Hello all.
This is my second post (first was in the invertebrate section).
I've been out of the aquarium hobby for 15+ years... but recently (within a couple months) got back into it. In years past, I "specialized" in silver arowanas. The last one I had was kept in a 125 gallon, and s/he got big enough to eat the mice that my parent's cat would catch... wow, that was some time ago!
That fish was more like an aquatic dog than a fish. S/he would get quite excited when I walked into the room and pace back and forth as I walked past. But, that was then, and this is now...
My interest re-started when my wife, 3 year old son and I went to petco for some dog food (we have two Dobermans). My son took an interest in the fish, so we got a betta and a bowl...
That quickly evolved into a 2.5 gallon tank. That turned into my current 7.7 gallon planted aquarium.
This setup consists of about 15 pounds of eco complete, a HOB filter (came with the tank), fluorescent lighting (specificially for plants) and a marineland 25 watt heater. The tank measures 20x9x9 inches or so, so its rather shallow. It's planted with baby tears, amazon swords (they'll out grow the tank I'm sure), some clover, moss ball, banana plants and another low-growing sword-like plant that got its start in the intial betta bowl. I ordered an anubias to attach to some african driftwood (I have 3 pieces in tank already) and also a bunch of Ludwigia glandulosa. I'm thinking of removing the clover and replacing it with the ludwigia...
Water parameters are spot-on and temp is at 75 degrees. My ph is high, at about 8... the 7.7 gallon has only been setup for about 3 weeks, so I assume things will even out a little more as time goes on.
The residents of the 7.7 are: male halfmoon red/blue betta, a white standard female betta and 8 neon tetras. I figured I'd give the male-female betta thing a try, and while he will occasionally chase her, he pretty much leaves her alone.
I also introduced 3 orange shrimp... the LFS didn't say what species, but they look identical to a RCS, save the color... so I assume they're just a genetic variance of RCS.
All creatures are doing well and the shrimp have grown and are bright orange. Now if only my male betta would stop building bubble nests!
I just received a batch of 30 juvenile RCS and they are currently in the old 2.5 gallon, also planted with a mix of eco complete and cleaned playground sand and african driftwood. Same water parameters.
I'm hoping to grow the juvenile RCS and put a few in the 7.7 gallon... also hoping they'll breed so I can "spread the wealth" to some friends.
I'm just concerned that if I add any RCS to the 7.7 gallon that it'll negatively impact the bioload... so I've already considered removing the female betta in the event it comes to it.
Anyway, thanks for "listening".
7.7 gallon (iPhone pic)
2.5 gallon juvenile RCS tank (iPhone pic)
This is my second post (first was in the invertebrate section).
I've been out of the aquarium hobby for 15+ years... but recently (within a couple months) got back into it. In years past, I "specialized" in silver arowanas. The last one I had was kept in a 125 gallon, and s/he got big enough to eat the mice that my parent's cat would catch... wow, that was some time ago!
That fish was more like an aquatic dog than a fish. S/he would get quite excited when I walked into the room and pace back and forth as I walked past. But, that was then, and this is now...
My interest re-started when my wife, 3 year old son and I went to petco for some dog food (we have two Dobermans). My son took an interest in the fish, so we got a betta and a bowl...
That quickly evolved into a 2.5 gallon tank. That turned into my current 7.7 gallon planted aquarium.
This setup consists of about 15 pounds of eco complete, a HOB filter (came with the tank), fluorescent lighting (specificially for plants) and a marineland 25 watt heater. The tank measures 20x9x9 inches or so, so its rather shallow. It's planted with baby tears, amazon swords (they'll out grow the tank I'm sure), some clover, moss ball, banana plants and another low-growing sword-like plant that got its start in the intial betta bowl. I ordered an anubias to attach to some african driftwood (I have 3 pieces in tank already) and also a bunch of Ludwigia glandulosa. I'm thinking of removing the clover and replacing it with the ludwigia...
Water parameters are spot-on and temp is at 75 degrees. My ph is high, at about 8... the 7.7 gallon has only been setup for about 3 weeks, so I assume things will even out a little more as time goes on.
The residents of the 7.7 are: male halfmoon red/blue betta, a white standard female betta and 8 neon tetras. I figured I'd give the male-female betta thing a try, and while he will occasionally chase her, he pretty much leaves her alone.
I also introduced 3 orange shrimp... the LFS didn't say what species, but they look identical to a RCS, save the color... so I assume they're just a genetic variance of RCS.
All creatures are doing well and the shrimp have grown and are bright orange. Now if only my male betta would stop building bubble nests!
I just received a batch of 30 juvenile RCS and they are currently in the old 2.5 gallon, also planted with a mix of eco complete and cleaned playground sand and african driftwood. Same water parameters.
I'm hoping to grow the juvenile RCS and put a few in the 7.7 gallon... also hoping they'll breed so I can "spread the wealth" to some friends.
I'm just concerned that if I add any RCS to the 7.7 gallon that it'll negatively impact the bioload... so I've already considered removing the female betta in the event it comes to it.
Anyway, thanks for "listening".
7.7 gallon (iPhone pic)
2.5 gallon juvenile RCS tank (iPhone pic)
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