanicals in my fishroom, works great but is ugly.

Edited October 13 by NoCo tap water

[NoCo tap water]

Barb tank finally fully planted. Can’t wait to see it grown in. 
 

Those are bags of bio media getting seasoned for another tank. I saw a method of using these bags to assist with substrate grading. I’ll be trying it out on my tall tank. They are floating because they are hydroponic clay media.

Edited October 17 by NoCo tap water

[Maximus]

This puts my own offish to shame, this looks great! What are you floating in those bags in the barb tank?

[NoCo tap water]

On 10/17/2024 at 3:34 PM, Maximus said:

This puts my own offish to shame, this looks great! What are you floating in those bags in the barb tank?

Thanks man! 

[Maximus]

Ah I see, I've got some LECA for non-aquarium use. Do you use it as a part of the substrate? Does it help when you use the sand to give the roots more to grip onto?

[NoCo tap water]

On 10/17/2024 at 3:52 PM, Maximus said:

Ah I see, I've got some LECA for non-aquarium use. Do you use it as a part of the substrate? Does it help when you use the sand to give the roots more to grip onto?

This is my first time using them in this way. I’m betting it will help with the plants but that’s not why I’m using them specifically.

They float, biggest drawback. I’m keeping in those bags due to that . I actually just started hardscaping this tiny tiny 2sqft tank.. it’s completely changing my plan. I forgot how small 20’s are. I’ll post when it’s “done”. I’m using a ugf so I need to have at least an inch of substrate under the bags in case they shift.

[Maximus]

For what it's worth, the LECA I have eventually sank, but it took a while for that to happen.

[Mississippi fish guy]

On 10/11/2024 at 7:35 AM, NoCo tap water said:

Scuds

How were the scuds a problem? I was thinking about keeping once my pigmy sunfish tank is set up but I won’t if they would be problematic for the sunfish.

[NoCo tap water]

On 10/17/2024 at 5:10 PM, Mississippi fish guy said:

How were the scuds a problem? I was thinking about keeping once my pigmy sunfish tank is set up but I won’t if they would be problematic for the sunfish.

Overfeeding and no predators once they made it to adulthood . The sunfish will eat em I’m sure

Edited October 17 by NoCo tap water

[NoCo tap water]

Darter arrived!!!Maybe too many…

Edited October 18 by NoCo tap water

[NoCo tap water]

In other news my barbs just killed one of my carrying amanos just for the eggs..

Poor girl. That’s a first 

Edited October 18 by NoCo tap water

[Justnotrook]

On 10/17/2024 at 6:34 PM, NoCo tap water said:

In other news my barbs just killed one of my carrying amanos just for the eggs..

Poor girl. That’s a first 

Barbs do tend to do that, especially tiger barbs. They are very aggressive. 

But I do say that is a beautiful fish room, I like fish rooms where all or most of the tanks are fully planted. 

[NoCo tap water]

Angel tank is hardscaped. Plants should be here tomorrow from buce. @MaximusThose bags started floating as soon as I made an adjustment. In a fit of rage, they are no longer in the tank, or on the planet.

Made some changes in the ledges:elevations I was planning as I had nothing to reinforce them other than some rocks/sticks. The wood I chose is way too big and oddly shaped.  Plants forgive all hardscape issues, thankfully 

I decided against the hatchetfish for now, I’d rather have a few more angels. Thinking them and a fancy bnp. Going to do all stocking locally this time.

 

Edited October 19 by NoCo tap water

[NoCo tap water]

On 10/17/2024 at 6:47 PM, Justnotrook said:

Barbs do tend to do that, especially tiger barbs. They are very aggressive. 

But I do say that is a beautiful fish room, I like fish rooms where all or most of the tanks are fully planted. 

Lesson learned. They leave the males alone, I’ll stick with them.

thanks!

Edited October 19 by NoCo tap water

[NoCo tap water]

I wanted to show my plant light set up.

I run my grow lights at night/early morning as I have variable rate electricity billing. It’s just cheaper. I make sure the fish get at least 6h of darkness but their day is always summer equinox. Compromise ……

I have a mix of lights and bulbs, some high quality, others from temu. I’m always tinkering and never satisfied. 
 

Edited October 26 by NoCo tap water

[NoCo tap water]

Awesome darter shot. Colors already! I may have found my new favorite sub species 

Edited October 19 by NoCo tap water