Tropical Fish Keeping banner

Olympia's Tanks :)

26K views 236 replies 15 participants last post by  Chesh 
#1 ·
Well, finally got the initiative to talk about this tank a little bit on here!
So until today the only life in here was my 6 sakura shrimp and some creepy snails. The shrimp are doing really well, ones even carrying eggs. And since finally my plants have stopped melting down and creating tons of pollution, I decided to add some fishes today.
Off to the fish store I went, to get 5 threadfin rainbows. Well, I'm lucky that it's a fish store with fish savvy workers, because apparently there was only 1 threadfin, and what I thought were females were actually female cherry barbs.
So I felt bad for this last little threadfin boy and I took him home! The store is getting more in this week if the suppliers have any (they better).
He's a little skittish and confused about his tank, the bright red shrimp are kind of scary I guess.

So, full tank shot. I'm horrible at tank photos, yes. We got some java moss, amazon sword, some sort of hygro, sunset hygro, aponogeoton natans that refuses to grow more than 2" from the bulb, anacharis, hornwort and some sort of crypt. Debating over whether to use driftwood or rock for the hardscape.
The brown thing is pantyhose to protect shrimp from the intake, not the most attractive thing, I know.


Okay, here is momma shrimp. The plant is the sunset hygro, which when through a crazy melting when I added it, but now the bottom has new sprouts which I'm glad about!



And here is new fish. I bought the smallest pellets they have but they are still too big. They didn't have any .5mm pellets. x.x I hope he figures it out soon. He's coloured up a lot since I got him, though the photos don't show it well his belly is now yellow.
He reminds me of a sardine with long fins. :lol:

 
See less See more
3
#55 ·
Stubby was a good kid. Like I said he's been sort of.. sick ever since I got him.. He was the only one whose barbels never grew back (none of my cories had them when I got them, but everyone else's grew), stayed small, didn't move around a lot... Honestly I had noticed no different behavior from him at all, and then he was gone. :/
 
#56 ·
I know. . . poor Stubby. At least he didn't seem to be in pain, and went quickly - and if anything like this should ever happen again, you'll know what to do.

75 gallons!!! I want one! :D I'd totally come and help you, too. . . but you're WAY too far away! That's very exciting - I really hope you find a couple of able-bodied volunteers! Are you going to start a NEW tank, or transfer the 20g inhabitants over?

I can't WAIT to find out!!! ;)
 
#57 · (Edited)
I will need volunteers! I'm so wimpy! :-D
Anyways, in case you don't want to find the other thread here is the list:
Final stock for the 75 gallon (it's an all African community!)
x1 African knife


x1 Ctenopoma (pray that I find one!)


x1-3 Hoplo catfish OR x6 Upside down catfish


x1-3 African butterflies


x2 kribensis


x11 or 13 of either African red eyed tetra or congo tetra.


Smallest photos I could find of everything. O__O
Anyways I'm PUMPED.

OH YES- No more SURPRISE additions on this tank like on my 20! Bad times with gobies will NOT be relived in this tank!
 
#59 ·
Well a HUGE thanks to jaysee. He has an almost identical tank (really my only worries were the first two oddballs together). Seems like there are some rough times, but they are semi aggressive fish and I guess as a peaceful fish person I'm not used to seeing any squabbles.

Looking this over, there is a lot of BROWN here. So I think I may choose the congo tetra over the red eyes to give the tank some colour. Still unsure about the catfish, hopefully Byron will have some input on them still, as I really like the hoplos but I'm unsure of them.

All I want from my catfish is to be able to train the to eat worms out of my hand. :-D

I'm getting my DREAM of oddballs now! <3
 
#60 ·
Ctenopoma are such cool fish!! I would love one but I dont think my tank is big enough :( Oh well, I could just borrow my neighbors 110 gallon tank . . .

And Congo's would definitely make the tank look more interesting.
 
#61 ·
They are nice but they can be brutes- I'm most worried about them, but at the same time they are my favourite.
My preventative is that I'll let the whole tank grow, and add the ctenopoma in later on so they can put him in his place when he's small (it's for the best, trust me).
 
#66 ·
Hmm maybe!
Good news is the ctenopoma is in season and the store will special order me one when I'm ready.

Also there's a little African knife at the store.. And I think we bonded! I put my finger on the tank and he came out of his cave to say hi! TEEHEE!
He's been there forever, no one likes African knives. :(
But I'm glad I get to save him! :-D
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#68 ·
Your allowed to put your fingers in the tank at the pet store? At my LFS you there is something so you cant. Expect the betta cups >.<
I love African Kinifes!! There so odd looking! in a good way. When I was little my friend told me she got a black phantom tetra. Then when I was at the pet store I pointed to an African ghost knife fish and said she got one of those . . . then at her house I asked where that fish was and she said she has never had one. I was sooo confised. So they always make me smile :)
 
#69 ·
No just like on top of the glass. :p

Well black ghost knives will always win out over African knives because the black is prettier.. However the black ghost knife can reach 20" long and I don't think many people plan for a tank that can hold one.
My African will never be over 12", but I can expect around 8" from him. The tank is 18" wide so even if he got huge it'd still hold him. :)
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#70 ·
My LFS has marble hatchets.. somewhat rare, and I think they'd be a good fit for my 20 gallon.
Debating. :)
Except I'd finally have to get that cover cut properly for it.
 
