NinjaPenguin, marcello, thanks for the kind comments!
msjinkzd, thanks for the food tip. I was able to pick up some freeze dried bloodworms and some tubifex cubes.
first I tried the tubifex cube, it took a while for the platys to find it but I think they could tell some food was placed in the tank. the platys are usually first to the food, but the black skirt tetras are usually close behind the platys for the flake food. the cube actually never fully desolved and the fish werent able to find it enough to devour it rapidly. this morning after the lights came on the cube was still pretty much in tact, although they were still nibling on it. I'm thinking maybe they weren't able to find it at all once the lights went out? either way it was kinda cool because I think all the fish were snacking on tubifex particles that occasionally fell off the chunk and might not be as hungry between feedings because of that.
so I took out the cube and fed a little tniy bit of flake mixed with bloodworm, they ate both rather quickly. all the fish are doing quite well as far as I notice.
also did a water change today, things are looking super clean in the tank, water levels are fine but I want to keep it that way.
went to the fish store to get the fish food and they were out of blue rams otherwise 2 would have been in this tank.
Luckily there have been some signs of growth in the plants. I know the tank hasn't had a chance to really grow in, but I couldn't help but do a plant rearrangement. It wasn't too drastic. also took out the bubble wand and air line, and put the heater over by the filter to consolidate mechanical items. let me know what you think of this arrangement, these pictures were taken before todays waterchange, its even cleaner now. later I also added on the second intake tube to the aquaclear filter to extend that down closer to the end of the heater (not in these pictures).
thanks for your comments!

msjinkzd, thanks for the food tip. I was able to pick up some freeze dried bloodworms and some tubifex cubes.
first I tried the tubifex cube, it took a while for the platys to find it but I think they could tell some food was placed in the tank. the platys are usually first to the food, but the black skirt tetras are usually close behind the platys for the flake food. the cube actually never fully desolved and the fish werent able to find it enough to devour it rapidly. this morning after the lights came on the cube was still pretty much in tact, although they were still nibling on it. I'm thinking maybe they weren't able to find it at all once the lights went out? either way it was kinda cool because I think all the fish were snacking on tubifex particles that occasionally fell off the chunk and might not be as hungry between feedings because of that.
so I took out the cube and fed a little tniy bit of flake mixed with bloodworm, they ate both rather quickly. all the fish are doing quite well as far as I notice.
also did a water change today, things are looking super clean in the tank, water levels are fine but I want to keep it that way.
went to the fish store to get the fish food and they were out of blue rams otherwise 2 would have been in this tank.
Luckily there have been some signs of growth in the plants. I know the tank hasn't had a chance to really grow in, but I couldn't help but do a plant rearrangement. It wasn't too drastic. also took out the bubble wand and air line, and put the heater over by the filter to consolidate mechanical items. let me know what you think of this arrangement, these pictures were taken before todays waterchange, its even cleaner now. later I also added on the second intake tube to the aquaclear filter to extend that down closer to the end of the heater (not in these pictures).
thanks for your comments!

