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librarygirl

Look It Up
Joined
Apr 21, 2011
Messages
7,053
Location
Rhode Island
After literally months of playing with various layouts I've finally found one I'm happy with (mostly :)), so I thought I'd share.

Specs:
40 Breeder
2 T5NO dual bulb light fixtures
Sand substrate
Filters: Eheim 2215 canister and Aquaclear 50 HOB
150w heater set to 78 degrees F
Black fabric background

Flora:
Guppy Grass
Peacock Moss attached to driftwood
Vallisneria
Red and green Crypts
Java Fern
Hornwort
Moss balls

Fauna:
6 Panda Cory
2 Sterbai Cory
10 Celestial Pearl Danio
8 Ember Tetra
1 Spotted Blue Eye Rainbow (started with 8, see below)
1 German Blue Ram Female (added this week)
3 Otos (added this week)
2 Horned Nerite Snails
X number of Ramshorn snails (plant hitchhikers)
Growing number of Blue Velvet Shrimp (started with 5 a few months ago; have about 20+ now of various sizes/ages with at least one other female berried)

Feeding:
Once per day w/ one fast day per week, varying between:
HIkari Community Small Fish Pellets
New Life Spectrum Small Fish .5mm Pellets
Frozen Daphnia, Bloodworm, Shrimp
Golden Pearls
Algae/veggie wafers
Spirulina Sticks
Omega One Fish Flakes
Fresh blanched veggies

Fish are all doing well; have had most of them for more than a year now.
Most challenging have been the Spotted Blue Eye Rainbow fish; I started with 8 of a about 3 males and 5 females. The males harrassed the females so much they all died. Then one male rainbow bullied the other two males to death (found the second male dead yesterday). I do not plan to add more.

With the Rainbow fish almost gone the upper levels of the tank are pretty bare. Trying to find a good fish for the upper level. For the long-term I plan to turn this tank into a dwarf cichlid tank, so as my current fish die off (which will take a while lol) I'll try not to replace them. If I had the room (and didn't live on 3rd FL lol) I'd move the smaller fish to a 30 gal and turn the 40 into a Cichlid tank now but alas I can't.

I had wanted a nice centerpiece fish and I was itching for a Cichlid so I went to the store which had fish labeled generally as "Rams." In the store all of my knowledge drained from my brain and I couldn't remember how to discern Bolivian Rams from German Blues (Red eyes, doh!). Most of my fish prefer cooler water (mostly the CPDs) so I tended to keep my tank at 75 degrees, therefore I wanted to avoid a German Blue Ram which prefers temps of about 80. Like a dope I bought one of the more colorful active Rams they had. Once I got it home, I realized it's a German Blue, not a Bolivian. :facepalm: I raised the tank temp to 78, the minimum of what they like, so I hope she survives. She's very small, about quarter size and my favorite fish so far (I'm 90% sure it's a female; I'll add a pic of her below so someone can maybe confirm).

Since the tank is so large and there are a good number of hiding places I'm contemplating getting her a mate. But I've heard horror stories of mating Rams killing Corys so I'm not sure I want to risk it, but I'm tempted to try it.

The tank is on a rather ugly) black iron stand. The bottom is open so all of the equipment shows and it bothered me so I attached a green (to match the color scheme of the living room) fabric around the bottom of the tank with Velcro to hide the equipment and supplies.

I may as well add a photo of my betta tank too. My Betta's name is Dickens and he's a Crowntail. The tank is a 10G half moon which he has all to himself (aside from two Ramshorn snails). It is planted with a sword, java ferns and water wisteria with peacock moss attached to driftwood branches. The tank has a blue background. Marina 10i filter with LED light.

Now for the photos!
 

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I was looking for some pictures of your aquarium, and I found this! Your tanks are fantastic, great work! (y)

How are they currently doing? :)
 
Cool tank! :)
For upper level fish I think some kind of danio might work, giant of zebra, or some kind of barb or tetra. Good luck!
 
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