FishProfiles.com Message Forums

tetratech,

Could it be that your dog will mistake the open tank for his/her water bowl?

I wouldn't dare to have an open tank as our cat for sure would not be able to resist the temptation.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Could it be that your dog will mistake the open tank for his/her water bowl

Well my dog isn't as agile as a cat and couldn't really get to my tank that sets on top of an dresser. I have a shetland sheepdog and although she instinctively herds my kids I don't think her instinict crosses over to aquatic livestock.


STOP POSTING SUPER COOL LITTLE TANKS!!!
Wingdsc,
Thanks, Well the plants are going to change now that I have decent light.

Last edited by tetratech at 09-Dec-2005 11:16

My Scapes

Are you getting any emersed flowering?

You mean from the plants, right ?

Yeah, quite a bit. I had a Apon Crispus that would flower almost constantly, Cambomba, and Bacopa flowered a lot too if you let them past the surface. The Amazon Sword flowered once. I've just noticed it's just sent up a new flower stalk now. It hasn't hit the surfce yet but if it pierces and flowers I'll get a pic this time.

I like open topped tanks for a number of reasons.

Just feel they look better for some reason (notice all Amano's tanks are open top).
It's good to be able to see the plants from the top down, they look very impressive that way.
On a big well planted tank that needs a good bit of trimming just being able to get in there without having to lift a hood is a lifesaver.
On small tanks being able to see the top increases the beauty 100% , the small tanks tend to be below eye level.
And there's the emmersed flowering.
Having driftwood sticking out the top and/or planted with Anubias really gives a natural wild look.
Watching your Rainbows hunt bugs that get too close to the water surface is cool.

There are trade offs.
More evaporation, possible fish suicides, need a bit more Co2 going in.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Having driftwood sticking out the top and/or planted with Anubias really gives a natural wild look.

That look I really love. There's an aquarium adventure (11,000 sq ft) and they have alot of opentop biotope setups, very impressive, very museum/public aquarium-like.

I would love to do that on my 72 but I have a 36 inch fixture I would have to either suspend it or get a special bracket made that would go in 6" on each side. (By the way your 60ish gallon is glass or acrylic, probably glass.

Can you recommend a good flowering plant that would work in my 12 gallon with my new 27w cf/sand? Here's a pic in bedroom blue (added blue background so I could hide the light arm behind the tank and keep the light dead center.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes

There are trade offs

That is true, completely forgot about the downsides except for the cat-attack .

The downside that comes to my mind is that all PC lights that I have seen so far carry a warning label that states something like “do not use over open tank, evaporation can damage the lamp, blah blah blah …”.

I can at least imagine that high humidity creeping into the light socket etc. could create some serious issues.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi,
We had two cats, and each "supervise" while I'm cleaning
my tank. One, however, loves to fish. I came back into
the room to find her perched with three legs straddling
the tank and swiping at the fish with the fourth.
The other while she supervises, can't stand the thought
of even a single drop of water touching her fur.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Fish are friends not food lol at least thats what I told my cats. You probably already know about this but just in case you dont, there are many pet sprays that keep pets away from certain areas, I use Boundary spray the only downside is that after awhile the cat/dog will get used to it and it will be less effective.

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

"The downside that comes to my mind is that all PC lights that I have seen so far carry a warning label that states something like &#8220;do not use over open tank, evaporation can damage the lamp, blah blah blah &#8230;&#8221;."

Has it ever caused any problems or have you heard of problems with pc lamps? If I upgrade, Im considering a PC light and an open top.

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

katieb,

I personally have not heard of any problem. But the chicken I am I would not dare to test it myself .

The warning seems at least theoretically reasonable and as such I stay away from eperiments until others do it first and succeed, as I said, chicken .

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well, I guess I'll be the guinea pig. My light as you could see from my pic is raised pretty high up, about 1/2 a foot and there isn't much agitation so I don't think I'm going to have a problem. I guess I could always rig a little splash shiled a few inches below the bulbs to minimize water contact.

My Scapes

I didn't want to be the first to say anything, but now that you have 20+ WPG on this tank, maybe there's a better title for this thread than "12 Gallon lowlight Planted setup"...

---

Back in the saddle!

I didn't want to be the first to say anything, but now that you have 20+ WPG on this tank, maybe there's a better title for this thread than "12 Gallon lowlight Planted setup"...



