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aussie's Quiet Pond

8K views 54 replies 6 participants last post by  aussieJJDude 
#1 ·
I finally decided to keep a journal of tank, hopefully i can just keep it up to date!
It is a 246L/65G corner pentagon tank which houses fish from Asia and South America.
So right now the stocking is:
- 20 guppies (most are babies)
- 4 silver angelfish
- Trio BN (with fry)
- 3 Kuhlis
- A Clown Loach
- A Buenos Aires Tetra
- A Neon Tetra
- A Platy
Yes, I know not the best stocking levels! Basically I took over the tank and had to work with what I got - besides the angels, they were my own addition! :lol:
Here is what the tank looked like when I first got it - just minus the angels...

Now:


Liking the new substrate? I just did the water bottle method, super easy and didn't have to wash the play sand at all! However, I did leave a bit of gravel, a) for texture and b) for the bacteria...

The water levels are:
Temperature: 28C/82F
pH: 6.5
dH: 9
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10ppm
I do a 10% water change weekly from my tank water - as it has a low pH, unlike the tap/do't have to use dechlor. That is why the pictures are like blackwater, however, in person you can see it.
Any suggestions, comments and critz?
Beside stocking levels - as it is out of my control - and getting rid of the clown loach to the FS, I can't as my dad doesn't want to and would "kill me" if I did...
 
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#3 ·
Thanks!
Do you think I should get rid of all the guppies? Or just some? Most of them are babies and only 4 - 6 I would count as adults...
 
#4 ·
The tank looks really nice! I love the before/afters.
Personally, I'd like to do away with 1 sex of the guppies. They're really easy to breed and if your angels don't find them yummy, they may just overtake your tank. If you find a pet or fish store that is willing, you could trade them for some more tetras to give the tetras you have a family ;)

I keep reading many aquarists recommending clown loaches and saying they grow very slowly. Well, you'd grow very slowly in an environment not fit for you as well. But if your loach is really small, you maybe able to get away with him until he reaches about 3-4". That's just my personal comfortable opinion.
 
#5 ·
I just looked up that water bottle method. That's a neat idea! I would of never thought of doing that when converting to sand from gravel. I would of had a lot less work that way. lol
 
#6 ·
nice tank mate. And yes, I have to pass everything I do by my parents, so I know what you mean when you say the stocking is out of your control, you cant just go down to the lfs and get rid of fish or get more, without first convincing your parents, which is often hard, lol. But tell your parents how big the clown loach gets and that they need to be in groups, and they should understand. Just tell them its like keeping a mouse in a matchbox. cheers, Jim
 
#8 ·
I would take out the platy, the clown loach, the guppies{keep a favorite male or two if you can't part with them} and work on getting a few more tetras. The angels should be your main focus. They are going to get big and territorial.
I love the corydoras. They are very cute together when you have several. You might consider them. I found some baby longfin panda corys and they are really cute. Another fish that is pretty, but does not reproduce as readily are clown killifish. They can take up the surface area.
I would also suggest that you increase the size of your water change.Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
#10 ·
I would do 30% water change weekly, thats what I do on all my tanks as a minimum, on heavily stocked or large fish (eg large cichlids, large catfish, plecos) I do 50-60% every saturday. Some times I do several small water changes through the week in addition to the the main water change once a week. I also tend to heavily plant my tanks, which helps with water quality.
 
#12 ·
Thanks guys!
I been trying for ages to get rid of the clown loach, I told my parents however when they asked the LFS they said it would be fine in there - and you know the rest!
So they are stubborn then ever! :-(
I see if i can get rid of the platy and tetras, as I understand that they are a schooling fish. I also see if I can get rid of some of the guppies once they grow up, most are too small for me to move IMO, so once they get bigger I take a lot out - plus that means some more $$$ for the fish!
FishyFishy89: I beg to differ, so far the baby angels are loving all the swimming snacks! I totally think that the guppy count has gone down by 10 already! However, when they do start to overtake the tank I take them to a fish store - where I got my angels - as they trade up really well and might be able to swap them for some java fern/anubias...
Cichlidsrule102: It is great to know that somebody understand how i am feeling right now! If I had it my way it would be angels, kuhlis, BN and maybe something shoaling - not a livebearer! :lol: But for now, I pretty content with how it is working out.
keepsmiling: I was thinking of getting some corys however I was worrying about having too many bottom dwelling fish - kuhlis, BN and clown loach. Do you think I could get away with some corys? Or due to the small bio-load and size of the kuhlis I could get some more and purchase a few corys? Sigh, if only I could have a 6 footer! Also you said for me to increase the size of my water changes? What do you think is best? As - just so I can get a better understanding - why?
Thanks all, the tips and advise your giving me is great!
 
