58g Planted w/overflow and sump

[myswtsins]

Oh, I've razor bladed before too, not often though. I usually clean the glass every week and the snails were still breeding so I felt comfortable ("whatever") with leaving it just this week for the shrimp too. Next week it gets the scrapper though!

Right now the usteriana is still "under control". All visible runners are still behind the wood and I've told it it can have that whole back corner...so far it's ok with this arrangement.

You are correct, it IS a ball of confusion! That's my unknown misc. crypts from the package deal. And I gotta give myself some credit, all but one (of the smallest ones) are like none of the other crypts so I nailed the Misc part of that at least. I have a bit of needle leaf java fern behind it too, adding to the ball of confusion. It's not doing so well in this tank either. *sigh* java ferns....

 

[fishorama]

I did think it looked a bit like java fern-ish in the "ball" but I didn't want to insult you or them if they weren't...we know they "should" be so easy...& sometimes aren't.

I've tried stern talking to both plants & fish, you go girl!! My never seem to listen....(shh, kinda like husbands), lol.

 

[myswtsins]

3 months later.... Not much to report actually (as I write a 10,000 word post!).

Plants are doing well, except the Balansae continued to decline, hanging on but not thriving like it was. Got a bunch of babies popping up all over the place. Which means it's about time to sell some, any interest? The Misc. section is all ID-able now so I can clear that out too when I sell some extras. Usteriana is a monster and I love it! Affinis is keeping it fullness and color (also love it). Hudoroi and Buce is doing better. Nurii is good as well. All (except Blansae) have filled in nicely since my last pictures.

Still only a little glass algae, nothing at all on plants now for at least 2 months (I had the tiniest bit of BBA before). I did increase my metricide dosing to 5ml at some point to see if it would help the glass algae, it didn't. But I am thrilled with just glass algae! I did cut back on dosing to about every other day, everything seems fine so far.

Since the 1st round of breeding (RCS), nothing! Saddles, yes but no more berried shrimp. A handful of the babies have grown into sub-adults successfully though so that's good.

Still no fish! Since the RCS only bred in this tank I don't want to add any fish that would eat the babies and there is really no choices in hardwater varieties that fit that profile, barely any soft water fish either. Eventually I will probably get some black mollies and/or some Limia species from a friend, maybe some of his platys too who knows.

Pictures were fast so sorry about the sub-par quality.

 

[fishorama]

Wow, Jen, I love it!! (I've missed you, lol) Your crypts look very happy!!!

Have you considered a BN or pretty L144 female pleco? My L-144 gold girl is a hard worker at GSA in my 75g. I still have a tiny little bit but nothing like I did. They don't eat shrimp from what I've seen in a 20g long with several growing plecs. I recently found a shrimp that must be well over 2 years old by now...no baby shrimp for me either in all that time.

 

[myswtsins]

Thanks Nancy, missed you too! What I love most about this tank is how easy it is! My low tech shrimp tank was supposed to be the easy one, never can predict these things though lol.

I think a pleco or two is in the works and yes maybe a "fancy" type. Depends what I find locally. Dang it! That reminds me I missed the big sale on Saturday, too busy preparing for today, duh. Completely forgot till right now lol.

I may get myself into trouble here. My neighbor who has an entire fish/reptile/amphibian/rodent/bird etc. basement plus outdoor ponds and birds has to get rid of it all and told me I can have whatever I want!!!!!!!!!!!! I want it all of course but have to pass on all the 75g+ (rimless) tanks cause I can't use them in my house (weight mostly, space secondly) but I am gonna grab some smaller custom DIY rimless tanks at the very least. So we are gonna have to have a pow wow here to decided what to do with them! Oh but first I need to get rid of some of my other tanks, sale thread coming soon.

 

[fishorama]

With neighbors like yours, who needs fish friends? lol. Jeez, I thought you had a garage/basement/shed for fishy extras? What's the weight issue with a 75g? Similar to a 58g & sump, no? Enabling you!!

