Ben's Tropical Tank

[L4byr1nth]

No tannins in the water whatsoever - not bad considering I have 3 seperate pieces of wood in there, and did nothing but give them a quick rinse before placing them in the aquarium.

I'd highly recommend using a high carbon load in the filter if your new tank has a lot of wood that you haven't pre-soaked.

All the fish seemed to have settled in nicely. I come from the old-school 'dump 'em in and see' tropical fish keeping doctrine. While those people spending months and months fishless cycling their tanks might say differently, it seems to have worked in all my tanks so far.

Obligatory FTS.

RTB Shark claiming his territory!

Peacock Goby curious as to what my camera actually does...

Chinese Algae Eater much prefers the sand to the gravel in my old tank.

​

More plants should be arriving after Xmas, which is also when I'll be ordering a few more Neon Tetra, a Snakeskin Gourami, and possibly some other fish.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Ben.

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

very nice fella merry christmas!

 

[L4byr1nth]

My LFS finally opened after the obligatory Christmas break, and I had a chance to get down there today and spend some of my Xmas cash

I got 6 more Neon Tetra which brings me to a total of 10. As soon as I let them into the tank, they grouped up with the others and formed not so much a shoal; more like a loose group.

To complete my stocking of the tank, I picked up two other fish as well. A tiny Pearl Gourami, and a Sumo Loach (£5.90 for one fish! Still not as much as the Peacock Goby, though). Still debating about the Snakeskin Gourami, but the LFS can't get them in, and I wanted a Gourami

The only other thing I got was another piece of Mopani - bringing my total wood count to 4 large pieces.

Plants still haven't been shipped yet (#40## that Christmas post!), but I'll try and snap some pictures of the new additions ASAP.

Ben.

 

[Skins]

My LFS finally opened after the obligatory Christmas break, and I had a chance to get down there today and spend some of my Xmas cash

I got 6 more Neon Tetra which brings me to a total of 10. As soon as I let them into the tank, they grouped up with the others and formed not so much a shoal; more like a loose group.

To complete my stocking of the tank, I picked up two other fish as well. A tiny Pearl Gourami, and a Sumo Loach (£5.90 for one fish! Still not as much as the Peacock Goby, though). Still debating about the Snakeskin Gourami, but the LFS can't get them in, and I wanted a Gourami

The only other thing I got was another piece of Mopani - bringing my total wood count to 4 large pieces.

Plants still haven't been shipped yet (#40## that Christmas post!), but I'll try and snap some pictures of the new additions ASAP.

Ben.

Looking forward to seeing your new arrivals Ben.


Keith.

 

[creg]

beautiful tank, love the background and decor

 

[L4byr1nth]

Spent most of today after I posted battling a previously unseen enemy.

Turned the lights on in the morning, went to the LFS, got back, added the fish to the tank. A few hours later, spotted not one, but THREE tiny snails on the glass

Not sure what to do at this point. I'm sure I could dose the tank (there must be a snail-killing medicine that is safe for fish, right?), but I shouldn't have to. So annoying.

I don't think any of my fish really eat snails... And I hate the look of them, so am loathe to add an Assassin Snail to my stock.

Ben.

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

can you not just scrape these snails out?

 

[moochy13]

i just crush them with my finger and let them drop to the bottom. my fish seem to take an interest if they dont have to put up with the shell. like you, i dont want snails in my tank, whether they're supposed to be there or not, so i just kill any i see.

far as i know only loaches eat snails, and they need to be in groups, and i dont have enough room for a group.

 

[waterdrop]

I think that crushing them for your fish to eat (which I've certainly done a lot of over the years) carries the possibility that you are still leaving any eggs they are carrying within the tank (if they too are not eaten.) Regular removal, starting right from when they are first seen is a significantly effective thing to do. If they get more out of control there are other things. Note that they will crawl out of trash cans if not killed. WD

 

[moochy13]

hmmm, ive got to be honest i just crushed them because i bet the one or 2 i see a week are the tip of the iceberg. i hate to think how many are hidden in the depths of my plants and under bits of wood. when i last took the (juwel) filter out i noticed a few living in the biomedia cage, what hope have you of getting those out ? my angel seems to be first on the case of hunting crushed snail out.

 

[L4byr1nth]

Been picking out every snail I have seen with my fingers. So far, around 5, so not that bad. I'll keep an eye on it though.

Some updated pictures for you - I still haven't received my plants shifty, but I have new fish, so;

Butterfly Pleco

Sumo Loach...

... In comparison to my Peacock Goby

Pearl Gourami - Best picture I could get (he moves well fast!)

Penultimate FTS

​

Sorry about the pictures - The light's a bit bad at this time of night, and I think it's throwing my AF off.

Ben.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, they say the more light you can pour in through the open top of a tank (fixed photo lights in best cases) the better the picture will be. I've been enjoying your pictures none the less. WD

 

[L4byr1nth]

Got three new plants from Paraquatics (another LFS) today for the tank.

My ones from eBay should be sent sometime this week... So hopefully (fingers crossed!) I can post a finished, fully 'scaped FTS within the next week or so.

Still seeing the occassional snail on the front glass. There are some big ones in there! All I can do is pick them out, though.

Ben.

 

[Aqua Tom]

The answer to your problem

assassin snails

 

[L4byr1nth]

Noooooooo!! I find it both highly ironic and amusing that the only cure for having a snail infestation in your tank is to add bigger snails!

At the moment, I'm just picking them out and crushing them when I see them, but they seem to be getting bigger and bigger..

Hoping the plants will get sent out on Tuesday, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Ben.