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Becoming - 55 gallon tank upgrade

89K views 827 replies 40 participants last post by  djembekah 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Current info on lighting and planting stock list at can be found on page 14 of this thread. :-D

Becoming is my first tank. Spontaneously started in February as a mismatched collection of random creatures in a cycling 10-gallon it became (through much research and tons of help) a thriving and beautiful 29 gallon soft-water community (with the oddly happy Mollies and a few random snails tossed in for good measure). The most recent addition to my collection came in the form of 20 wild-caught JellyBean Tetra who have been in QT for two months - they were finally ready to join the others in community, but the 29 gallon just didn't seem as big as it once did. . . so last Saturday, September 1st, I went once more to the basement stock-pile and pulled out the biggest tank there was, and Becoming became a 55 gallon tank. . .




Most of the plants, substrate, driftwood and the HOB filters from the both the 29 gallon tank and the 20 gallon long QT tank went into this setup, so parameters have remained stable for the creatures who live here;

20 Jellybean Tetra
5 Kuhli Loaches (Winkin', Blinkin', Nod, Flotsam, and Jetsam)
4 Bolivian Rams (Alice, Hattie, Lizzy, and darling little C.Cat)
2 Zebra Nerite snails (Stripe and Jr),
a fist-full of Malaysian Trumpet Snails (all of whom are named either Oliver or Twist, depending on coloration)
and 3 Juvie Mollies (The Bootlings - Wellington, Martin, and Molly Too). The adult Molly is already living in his hand-me-down 29 gallon tank, and will be joined by his children and their new mommy over the course of the next month or so, at which time the water in that tank will slowly be changed to suit their hard-water preferences.



Most of these plants have been with me and transferred from tank to tank since March or so - considering how many fully planted tanks I have, they've grown amazingly well - many of these are still tiny runners that will have to be moved or snipped as they grow out, and a sizable portion of them have been added to the 29 gallon Molly tank, as well as the 10 gallon frog tank (the froggies got an upgrade from their 5-gallon tank this weekend, too!) But I was very reluctant to take my very happy fish from their established environments and move them into this bigger tank until I had enough greenery to make them feel at home, and ease the stress of such a major transition. A million thank-yous to Dave (DKRST) for being so generous and giving me an amazing deal on these glorious Kleiner Bar Swords which have really gone a long way in helping this tank feel comfortable to the fish and look very lush for a brand-new setup (I hope they make the transition from high lighting and Co2 into my much more dimly-lit tank with ease, and thrive in their new home) More thanks to goes to Dave for all of the wonderful floating plants that he sent my way, and which have been dispersed throughout all of my tanks.

There still aren't *quite* enough floaters to cover the harshness of the light, so that funky plastic floating piece is in there temporarily until they fill in fully. It's covered with yummy bacteria from living in the JellyBean's QT tank, so for now I'm okay with them! They're also helping to baffle the flow from the HOB filters to keep things from being blown all around the tank, but I am REALLY excited to say that I got my very first canister filter! As soon as I'm convinced that the new canister is well-seeded with bacteria, the HOBs will become a thing of the past! Between the filtration change and finally getting my nibbling Mollies out of this tank, I'm hoping that I'll soon have a gorgeous canopy of floating plants, with intricate root systems dominating the top of the tank. *crosses fingers*



Here's a video of the tank taken on the third day after everything was set up - sorry for the crappy quality, my video camera isn't great and you really can't see any coloration on the finned ones, but you can see how wonderfully active and happy this tank is! The loaches and the Tetra took to the transition seemingly without any issues at all. The rams are still feeling a bit displaced, but that was expected - I imagine it will take them another week or so to re-establish their territories and feel at home in their new environment, but they're doing great so far - so proud of my babies! I was so nervous about putting the fish through such a dramatic upheaval, and there are not words to describe how relieved I am that everything went well. Those who were living in the 29gallon already had to be caught and bucketed while the 55g was being set up in the same place, and I owe my husband (who doesn't care one bit about my fishy obsession) a huge debt of gratitude for all of the help he gave me in getting all of this done as quickly as possible. I am very attached to my fish - they're pets, and a part of the family - and if I had lost even one. . . well.
Just happy that everything went so well, and am sincerely hoping never to see my rams go that pale ever again!

I'm really open to any suggestions for improvement anyone has for me - I'm still such a beginner when it comes to the wonderful world of aquariums! I'm sure this setup will be needing some adjustments as the plants fill in and that things will be moved around a bit over time, but for now - there it is! Becoming in her new 55 gallon dress!
 
