trennamw
Aquarium Advice Addict
With a 2 year old "my first tank" that's gotten to be pretty hodgepodge? It wasn't intended to be planted, when I first built it. So.
The goal is a medium maintenance, probably no co2 (expense), low to medium light planted tank that is easier to care for and put together with more intent ... And a more well rounded fish population.
What I have :
A 56 gallon column tank. I like the visual proportions but the stand is as high as a table so working in the tank is very difficult. I get up on a stool and still end up with scraped and bruised forearms. It seems tricky to light, too (24" deep).
White sand substrate with some brown gravel mixed in. I feel the white helps reflect some light and I like the look but yeh it's inert.
A beautiful piece of driftwood with a "cave" the angelfish loves, but is getting too tall for (I'd love to somehow use rocks to make it taller?)
Some rocks that were white but are now black, they're too rough for Otos to clean.
Super lush Java ferns, anubias ... Vals sending out runners in unfortunate places ... Struggling crypts and swords. Bare spots and over full spots. And freaking vals right up front.
2 canister filters that each are rated for 50 gallons.
2 Marineland led lights, the little ones that are $25 each. And indirect sunlight (8' from 4th floor window facing west).
After 2 years the stock has diminished to -
1 young angelfish (a local angelfish keeper wants him for her 100 gal species tank)
2 rosy tetras (similar to candy canes)
5 danios
5 glowlight neons
4 Pygmy striped loaches (teeny tiny things)
6 harlequin rasboras
1 or 2 Otos (2 years in the tank!!)
... And an upcoming 6 weeks with no kid in the house and some extra time and money.
I'd love to rehome everyone and sell the equipment and start fresh and intentional, but that feels wrong, especially as my aging PetSmart tetras and rasboras are fading and dying off.
Sent from my iPhone with three hands tied behind my back.
The goal is a medium maintenance, probably no co2 (expense), low to medium light planted tank that is easier to care for and put together with more intent ... And a more well rounded fish population.
What I have :
A 56 gallon column tank. I like the visual proportions but the stand is as high as a table so working in the tank is very difficult. I get up on a stool and still end up with scraped and bruised forearms. It seems tricky to light, too (24" deep).
White sand substrate with some brown gravel mixed in. I feel the white helps reflect some light and I like the look but yeh it's inert.
A beautiful piece of driftwood with a "cave" the angelfish loves, but is getting too tall for (I'd love to somehow use rocks to make it taller?)
Some rocks that were white but are now black, they're too rough for Otos to clean.
Super lush Java ferns, anubias ... Vals sending out runners in unfortunate places ... Struggling crypts and swords. Bare spots and over full spots. And freaking vals right up front.
2 canister filters that each are rated for 50 gallons.
2 Marineland led lights, the little ones that are $25 each. And indirect sunlight (8' from 4th floor window facing west).
After 2 years the stock has diminished to -
1 young angelfish (a local angelfish keeper wants him for her 100 gal species tank)
2 rosy tetras (similar to candy canes)
5 danios
5 glowlight neons
4 Pygmy striped loaches (teeny tiny things)
6 harlequin rasboras
1 or 2 Otos (2 years in the tank!!)
... And an upcoming 6 weeks with no kid in the house and some extra time and money.
I'd love to rehome everyone and sell the equipment and start fresh and intentional, but that feels wrong, especially as my aging PetSmart tetras and rasboras are fading and dying off.
Sent from my iPhone with three hands tied behind my back.
).