Well I think in reality the tank is about 2.3 wpg, but I take you meaning. Actually I think it was you Nowher, your thread was originally titled "...just a few questions" I also thought it was funny especially after like the 100th post.

My Scapes

Touch&#233;, tetra

Hey, it pretty much is only a few questions still... just a helluva lot more comments now



So, any green water on this new tank yet?

---

Back in the saddle!

And where have you been the last 2 days tetratech?

I missed you

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks LF! Where do I start, let's see:

My laptop computer keeps turning off and is becoming almost useless, so no I have to send it back to Toshiba for repairs and I'll have to find a temporary one to use.

I spend this morning in the ER with bad pains, turns out I have kidney stones, not 1, not 2, but 3. So if you are some one yell from your home in Jersey, it's me on L.I. and I just passed my stone.

But hey the tanks clear and the plants are growing




Last edited by tetratech at 12-Dec-2005 15:39

My Scapes

Wow,

Well, the laptop got to much humidity in it from the open tank

And your kidney stones, well you are an old man

Seriously, I hope it all goes well.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I'm suppose to try and capture the stone for analysis.
I would put it in my tank but it's got alot of calcium in it and I don't want anything to affect my fragile water parameters. ]:|

My Scapes

I wouldn't make much of an impresison on the harscape anyways, except if they were 12 inches tall

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Wowo you guys are getting out of hand!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I ended up with an extra tank a few days ago because my son said he didn't want his 12g in his room anymore (needs more room for his stuff was the excuse) so I decided to revamp it into a sand bottom lowlight tank. I always wanted a sand bottom setup and I felt this was a good way to test the water (no pun intended). Here's a pic:










tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes

If you can't laugh at life then you can't really live. Its ok I know how such things go.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I tank is also pretty well stocked which I'll probably have to move some back to my 72g. Right now the tank has:

8 Gold Tetras
4 Black Neons
3 Otos
3 Kuli Loaches (To move around the sand)



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes

Thanks Wingdsc, Yes it is very simple. Just wisteria and java moss. The wisteria is rooting very well in the sand. It's pool filter sand and it has a descent size grain to it.

Here's another shot without the floating wisteria. All the green basically surrounds the driftwood without taking the focus away from the high point of the wood.



tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes

Simple but nice. How do your plants do rooting into the sand? I am think about setting up a small Hex with sand in as a betta Heaven and I would probably use some of the plants I already have in there.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

O.K.

It's been an eternity since I posted to my 12g sand bottom tank. I really haven't been doing much with it. The tank did have a bout with BGA when I switched to a stronger light and I seem to have won a over by doing water changes semi-weekly and putting a lot of plants in. I just keep throwing wisteria into the background of the tank and also floating pieces. I also strengthend the biofilter by putting a bag of my eheim substrate into the HOB. It's amazing the uses I find for Wisteria.





tetratech attached this image:


My Scapes

... you really need a custom-made tank for that open-top affect

I hear you. Either the glass would have to be much stronger ( $$$ ) or the cross braces would have to be made out of glass (as I have seen in pictures).

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

No fish have jumped yet. I do keep the water level pretty far below the top.

I'm getting some BGA in the tank. I am dosing excel, no3, po4 and flourish for now.

What the like about the sand and open-top is the maintenance. If some of the sand get's some BGA on it I just gravel(sand) vac it out of the tank. I have a 50lb bag in the gargage so I just replace it when the sand runs low.

On a bigger tank, you really need a custom-made tank for that open-top affect, because the AGA and I think the Oceanic have that mid support piece in the middle which kinda ruins the asetitics of the whole thing.

My Scapes

So,

How is the tank coming along tetratech?

I envy you for being able to have a open top. Did a fish already jump ship?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

A nice glass diffuser ok
You got me an ADA glass diffusor, you really shouldn't have.

My Scapes

Just bring me something back and we'll call it even.

A nice glass diffuser ok?

Yep, never lost the Irish brogue and it still makes the ladies hearts melt, a'tall a'tall and the top 'o the mornin' to yis all.

Hmm I think I'll need to bring along a translator when we meet.

-P

P.S. BTW guys, bensaf sounds much younger than I thought. But definitely Irish.

