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Well I've decided to push the limits of martial bliss and upgrade my tank to a 72 from the current 46 gallon. I can't let LITTLEFISH have all the fun.

My current equipment should all be fine (I hope) so the only thing I need is the tank and canopy.

I currently have:
Eheim Ecco Cansister - 2235 - 185 GPH
192watt CF Current USA fixture
Milwaukee Co2 regulator w/5 lb tank
Ebo-Jager 200 watt heater (might need to upgrade)
All ferts
6 Bags good eco-complete (when it arrives)

Probably do limited number of plant species w/big schools.

Aquarium Adventure is having a sale on the 72 bowfront for $138, so my total investment in upgrading is only about $200 between tank, canopy and probably a new heater.









My Scapes

tetratech,

Well, what are you waiting for? Do you expect anybody to tell you that you should stay with the tiny 46G ?

Why not go for a 125? If you don’t then I still have about 50G more than you .

No seriously, I think that is a good idea. If you have the spare change, space, and the wife says ok too, then go for it.

And I have no problems sharing my fun with you as shared fun is twice the fun. BTW, I will start soon with a log of my 125G. Why don’t you create something similar, I am sure the FP folks would enjoy it.

Go tetratech, go

Ingo

EDIT: but of course you know that you are fooling yourself when you assume that your cost would be only the hardware upgrade. Just think about the additional fish and plants.

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 19-Sep-2005 12:40

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

EDIT: but of course you know that you are fooling yourself when you assume that your cost would be only the hardware upgrade. Just think about the additional fish and plants.

Which is why (ahem! ) big planted tanks should be filled with colonial, non-predatory, self-reproducing fish like, say ... Cyprichromis and N. similis. Just a thought, there. Y'know. A suggestion, shall we say. A hint. A clue.

Last edited by LittleMousling at 19-Sep-2005 13:07

-Molly
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LF,

I don't want to take all of your thunder, so I'll stick with my little 72 gallon, after all it's quality not quantity once you reach the 72 gallon size. I think some wise FP fish guru once said that.

As for the plants I intend on having very few species, so I will be trimming alot and replanting.

I would like to have one large school of fish, possible even 40 in the school. This will probably be the biggest decision I make. I'd like to do cardinals, but they are so sensitive. Even with 2 hours of acclimation, if you buy 20 cardindals you will probably lose 2 or 3 right out of the bag. They are also supersensitve to any kind of mishap, like ph change, etc, but it's hard to get another fish with that kind of color in a planted tank.

My Scapes

I think some wise FP fish guru once said that

Or did he say that because he doesn’t have a 125G ?

*runs away*

I can see where you are coming from with the limited plant/fish variety as I am sure it will look very nice once established. For colorfull small fish, maybe you want to take a look at the Harlequin Rasbora Espei. They are nicely orange with a smaller black triangle than the regular Harlequin. I think orange and green go well together.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Those are really good fish and tight schoolers. Although they wouldn't be south american, they are definitely a possiblity. I'm also considering pencil fish.

My Scapes

tetratech,

I quickly looked up the profiles that we have for pencilfish. They seem to have one thing in common:

"...they will hide during most of the day. Can be timid."

If this is true then they might not be your best bet.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Of course in Amanos tanks that principle doesn't apply.
Good point, especially with all the wattage under the hood.

I can always stick with my rummynoses that have done very well in my tanks, the only thing they always look alittle washed out.

I'd like to possible get a keyhole cichlid as my largest fish and get a pair of apistogramma

My Scapes

C'mon guys we all know size doesn't matter

Don't know about other pencilfish, but I've got a big group of Beckfords Pencilfish. Not in the least bit shy, very active, always out and cover all areas of the tank. They work well in a planted tank as they like to interact with the plants and will have a go a pulling off any algae they see. They don't school very tightly very often, but when they do it's a great sight, like a squadron of jet fighters shooting across the tank. I think a big group would be a great sight and great fun. Highly reccomended.

Black neons are a very nice underrated schooling fish IMO.

Green Fire Tetras are extremely beautiful when they are in good condition , don't let their appearance in an LFS tank put you off.

Rasboras are always good. The newer species of Microrasbora and Borara's are great, just got a few. They are tiny max at about 1/2 inch, but amazingly colorful and a huge group (40+) buzzing about is quite a sight. Unlike Rasboroas they stay in the middle and lower areas and love dive bombing plants, it's like somebody stirred up a hornets nest.

Throw in a few Apistos with whatever big school you choose and you've got a sweet tank.
How ya liking those Bolivians ? I've grown very fond of mine - much more fun and personality then the Blue's IMO.

BTW, Ingo - I'm taking it for granted you will be putting a big school of Dennesonii Barbs in that 125, right ?

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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.

Some good schooling thoughts Bensaf.
How sensitive are the pencil fish to acclimation and water. I really hate buying 10 cardinals and having 2 die in the bag before I get home.

I have one bolivian and he really is a great fish, only one I've ever had, I would like to add a few more to my new tank. The blues have more intense color, but the bolivians make up for it in personality. They also are hardier. My bolivian made it though my bloom.

My Scapes

tetratech,

I think you are off a little

Your font type has to change and the font color should be black (or a dark gray)



Bensaf,

Puntius (Barbus) denisonii is too big for me – my name is not LITTLE_FISH for nothing. based on the web, they can grow to 6”. That is at least twice the size of my “usual” fishies.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Kinda fooling around with avatars colors, etc., but the text and background look fine on my computer. Are you saying it's hard to read on yours.

By the way, my avatar was drawn freehand by my 12 year old (soon to be disney artist) son.

This background is close to my water color from 100ppm P04.



Kidding

Last edited by tetratech at 20-Sep-2005 08:55

My Scapes

That is a great drawing, my kids wouldn’t be able to do that (yet) as they are only 5 years old. How about you make him a Pixar artist rather than a Disney one?


With regards to your font – no, I could read it just fine; it was a reference to the striking similarities with the person who posted just before you. I was just wondering if you would change your screen name soon to be “Bensaf the 2nd" and it was supposed to be funny (I was laughing though).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Just a coincidence with font/background colors. I won't touch the great Bensaf, so you could see already I've changed my background. Speaking of backgrounds, are you using the type your have to tape on to the tank?

Last edited by tetratech at 20-Sep-2005 09:19

My Scapes

I won't touch the great Bensaf,

Unfortunately too many women have felt the same way down the years

I had no problem introducing the Pencils they were active and happy within a few mintues - then my angel tried to hunt them down ]:| They were too quick for him though.

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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.

tetratech,

Sorry I somehow missed your question about the background. I thought I answered it in one of our many posts where we talk back and forth. Anyway, I am using the background that you have to fix on with tape. I don’t like to glue a whole background onto my tank. What if I don’t like it?

Bensaf - no other comment


Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club