FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Ok here is our challenge. My wife has never been impressed with this hobby. I need a tank set up that will really impress her. You know, appeal to that fem side! I need some "pretty" fish ideas folks! I know what I think is pretty, but what would a woman who is not in the hobby think is pretty, or cool? (So you LFS workers out there, what gets the girlfriends and wives hooked?) I have an All Glass standard 29 gal. to work with. Filtration consists of a Fluval 203 Canister filter. Lets hear those ideas!

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

I would show her a site that has a lot of different & pretty tank set ups such as........... if I'm allowed to put it on here............ Age of Aquariums. She HAS to see one on there she likes!

Then I would take her to a GOOD LFS. If she doesn't see any fish in there she would like you to have, then I would give up............ for now. If she finds some fish she likes, then maybe she would take more interest in your tank, as in letting her pick out a decoration or a plant for it. If you get her more involved with it, like it is more for her enjoyment than for yours, then maybe she will take more interest in it. Ask her opinion how to decorate it. If she acts like she doesn't care.......... ask her just one question while you are doing it......... like, "Would this look better over here or over there?

If there is a fish or decoration or plant in there that she likes, she is more apt to pay attention to the tank. If the fish she likes does something interesting while your watching, bring it to her attention. Act enthieused about it........... draw her in!

If all this fails.............. then just give her time. Sometimes people are more interested in tanks at certain times in their life rather than at other times. Just watch for the signs & be ready to indulge her when she shows the slightest interest. Good luck!

Hi,
If you like planted, landscaped tanks, here is a link to
some of the winners in the Aquatic Gardener's Association
annual contest:

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2004.cgi?&Scale=1&op=showcase&category=0&vol=1&id=73

These are all the "medium" size tanks, such as yours.
Keep in mind that planted tanks are not like fish only
tanks. These tanks take more work to maintain the "look"
that you see. Venturing into tanks like these will open
your horizons to things you may not have known and will
lead to all sorts of new learning experiences, and a new
vocabulary.

Frank

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

In the case of my girlfriend I took her to my LFS and let her pick out a fish and then built the tank around them. Depending how you feel on the issue Glo-Red Danios (Danio rerio) can be a good way to get her in the nice bright pink and you use them to cycle with. Also she really likes the way that Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus minor) look. And if pretty fish do not draw her in have babies. Try using Swordtails their easy to breed and the fry just look like tiny swordtails and who can refuse a miniature fish. If that does not work you maybe forging ahead in this hobby by your self.

"No whammy, No whammy, No whammy, STOP!!"

1984-Michael Larsen On Press Your Luck

Planted tanks are really beautiful to me, although I'm a female in the hobby. Planted tanks are my fav. You could have a really nice planted tank and let her pick out the fish, if you don't already have them. Make sure she doesn't pick anything that will out grow the tank. Maybe let her check out the schooling fish and pick 2 groups.

Go to the site that Frank linked to...there are some truly amazing tanks on there.

HTH

*Kristin*

Wow those are some great tanks! Thanks Frank for the link. I am not experienced enough with the live plants yet to get anything near what those people have done. I was thinking low light, hard water plants but not heavily planted like those tanks. (I'll check the wattage on the hood tonight, at work right now). Not yet anyways. I want low to medium maintenance for a while. I like how some of those tanks had one large school of Rasboras or Tetras though. I am thinking that maybe like Cali always says get a large school of Neons "It will blow your sox off!" and in a 29 gal I could get quite a few. Your comments?

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

A large school of cardinals, with one male betta or dwarf gourami, would make for a colorful and interesing tank. Another idea, would be platys - which come in a variety of colors and do not get as large as swordtails. Show her a micky mouse platy next time you go to the LFS.

I am thinking the Cardinals would probably be best. I love platys and have some Sunsets right now but I do not really want a prolific breeder. Cardinals I will consider though. Are they good in hard water!

Oh, before I forget, the hood has two 20 watt bulbs so I am thinking what roughly 1.3 watts per gallon. So I was just going to go with Anubias Nana, Cryptocoryne, Ozelot Sword, Anacharis, and maybee one Amazon sword. That right there is a bundle of money so it all depends on how much I am going to get in gift certificates (I know I am getting) for Christmas.

That is alot of green shades does anyone know of a red or brown plant that would work in low light and hard water?
would Ludwigia work? Thank you for the ideas, keep them comming!

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

They ideas given for the tank are great. Go planted, increase the lighting to at least 2wpg and get some CO2 running on the tank and plants will be easy enough. You can do it cheaper if your willing to do some DIY and poke around a bit on the net. There are lots of threads in the planted and aquascaping forums here with ideas and tips for planted tanks.

Another idea, that might work, is to go the betta route. They can do quite well in a one gallon tank or a large covered jar (covers are important, they're jumpers!). The great thing about bettas is they're fairly interactive, rather "pretty" and will eat right from your fingers...sometimes the finger too . but it's just a love nip!

