"Gee, Honey, it's BIG": My 75 gallon freshwater journey

Perlumia

Thanks! It is nerve-wracking as it seems so random..and these fish all died long after I would have taken them out of quarantine. I'm a tad nervous to get more at this point!
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Chesherca

yeah. . . I'd be nervous, too! Hopefully things will remain calm over there, and whatever it was will be gone for good!

Perlumia

Meet my two new fish friends! One of them, anyway, an Emerald Catfish or Brochis splendens.

I bought the only two at the fish store, and intend to keep 6 eventually but doubt I could quarantine that many in a 10 gallon anyway. I already love watching these guys!

In the background are my tiniest black widow (removed from the 75 gallon to get fatter) and two new ones also quarantining; when all three are added back into the 75 the shoal will number 7 like it should.

And remember the chubby little guy from my very first photo? Here he is, helping Mom do a water change in the big tank.

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Chesherca

GREAT SHOTS!!! The new additions are adorable! I hope the little cats do well in your care. I see that little brat back there - and his new buddies! How is he doing, fattening up any? Does he seem any more at ease now that he has a few buddies in there? Did your other fish in the big tank ever settle down and return to normal behavior after you medicated?

The big tank looks gorgeous, but it's hard to look away from the SUPER cute little man doing such a fantastic job with his lil' gravel vac. Awww! Love the look of concentration on his face - what a SWEETIE!!!

Perlumia

Haha...brat, indeed. He is still super fussy about what he eats although he knows well enough when it's coming. The other two have not quite caught on that the turkey baster is the source of food, but they will. I don't think he looks any fatter, actually, but he's alive and eating and has not been fin-nipped by the two larger ones. The three of them do hang out together and the new guys have colored up amazingly; at first I thought they were going to stay pale. I know three is not ideal for them but they will all stay together until QT is over for everyone in the tank, then I kind of promised my husband the tank would be taken down.

Behavior in the 75 has returned to normal, thanks, and the photo period is back to what it was. Some drama, though, as my light fixture inexplicably broke and I was forced to go by a new one. I was amazed at how the stem plants began growing toward the window light during the two days without a tank light...I didn't think the window, across the room but not directly, would have that much affect.

Yes, my little guy is very helpful. I think he'll be even MORE helpful when he gets taller! I am eager for the plants to fill in a bit, which I thought they would after three months but I've had some issues with certain plants not getting along with others, like the Vallisneria and Cabomba. At least that's what I think.

Since the Water Sprite did not want to float upright, and would not stay down in the substrate, I hooked it on the driftwood. Now it is orienting the way it should to float and I love watching the roots develop all over. It is also shading the Java Fern a bit too which doesn't hurt. It looks silly but I'll eventually get it floating I think.

Now I'm contemplating a dark sand in this tank. It took almost 4 bags of Eco Complete which I like, I'm not sure I want to trash it since it cost what it did!

Chesherca

I suppose you could always cook it dry in the oven and save it for another tank, lol! Not sure what the rules are on reusing substrate. . . worth looking into. I like the look of the eco complete, but it unfortunately isn't so nice on those soft-bellied creatures that we all love so well.

Super happy to hear your main tank is back to normal, and the plants are doing well! :D Glad all that drama is finally behind you. It can take scrawny fish some time to fill back in, at least in my experience. Sounds like he's doing great! Can't wait for you to get everyone back home again. . .

Perlumia

It has been like an Edward Gorey pop-up book in my 75 gallon tank with regards to my beloved black widow tetras. Or perhaps they are living up to the widow part of their name--?

I still have my original two black widows, the indefatigable pair who are over three years old and happily went from surviving in my 10 gallon to thriving in the 75. I know from experience they are a hearty fish and was eager to increase their numbers to 8. Seemed simple enough.

It wasn't. Since December 2012 I have purchased a total of 11 more, and currently have 3 of these in the 75 and 3 in quarantine. Yes, I have lost 5 black widow tetras! They all sort of wasted away despite medication, a hospital tank, and target-feeding of the only food they would eat (bloodworms).

It was and still is all a mystery to me. However, I am very happy to report that the three in QT actually behave normally and eat flake! So far I have been feeding them this exclusively, as I am sure they will take to the frozen foods I occasionally give the 75-ers. So I do have high hopes that these guys will make it into the 75 and I will be left with 8 fish! Until of course my old-timers begin to die of old age...

Chesherca

MAN!!! You really have been having a tough run with these widows. . . Hopefully this new group continues to do well for you. How are your little Emerald Catfish doing? I think it's time for some pictures, Plum ^.^