[thekoimaiden]

So I think I figured out the secret to tank photography!! Just kidding. But I did play around with the settings on my camera and get some great shots of my tanks. The dwarf sag hasn't done too much, but the rotala has gone nuts. I've already trimmed some of the stems and replanted them in one of my betta tanks.

It'll probably still be December or so before I add any more fish to the tank.

1) Updated 29 gal (pardon the glare from the other tanks; I need to fix that the next time)
2) Where I put the extra rotala

[Chesherca]

*WOOT*

This tank is really taking off, girl - I like it a lot, and I'm still super excited to see how it continues on to completion. Your Water Sprite is looking gorgeous, and the Rotala seems to be VERY happy - in all of it's homes! I am a super-huge fan of stem plants, it's so satisfying to be able to watch them grow so quickly and easily! HEY! Is that a loach (or two) I see in that shot??! I think it might be!!!

The betta tank is looking pretty, too. . . is that a 10g divided? I like how you have that partition between the two sides with yummy bacteria grabbing filter foam in there - good idea, and it really divides the two halves and makes the two tanks look like their own separate thing instead of just a divided tank. I like the effect, I have a hard time appreciating divided tanks usually. . .

GREAT photos!!! Tank photography is so tricky . . . these shots turned out great, I think you figured out the settings that work for the lighting - at least this time (I swear it's different with every picture and on every day!) And . . .I kind of LIKE the glare from the tanks in the backround. Easy 'problem' to solve if you don't. . . but it kind of makes me feel happy inside!

Great work, all around!

[thekoimaiden]

^-^ Thanks, Ches! I'm really happy with it, too. Next step is to find driftwood. I'm trying to take a second part-time job so I can afford something really nice. I'm secretly a fan of stem plants, too. It's why I wanted one in this tank.

My betta tanks are 10 gal divided tanks. I'll never keep betta any other way again. One small water change a week, and I'm done! Well aside from feeding them and ferts. I'm hoping that my Chain Sword will take off, so I can put some of those in the betta tank with the rotala. I love giving fish a jungle of plants.

Haha, those aren't the infamous loaches. But here is a picture of one! I snagged it a few days ago and have been meaning to post it here.

[Chesherca]

D'aaaaaaaaaaw! Loachface! I luff him. . .

Refresh my memory, please - what type of loaches are these, and how many do you have right now? It's just the loachlings and the half-giant Betta in there right now, correct? Your plants are really filling in wonderfully compared to the original picture on this thread. . .it hasn't been that much time, so HOORAY! I do wonder how much quickly your plants would fill in if the bio-load of this tank was higher, though. . . free ferts! I think you need MORE LOACHES!

But then again. . . I think EVERYONE needs more loaches!

[Sanguinefox]

Oh wow, I'm loving the growth on the 29 gallon. Should be beautiful once you get a nice bit of wood for it :3

[thekoimaiden]

Sang, it does need a good piece of wood to complete it. Still hunting. It's going to be rather strange when people as me what I want for Christmas and I tell them driftwood!!

Ches, these are brown kuhlii loaches (Pangio oblonga). I got six at walmart years ago, but their numbers have dwindled to just three. That was part of the reason I put the betta in there. He looked pathetic/beautiful in the cup at the store, and I knew the tank needed a larger bioload. I'm working on getting more loaches. I actually had a dream that I found a pet store that carried kuhlis, but it was hit by a tornado while I was in it. I guess that's how my brain combines my love of loaches and my fear of tornadoes.

[thekoimaiden]

Wow. It's been a long time since I updated this thread. I finally have some news and a timeline for further updates! Just this week I added DRIFTWOOD! I'm still struggling to get it just where I want it because it's floating just a bit.



And here is a better shot of the wood itself.



Pardon the algae on the glass. I'm letting it grow because now I'm putting a farlowella in the tank! I'm guessing the reason my plants aren't doing so hot is that my water is so soft. I have to order stuff to make the Goldfish water harder, so I'm also going to try it in my 29 gal. I'll do that as well as order the rest of my plants before Thanksgiving. And then between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm going to finish off the loach school and get the farlowella. After we get back from Christmas vacation, I'll add the cardinals and then the gourami! I'm so excited!!

[Chesherca]

HUZZAH!!!! Time for things to start moving along in there! I love that hunk of wood, and I CAN NOT WAIT for the CRITTERS!!!! :D I've been wondering when we would get another update on this tank - can't wait to meet the new babies as they arrive. . . how exciting!!!

[Sanguinefox]

Wow, very nice choice of wood, I love it!

[thekoimaiden]

Thanks guys! I'm really happy with the way the wood looks in the tank. And I am soo excited to have some kind of plan for this tank! It's been in the works now for over a year, but money and life kinda got in the way. It feels soo good to start work on it again! You can bet I will bombard you guys with photos.