My tank (First and current tank)

[mr_bentley78]

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/mr_bentley78/IMG_0049.jpg

Ok, few things to say / ask.
This is my very first, and current FW tank. What are your thoughts about it?
Yes, they are fake plants, as I have no clue as to keep a planted tank. I'm still fairly new to the game, and learning. Like the blue / red gravel, or hate it? I would like to change it in the near future (the whole tank decor / gravel). Is this possible without killing or harming the fish?

Anyway, it is my first shot, and I went a bit the tacky route. :rolleyes: I think it's very colorful. And the fish seem to like it so, I'm not sure.

[mr_bentley78]

Also, with my current fish setup, would it be feasible to make it a planted tank with no real warroies other than the little bit of plant nibbling?

[sarcare]

You want comments on the decor or stocking?

I'd strongly advise against keeping angels and tiger barbs together. I keep both of these fish and wouldn't keep them in a tank together, no matter the size. Frankly I would warn against keeping tiger barbs with most other fish. Also the gouramis might be a problem with each other--I'd get rid of the pink kissing gourami, they get too big and mean. Then I'd add more cories to that school--two or three more would make a happy cory school.

You can switch to a planted tank without that much problem--well relatively little problem. Take the fish out of the tank, take the water out of the tank, take the decor out of the tank, add new decor/substrate/plants. Then make sure your lighting/fertilization/co2 works with the plants you have. Voila, your fish will be in planted heaven--check out my 55g planted tank with angels in my sig!

[fballguy]

I would take back the kissing gourami.

I like how you have everything set up, but I don't care for the gravel, JMO. If you do decide to change it it won't hurt your fish as long as you take them out so you don't bury them. You will go through a mini cycle too as you will lose a bunch of bacteria from the gravel.

[sarcare]

I'm sorry--tiger barbs WILL NOT be fine with angels or gouramis. They like to nip, and while they may seem to work for some time, if one barb dies they are likely to increase in agression while they re-establish their pecking order, which could mean the mutilation/deaths/injury/stress of ALL your other fish.

[mr_bentley78]

I'm sorry--tiger barbs WILL NOT be fine with angels or gouramis. They like to nip, and while they may seem to work for some time, if one barb dies they are likely to increase in agression while they re-establish their pecking order, which could mean the mutilation/deaths/injury/stress of ALL your other fish.


When I first started and only had 2 tiger barbs with my 2 angels, the barbs did harass the angels, I admit. But since making the school, they have left the angels alone completely, and actually, the angels have actually became the aggressor in some occaisions to the barbs, mainly when I drop a cube of bloodworms in there. The angels will run the barbs off away from the food. :p
I know, I have read everywhere since getting the tank setup with it's current stock, about tiger barbs not doing well with angels and gouramis, etc... But I love my fish, have grown attatched, and honestly notice no ill behavior amungst them. Not that i can predict the future, but who can anyway?

The reply is much appreciated, and I keep an open mind. That's why I am here, for help from you folks who have tons more experience.

But what do i do, I love my barbs and angels, and notice nothing out of the ordinary. Can I be the one who beat the odds? :rolleyes:

Also, about the pink kisser, it's my wife's fish. It's the only fish that she picked out in the whole tank. She'd kill me. :sad:

[sarcare]

Or you could have your cake and eat it too-->get another tank for the barbs, and you can watch happy barb behavior without risking your angels and gouramis!

Honest--I have a 30g set up for tiger barbs, and they are such fun--but I would have a back-up plan for when the tigers turn on the angels.

[fballguy]

Very often fish will get along for a while. They may go weeks, or even months without any sign of aggression, then one day, you wake up, or come home from work, or whatever, and you look in your tank at a bunch of dead fish.

[mr_bentley78]

That would make a good X-mas gift. A 30 gal for my 7 barbs.

I appreciate the unbiased and honest responses guys, een if it wasn't what I wanted to hear. :joke: :rolleyes:

[fballguy]

That would make a good X-mas gift. A 30 gal for my 7 barbs.

I appreciate the unbiased and honest responses guys, een if it wasn't what I wanted to hear. :joke: :rolleyes:

I know how you feel. Only when I got the bad news my tank was in much worse shape than your is.

[dr_sudz]

well I don't think I need to talk about the stock list, but honestly the gravel has to go! Its way to bright in my opinon. But the thing is that all aquariums are based on personal opinon. I personally like the walnut size gravel that comes in a nice dark brown stone, I would add some more driftwood, and remove the precast coral and plant stuff. The background I would put on a black back ground it helps set off the fishies colour.

But like I said its all personal opinon. I prefer a more natural look.

[ratherbe]

You asked for it - I don't like the gravel at all. The eye is drawn right to the bright gravel and gets kind of stuck there. The less noticeable the gravel, the more you'll notice the fish in the tank. I prefer the natural look too - like a piece was taken from nature and put in my living room. :girl:

[daniel364]

IMO thats a ghastly tank

[KingOfTheDeep]

IMO thats a ghastly tank

i wouldnt call it ghastly

just the gravel needs to be changed to something more natural looking, and maybe switch out the colored plants

[ILOVEBETTAS]

I love it!

u must take the fish out if u change the gravel, but u can do it...

