The 16 Gallon Build(s)

iamntbatman

Keep in mind that bamboo can't survive fully submerged. The top of the plant has to be above water, which can be tricky when it comes to hoods.

As for fish, why not get Asian fish for the Asian tank? A nice school of rasboras, maybe some kuhli loaches for the bottom and a gourami as a centerpiece fish?

TexasTanker

The Rasboras were vetoed. He did like the Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami. In fact he asked how many of those he could fit. lol.

I think we're looking at 10 blue neon tetra, 1 dwarf gourami, and four cherry shrimp for the Asia tank. I was planning on leaving about four inches of space between the water line and the top so the bamboo would have space, and to minimize spillage cause I KNOW the kids will undoubtedly knock into the tank a few times. If it proves to be problematic I've seem some very convincing fake bamboo that would do just as nicely.

TexasTanker

Okay so when I set up each tank I put a filter cartridge from my 55 gallon tank into each tank. it measures about 6x4 inches and has been running in the large tank since inception a few months ago) I'm not concerned with aesthetics right now and it seemed the most direct way to seed the tanks. They've each had the filter in there for several days along with one fish each. The molly in the Scotand tank seems hunky dorey. The Platy in the Asia tank is hiding inside the dragon and swimming furiously in spurts. (Sticking point - the asia tank is the one I bled all over)

I've been monitoring the water daily and after only a few days the NO2 and ammonia is 0 and the NO3 is 40. I have never ever ever ever seen a seeded tank cycle in days. I'm going to get second opinions today.

I'm also about to plant these tanks, now that there is NO3. I'm thinking dwarf hairgrass for the Scotland tank with a fern of some sort, and going to check out some of the suggestions Byron had for the Asia tank.

I'm also going to be putting LED bubble wands in them to run at night. The filters are perfectly silent and there seems to be zero air exchange going on.

Any advice?

bearwithfish

when i have seeded tanks with filet media or a squeeze they have never has an issue.. i would not say instant cycle but fairly close.. i started all of my fresh water tanks currently running off of the origonal guppy tank and that was close to a year ago.. all tanks have had no issues (note: all fresh water tanks have had no issues)

TexasTanker

I put in the night time bubbler/LED wands. Here's a pic of the kid's nightlights.

Scotland is green, Asia is red. Asia might have to go blue though. My seven year old says its a little hellish. His words were "It makes me think there's demon fish."

Attached Images

	scotlandnight.jpg (15.2 KB, 19 views)
	asianight2.jpg (38.1 KB, 19 views)

iamntbatman

Those are a little on the creepy side, but then again I like creepy stuff so I wouldn't complain about it if they were my night lights!

If you were moving well-seeded filter media from an established tank to a smaller tank with only a single fish in it, there should be enough bacteria in the cartridges to handle the bioload of a single small fish. I would say that the tanks were probably "instantly cycled" by seeding them like that, but it's always safest to let things settle for a while before adding more fish.

TexasTanker

I have ten danio and ten tetra qt'd and on standby to go to their tanks. I think Autry the Betta will go with them as well so I can open up the 55 gallon tank.