55 Gallon as Christmas Break Comes To An End

jcinnb

Here is where we stand as we get ready to go back to teaching on Monday after a three week break. This has been a lot of work, but fun fixing the mess ups and getting it (I think) close to right.



The stand is built, not shown in this picture, I still need the trim and to install the door...Various foul ups have put me behind.

This is the second tank, the first bowed dangerously, and thanks to good advice from forum contributors, I made a change.

The dark driftwood is mobani from Petsmart (the keep it in the reptile section, but very good prices from what I have seen elsewhere) The light wood is from the Neuse River, we live beside it. I even have my own boiling kettle now.

The plants came from internet vendors. All in all, overwhelmed by quality, shipping, and how many plants, "above and beyond" I received. There are a bunch of the root tab pellets in the substrate. I have plants I just cant use in a bucket of tank water, warming, in case magic happens.

The fish:
Started off with 6 cherry barbs, you can see most of them streaking in the picture.

Added 15 cories: 2 "3 lined" 6 elegans, and 7 pandas. After tank prepped, planted heavily, and Cycled. NH3 has never been more that .25, NO2 and NO3 have never shown any color whatsoever, so I think I dodged a bullet.

I have also added two gold gouramis, to get some activity at the top, but those dudes love the caves.

I have a few more fish coming next week.

As you can see, against the advice of the experts, I am running a combo gravel and sand substrate. Hey, "no guts, no air medal."

I am running an Eheim 2215 that I have been thrilled with so far. I did drill a number of small holes in the spraybar that really helped reduce the current in the tank...another forum tip. I have two 250W heaters...I have only seen the red lights on briefly.

Comments, suggestions, whatever. I posted and typed all of this to get the thoughts of the experts, so don't be shy. Thanks.

jcinnb

aunt kymmie

I'm not shy so I have no problem telling you exactly what I think of your new tank....IT ROCKS!!
Very well done!

PS. Do you have a background on the tank? I can't tell from the pic.
PSS. What other fish do you have coming??

jcinnb

Actually I do not have one yet.. .I went to Petsmart and pulled the roll of black... and it had about 3" on roll...so I am waiting on restock.

I am getting some celestial Pearl danios, some rainbows., and some porkchop rasboros. I am precisely at my inches per gallon. Of they all make it.
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burnsbabe

Watch it on that inch per gallon rule. Spend more time examining how the fish interact with one another (good and bad).

I'd be weary of putting Celestial Pearl Danios in a tank that size; especially with Gold Gouramis. They may or may not view the CPDs as great little snacks. IF you're really into them, getting a 5g tank for a group of them along would be a relatively cheap option to explore further.

Finally, I DO love this tank. Get that back background and you'll be in business.

tanker

That's really nice.

jcinnb

So far everyone is playing nice. A couple of pandas have adopted one of my two 3 line corys and follow it around faithfully. I do not think they are harassing it, just following. Other than that, looks ok so far.


Thanks for that insight on the CPD's. The gouramis were kind of a knee jerk reaction when I had all this stuff going on at the bottom of the tank and two week delays on getting my upper level guys. I have researched everything, less the gouramis, so much. I will probably put the Gouramis in a 20 gallon I have. Never ever dawned on me they would eat the smaller guys.

jcinnb

Romad

Great job on the tank!!

burnsbabe

The Gold Gourami is just one color variant of what's listed under our profiles as the Blue Gourami. I think for them a 20g is pushing it. But at max you're looking at one fish. The can reach 6". Check out the profile and see. I'd probably put two of them in the 55g and avoid small fish in there. Then, if you really like the CPDs (I do) get a 5g like I suggested earlier. But it's up to you.

willow

wow! beautiful !!
and why would anyone say you can't combo sand and gravel ?

Romad

beats the heck out of me. i think it looks great.