ciantarah
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi there, my name is Jordana. I live in Portland, OR. I only just got my first one this February. It's a 29 gal freshwater community tank, and it's gone quite well so far. My fiance was the one who suggested it in the first place, but I was the one who became utterly obsessed. Fishkeeping is now my favorite hobby... but I'm still figuring things out, to say the least.
The tank has a total of 20 small fish (3 cories, 2 kuhli loaches, a male and female betta, 3 fancy guppies, 5 zebra danios, and 5 cardinal tetras), plus an African dwarf frog and a mystery snail, so I think I'm done stocking it. I might get some amano shrimp, though (I used to have ghost shrimp, but I think they all ended up as somebody's snack).
I have some live plants (a moss ball, 3 wisteria, a couple of amazon swords which seem to be dying, an anubias, an Aponogeton of some kind, several Cryptocoryne, a red lily -- was very spendy but quite pretty (I hope it lives) and a few other of some plant I can't identify).
Most of my plants have done OK, especially considering that I've moved them around a few times because I'm a noob and don't know how to set up a proper aquascape. I could really use some advice in this regard; I am hoping to get more plants and create a densely planted environment for my fishies.
My Aponogeton's leaves periodically die and I have to remove them, but it continues sprouting new leaves so I guess that's normal (?) My Amazon swords, though, have never done well. My Anubias always has some very small brown spots but seems fine otherwise, and the Wisteria look great. The new lily has a couple of leaves that look either chewed on or decomposing, which worries me. I used to have some kind of primrose plant that would not stay in the substrate, and somebody liked snacking on it I think... so that didn't last long. I've never caught my mystery snail messing with the plants, though.
I have always added Seachem Flourish 1-2x per week. I started adding CO2 booster last week, but so far don't see much of a difference. I didn't know about root tabs when I got my first plants, and wondering if I can use them going forward... or if I even need them.
I want one of those densely planted tanks like I saw at The Wet Spot in Portland... this super amazing aquarium store in the Hollywood District. Now that I've been there, none of the fish or plants at Petco or Petsmart look remotely interesting.
During my first trip to The Wet Spot two weeks ago, I was so excited to get a vampire shrimp (african fan shrimp)... by far the most expensive creature in my tank ($13.50 I think). Unfortunately, I haven't seen her even once since I put her in the tank, which makes me a sad panda. I am hoping she is alright! I read that they bury themselves in the substrate (I have smooth small pebbles and sand, so should be ok) and only come out to feed at night until they get acclimated... I'm wondering if now I have a dead decomposing shrimp somewhere under there
The tank has a total of 20 small fish (3 cories, 2 kuhli loaches, a male and female betta, 3 fancy guppies, 5 zebra danios, and 5 cardinal tetras), plus an African dwarf frog and a mystery snail, so I think I'm done stocking it. I might get some amano shrimp, though (I used to have ghost shrimp, but I think they all ended up as somebody's snack).
I have some live plants (a moss ball, 3 wisteria, a couple of amazon swords which seem to be dying, an anubias, an Aponogeton of some kind, several Cryptocoryne, a red lily -- was very spendy but quite pretty (I hope it lives) and a few other of some plant I can't identify).
Most of my plants have done OK, especially considering that I've moved them around a few times because I'm a noob and don't know how to set up a proper aquascape. I could really use some advice in this regard; I am hoping to get more plants and create a densely planted environment for my fishies.
My Aponogeton's leaves periodically die and I have to remove them, but it continues sprouting new leaves so I guess that's normal (?) My Amazon swords, though, have never done well. My Anubias always has some very small brown spots but seems fine otherwise, and the Wisteria look great. The new lily has a couple of leaves that look either chewed on or decomposing, which worries me. I used to have some kind of primrose plant that would not stay in the substrate, and somebody liked snacking on it I think... so that didn't last long. I've never caught my mystery snail messing with the plants, though.
I have always added Seachem Flourish 1-2x per week. I started adding CO2 booster last week, but so far don't see much of a difference. I didn't know about root tabs when I got my first plants, and wondering if I can use them going forward... or if I even need them.
I want one of those densely planted tanks like I saw at The Wet Spot in Portland... this super amazing aquarium store in the Hollywood District. Now that I've been there, none of the fish or plants at Petco or Petsmart look remotely interesting.
During my first trip to The Wet Spot two weeks ago, I was so excited to get a vampire shrimp (african fan shrimp)... by far the most expensive creature in my tank ($13.50 I think). Unfortunately, I haven't seen her even once since I put her in the tank, which makes me a sad panda. I am hoping she is alright! I read that they bury themselves in the substrate (I have smooth small pebbles and sand, so should be ok) and only come out to feed at night until they get acclimated... I'm wondering if now I have a dead decomposing shrimp somewhere under there