25 Gallon Planted Community Journey V2

[eaglesaquarium]

Also, many of today's "platies" and "swordtails" are actually hybrids of one another.   Which is why you can find "mickey mouse" platies, and "mickey mouse" swordtails?

 

[greenmumma141]

That brings up a question I've been wondering Eagles... So will swordtails mate with regular platies? I asked someone in my LFS and they said definitely not, but I wasn't convinced, as usual lol

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm not going to say 'definitely', but I'd be willing to put a large sum of money down on the probability!

 

[greenmumma141]

Just as i suspected

 

[Robbo89]

I was looking at the tiny pet store next to my school yesterday and found this enormous (not pregnant, just old/large) female swordtail that had the most incredible colouring. It was like a pearly white background with stripes and patches of reflective blue and black scales, there was also a male about 1/2 inch smaller but identical in colouring. Must admit I am very tempted to buy it and go for swordtails instead of platies, or maybe keep two of those females and that blue male as well as 1 male (probably gold wag) platy and three female gold wag platies. What would you guys do?

 

[Robbo89]

Alright guys, here's the next big update
 
So I went down to the shop again this afternoon, after doing a bit of maintenance this morning;
 
Took out and re-scaped the gravel around a fair bit, went with Eagle's idea of the two slopes and I think it really adds to the overall look.
 
Trimmed off and removed about 3 crypt leaves that seemed to not be coming back. Also identified it to be a Cryptocoryne Wendtii. Should I keep doing this or just leave them to break down in the tank?
 
Scrubbed down the driftwood (had been soaking in bi-carb) and put that back in with the heater.
 
 
At the shop I picked up 4 short bunches of corkscrew vallis, as well as these 4 little guys

 

 

 

 
 
In the end I went with 2 tuxedo neons (both female), and 2 blue calico's ( 1 male 1 female). The largest one by far is the male, well.... I hope....
 

 

 

 

 
Does 'he' look gravid to anyone else? Definitely got a gonopodium, but I have had sex changing swordtails before...  
 
 
 
So here the tank is now, what do you think guys?  
 

 
I'm really happy with how the plants look, but the wood is going to need more time to grow on me yet, still get the feeling that its sort of 'out of place'. Maybe that Anubias nana will help. Will add that (if I get one) when I add the Panda Cories next weekend. On the topic of Panda cories you wouldn't believe what I saw at the shop today. Baby Panda's about 2cm long, being sold for (or at least attempting to be sold for) $8.95 each. EACH. That's almost 6 pound for a probably 2 month old cory, very surprising to me at least. Anyway, Cories or Black Widow Tetra next?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Panda cories are the most sensitive of these fish, so I'd suggest adding them last.
 
 
The wood will look more like it belongs if there is a big of plant or moss growing on it.  Those long 'roots' are perfect for a bit of moss.
 
 
Looks good. 

And congrats on the platies... I believe I clearly saw one male in the group.  Males don't become females, nor do females become males, in the world of swordtails.  Some males are just far more late in developing than others.

 

[Robbo89]

Panda cories are the most sensitive of these fish, so I'd suggest adding them last.
 
 
The wood will look more like it belongs if there is a big of plant or moss growing on it.  Those long 'roots' are perfect for a bit of moss.
 
 
Looks good. 

And congrats on the platies... I believe I clearly saw one male in the group.  Males don't become females, nor do females become males, in the world of swordtails.  Some males are just far more late in developing than others.

Yeah the late developing was probably more of a scientific term for it, all I knew (I was about 12) was that I bought a pregnant looking female, and two weeks later it had a sword  
 
Not a big fan of the moss to be honest I've looked at a lot of pictures of moss covered driftwood in tanks and I just find it really messy looking, not to mention what I've been told about trying to get rid of it ... might give it a miss, for now at least. 
 
Okay, so my order for stocking as it stands is:
 
 
(1 week from today) - 8 Black Widow Tetra + 2 Anubias, one for the wood one for the pot
 
(2 weeks from today) - 8 Panda Cories
 
(3 weeks from today) - Pair of Apistogramma ~ Bitanniata  (maybe???) 
 
Let me know if there is any issues with that
 
How often should I feed the Platies for max growth, as I don't want that large male to be the boss forever, especially when it comes to mating (which he doesn't seem interested about in the least ). Ive got micropellets for tetra / small mouthed fish and high quality flakes. 

 

[greenmumma141]

Looks good!!! I see you've got some new growth on the temple looking plant too  
 
I agree with Eagles about adding to the wood. Adding anubias and moss to the big root-like piece of wood that I have made a world of difference. Moss will blend a whole tank together really nicely  You should also try some java fern if you can get some as well.

 

[snazy]

And a few round pebbles as well will make the transition from wood to sand look better.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 

Panda cories are the most sensitive of these fish, so I'd suggest adding them last.
 
 
The wood will look more like it belongs if there is a big of plant or moss growing on it.  Those long 'roots' are perfect for a bit of moss.
 
