1 year later
its been a year now since the new tank was up. I want to make some comments and share some experiences with you as well as give a general update.
One of the things that strikes me about a large tank is how the fish behave differently. the clown loaches, for example, hide and sleep most of the time and only scavenge for a little while per day. they used to be up and around all the time in the smaller tank. Also more fish tend to hide and inhabit small spaces. i think thats a good thing, but at the same time, my tank looks empty unless you know where to look. fish also grow bigger in big tanks.
i solved this with the addition of platties and some colorful mollies. they cheer up the place. they even seem to get the tetras more active.
i found the crayfish molt one day and thought it was dead. i was so confused when i saw both crayfish the following day until i realised what had happened.
my black ghost knife is going on year four as my pet. without her, the rest of the tank is just dirty water and noise.
i mentioned in an earlier post how the fun of an aquarium is in its building, but ive found out that even after a large tank is done, it still keeps changing. i placed all the decorations and such how i would like them, and time has made it even better. from time to time ill remove a plastic plant but thats it. there is endless variation in the changing currents all by itself.
the eheim pro 3 broke after only a couple of months of use. it may have been my fault, but still, it shouldnt have broken. turns out i dont need it. i continue using the water changing system and thats all it needs.
the aquarium is part of the house, and secretly my favorite part of the house. it makes me feel wealthy and it is spiritually uplifting to look at every day. i do recommend the taller tank design, in spite of the drawback.
If you wonder if i wonder what is next. i am hard on myself because i cant keep aquatic plants alive. ive always wanted my tank to be one of the most beautiful tanks, but i see that even a modest aquarium with real plants is light years ahead of mine. that is why i wont enter it in the tank of the month contest. still, i like mine. it has more fish than planted tanks and the fake plants look pretty good anyhow.
its been a year now since the new tank was up. I want to make some comments and share some experiences with you as well as give a general update.
One of the things that strikes me about a large tank is how the fish behave differently. the clown loaches, for example, hide and sleep most of the time and only scavenge for a little while per day. they used to be up and around all the time in the smaller tank. Also more fish tend to hide and inhabit small spaces. i think thats a good thing, but at the same time, my tank looks empty unless you know where to look. fish also grow bigger in big tanks.
i solved this with the addition of platties and some colorful mollies. they cheer up the place. they even seem to get the tetras more active.
i found the crayfish molt one day and thought it was dead. i was so confused when i saw both crayfish the following day until i realised what had happened.
my black ghost knife is going on year four as my pet. without her, the rest of the tank is just dirty water and noise.
i mentioned in an earlier post how the fun of an aquarium is in its building, but ive found out that even after a large tank is done, it still keeps changing. i placed all the decorations and such how i would like them, and time has made it even better. from time to time ill remove a plastic plant but thats it. there is endless variation in the changing currents all by itself.
the eheim pro 3 broke after only a couple of months of use. it may have been my fault, but still, it shouldnt have broken. turns out i dont need it. i continue using the water changing system and thats all it needs.
the aquarium is part of the house, and secretly my favorite part of the house. it makes me feel wealthy and it is spiritually uplifting to look at every day. i do recommend the taller tank design, in spite of the drawback.
If you wonder if i wonder what is next. i am hard on myself because i cant keep aquatic plants alive. ive always wanted my tank to be one of the most beautiful tanks, but i see that even a modest aquarium with real plants is light years ahead of mine. that is why i wont enter it in the tank of the month contest. still, i like mine. it has more fish than planted tanks and the fake plants look pretty good anyhow.