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#648 ·
Welcome back, Snaps!

Good point about territories, I didn't think about the sand that way before. . . I like the idea of separating the edges out - and you know I like my slopey sandbed. Hmmm. . .

For now I'm still going with the theory that the sands will inevitably mix. Even if I had an effective barrier method, the my beautiful little earth eaters will see to it :) and I'll be really sad to have sand speckled light and dark. I really do wish I could find some shades that would blend well - I feel like I could do so much more if my options weren't so starkly opposite - black and nearly white. I also intend to keep the overall tone of the substrate on the darker side, as I feel it lends the fish confidence and strongly influences coloration - most especially in the rams. I'd love to encourage a 'natural' mixing between two or more areas, but it would have to be sands that would also look good (to me) when mixed up entirely - and I haven't been able to find anything that would work with that in mind.

I do create 'natural' territories for the rams inside the 55 already using rocks, wood, plants - and even the leaves. And for the loaches, I have added in an area where the sand bed drops away and the older leaves are left to disintegrate. It's impossible to get a photo of, because it's behind and slightly beneath the large rock to the right of the tank, also as they prefer - but I can see it in person, easily reach it for cleaning, and they really seem to be enjoying it!

Along these same lines, I've gained enough of an understanding of all of the fish I have to be able to pick out some distinct preferences, and intend to use what I've learned from them to the best of my ability to scatter little 'havens' for each type of fish throughout the larger tank. For example, the Rams are very visual with their territories, and will always choose an area that is guarded on as many sides as possible (including above) by plants, driftwood, and rocks - but with a sandy 'floor', while the loaches like to feel that they're tripping through a forest, with plants low to the ground or layered, 'natural' dips in the substrate, gaps between stones, and leaf litter (hoping I'll be able to do something wonderful for them in the larger tank with the dwarf Sag that Termie is going to send!). The Tetra prefer an open area for swimming, uncrossed by driftwood or plants, and with the feel of a solid bank behind them to lend security.

As new creatures are added to the larger tank, I'll be making changes to the 'aquascape' with their preferences in mind as I come to understand them (betting the gourami are going to teach me which floating plants are the 'right' ones). I'm really looking forward to getting something in the 125 that is ideally suited for those who will be living there, as well as being aesthetically pleasing to me. :-D
 
#649 ·
You should totally turn it into a Library Tank. ^_~ That would be so cool if such a one existed! Oh wait...Aherm.

I love your planted tank of awesome...I'm slowly trying to turn mine into a super planted tank. >>; I love my plants.
 
#654 · (Edited)
Those plants never looked that pretty in my tank ;)
Haha, they HAD to! Unless. . . that happened in shipping? *scratches head* They're so pretty, I was staring at them all night, lol! I love the stems floating like that, just the delicate bit of color at the top of the tank is so gorgeous! :)

I just think it's so NEAT that you pluck them out of a lake. I really hope they thrive! Thank you soooooo much!!! I love them all, even though I didn't take pics of the teensy baby crypts - they make me super happy, too! :D

Thanks for your opinion. . .
*Jen's vote = SQUEE*
Got it! ;-)

I totally agree, btw - loaches!!? D'aaaw. . . and the whip-tails are stunning, neh? One of our resident lurkers actually has BOTH, and I'm jealous. . .
 
#657 ·
Congratulations on the new tank! That's so exciting, like Christmas came early. The anticipation of setting it up and stocking it is a huge part of the fun (at least for me). My tanks are in my library...books and fish are a perfect combination. Unfortunately, when I cozy up on the sofa with a cat to read a book I am too far from the tanks to see the inhabitants, and when I sit on the chair next to the 75 gallon the light is too dim to read. :)
 
#659 ·
Thanks, Plummy! I totally agree. . . I'm having a blast plotting this tank! Hopefully. . . everything will go perfectly. Thanks for the input. I'll have to make sure I can see the tank AND read at the same time ;-)

Sylver. . .there are ENTIRELY too many fish in the sea, neh?!

The red lizard whiptails. . . yes. :) stunning, aren't they? I hope I can keep a group of 6 . . . ?
 
#661 ·
Loaches are wonderful! But . . . you can have too many. Ask Snappy sometime. . .

Yeah, I probably won't find them at PetSmart, but I have seen them for sale online, so I'm *hoping* that I can find an LFS that can order them for me. - I have time :) For now it's all still dreams >.<
 
#662 ·
I've got 25 loaches in my 125 :) Got a few more to get still.
 
