An Aquarist's Journey

[Streetwise]

@H20CultureLabs, that is a brilliant way to use sponge filters with Bucecephalandra! I had some plants root right into foam in one of my old utility tanks.

[H20CultureLabs]

@Streetwise Thank you! We'll see how it goes, I've been curious if this is a good way to grow them. "Hot rodding" the sponge filter with some additional "green filtration". 

[Streetwise]

@H20CultureLabs, you could even consider squeezing out mulm into that tank to feed them. I will admit to dumping mulm into aquariums.

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@H20CultureLabsthats a great idea with the Buce and sponge. Can’t wait for an update in a couple months to see how it’s gone. Maybe I’ll try it with some anubias I have and Java fern. I’ll give it a go and we can compare notes. 

[H20CultureLabs]

@Streetwise Dumping mulm into aquariums is always a good idea in moderation. LRB Aquatics even sells his mulm on his website!

[H20CultureLabs]

@Beardedbillygoat1975Outstanding! I am very much looking forward to your results!

[H20CultureLabs]

Just a few quick updates. 

1. The worm farm crashed, so I am restarting it. It probably needs more than 2L of water for how heavily I was feeding it.

2. The Lucanea goodei fry are even larger than their older white cloud tank mates!

3. The Bucephalandra is doing very well on the sponge filters. 

[H20CultureLabs]

Happy New Week all! The crypt beds are starting to look amazing; a field of pink with fry hovering above! The second batch of Golden White Cloud fry are almost ready for the grow out tank. There's probably about 50 of them for this batch.

[H20CultureLabs]

Next group of fry are starting to emerge! Appears to be mostly CPDs in this batch, we shall see what develops.

[H20CultureLabs]

Lucania goodei is such an amazing and easy to spawn fish! It's like a Pencil Fish you can collect in the wild! Its a mystery to me why there are not more of them in the hobby.

Edited August 3, 2021 by H20CultureLabs
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[H20CultureLabs]

I've been on vacation in Hawaii (Big Island) the past few days; what a site to see for aquarium/terrarium lovers! Lush forests, amazing terrain, and even a fish farm! I checked out Hawaii Tropical Fish Gardens, an outdoor breeding facility, and was not disappointed! They have outstanding guppies, swordtails, angels, goldfish, and plants. Worth a stop if you're on the Big Island!

[H20CultureLabs]

Moved the latest batch of golden white clouds to their growout tank. There are approximately 65 of them! Can't wait to see them as a large, grown up school.

[H20CultureLabs]

I know there has not been a post in awhile on this thread. I've been traveling for work and I haven't seen my aquariums. My spouse informs me they are doing very well and the babies are growing up. I will be posting more when I return home.

[Atitagain]

Interesting journal, you have a lot of cool projects and breeding going on. Do you sell fish and ship or just shrimp? Your shrimp look amazing BTW!
Couple questions about your rack if you don’t mind. 1) Your up and running 6 months now right?, any wish I would’ve or minor changes you would make if you started over? 2) Are you using slides as much as anticipated? 3) what’s the clearance between bottom tanks and cross brace for top level? Looks 3-4” any issues with that? 4) what is the overall footprint? Closed then open?

Such a excellent concept, design, and build. Looks very functional and durable.

one more question are these the only tanks you have or do you have show tanks as well?

Excellent work hope to see the long term operations and how they hold up.

[H20CultureLabs]

@AtitagainThank you for your kind words, I am happy to answer your questions. I sell both fish and shrimp, generally on aquabid. 

. 1) Your up and running 6 months now right?, any wish I would’ve or minor changes you would make if you started over?

-Yes it has been up for about 6 months now.. Since I am always tinkering, when, not if, I do it over again I will use Gladiator shelving instead of wood. I think this will make it more functional and easier to assemble/disassemble. A cleaner look, too.

2) Are you using slides as much as anticipated?

Yes! More than anticipated actually. It makes it so much easier to clean, plant plants, and catch critters!

3) what’s the clearance between bottom tanks and cross brace for top level? Looks 3-4” any issues with that?

I believe its about 4in. No issues since the aquariums slide out.

4) what is the overall footprint? Closed then open?

Is approximately 60inx27in if I remember correctly. The aquariums add about another 16ish inches when pulled out.

I do have a show tank that I have not posted about on here before since it is in a state of being redone. It is a 180 gallon rimless planted. Here is a picture of it when it was at its "peak" about a year ago. Its a slice of heaven for a lucky group of danios and white clouds. I'll be posting more pics of it in the future when I get home from my trip since it is almost ready to show off again.

Edited September 16, 2021 by H20CultureLabs

[Atitagain]

@H20CultureLabs  I’m a cabinet maker/ finish carpenter so this has next level intrigue to me. Because I have just as much passion for my craft as I do fish keeping. So following your build I had my cake and ate it too. 🍰 

I would have to guess you have some carpentry experience? 

[H20CultureLabs]

@AtitagainYour profession explains why your fish room set up looks so clean! I have to say, I am very flattered to hear you say I have carpentry experience. Im actually self-taught through 10 years of projects and YouTube, mostly building aquarium-related stuff. 

Very glad to hear you're enjoying me thread, I am enjoying yours as well! 

[Vanish]

This has been a very interesting read.

Your rack design is intriguing with the slides. I can definitely see how it would make maintenance easier. How does the drain line work as the tank slides?

The way you're culturing microfauna is going to take me down a terrible rabbit hole.

[H20CultureLabs]

@Vanish Good question. The drain line is removable to allow to the aquarium to slide without being attached to a fix point. When I redo this, I plan on plumbing them to a sump using non-kink hot tub hose like this: https://www.lowes.com/pd/EZ-FLO-1-1-2-in-Inner-Diameter-x-1-ft-PVC-Spa-Flex-Hose/1000180599?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-plb-_-google-_-plumbing-_-LIA_PLB_142_Pipe-Fittings-_-1000180599-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1ouKBhC5ARIsAHXNMI_iyA9QRYTS8ZcBELNB4X52uGljllhIOezynLDI08RlI5tqqthIWAoaAjEKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Happy to answer any microfauna questions!

[H20CultureLabs]

At long last, an update! I am home, and after a little mx the aquariums are back to looking great! You can see all the CPD fry in the first pic and a second pic of how all the aquariums are doing. 

[Atitagain]

Everything looking good 👍 

In the pic with the CPDs love the plants growing out the sponge filter. Right?

[H20CultureLabs]

@AtitagainYes! The sponge-filter/bucephalandra experiment is going well! Definitely some new growth on the buce!

[H20CultureLabs]

Trying out a new Crypt growing strategy. These are plastic cups with earthworm castings in them (kinda like poor man's aquasoil). We're gonna see how quickly these Crypts can grow. 

The CPD fry look great! I probably have about 100 CPDs in total right now. My new goal for this aquarium rack is to figure out how to set the system up to give me 1000 CPDs in 4 weeks. An aspirational goal, but I think it is achievable with some tweeking.

[Hobbit]

Earthworm castings are the rich man’s garden soil! 😄 Ahhh aquariums can be so expensive.

[H20CultureLabs]

@Hobbit So true! But when you're primarily doing aquariums and small potted plants, one can splurge a little on the soil! Filling a whole raised bed with earthworm castings; that would be an eyewatering proposition!