#13 ·
I would not add corydoras to this tank. That clown loach can easily grow to half the size of the tank. The kuhlis come out at night scouring the tank for something to eat{you really should be dropping in a bit for them at night, not much and not every day though} Corydoras are constantly grazing. You are going to overload and starve this tank if you add more. I would do at least a 50% water change a week, and test for nitrates. Nitrates should not be over 20PPM. If after the water change you see it is still over 20 PPM, then the following week increase either the frequency or size of the water change until you get a handle on it. The reason is that the tank can only handle so much bioload and organics, without the nitrates going through the roof. Eventually this is going to wear on the fish and shorten their lives. Think clean water! An additional filter or larger one might help a bit as well. I have come full circle myself in keeping fish. I have come to realize that less is more. Keeping the tank slightly understocked is better for healthy fish with longevity, less algae, and a cleaner tank with less work.
 
#14 ·
*sigh* it sucks when folks believe the pet/fish stores over those who've had the experience :(
With having to keep the loachs, I wouldn't get the cories either. I'm surprised your angels have come to taking onto the snacks with how small they are. They should grow very nicely for you with the supply of live foods they're getting XD
 
#15 ·
I have to admit, I really like that driftwood piece.. And the substrate change was very nice! I'm a bit jealous of your stones as well! I've been trying to get some to stack in my own tank!

Being a person who works in a petstore.... I literally face palm all of the time when people bring their aquatics questions to me. Even in my own store I have trouble with people who know nothing about aquatics selling fish. Breaks my heart.

I would definitely avoid the cories for now. I know its hard to pawn off guppies to some LFS as they prefer the guppies to be almost adults. I've been trying to hand mine off for quite a while. Hopefully they can take those tetras and the platy for you too! That will help a bit.

Follow by Keepsmiling's post if you can because they have very good advice there. I've learned that a bigger filter (within reason) can sometimes make all of the difference. Instead of adding, I would get the tank under control first. So take out what fish you can, and then figure out where you are. Hopefully the angels continue to lessen the bioload with their snacking!
 
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#16 ·
I thought that it is a good idea not to add in the cories... I will hold off from them once can get levels appropriate to the fish tank.
This is how my feeding schedule goes:
- Feed a bit of flake in the morning (after 30 sec it all gone)
- Feed a bit of flake in the evening (after 30 sec it all gone)
- Feed 2 tablets in the evening
keepsmiling, I check the water levels each week and so far the ammonia is low that I can't see it and the nitrite and nitrate are low too! I never seen the nitrate gone over 10 ppm.
Right now I am trying to understock it, I too prefer an understocked tank.
FishyFishy89 So am I! If I look into the tank now I can't see a baby guppy over 5 mm. The angels have been my best investment ever, plus all that live food! Who need whiteworms or brine shrimp when you can just have baby guppies?
Lucillia If you think the wood looks great now, imagine barely fitting the think in there - and yes, cutting it - so it could fit!
Right now I hoping to get rid of all the plastic plants and use live ones. I hopeing of covering the rock pile with java moss or some anubias. However, the rock pile was easy to make, I just "threw" them all in there and make sure that it is stable... The kuhlis love it and the clown loach loves wiggling his body through the smallest spaces!
Personally, I think the filter is big enough now. I had to turn the spray bar as the flow is too strong for some of the fishes to swim in...
Thank you guys for the help, and I know how frustrating it is to see the clown loach in horrible conditions. It means a lot to me that you all trying to help!
 
#17 ·
All the fish are great as usual!
Right now I trying to train my angels to follow my finger. It been going well in fact and most of the time they follow! They also know to come on call... haha, have to get a vid some day, it is rather cute.
Been looking at the images of my angels when I got them. And wow, the transformation is amazing! THey already grown and there fins are like twice as long and still growing! I know, I need update pics!
Guppy population has been going down, i say that it is down to 15. I managed to see one of my angels eat most of the babies - (s)he is the only one I observed hunting and eating guppies - and recently tried to eat an adult female. Let just say she didn't get far, but it gives me reassurance that I truly have the guppy population under control once the angels grow!
Exciting update: looking for a job as there might be I high chance that I can upgrade to a bigger tank which means yay for the clown loach! Super pumped, but first need to get a job before getting too excited!
 
