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Got my 39g+ running!!!!

4K views 25 replies 10 participants last post by  willow 
#1 ·
HEY THERE, JUST THOUGHT I'D POST A COUPLE OF PICS OF SETTING UP MY NEW BABY!

GOT SUMP FITTING PERFECT IN CUPBOARD!



GOT TANK BACK FROM LFS (HAD CAMBERS REMOVED AND OVERFLOW ADDED!



MOMENT OF TRUTH, THE SLOWEST MOST NERVE RACKING - HOPING THE SUPPORT YOU MADE HOLDS!!!



PRETTY AINT IT?




NEXT UP - DECOR AND PLANTS!!!
 
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#7 ·
OKAY! UPDATE ON STOCK!

4XCHERRY BARBS
4XPRISTILLA TETRAS (NOT LEMON TETRA)
4XSILVER TIPS
4XCHECKER BARBS
4XGLOW LIGHTS

THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY FISH AT THE LFS I WANNA GET MY HANDS ON, BUT I'LL LET THE TANK
MATURE A BIT FURTHER FIRST!

I KNOW THAT DWARF GOURAMI'S ARE MORE PLACID THAN THEIR COUNTER PARTS, WOULD A PAIR BE SAFE!

AND LASTLY, A WORD OF THANKS TO 'BYRON, ANGEL, IAMNTBTMAN:hmm:& FROGHERDER FOR THEIR HELP ON SETTING UP, RESPECT DUDES :thankyou:
 
#8 ·
LOVEEEE to see this tank up & running :) Nice job there! Few more plants; let the existing one's fill in oh yea that'll look ssooooo pretty as a "divider" between livingrm & kitchen there - NICE!!!!

Keep the update pictures coming I love to follow progress of tanks :)
 
#9 ·
That's looking good, nice work there. And thank you for the "thanks", you're most welcome.

I do have a suggestion on your stocking. All fish mentioned are shoaling fish that live in groups and will be more relaxed and thus less stressed (= healthier) in larger groups. I would say minimum 6 or 7 of each. This is not an issue for your 39g.

By "butterfly" do you mean the African Butterfly fish, Pantodon buchholzi? Or (as I rather suspect) the dwarf cichlid, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, called various common names like blue ram, common ram, butterfly cichlid [there is also an African fish similar that is coommonly named Butterfly, just for more confusion--common names:-?]. With any of these, water parameters are more of a concern; they are soft, acidic water fish. Do you know your tap water pH and hardness? The fish listed so far are somewhat adaptable except to extremes, but these "butterfly" species are much less so.

One last comment on the brick, I would place it sideways (lengthwise)so it is not completely on the wood. The reason I say this is not for looks but for stability. I can see it toppling off the wood quite easily. And did you thoroughly boil the wood? If it has been in seawater it will have salt in it which is not good for plants or some of the fish you mention.

Byron.
 
#10 ·
DO YOU THINK THIS WILL LOOK BETTER? THE BRICK WAS TOO MUCH OF AN EYE SORE!!!



OH JA, AS FOR THE BUTTERFLY FISH, IT AIN'T A CICHLID. IT'S A SLOW MOVING BROWN COLORED FISH. I SAW IT YESTERDAY FACING ME IN THE TANK FISH IT'S FINS EXTENDED. LOOKS JUST LIKE BUTTERFLY WINGS. I'LL TRY GET A PIC, ALTHOUGH ALL MY PICS ARE CRAPPY WITH PHONE CAM.:roll:

I THINK I'LL GET A FEW MORE 2X EACH FISH, ALTHOUGH THEY DO SHOAL WHEN THE MOOD STRIKES THEM! THEIR COLORS HAVE REALLY COME OUT AFTER TWO DAYS - THEY MUST BE SETTLED NICLEY!
 
#11 · (Edited)
The slate (if that's what it is) does look better, and more stable. Good thinking.

The fish you have will appreciate the additions, absolutely; there is an interaction between fish in such species (sometimes very entertaining for us, as well as necessary for them), as well as the plain "security" aspect of groups.

The butterfly does indeed sound like the African Butterfly fish, Pantodon buchholzi. Photo attached for reference. Very interesting "pre-historic" looking fish. I've had a pair many years ago. They do best in pairs and they interact a lot. Males have a split in the anal fin very distinctive; the first few rays are much longer than the rest, with a bit of a split between the first group and the rest. The photo attached is a male. The female anal fin is complete and rounded, no extended rays. Although they are reportedly easy to spawn, mine didn't; but then that was 20 years ago and I was new to much of this. There was an article on this fish in one of the recent issues of either TFH or AFI, I could track it down if you're interested. They need soft, acidic water, and plants, especially floating plants; they remain motionless among the plants, but spring into action to feed. And they will interact, play or spawning behaviours, regularly. They also jump, very well. The tank must be well covered, no escape holes. And obviously no small fish in the tank, they are avid predators of anything that gets near the surface; the mouth extends from the tip at the nostrils down to a point well back of the eye, so it is large. Crickets, mealworms are good food, plus beetles. Mine readily accepted chunky prepared foods, dry and frozen, frozen squid a favourite. Anything that will float.

Byron.
 

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#12 ·
HEY BYRON, UM THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO BUT GUESS WHAT I GOT FROM THE LFS TODAY?
MY WIFE WOULD NOT LET ME LEAVE WITHOUT IT!!!

THANKS FOR THE INFO THOUGH! MINES EATING FLAKE AND I'VE GOT KRILL AND BLOODWORM ON HAND - LOTS OF MOSQUITO'S TOO. IT'S SUMMER HERE AND RAINY SEASON MEANS PLENTY BLOOD SUCKERS AROUND!



THIS LOOKS LIKE A MALE, I'M JUST PLOTTING NOW FOR A FEMALE. IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO HAVE THEM IN A PAIR?

YUP THAT'S SLATE IN THERE, HERE'S IT FROM SIDE AND BACK. I'M STOKED AT THE RESULTS!!!



 
#13 ·
From my experience they are social; mine interacted regularly, and if so , that means less stress so better health. I agree yours looks like a male; I would find him a partner. And some floating plants. Neat fish. B.
 
#24 ·
Yes it is. And you people are such great photographers:) too.
 
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