 
Looks good. 

And congrats on the platies... I believe I clearly saw one male in the group.  Males don't become females, nor do females become males, in the world of swordtails.  Some males are just far more late in developing than others.

Yeah the late developing was probably more of a scientific term for it, all I knew (I was about 12) was that I bought a pregnant looking female, and two weeks later it had a sword

 
Not a big fan of the moss to be honest

I've looked at a lot of pictures of moss covered driftwood in tanks and I just find it really messy looking, not to mention what I've been told about trying to get rid of it ... might give it a miss, for now at least. 
 
Okay, so my order for stocking as it stands is:
 
 
(1 week from today) - 8 Black Widow Tetra + 2 Anubias, one for the wood one for the pot
 
(2 weeks from today) - 8 Panda Cories
 
(3 weeks from today) - Pair of Apistogramma ~ Bitanniata  (maybe???) 
 
Let me know if there is any issues with that

 
How often should I feed the Platies for max growth, as I don't want that large male to be the boss forever, especially when it comes to mating (which he doesn't seem interested about in the least

). Ive got micropellets for tetra / small mouthed fish and high quality flakes. 
 

 
Livebearers will gorge themselves, so what you thought was 'gravid' was probably just an overfed fish.
 
 
We all have different taste, so I'm not offended by the difference.  If you don't like moss, you don't like moss.  It might actually work to get some GSA growth on the wood as well.  I'm a fan of that look as well, as it softens the look of the wood.
 
 
I'd also spread the stocking out further than 1 week apart.  I'd lean 2-3 weeks apart, personally.  Let the bacteria grow and mature a bit between each addition a bit more.
 
 
And don't worry about feeding the platies for "max" growth.  They will grow and no matter what, the male is going to be all over those females.  That's just how platies behave.

 

[Robbo89]

 

 


Panda cories are the most sensitive of these fish, so I'd suggest adding them last.
 
 
The wood will look more like it belongs if there is a big of plant or moss growing on it.  Those long 'roots' are perfect for a bit of moss.
 
 
Looks good. 

And congrats on the platies... I believe I clearly saw one male in the group.  Males don't become females, nor do females become males, in the world of swordtails.  Some males are just far more late in developing than others.

Yeah the late developing was probably more of a scientific term for it, all I knew (I was about 12) was that I bought a pregnant looking female, and two weeks later it had a sword

 
Not a big fan of the moss to be honest

I've looked at a lot of pictures of moss covered driftwood in tanks and I just find it really messy looking, not to mention what I've been told about trying to get rid of it ... might give it a miss, for now at least. 
 
Okay, so my order for stocking as it stands is:
 
 
(1 week from today) - 8 Black Widow Tetra + 2 Anubias, one for the wood one for the pot
 
(2 weeks from today) - 8 Panda Cories
 
(3 weeks from today) - Pair of Apistogramma ~ Bitanniata  (maybe???) 
 
Let me know if there is any issues with that

 
How often should I feed the Platies for max growth, as I don't want that large male to be the boss forever, especially when it comes to mating (which he doesn't seem interested about in the least

). Ive got micropellets for tetra / small mouthed fish and high quality flakes. 
 

 
Livebearers will gorge themselves, so what you thought was 'gravid' was probably just an overfed fish.
 
 
We all have different taste, so I'm not offended by the difference.  If you don't like moss, you don't like moss.  It might actually work to get some GSA growth on the wood as well.  I'm a fan of that look as well, as it softens the look of the wood.
 
 
I'd also spread the stocking out further than 1 week apart.  I'd lean 2-3 weeks apart, personally.  Let the bacteria grow and mature a bit between each addition a bit more.
 
 
And don't worry about feeding the platies for "max" growth.  They will grow and no matter what, the male is going to be all over those females.  That's just how platies behave.
 


It wasn't the size that gave me the impression it was gravid, it was the black gravid spot on its body have a closer look at those photos of him, but you are probably right about him just being overfed. 
 
Last night and this morning the fish have been really jumpy, well the two smaller females actually. Like at any sudden noise or slight movement they bolt (normally into the glass) and it's starting to worry me. Should I cover the tank with a towel for the next few days to give them some quiet to settle into? 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

They'll be fine. Soon they will be right to the glass begging for food as soon as they see you approaching.  It just takes a little time.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

I really like what you've done with the tank. It looks great, it will look even better with some more plants.
The platies are very nice and suit the tank. Can't wait to see all of the fish in there. I agree with Eagles about how long to space out the introductions. 3 weeks would be a good amount of time.

 

[Robbo89]

I really like what you've done with the tank. It looks great, it will look even better with some more plants.
The platies are very nice and suit the tank. Can't wait to see all of the fish in there. I agree with Eagles about how long to space out the introductions. 3 weeks would be a good amount of time.

Please suggest any improvements I could make!  
 
An Anubias will be going onto that wood, probably in the very core so that it sprawls out and helps to blend the wood in more, but other than that what other plants would you suggest I add and where?