^_^

Thanks Babel. Co2, Wow! that seems far above my skill level I think one of the things my wife doesnt like about this hobby is the amount of equipment ($$$) involved. I need to keep it cheap and even though I am a fair DIY guy I dont feel up to the Co2 challenge. I may be able to up the Wattage on the hood though.

Bettas. Hmmmm. For some reason I have always stayed away from them. Maybe it is because it makes me sick to see them in those little cups. I think the negativity of that has always kept me from even considering them in my tanks. I will consider them in my research though, since you suggested it. People do put them in larger community tanks. I will have to see what is compatible.

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

I did a DIY CO2 on my 20 gallon, and unless your running CO2 it's somewhat pointless to increase the wattage on the tank. A DIY system doesnt cost all that much, and will make plants work. Without it the tank will be okay, the plants will grow, but isn't likely to impress.

Yep the little cups are gross, and the vases they sell them in at the mall are just about as bad, especially the ones that advertise them as a closed ecosystem. Anyway....there is plenty of debate over how much space a betta needs, I had one that was more comfortable in a small space, and I've had one that loved playing along a bubble wall. A large vase with plenty of surface area, here are some I found from a google search, will do just fine when you first bring a betta home, especially if you have plans to move him into a planted tank. Keep in mind to cover the surface to prevent escapes, but to allow for air circulation.
I think within a few weeks of betta entertainment anyone would be willing upgrade the fishtank...it worked for me in the office .

^_^

Sorry, I just can not get excited about bettas. I know, I am not the one to impress but I was thinking large schools of Tetras would be better. Kinda like what Garofoli is doing but maybe some different species. All South American. I guess it also depends on what I can find at the LFS. Neons are always available and I think I have already made up my mind on 10 of them. Now to fill the other layers of the tank. I like to have activity on all levels. Any other ideas on what I can stock on the bottom and surface? Think color.

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

Hi,
Actually the "Neons" have been inbred so much that they
have now "earned" a reputation for being rather frail.
The "Cardinal" is actually a more hardy fish at this time.
Frank


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

Frank, yes I have heard that. I am looking for a good, colorful schooler that will really stick together and create those flashes of color as they move. Cardinals were my first choice but I figured I could place more Neons in my tank due to their smaller adult size. Since you have warned me though I think I will go ahead with the Cardinals instead. I am also leaning heavily toward Panda corys, Bandit corys, or skunk corys depending on what is readily available at my LFS.

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

With the lighting you have now, you can grow anubias, cryptocorynes (wendtii red would be a good plant for ya), wisteria, anacharis, and java fern. The anubias and java ferns should be attached to wood or rocks. The rest can be planted in the gravel. Crypt wendtii red is a burgundy colored plant that would go along great with all the greens. I'd recommend skipping the Ozelot sword. IMO they need more light than you have and with higher light would take up most of the tank. They don't grow as large as Amazon swords, but grow fairly large.

Planting the java ferns and crypts in bunches makes a great affect. I like to plant my crypts in groups of 3-4. When they grow larger, they make one big plant. The red wendtii crypt could be the focus of the tank.

With the light you have now you don't need CO2, although it would benefit the plants. You can grow the plants I mentioned above without CO2 though. I have 2 non-CO2 tanks that have more light than you have and the plants grow wonderfully (with minimal algae).

*Kristin*

Cool, thanks GirlieGirl! I don't know how I missed that before. The Crypt Wendtii Red is the perfect plant to add some color to my plants. It handles hard water too. Yes I will make it the focal point of the tank. Maybe plant the Wendtii slightly off center next to some drift wood (on a raised bed until it gets bigger). Anacharis covering the background; Cryptocorne on the other side of the DW and clumps of Anubias and Java Ferns in front of that. I am kind of thinking out loud here. My mental picture is better than I am describing. Thank you for the Wendtii suggestion!

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

After all of your great ideas, it looks like I am going with this for now unless there are any other suggestions.

12 Cardinal Tetras
6 Panda Cory (or similar cory if unavailable)

The Tetras offer a school of colorful fish. The Pandas offer some bottom activity as well as being a cute cory, and they will help keep things clean as a bonus.

As far as plants go like I said above I will go with this.
Plant the Crypt Wendtii red slightly off center next to some drift wood. Anacharis covering the background; Cryptocorne on the other side of the DW and clumps of Anubias and Java Ferns in front of that.

How does this sound?
or
Thank you!

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

Sounds good! You'll probably end up with more plants than that, but its definitely a good start. Start with a few and then see how you want to add things in (thats what I always have to do).

If you can't find plants at your LFS, this site: http://www.aquaticplantdepot.com is a good site to buy common and low light plants from. The shipping is a flat rate $10 and the plant prices are good. The plants are good quality as well.
Also you could check on Aquabid. I've seen some big plants for sale, like Crypts, if you wanted to go ahead and get a bigger wendtii bunch for your plan. You'd just have to see what people were offering though.

*Kristin*