Birds are fun in a different way & no weight issues (different hobby, in a different time). What kind of birds? Yeah, I don't miss tracking seeds all over, including into the bed, ick. & more noisy than tanks. But fond memories! Rodents & reptiles, not so much.

 

[myswtsins]

The weight is similar to the 58g + sump (about 50-100lbs difference, the 75s are custom with thick glass so estimating) but actually better distributed with a 75g. Difference is more theoretical with the 58g vs 75g specifically because I can't imagine a 75g where this tank is. I've figured it out mathematically but my brain can't accept it lol. Also I have been sternly talked out of bringing a 75g into my 2nd floor of a almost 140 yr old house with a broken main beam and I agree. So I brought in a 58g (with sump) lol. Seriously, I am pushing it with this tank which weighs in at about 730lbs not including substrate or stand. But I do have it positioned in a perfect spot over 3 beams, over a 1st floor wall and directly over the jacks in the basement.

And in general I can't fit a 4ft tank anywhere except where the 72g is and that will most likely be removed this summer to make room for normal living room furniture, boo!

I do have space for fishy stuff in the basement, my "apartment" (mother/daughter thing) and in one of the garages but it is all full! Plus all the pond stuff now too, I need to cut back. Just getting rid of like wood grain standard 29g with press board stands and all my old Meta-frame tanks that need work that I am never going to do cause I always find a reason to use a different tank. And replacing them with rimless 40g breeders and a unique 30x18x12 rimless tank. Getting rid of standard stuff for harder to find stuff is all. Although I think I might sell my 72 bowfront with stand and custom canopy as well as my 33 flatback hex with stand and custom canopy too.

He is down to his favorite finches at this point. Plus the chickens and geese outside. I am not interested in birds at this time though. Turtles, yes. Rodents, maybe.


Blah blah blah, shut up Jen!

 

[dougall]

Just get all the fish stuff you can fit in the basement and any outbuildings.

We likely have a few ancistrus babies I expect... if you want.

 

[myswtsins]

Just get all the fish stuff you can fit in the basement and any outbuildings.

We likely have a few ancistrus babies I expect... if you want.

That is the idea but it's all full ATM so I need to do some swapping.
I have a long fin albino in my 72g so I am just gonna bring him over but thank you!

Let's talk about fish!
I went to 3 fish stores today and have decided that dead fish or fish in rough shape is just something every store must have. An entire tank of dead snails (and one of shrimp at a different store), maybe not but I'm just going to have to get over it and QT well. Anyway, I found all sorts of mollys and platys that I like but couldn't choose just one variety. I am not looking to breed in this tank though, this is just an "I enjoy looking at it" tank so I think I am gonna go with an all male assortment of mollys and platys (maybe swordtails even).

Here is what I found that I liked, in no particular order...
-Mollys - Black, Black Sailfin, Silver Lyretail, Cremeicicle Lyretail, Golddust, Golddust Lyretail
-Platys - Red Top Gold, Marigold Wag, Red moonlight and some Asst Hi-fins
-I did see some swordtails that I liked but they only had one of them at 2 places.
-I found just a couple different plecos other than BN and common. Only size appropriate one though was some L-129 Colombian (chocolate) Zebras, which is more of a meat eater so that's an unfortunate pass.
I also saw a fish I've never seen before! Not super uncommon apparently but I've never seen or heard of it, purple passion danio, possibly danio roseus. Absolutely not getting them but wanted to share the experience of seeing a new fish.

I was planning on getting an apple snail or 2 today but they were in awful shape at the 2 stores that had them. Shame cause they has all the varieties except magenta too.

Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day, I am going to a local store I have never been to before and a couple that I rarely go to. Fingers crossed!

What do you guys think about an all male Molly/Platy tank?

 

[dougall]

If you are looking for more rare fish (and possibly healthier) NJAS are having their big auction on Sunday at the days inn and conference center center on rt18 by the parkway (if I am getting my roads right).

My suggestion for a new tank would likely be a big school of pygmaeus corys or maybe hastatus if you had more cash to spare.

Platys or mollies would be fine.. but I don't think as interesting as smaller fish.