Bloody hell, how old do you think I am ?] What were you expecting a cracked grandad voice? You'll be in for a greater shock when you meet me, nobody ever believes me when I tell them my age. Must be the Oil of Ulay....or the Guinness

Yep, never lost the Irish brogue and it still makes the ladies hearts melt, a'tall a'tall and the top 'o the mornin' to yis all.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

P.P.S. Sorry to hijack your thread, tetra.
Just bring me something back and we'll call it even.



My Scapes

Yeah, I can totally understand the smuggling now (not that I condone it of course ). At first glance I thought some of those plants were fake since they looked so perfect. Also can't believe all the different kinds of tiny shrimps they have too (saw a cute tiny baby Yamato shrimp on one of the moss-covered driftwood in NA's main tank).

P.S. BTW guys, bensaf sounds much younger than I thought. But definitely Irish.

P.P.S. Sorry to hijack your thread, tetra.

-P

Now you know why I can't resist the plant smuggling. A lot of real hard to find plants in those 2 shops and at great prices. Last time I was there I picked up Postegemon Helfiri (Downoi) for USD$3 a pot. This would sell for ten times as much in the US IF you could actually find it.

Amazing shrimp collection too, but I wouldn't try smuggling them.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Thanks, Ingo - so far the vacation has gone off to a good start. Two days in and I already got 3 bags full of fish-related stuff.

You found the shop then ?
$300 ?! That was a bit much to be spending on my Chrissie pressie

Hi Bernard - yup, found the shop, thanks! Turns out to be very close to where I stayed, just a 5-min drive. Spent 2.5 hrs there going back and forth in that tiny shop and kept piling stuff on the tiny counter table. Too bad those ADA substrates are heavy. The plants displayed there and esp. at the shop next door made me want to cry/live in Singapore. It's light years better than the selection/quality of any shop I've been to in Oz. All kinds of awesome-looking mosses (DaFishMan would've drooled for sure) and rare (by Oz standards at least) plants in pristine conditions, without a spec of algae or rotting leaves. Needless to say, I've changed my schedule so that I can go back there on my way back.

I'll bring a camera. You guys I'm sure would be interested in the aquatic markets. Myself and Paulus can do a mini FP field trip and post some pics.

Great idea! I'm still kicking myself for not bringing a camera into that shop yesterday. ]:| I'll definitely take pics when I go to the fish markets in Taiwan &amp; Hong Kong. Now I'm off to don my Elmer Fudd huntin' gear and go lookin' for that wabb...er, bensaf.



Last edited by upikabu at 18-Dec-2005 21:07

-P

just got here after spending a day in Singapore where I spent almost S$300 on fish tank stuff )

You found the shop then ?

$300 ?! That was a bit much to be spending on my Chrissie pressie

He should be easy to identify

It's a terrible burden , but yes, somebody as tall and strikingly handsome as I, does tend to stick out. Plus, Indonesian spoken with a thick Irish accent is quite a strange sound."Tidak ada apa apa begorrah !"

I'm sure we'll be meeting up later. I'll bring a camera. You guys I'm sure would be interested in the aquatic markets. Myself and Paulus can do a mini FP field trip and post some pics. Or we can forget and just go have beers

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

upikabu,

Nice to hear from you

Hope you have a nice vacation. Did you bump into Bensaf already? He should be easy to identify

Ingo

PS: thanks for the nice info on the tiny Cories.

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hey guys,

Greetings from Indonesia! (just got here after spending a day in Singapore where I spent almost S$300 on fish tank stuff )

RE: the pygmy corys - there are 3 kinds of pymy-sized corys (5 actually, but 2 are quite impossible to find) that only get around 1" in size (def. much smaller than Pandas): c. Habrosus, c. Pygmaeus, c. Hastatus (in order of decreasing size). c. Hastatus and c. Pygmaeus spend most of their time on the middle water level (or sitting on leaves of plants ), so you won't see them sifting through substrate much if that's what you're looking for. c. Habrosus are bottow dwellers and my favorite in terms of cuteness and personality, but they're also the most delicate out of the 3. IME they also don't sift through substrates very well b/c of their tiny mouths.

Cheers!

-P

My fish reaction was, uh interesting but why would I want a giant oto. I beauty of the oto is it's small unintrusive way of eating algae.

My Scapes

It definitely had a face like an oto and I believe was lableled garanuatan Oto.

I think the cory. habrosus would probably work in the tank. Now I have to go find them.

My Scapes

Never heard of a giant Oto. So you say it is about 4 inches long?