#73 ·
Hmm well the 20 gallon is overloaded with hornwort. However I'm saving it for the new tank.
The final stock for the 20 gallon will involve 6 threadfins, 7 pygmy cories, and 6 marble hatchet fish. Plus the 5 three lined cories, probably going to get another to replace Stubby. Maybe more if I decide it's not crowded.
I went to the LFS today to try and find at least one of these (they had the hatchets last time). Came upon a sign that said:
"Closed early due to the heat."
>__> Thank you, LFS.


The 75 gallon grew over night, I remeasured it and it's actually a 90 gallon. It was sold to me as a 90 but then I thought it was 75 and it turns out the guy wasn't lying about it. xD We're doing a complete reseal on the tank so hopefully that'll be done by Tuesday, then I can do the water test and in the mean while look for rocks. Driftwood... I know collecting isn't a good idea according to some.. but the amount of driftwood I need will run me over $100. Going to look around in another store but not hopeful about this situation..
The tank will also have a natural leaf litter, and sand. :3

The stocking has been revised, just so you guys know. And yes I like the visuals.
x1 African knife


x1-2 Ctenopoma



x1-3 African butterflies



x9 (maybe more if the LFS gives me a deal) Congo Tetra.


Some fish taken out, new additions:

x3 Ropefish:


x1 Long finned senegal bichir (if it can be found):


x1 Delhezi bichir:


Thanks to Tazman and a local ad I've replaced the kribensis with these. They are larger and therefore more safe in the tank than the kribensis (which I've been getting about 50/50 replies on whether they're safe or not with big fish). Probably going to pick up 5 juvies and grow them out. The breeder says they're going fast so I have to get them this week.. They have to wait in a 6 gallon with an Aquaclear 20 for now.. But he says they're only .5 inches so I think they'll be okay in it for a few weeks. I'm being set back a bit because now I have to wait until these guys are a bit bigger before I can start introducing other fish, hopefully they'll reach 1" in 3 weeks so I can at least add the congos, which also need some time to grow out.
If you're wondering about the rush to get them, they are pretty uncommon and I've never seen them around nor heard of them until now.

Buffalo head cichlid:



I'm looking into some synodontis but I'm not sure which kind I want as of yet.

I know this seems like a LOT more than originally planned with all these giants, but I greatly underestimated how much it's safe to stock and these guys should all be comfy at full size in the tank. The bichir and the ropefish coexist very peacefully together and are related. With the kribensis out, I'm pretty much worry free with this tank, minus the potential aggression from the ctenopoma.

As for feeding this tank.. I'm probably going the home made fish food route for most of their diet as they will eat me out of house and home otherwise. The ropefish do not accept prepared foods at all, so I may just put the whole tank on fresh foods. Which is a daunting idea, but I've been reading up on it and it seems fine to do so as long as you mix things up. Bugs and fish really should be good. And NO feeder fish, I mean like grocery store fish cut up, and silversides.. and NO beef heart because there's too much controversy on feeding it.

:)
 
#74 ·
Goodness, girl!!! You broke out of the betta box with FLARE, I gotta give you that! I can't comment at all on stocking or feeding or aggression issues - I know you well enough to know that you're putting a lot of time and research into that on your own, hooray for you and being awesome! However, I CAN tell you that these are some gorgeous creatures you've decided on, and I am really ridiculously excited for you! I can't wait to watch this new tank develop - as well as the 20g - and see what you come up with to make everything work in harmony. Kudos to you, hon. . . you rock my socks!
 
#76 ·
Yep, this is turning into a tank of beasts for sure. I've been watching a ton of videos (great new way to research!) and the bichir, ropefish, knife and buffalo cichlid all seem very peaceful. Really the only "aggression" they have is when they can eat someone it seems.

Yes I've been putting a ton of work into figuring this tank out. I've used everything from aqua advisor to other forums. Youtube is nice but just from a video it's impossible to tell what's REALLY going on in a tank, and whether or not the person knows what they're doing so I take the videos pretty lightly.

Everyone will have enough food and cover so I think that's what matters. :)

The buffalo cichlids are .5".. it's going to be forever before I can add the big guys in, I have a feeling they're slow growers. The guy agreed to 5 of them for $20 so I'm pretty excited to see these lil guys. Hopefully my dad will drive me on Monday to get them. I'm getting photos tomorrow, I hope the parents are nice looking. The seller has a ton of cichlid ads up so I THINK he knows what he's doing.


ORR... I could always do a planted betta tank. ;-)
 
#77 ·
You could do a planted betta tank TOO!!! What do your parents think of your odd fish selection? I hope they're as excited about it as you are (and me!) I also really like to look up fish behavior on YouTube, taken with a grain of salt, as you say - but still it's nice to be able to see these creatures moving around in someone else's tank. Sometimes it's eased my mind about random oddities I find in the creatures I keep! :)

I think it's cool that you'll be getting these guys so young and have a clear idea of their actual age, though I know it can be tougher keeping parameters perfect for the smaller ones, and there is more room for human error and/or illness or natural defects to present itself while they're young. I'm sure you'll do great with them, and how NEAT to be able to see such a bitty thing turn into such a huge and beautiful animal!

I'm too excited for you, dear!!! *hugs*
 
#78 ·
My mom doesn't like them at all. My dad saw a photo of a bichir and said nothing. All is well in my house. ;-) I think my dad will secretly fall for them however. Teehee!

I'm paranoid about the baby cichlids.. 6 gallons is such a small space. I'll shove some hornwort in there and test the water all the time, hopefully they'll pull through. I don't know that FIVE adults will live together, even in the 90, so I may have to get rid of some once a pair forms. Everyone recommends buying a group of juvies to allow a pair to form naturally so that's what I'm doing. I've never kept cichlids so these guys should be interesting. :-D
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top