#19 ·
Normally by me tapping on the fish tank when calling for food or me clapping for them to come over... If they don't do that, normally a stamp of the feet get them running! :lol:
 
#20 ·
Oh! Haha
I was actually thinking you'd verbally call them over. Mine are pigs and always come to the front when I go to watch them. Lol

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#21 ·
Oh! Haha
I was actually thinking you'd verbally call them over. Mine are pigs and always come to the front when I go to watch them. Lol
And I do that too... :oops:
My family thinks I weird, but I know that my babies love the attention! Mine also love coming to the front, that is why it was so easy to teach them to come when called! :lol:
 
#22 ·
PICS! :)

I gotta admit, for someone who is hopeless with the camera it turned out alright - with a bit a photoshopping so I can show the fishes real hues! :)

Wow, my angels have changed!
Here my first cutie:

Now:


Second cutie:

Now:


Third cutie:

Now:



The short fins together:


Bristlenose(s):



(Most of the) Guppy shoal:



Clown Loach:


One of the kuhlis:


(Hope you guys enjoyed it :D )
 
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#23 ·
Yay for pics! I love pics.
You babies certainly have grown! They're super pretty!

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#24 ·
Thanks, yes they have grown - even though my family says they haven't!

haha, they already think I am crazy because I talk too them, but we - the fish and I - know that they understand! LOL
 
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#25 ·
Oh I totally understand that. I scold my angels when they eat the catfish food and get so dang fat.

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#26 · (Edited)
Today I got bored and decided to fix some of the nagging problems in the tank. :) (It is school holidays for 3 weeks, so I got to fill in my time!) This included:
- Moving the rock pile/bogwood to the right side
- Leaving a greater open area for the clown loach
The fish seem to enjoy it more and they really getting to use the current from the filter as before the bogwood was baffling most of the flow. The clown seemed super happy of the new dig and was constantly exploring - wasn't breathing fast or frantic, so it seemed that he had a good time!
I did this basically for my future investment of getting some val - among other plants - for my tank, and where I wanted to place the val was at the back and on the left side (where the rock pile was). However since the fish enjoyed the setup so much, all I really did was "flip the layout horizontally".
I have to get some pics, but it is 10pm here, so tomorrow!
The guppy population is still declining! Now anything under 1cm (1/2 inch) is nonexistent and some of the endler guppy males - don't know how I got them, must of been from one of the starter females that had a endler in it lineage - are going too! :) By the looks of things, my guppies are going to be gone in a year tops! Now it looks like my other angels might be following the aggressor suit, they starting to chase guppies! I hope that is the only bad habit they learn off my devil! :lol:
 
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#27 · (Edited)
Realise I promised pics, but forgot to upload them! :lol:
Lately I have upped my 10% weekly to 20%, however today I was forgot how much water I was taking out - listening to music - so did a 25%. No harm done, just means cleaner water for the fish!
So here is my setup:

Left:

Middle:

Right:

The view where I sit and admire the tank (complete with angelfish begging for food): :)

Planning:
I plan in getting some val to block the view of the spray bar return, heater and canister inlet and all the way down the left side of the tank and covering the entire back. The rock with the terracotta pot with be covered in anubias along with the smaller driftwood piece. With the rockwork pile I plan in growing java fern and eventually growing in places over the driftwood. Between the smiley face rock/BN breeding place (far left) and terracotta pot with rock overhang I hope to be growing crypts there. Then I see if I can get some water spite and/or duck weed floating in there or trying out with amazon frogbit. The arrowhead vine will stay how it is now, I hoping the the angels might use them as a breeding ground!
 
#28 ·
It's so pretty. I swear, that tank looks bigger. Are you sure you haven't upgraded the tank? Lol

I do weekly 50%s on the 75 gal. At least you didn't accidentally overflow the tank like I did. ROFL.

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#29 ·
Nope, same old 65g corner tank! Maybe it looks bigger as I moved most things to the back or most rocks - beside 3 - are in the rock pile! But I noticed that the fish are enjoying this one better, the clown still as happy as ever and enjoying the open space, angels are loving the flow from the filter and hopefully this means that they can lose a bit of weight! :lol: The kulhi's are loving the rock pile and I regularly see them squeezing between the rocks!
Wow 50% weekly? I could never do that in fear of my arms/back - yes, I am the weakest person alive and struggles to live a bucket of water! I guess you would siphon into a sink and fill up with tap water?? :)
haha, I haven't overfilled a tank - yet - but the most amount of damage I done is overfilling a bucket and the bucket might of overflowed/pipe came out and had liters/gallons of water everywhere, I had to use like 5 towels to clean it all up!
 
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