[daniel364]

ok i was i bit harsh, i still dont like it that much but maybe canging the gravel would help, when looking at the tank thats the main thing my eyes are drawn to not the fish, id suggest a more neutruel, natrual colour and maybe take some of the brighter plants away, i do however like the rocks i dont know if they're fake but i like them.

sorry for my harsh words earlier :)

[jm1212]

get rid of the kissing gourami and then separate the tiger barbs from the angel ASAP.
they WILL eventually start to nip at the angel's fins NO MATTER how many you have. having more simply spreads out agression. it does not eliminate it

[WrittenLyric]

Changing the gravel has a huge impact on the look of the tank. I started my tank in July like this:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g106/kmsoares/tank.jpg
It now looks more like this:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g106/kmsoares/DSC00178.jpg

I keep adding plants, once I changed the gravel, I started switching out all the fake plants with real per personal taste, and then took out all the "fakie" decor. But again, it's personal taste..

I would change your decor so that people can appreciate the tank on a whole as opposed to getting stuck staring at the hypnotizing gravel :) Changing out the gravel in my opinion was easy - messy, but easy enough. Just when you do, I would do it with a water change and put some of the old gravel into a stocking or super thin sock. After I made my "sock" I put it into the bucket of dirty water, scooped out the rest of the old gravel, super gravel vacc'd best I could and then layed down the new gravel. Put the sock back into the tank for about a week or so, monitor your water parameters just in case there's a mini cycle and then if all goes smooth, remove the sock and viola!

[jennfier]

:) Hahahahaha :)

There are all kinds of people with all kinds of tastes. The gravel says that you have a crazy funky taste ! If the gravel rocks your boat, hey, you're the one who has to look at it and enjoy it so make it what you enjoy.

I personally wouldn't use those bright colors as they do take your attention away from the fish -- the glare, I need sunglasses. I've used natural gravel for years but I'm bored with that too. I want to do black gravel next and put some real plants in there. With black gravel, you'll really see the beauty of your fish. Eco-complete is black and is good for plants so perhaps you could look into that if you're interested to start a planted tank. Now, where are my sunglasses ? ;)

[BadRoma1]

why does your background show salt water set up?

[mr_bentley78]

IMO thats a ghastly tank
:sad:

[mr_bentley78]

why does your background show salt water set up?

Was one of the more "colorful" bg's we had.
The blue / red gravel was interesting at first, now I hate it. I definately want t go more "natural". I have seen some very nice tanks here from some of you guys, and it has changed my whole outlook on the setup.

Thanks a ton for the advice with the gravel changing, I will be doing one soon, and re-setting it up, and will post more pics as I go.

Thanks aswell, for taking the time to reply, even if it was just to say "IMO, that's a ghastly tank". :rolleyes:

Now if I could get my damned camera to get that type of lighting in the photos without the blur.
When I do it as a "sports" scene (in motion), the lighting is dark and gloomy, but it captures the fish beautifully as they move. I'll be happy.

[daniel364]

i did apolagise and give my advice!

sorry :)

[CHOMPERS]

...What are your thoughts about it?...
...and I went a bit the tacky route. :rolleyes: I think it's very colorful...

I like it. It has a cartoonish look to it. And that isn't a bad thing either. Just don't put a Nemo thing in there. Well just as long as it isn't a clown fish.

[CHOMPERS]

...get another tank for the barbs...

Any reason to get another tank is a good reason :dance:

[CHOMPERS]

...The blue / red gravel was interesting at first, now I hate it. I definately want t go more "natural". I have seen some very nice tanks here from some of you guys, and it has changed my whole outlook on the setup...

Went from loving it to hating it in two days? The bright colors are sure to attract attention in the room to the tank. Natural tanks are awsome, but set one up in the same room and the bright tank will still get the attention from visitors; especially kids!

[dr_sudz]

Went from loving it to hating it in two days? The bright colors are sure to attract attention in the room to the tank. Natural tanks are awsome, but set one up in the same room and the bright tank will still get the attention from visitors; especially kids!

This is very true! Your not going to miss it when you walk in the room!

[mr_bentley78]

Like the blue / red gravel, or hate it? I would like to change it in the near future (the whole tank decor / gravel).


I went from loving the gravel colors 4 months ago, to growing tired of it today. After seeing some of the natural looking tanks here, I really want to go that route.

My wife and I are still discussing it since she was the one who bought a lot of the decor.

[mr_bentley78]

i did apolagise and give my advice!

sorry :)

Haha, it's ok man. You were honest and I am a lighthearted person. I don't take things too personally, I think anyway. :p:

[daniel364]

Haha, it's ok man. You were honest and I am a lighthearted person. I don't take things too personally, I think anyway. :p:

my kind of guy! lol, glad your going down the natruel route, i thought you might after seeing some tanks.

[mr_bentley78]

Pink Kisser is gone. Got 2 German Rams to replace it. Still getting a new home for the barbs, and in the works of scraping some cash together to redo my tank.

Will update this thread with new pictures as I progress and see what you guys think.