Freedom's Aquaria

[Freedom]

Decided it's about time I introduced my aquaria!  Lots has happened in the past 6 weeks.  I have 2.
 
First is my Tropiquarium 68 - 68 litres or about 19 gallons.  Won at a raffle in 1995, stand and all.  The past 3 years or more, it just sort of sat there with a few red eye tetras.  Past 6 weeks, I have cut cords and removed the old heater and filter system; in the process I messed up the lights so they didn't work either.  Added the new filter and heater, LED light strip (which I LOVE!), then put in long fin danios, more red eye tetras, some otocinclus, and some shrimp, and some java moss.  I need to get more plants in there.
 
Here is the whole unit, you can see the Marineland Hidden LED light strip is quite bright.

 
The otos are quite shy.  As you likely know, they have a high mortality rate when first purchased; I bought 5, removed 2 bodies, and never saw more than 1, so I really thought that is all I have left.  Today I discovered I do have 3 in there!  

  They love to hide in the back; they come out at night and demolish any blanched zuke strips I put in for them.  A few pics of the 3 otos, hidden in the back, under the filter and behind all the real and fake plants.

 

 

 
Full view

 
This tetra kept eyeing me as I took photos, lol.  You can see the danios are busy moving, the blurs.

 
Last night, I picked up a bag of mixed shrimp: red cherry, sakura and fire red.  I put some in each tank.  This is the only one I can see at the moment, he has been noshing on the zuke strip for more than half an hour!  Nom nom nom!

 

 

 

 
Here is a photo at night with the led set on 'moon glow.'

 
More pics to share, coming up!

 

[Freedom]

In mid February, I picked up a 50 gallon tank, stand, glass, etc. on craigslist.  If you are interested, you can see the metamorphosis of this set up, with descriptions under the photos, (there are close to 80 photos!) here:  http/s133.photobucket.com/user/sfsamm/media/2014/Feb%2028%20New%20Tank%20Set%20Up/tankstand6_zps52750704.jpeg.html?sort=2&o=0
 
Here is a short video (1 minute, 45 secs) I took on Sunday (before I added all the shrimp, there were just 4 in there):
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1X31doA91w&list=UUJh7_ocAwiwjaNdQGSApTJA
 
Saturday morning, someone gave me a LOT of fish.  Included were 6 albino cory cats.  They are most definitely YELLOW, not white or pink.  There are also 4 bronze cory cats.

 

 
In the video above, you can see the cory cats were extremely active.  Today, I fed them, waited an hour and fed them again.  Now, they are MUCH calmer, lol.  Here they are eating:

 

 
Photo of rummy nose - they are SO colorful, I really love these!

 
I had my 'starter tank' for a LONG time.  Moving to a 50 gallon has been overwhelming (initially) and fun!  I am enjoying getting involved with live plants, too. Ninjouzata has been very helpful and supportive as I've trudged through setting it up, so thank you, Nin!  I'm at the point where I can sit and enjoy.  So that is what I have been up to the past few weeks.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Yay! About time you put up some pics for others to see
 
I love the pic of the shrimp on the zucchini. Really glad that there are still 3 otos.
 
The rummies are so cute and small They'll get chunkier and even more pretty with time!
 
You're welcome, I'm glad I was able to be of some help to you

 

[sawickib]

Congrats on the otos haha!
 
Love the rummy noes to.
 
You ever think about switching to black sand i think it would compliment the tank nicely. 
 
I always wanted some little red strimp though its never been possible hehe

 

[Rexenator]

Looks really good. Love the cories.

 

[Freedom]

Thank you for the compliments!
 
Hmm, not sure I am ready for sand, cleaning it sounds a bit of a challenge.  But I will keep this in mind!  I've only just purchased the 100 pounds of gravel for the 50 gallon, so the $$ has been spent now.
 
Got a few more live plants in the past 2 days, and picking up a few other odds and ends off other hobbyists.

 

[sawickib]

Actually sands quite easy to clean, but whatever works for you

 

[Freedom]

Took some pics of the 50 gallon this evening.  I have improved the lighting and the photos are much better.
 
Cory cats are very busy fish! 

 

 
They do sit in place now and then, though.

 

 

 

 

 

 
This one sat still in the cave for a good half hour before coming out and getting back to swimming.

 
More pics to come.

 

[Ninjouzata]

They're active little things! Or big things rather.

Thanks for sharing the cute pics!
 
*Edit* The lamb chop rasboras look like they're glowing

 

[Freedom]

Now that the lighting is improved, I can show the lamb chop rasboras.

 
There is one, top left.  And the rummy nose show up better now as well.

 

 

 

 
Way in back, hiding, is the pink kissing gourami.  VERY shy just now.  The rummy and the lambchop show as well here.

 

 

 
Bronze cory, rummy, and gold cory

 
Ivory mystery snail

 

 

Gold cory

 
Bronze

 

 
So shiny!


Ivory snail again.  It's funny, there are 2 other mystery snails in this tank, I never saw them the entire time I was sitting observing and taking photos.  An hour later, THIS one was no where to be seen but the others were present and accounted for!

 

 
I can't decide if this gold cory is pale, or if it is the lighting.  Will have a closer look in the morning.

 

 

[Freedom]

 
They make me smile, lol.

 

 
Hope you enjoyed!

 

[Freedom]

As I was sitting putting together the photos, last evening, I heard some odd noises.  Eventually tracked the sounds as coming from below the 50 gallon tank.  WHAT?  So I went over and opened one door and saw this:
 

 
The first one is a bit blurry, as I still had the camera set for the in-tank close ups.  This is my boy, Willy!  I must not have had the lid on tight, as you can see he got out one package of fish flakes.  My dogs and cats all steal the fish food, which is why I had to put them in the containers in the first place.  I 'thought' they were safe in the cabinet!
 
Once he realized he was 'caught,' he backed out of the cabinet.

 
Not giving up yet!

 
Ignoring me

 
Not sure how he got back there; the tank is catty corner.  He insisted he could NOT get out himself, I had to remove the containers and he PROUDLY stepped through.  Guess I'll have to see about a board propped up in the back to block it and keep him out.  With Willy, once he's found a food source, there is no stopping him! He is a real problem solver.  Keeps me on my toes, he hee.

 

[brittgs]

LOL!  Willy is a problem solver! Looks like he made himself quite at home.
 
My dogs aren't interested in my fish but sure are interested in fish food, freeze dried brine shrimp especially.  All my fish food is in a cabinet that is up high otherwise I would have none left.

 

[Freedom]

Here is a photo of Skye, the pink kissing gourami I rescued last week.  This pic was taken from across the room, as this fish still hides when I approach the tank.