Streetwise Homestead Aquariums

[Streetwise]

I am going to setup up a tank or more at my folks' house in the Vermont woods, since we have to move the White Clouds and Neo Shrimp inside. I got a 15 gallon for them, but they want something bigger, and they want to use this as a stand. I'm thinking a 29 gallon would be perfect.

My dad took these photos. I just realized that I frame and crop much like the old man.

Edited November 8, 2020 by Streetwise

[DaveSamsell]

@Streetwise

For me, I can have fun equally with a 5 gallon or a 55 gallon aquarium at my home.  I understand your folks wanting something bigger in size though.  

You think the stand can handle the weight of an aquarium?  Not sure of the construction material & quality of build, etc.

In some of my aquarium set-ups, I am using older, solid walnut furniture, covered with a thin covering to protect the wood's finish from, water, etc.  

BTW, I think even a 29 high might fit well on the stand, if it can handle the weight.  🤔

Also, you should have seen my first digital pictures, they looked like old instant Polaroid photography 😅.    

[Streetwise]

I stopped by the bar after work for a couple scoops of the good stuff. $2 to fill a small bucket.

[Streetwise]

Here is the beginning of the setup. I found a nice piece of slate in the basement that just happens to sit perfectly stable on the slightly uneven surface of the antique table that they want to use. There is another similar slate piece that I might setup between the tank and the wall as a vertical background.

BTW, @DaveSamsell, I returned the 29 for a 20H to be safe. I think the scale is nice between the table, the slate, and the tank.

I've got some soil in, with more in my car from my $2 trip yesterday. I'll be using 1.5 inches of soil, and 1.5 inches of cap, first black sand, and then some Peace River and/or Rio Grande gravel.

I'll be adding in the plants from the tubs, a few more I got, some of the Mopani from the tubs, and maybe some rocks.

Then after a little cycle time, I'll catch all the shrimp and White Clouds and drop them in!

This is a pretty cool project for me, because as a kid, 30ish years ago, I had a 20H right in this very spot! Cheers

Edited October 10, 2020 by Streetwise

[Streetwise]

All these tank photos are are from my 84-year old father. Here are some more.

Edited October 10, 2020 by Streetwise

[Paul]

Have you thought about using a styrofoam board instead of the slate under the tank? It should level out the tank without putting stress on the tank.

[Streetwise]

I found a no-wobble spot on the slate. Antiques were the only way to get a tank in this room. I think I also kept a tank on this slate as a kid.

Edited September 19, 2020 by Streetwise

[Streetwise]

About to start setting things up on this chilly day.

[Streetwise]

That’s all for today.

 

The tub inhabitants have been caught, and are slowly reaching room temperature in a bucket.

 

I am going to try to keep the tubs inside just to keep the substrate going with some plants and lights.

 

Fish and shrimp are in and happy!

 

It is really nice having them be able to fully see the fish and shrimp they have been feeding this summer.

[Streetwise]

I just got this from my dad:

"Just sitting here in the dark, A napping, TV off, enjoying the tank and the fish and foliage. Thanks for that."

[Streetwise]

I checked in today, and everything looks great. Are these White Cloud eggs I am seeing on the wood?

I asked my dad to take some more photos:

[Clay D]

Tank looks like its growing in nicely, seems just fine sitting on the slate.

[Streetwise]

I finally got a chance to make a quick video:

 

Edited October 10, 2020 by Streetwise

[Daniel]

@Streetwise what steps did you take to cycle that tank? Do you measure any parameters while cycling?

[Streetwise]

I did this pretty quickly because we were expecting some really cold weather, and I wanted to get stuff inside.

I setup the tank, substrate, and light on September 18th. The next day I moved all the wood and plants in, and filled the tank. I also added some Co-Op plants that I had been saving in my utility tanks. The following day, I caught all the fish and most of the shrimp and moved them inside in a bucket of tub water to acclimate to room temperature. One day later, working remotely, I had my dad gently pour in the bucket.

I didn't test or measure anything except for the depth of my substrate. They have perfect water from a 400 foot deep well through limestone. I felt comfortable working so quickly because I knew I would have beneficial bacteria on everything from the tubs, and the mass of floating plants would do its thing.

The swords look rough, but they were struggling in the tubs because of the shaded location. I'm hoping they will rebound under better light. I'm using the same dual siesta program that I run on my Askoll 20, and and my 16 bow. I will probably have to poke the substrate with my trusty wooden skewer some more, as I do see bubbles down there.

The livestock, plants, and wood were all seasoned in the same water together. This was more like a cut-and-paste operation than a brand new aquarium.

Cheers

Edited October 11, 2020 by Streetwise

[Streetwise]

I finally moved the outdoor tubs into the basement. They are just filled with substrate, snails, rocks, and water right now. I had some spare Fluval Plant Nano lights to use on them, and a few MF10s until I get more Co-Op sponge filters this week, although I may run both. The bucket is full of maple leaf litter from the tubs, with a bunch of snails. It was too cold and tedious to try to get the snails off the leaves to put them back in the tank, so we'll see what happens with that bucket.

Edited October 13, 2020 by Streetwise

[DaveSamsell]

On 9/19/2020 at 11:47 AM, Streetwise said:

About to start setting things up on this chilly day.

 

 

 

 

We burn Anthracite coal, here in NEPA.   Had temps in the upper 20's this morning.  Might even get some snow this Friday.  ⛄

 

[Streetwise]

There was a fire going today. Snow is in the forecast for Vermont, and I have my winter tires on my Legacy.

This is from last winter, but all 3.6R Subarus.

[Streetwise]

I placed an order today for more plants:

3 x Cryptocoryne Wendtii

3 x Cryptocoryne Lucens

3 x Moneywort

3 x Staurogyne Repens

I also have a sponge filter coming for the leaf bucket, and another for a utility bucket for my apartment.

I plan on trying the Moneywort floating like in this video:

 

[Streetwise]

Remote update. I had my dad test one of the tubs, and the bucket of maple leaves:

Edited October 29, 2020 by Streetwise

[Streetwise]

I made a visit today. I planted the new plants, added a sponge filter to the bucket of leaves and snails, and cleared out the floaters. Now I’m going to see if one of my LFS is interested in Salvinia and Water Lettuce.

[Streetwise]

My 80-year old Mom sent me this today, a bit about nature, a bit about the tank:

"Well, yesterday afternoon, the neighbors called and said a bear was nearby. I went out on the back porch and sure enough there he was easy to see. Dale ran in to get his camera and the bear ran away. It is the first one we’ve seen since our early days here. I was the one who saw that bear outside near the edge of the woods - he saw me and I saw him and we both turned and ran away. When I go out to the compost pile, I always have that memory in my mind. Over the years folks have posted notifications about bears in certain areas of town but not in our area. Two days ago, we also saw a beautiful redheaded pileated woodpecker going from tree to tree.

By the way, as you had predicted, the tank is exploding with new life. When next you come, I want to spend some time with you making sure I know who is who!"

[Streetwise]

More photos from my Dad. Those look like eggs to me! I wonder if pulling out half the floaters triggered another spawn?

[Streetwise]

My Dad wanted to share his latest project, a table from a local tree that completed its life-cycle. He chainsaw sliced it, and then sent it to a local craftsperson.

Edited November 13, 2020 by Streetwise

[Streetwise]

I made another visit, where I removed floating plants from the display tank, added shrimp to the lower tubs, and measured some things for the future.

I now have visual proof that I need to prop up the left two table legs! My folks are enjoying the tank, which is all that matters.

Instead of cheers, I will say tannins!