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#663 ·
YOU just need to let the ones you have make some more! ;-)

I've heard stories of tanks actually getting over-run with Kuhli, literally hundreds of them being pulled from the filter and such. Half-hoping I could have that kind of luck!

I'm definitely planning to up the both loach shoals that I have, if possible. Plus the Hovering Zebra loaches, if I'm lucky. . . They'll all be so darn CUTE! *swoons*
 
#665 · (Edited)
I saw some khuli loaches in person yesterday... they're too adorable. I mean seriously, how can you have enough of them?! These ones were TINY, must have been young... just like the frogs <swoon>

I think you should get some Hygrophila rosea! Not a fish but it suuuure is purty! I'd love a forest of the stuff - if it grows bright pink then what a contrast! But er. I'll go back to my plant corner now.

Maybe some... Amamos? Would they be all right with the other fish? The larger ones I imagine would be okay but it depends really.
 
#666 ·
YES! Baby Kuhli are about THE cutest thing in the universe. In my most humble of opinions. . . those big heads. *swoons*

Yeah. . . I'm sold on the hovering zebra loaches, and after seeing them in video feeding along with Pangio loaches. . . well. They're perfect. How could they not be? They're loaches. . . I kind of feel safe with them, even if they're different. Loaches are just wonderful, no matter what kind they are. I still have more learning to do on these, but I have time. :)

I've also pretty much convinced myself that I must have Whiptails, too. . . again, still loads to learn, but I'll get there. . .

Hygrophila rosea - aaaahhhhhh, Spooks! I hope I can! I want a forest of it, too!!! For right now the lighting in the 55g isn't enough to support stems (hence all of the crytps, anubias, and java ferns everywhere), but I've had good luck with them before in the smaller tanks, and am planning to have better lighting in the 125. I'd be thrilled if I could keep some of those, they're so pretty. :)

My current plot is to slowly set up each tank (that I JUST shut down), and start filling them with plants. Hoping that when I get to moving into the 125, I'll be able to at least have enough to make it feel like home to my fish from day one. . . of course, we must dally along the way, or it wouldn't be any fun, so as soon as I get enough new plants through QT (thinking in the summer), I'll set up a breeding tank for the rams and focus on that for a bit. Wouldn't it be amazing if I could get some little 'livvies that were born here? ::starry eyed::

You know I've been looking into the female Amano shrimp, I think the ONLY way to find an answer here is to try it and see. I would love to see some shrimp in there, but I do have a strong feeling that they WOULD get picked at. As they can't reproduce in fresh water, I wouldn't ever be able to get enough of a colony established, and . . . I kind of wince at the thought, anyway. I suppose I *could* give it a try in the 55. . . the loaches wouldn't mind a nice bunch of moss back behind that rock. And if it fails, I may just have to set myself up a shrimp tank. . . still more research to do, though - all around!
 
#668 ·
Nobody, if they're species-only ;)

I love the idea of putting shrimp in Becoming, you know - I always have, lol. We were talking about the possibillity of Amano shrimp females, as the grow to around 2.5" I suspect they'd still get picked at by the rams, though. . .

YES! I love the loach story, lol!
 
#670 ·
I think so, too. I really do love the dwarf loaches in a smaller tank - and a bigger one, too. Can never go wrong with loachbutts. :) Meh. Tank real-estate. . .bother. I do have a 3g tank that's pretty much worthless to me ATM. I can always work that into a shrimp tank?
 
#671 ·
A three gallon could fit a small group of little shrimp. I hate tanks under five gallons myself, harder to keep a bacteria colony healthy in there, unless you have one of those things that sustain them, which I know nothing about aside from comments people have made.
I wouldn't mind having a little shrimp tank myself. I like those crystal shrimp, but they're so expensive! I had a small group with my betta in grandma's five gallon...but the betta killed them all. >>; And I was told those were good with betta. lol They sure are nice little shrimp though! But I have discovered they're kinda attitudey, even though they're only like an inch long. But so pretty. ;D

I'ma save up for a five gallon, turn it into a birthing tank, so if my girls hold, I can still keep them there comfortably until they're ready without risking surprises. It's hard to catch babies in a big 55 gallon tank!
 
#672 ·
YES, Sylver! 5g birthing tank. PERFECT solution for you. . . might want to make that. . . 3? ;)

I've held a cycle in a 1g tank before, my daughter's first tank of guppy fry. :D I'm not worried about that part. I'll put it on my list of tanks that really ought to be researched and set up sometime, lol. It's getting longish. ^___^
 
#673 ·
With the right kind of filter (and willingness to monitor it before adding livestock) and plenty of live plants I don't foresee an issue with keeping a 3 gal cycled. My betta is in a cycled 4gal as his 7 gal broke down and I've had no problems so far (touch wood).
 
