My new 40B Tank Journey

[Fishperson]

Oh, ok. I really like the pics of the tank. Will follow this thread

 

[CatoeSc]

Oh, ok. I really like the pics of the tank. Will follow this thread

Thanks. I love it. I'd really like to have a swarm of red cherry shrimp, but they are crazy expensive! I've got 6 and will let nature take its course, I suppose.

 

[kjacks]

Thanks. I love it. I'd really like to have a swarm of red cherry shrimp, but they are crazy expensive! I've got 6 and will let nature take its course, I suppose.

Did u try aquabid.com or ebay i looked n they werent too bad . We had those tetras to n they were fin nippers brought them back quick like .. just not before they got my otos fins.. they looked bad.. then i found i had more then them eatin fins n redid my whole stock .

 

[CatoeSc]

I've discovered a new fish! I love rams, German blue, electric blue, golden, and Bolivian... Today, I saw a balloon ram. Coloring matches the GBR, but the body is round and kinda fat. I'm also keeping my eye on a small kribensis with awesome color! Just wanna wait until I have more plants and more shrimp. Once I'm swarming with shrimp, I won't miss the occasional loss from the rams/krib snacking.

 

[Fishperson]

Cool! I love rams too!

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Rams are one of my faves but I just know my cherry shrimp would be toast if I added them. I used to keep a pair of GBRs in a heavily planted 55 with large bamboo shrimp but they don't breed so no young to fret over.

I've never heard of balloon rams. They sound awesome.

 

[CatoeSc]

Yeah, I'd never seen or heard of them until I saw some at the LFS. I'm gonna wait until my plants are nice and thick an I have a lot of shrimp before I add rams.

 

[CatoeSc]

I'm experiencing an unexpected challenge. I lost some shrimp, and thought I lost them to an overly aggressive swordtail. Cleaned my filter today and found 4 of them. Only have 6 so far, so I trust the others are just effectively hiding out.

How can I keep these guys out of the filter?

 

[CatoeSc]

I'm experiencing an unexpected challenge. I lost some shrimp, and thought I lost them to an overly aggressive swordtail. Cleaned my filter today and found 4 of them. Only have 6 so far, so I trust the others are just effectively hiding out.

How can I keep these guys out of the filter?

Well, I think I found the solution. Spent a couple of bucks on an Eheim Pre-filter that goes on the intake of the filter. Keeps little critters from getting sucked in.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Well, I think I found the solution. Spent a couple of bucks on an Eheim Pre-filter that goes on the intake of the filter. Keeps little critters from getting sucked in.

That's how most people do it. I use Fluval sponges but the Eheims are great. Anything to keep the little guys in the tank and out of the filter will be great. Well done.

 

[CatoeSc]

Well, I pulled the rocks and scrubbed them myself. Also got some Siamese algae eaters, and wow... The algae is disappearing from all surfaces. Also treated the tank for the 1st time today with excel.



You can't see in these pics my favorites. I got a male and a female blue ram!! My hope is that in time, they might give us some fry... We shall see. I also have 1 juvee krib and 3 juvee clown loaches. These are my favorites.

 

[CatoeSc]

I haven't posted any updates in quite a while. I have been busy asking questions and fixing problems right and left! I never knew what a challenge a planted tank would be! But, it's finally coming together thanks to a lot of help from a lot of people here! So, you may have seen pics on other threads, but I would kinda like to pick this thread back up and keep it going as I continue to learn. Next step: carpet plant-any suggestions?

 

[Corydoras92299]

Your tank looks good

 

[FrankAbagnale]

Looking good

 

[PockX]

Looks awesome! Wish my 40B could be that nice haha

What kind of gravel is that, hard to tell from pics.

 

[CatoeSc]

Looks awesome! Wish my 40B could be that nice haha

What kind of gravel is that, hard to tell from pics.

You have no idea how great it is to hear that! It's been a lot of trial and error and I've gotten lots of great advice here.

The gravel is Seachem fluorite. I like how dark it is.

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Flourite.html

 

[CatoeSc]

Yesterday I pulled out all the Anacharis from my tank. The prettier stem plants have really made the Anacharis look a little less attractive. Today, I got a couple of bundles of dark green cabomba to replace it. I have a large sword plant in the back, but its coming out tomorrow and the cabomba will fill that area. I also trimmed some of the plants and replanted the clippings. Looking forward to the appearance this will create!

 

[CatoeSc]

Updated pics.

 

[MadRiverPat]

Really love the look of those two slabs in the center. They have a great look against the black flourite. I have a 40 breeder with black eco-complete so it has a similar look. You should consider some driftwood. Also did you ever decide on rams? I've been eying up a pair of electric blues. That or I might just go for a pair of apistogrammas. Tough decisions.

 

[CatoeSc]

I had a pair of rams, but they died. Unfortunately, the water I was buying wasn't any good. I've started buying different water and once I feel comfortable that everything has stabilized I will get rams again. I loved them, but they are sensitive. I happen to have 3 Appistogramma Cacatoides (sp) and I love them. Honestly, the future if this tank will probably be limited to 2 or 3 angels and 2 to 4 pairs of dwarf cichlids... I like them all.