Could it be that you saw a false SAE? Or maybe even a true SAE?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

but if you could find something to eat some BGA I would be grateful.

If anyone found a species of fish that ate BGA they could make a mint breeding them. Sadly, I don't think anything eats it, and for good reson: supposedly it's on the toxic side to ingest.

Also I believe you're refering to cory. habrosus - I dont think they even break one inch. They're pretty small.

And if I may throw in another good word about MTS - I know youre jaded from experience with ramshorn snails, but MTS will not TOUCH plants... besides maybe climbing on them or pooping on them. You'll never see one munching though.

---

Back in the saddle!

Yes, that's correct LF, but if you could find something to eat some BGA I would be grateful.

Pandas are a possibly, but there is a pygmy cory that I believe is even smaller. Going the other way has anyone ever seen a giant oto. I saw them in the LFS the other day. It was about the size of a BN but thinner.

My Scapes

I am also avoiding the whole Brady Bunch thing going on over in Little Fish's thread

Watch it, or I am assigning you to one of the girls

Otos are actually rather picky algae eaters and don&#8217;t eat a broad variety either. And I believe no algae eater would eat BGA as it is a bacterium that is supposedly even poisonous.

I think NowherMan and tetratech are more looking for bottom creepers to keep the substrate lose, right?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I think pandas are safe. They are the smallest and I don't think they rearrange too much. They do like when you leave dips and valleys in the sand for them to play in. Definitely get otos, they have amazing algae eating qualities. I'm worried mine are going to eat themselves out of a home. They will be so disappointed when they have to resort to eating algae wafers!

I am also avoiding the whole Brady Bunch thing going on over in Little Fish's thread. Much saner here. For now...

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

I did think of the MTS, but alittle down on snails right now after how I saw how destructive the ramshorn snails where. Problem to is any strong digger will kick sand on top of the javamoss covered rocks, so maybe all cory's even the pygmys are out.



My Scapes

Have you considered malaysian trumpet snails? Add a hand full and they'll breed their own numbers up. They're natural burrowers so they like to dig and move the sand around. They also don't touch plants, they'll just feed on any left over fish food. I've actually found it amazing how close their breeding habits are tied to available food. Sometimes when I over feed, a day or so later I notice huge amounts of babies. When i cut back they're all gone. Control how much you feed your fish and that'll control the MTS. They do leave a bit of waste around though...

---

Back in the saddle!

I think you right. It would probably take 1,000 tetras to equal the production of one bristlenose.

I do not some bottom feeders through to move the sand around. So I'll probably add some otos or I think there's a pygmy cory. I don't want anything too big or destructive. Actually I would love to add about 10 yamato shrimps, but I don't know how much they will move the sand.



My Scapes

Interesting. Sounds like whats happening in my 2.5. My betta used to live there and i didnt use a light over it. Just had some anubias, very low maintenence. Since he died I have a 9watt lamp over it and some BGA is already growing on the anubias leaves. I think Im just going to experiment with this tank and see where it goes. Ive also been dosing no3 and po4. At least BGA is easier to get off of sand than gravel. use a turkey baster if you have one. IME it's the best/ easiest way to do it.

Re: the 12 fish. They're all tetras though, right? I think we overestimate how much waste little tetras like that put out. Definetely not enough to allow no3 to approach acceptable levels that would benefit plants.

---

Back in the saddle!

Taking a break from the perverted brady bunch reality show?

Anyway, yes I did see some bga on the sand since I upped the light from 13w to 27w. I tested no3 which of cause was very low based on the fact that I wasn't dosing anything and my tap has little although I do have 12 fish in this tank. I also have very little plant mass in there so I decided to move some wisteria cuttings (what else) for now to help with the new ferts I'm adding.

Right now I'm going with excel, flourish, no3, po4.



My Scapes

hey tetra,

just checking in on this tank. in your other thread you mentioned BGA coming up... any thing happen with that or is it under control?

---

Back in the saddle!

Lumykrib,
Thanks for the good wishes, yes I would agree with the childbirth comparsion.

As far as the tank, seems it needs to be topped off maybe twice a week.

My Scapes

As there have been no comments from any ladies, let me say good luck with the stone passing. I have heard it is the closest a man may get to experiencing childbirth. After, you will understand why men don't have the babies.
The new tank looks very interesting. Do you need to top it off daily? I'd grow an orchid nearby as they like humidity and it would be a good source of that.
As always it was a treat reading this thread.:%)

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Nono, didn't mean to try to make you feel bad. It was quite funny the way you said it...