#674 ·
Heh, well, the smallest tank I have is five gallons. I have to say, it doesn't seem to appreciate live plants! I wish I could not only afford three of them, but had room. lol If I had the room and money, I'd have like five ten-twenty gallon birthing tanks. Tens for the smaller moms, and twenties for fish like my big creamsicle. lol It really is unnerving to have the moms in the main tank, as you know, when you actually want the babies. The mortality rate is very high even with a lot of hiding spots. Not to mention all the other fish around when you're trying to give birth or lay eggs!

Speaking of babies, how are your rams doing? Have they tried again yet? Or did the poor things decide enough was enough for this month and maybe more? lol It made me feel so bad for your girl when dad drove her off after all that work! When fish sulk, it's just so...so...I dunno, sad. ^^; As for my moms to be, well, they're being difficult. >_>;
 
#675 ·
I was sad about it, too - but that first time they did SO well! :) Really hope it was just bad timing, too much going on in the tank plus the new loaches. . .

I don't really know, everything is calm in there at the moment, but the last two spawns were about a month apart, so maybe another week or two. . . IF they feel like it, lol.

Having now seen the beginning (and untimely end) of the process twice now, I have a better idea of what they're looking for when they choose their 'spot.' My current plan of action is to get the plants I have now through QT, and then do my first real re-arranging in there. I'd like to move things around, add an Anubias or three, and *try* to create some areas that are a bit better protected in the hopes that they'll have an easier time defending their nest from the villans in the rest of the tank. That doesn't mean that the fish will actually use the little 'territories' I create, or that my diabolical plot will succeed - but I figure it's worth a try before putting my babies through the stress of a move to a brand-new tank. . . If I can even get them to free-swimming, I could catch just a few and move them into a 10g. . . (while still hoping that the ones in-tank make it through)

*shrugs* Gonna see what we see. :D
 
#676 · (Edited)
I went through and sorted through my old YouTube videos the other day. . . thought I'd post these on this thread, as I don't think I shared them previously. Nothing special, just memory lane fun - fishy style!

The JellyBean Tetra when they were in QT last August. . .they were still so new :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=P_Ph7ahbdZY

And Becoming when she was a 29g - with a misplaced Molly family :) This was March of 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RJwE3UthB_Y

I think I miss every one of my old tanks. . . :roll:
 
#678 ·
Right on, you definitely have a bonded pair. Maybe the male will get over himself for this one. Just put all your changes and plans on hold! lol Honestly, I'd just feed the wigglers and fish and cover the tank for a day and have no noise in the area. x.x Poor Liz got so stressed last time, I'd be scared to freakin move in that room. lol

"Third time is the charm," my mother and grandma always say. Even though you probably aren't up for raising a bunch of tidbits...if you DO, you could do like I do and sell them when they're bigger, make back a little money that you've spent, or save some for your incoming super tank.
I know, you probably don't want to, or maybe even can't at this point...but why not re-open one of your closed tanks to raise them in until you can sell them or find homes for them? That is, IF the eggies and fry survive long enough this time, and it's very possible they will since it's the third try and they no doubt have discovered their fatal flaws. Otherwise, I'm curious what you will do with them if the fry survive. Have any plans? God forbid you end up like I did before I got my 55 gallon, over-run with babies even with the ten gallon nursery tank(If you recall seeing any of my earlier nursery videos), didn't have room to raise the majority of them and had to risk it by giving fry to a store that may not care if they live or die! You get attached to them pretty fast, it's hard to do. x.x Funny though, now that I HAVE room to raise many of the babies, my fish stop poppin. LOL
 
#679 ·
YUP! I've been waiting for the third time to declare a bond, too, lol! I think we've got it though. C + L 4-EVR!

heehee, Sylver. . . I think this one - once again - is going to have to be what it will be! Changes weren't ready to go into effect for at least a month anyway, the new plants are still all in QT, and my other QT tank is occupied. Neither of the bigger tanks are set up, and though I *could* throw one together on a hope and a prayer, I'd rather put infants into a more established setup. I'm honestly just happy that C.Cat and Liz are happy for now. I AM going to see this through, but it takes time - and way too much patience! - to do things right.

For now I'm gonna whoop and cheer and twirl around cuz' WE HAVE EGGS!!!
 
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