But seriously, good luck with that. kidney stones are a man's worst enemy... ]:|

---

Back in the saddle!

Yeeeeah, we... ummm... didn't need to hear all that...

---

Back in the saddle!

Sorry guys, it was just one of those days and I had to make a joke of it.



My Scapes

Hard to find locally, www.azgardens.com has them in stock.

---

Back in the saddle!

Seems like the tank is doing just fine.

But it starts to look a lot like your 72.

You must really love the Wisteria theme

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Really nice looking tank. Did a great job on the rocks in front of the wood

I'd love to see something tall and thin at the back for some height. Not a lot, just a tuft here and there.

Not having a background works well on this tank.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Thanks for the comments.

Wisteria, Here it seems to work as a background plant, but I do see where Bensaf is going, some strands here and there. That would add more dimension.

The BGA kinda ruined the first round with the java covered stones. I'm kinda doing an experiment. The stones on the corners now have hairnets covering the java and the ones in the middle are tied down. I want to see if there's any difference. I think the hairnets one will come in fuller because the stones are smooth and the coverage better.

Also do you guys like the bare stones in the front of the java covered ones or does it distract from the java and sand border constrast.



My Scapes

Agree with others, the tank has come into its own.

As for the stocking, I don't see why you'd have to move any back to the 72 if you dont want, we all know how a little dense planting can make up for some slight over stocking...

---

Back in the saddle!

I like bare stones, when they fit into the overall picture.

I am not sure about the sand bottom and bare stones though, they may look better if they would be like half way buried in the sand, more natural.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I like the bare stones on the sand, they give it a beach look, maybe add 3 more of varying sizes which would bring the total to 5 right? slightly bury some of them, group them one group of three and two on their own or something, whichever way looks better to you. This one puts me in mind of a Japenese Zen garden, thus the bare stones will go well with the moss covered ones.

Question, does the wisteria do well as a floater or does it prefer terra firma? Have you noticed a difference?

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Thanks for the comments. Maybe bury half way, I could try more but it might be too overwhelming.

Any kuli loach experts in the house. I always remember these guys hiding all the time and thinking they were a waste of money, because you never saw them, but these guys are always in the open. Is it the sand? Do they feel secure that they could always go into the sand if need be.




Attached Image:


My Scapes

I'd love to see something tall and thin at the back for some height. Not a lot, just a tuft here and there.

O.K. I was definitely inspired by this, but I'm not saying this is exacting what Bensaf had in mind, but let's just say it was a quick fix to see if I like the height in the back. What does everyone think and what plant is it?



Attached Image:


My Scapes

I like it,

I seems to be very skinny and grass like, is that a plant from the onion family?

Or maybe it is a crypt?

But you should get more of them

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Sorry LF, guess again

My Scapes

It can't be a sag either, they would die in that tank

It totaly looks like one of the onion guys.

So what is it?

Ingo

Maybe it is the one I had for one day, forgot the name though.

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Not so fast LF, this is too much fun, guess again.

What did you have for one day?

My Scapes

That was a plant that grows rapidly, is not too rare, gets a little reddish on the leaves,

I think it was called Gayii

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Oh yeah, your gayii is my diandra
So is it gayii -


My Scapes

Blyxa aubertin (or something like it, starts with a though)

Ingo

EDIT: show a close-up

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Sorry . Where is Uncle Ben, I'm sure he can name this very exotic weed.



My Scapes

So last try:

You say it is not in the onion, crypt, or sag families. Neither is it Gayii or Blyxa.

Is it in the Echinodorus family?

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

What ever the heck this plant is you should go get some more of them and just tell us what the heck they are.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Not a sword LF. You planted tank people are a tough crowd. It's driving you crazy isn't it. . How 'bout if no one guesses by 8pm EST. I'll give the answer.




My Scapes

What time zone are we going by for the record?


Edit:

P.S.

I am going to steal my friends cammera tonight to show of some pics of my tank. I also got some new fish for it! Pretty pumped!


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Look forward to seeing your pics Wingdsc. we are talking eastern standard time.

My Scapes

ok cool so will be back in an hour or so to find out whats up. I am going plant shoping!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

O.K. big hint it's common name rhyms with condo. I could here the disapproving voices -

My Scapes