Hi, everyone. I'm new hear and have went through a ton of posts, but have yet to post myself. I have read a lot of valuble information. I have been into the hobby for over a year and a half now.
It all started when my best friend purchased a 10 Gallon Top Fin for me at Christmas. From there I was hooked. I had the 10 GAL near a window and decided to add real plants and convert it to a mostly planted aquarium. I also bought a replacement light to help.
I upgraded to a 15 Gal Eclipse. Cycled that tank and moved the fish over to that tank. All was ok with the 10 Gallon before I moved the fish. I had purchased a couple mollies and 2 sword tails. One sword tail 'commited suicided' by launching from the tank onto the floor one day while I was not home. Top Fin Aqaurims I see have a lot of openings on the hood. My mollies started going nuts in the 10 Gallon - had about 30 fry (that lived). That was also one reason I upgraded and the 10 Gal was getting quite a but of light.
To make a long story short, I moved to a larger apartment and purchased a 29 Gal Top Fin. I also purchased an undergravel filter.
In the 29 Gal I house:
2 bala sharks 1 1/2 inch - 1 2"
1 Senegalus Bichir
2 Black Banded Leporinus
15 Gal at the moment houses:
2 Rapheal Catfish (small at the moment)
Mollies (mostly fry or very young)
3 Black Neons
2 fish found in bags after I purchased 2 other fish (small fish)
and the winner------and ID shark which I don't know what the hell to do with that thing. I think it was accidentally confused with another member I pointed out in the tank - it took me awhile to indentify it. I don't think it will survive. It likes to beat the daylights out of itself and play dead. (not mattering where I put it) I thought maybe I could put an ad in the paper and give it away, or perhaps to a local aquarium around here if it survives and gets large.
10 Gal is now a QT tank and I also use it to house rosies for bait when needed.
I am actually pretty proud of all my Mollies. All the Mollies I have at this point I have raised from 2 parents that are no longer with me. (quite a problem when I moved for them) Some are marbled, some all white, the only male I seem to have at this point is all black. A very nice group. I think the older mollies tend to keep their own population down. Out of all the fish the Mollies seem to have the most personality.
At the time I feel my 15 Gallon is overstocked, but most all are the very small fry. But they will grow. By the way, I think all my fry are female. Strange.
I separated the male for a time and they are now all pregant (the 4 that are old enough) But I feel if I keep him separated long enough they will finally stop!
I plan on weaning my Bichir from live fish, and maybe just give him some once in awhile, so I can move a lot of the Mollies to the QT tank and I'll be ok.
I figure my Bichir could go through quite a few if I needed him too.
I change water in my tanks once a week, and also clean the gravel with a Python Gravel cleaner. Currently I use Aquarium Pharmacuticles test kit. I was wondering where I could get a really good one. I can only test for Nitrite no Nitrate. The kits I have researched don't seem to include testing for Nitrate.
I wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction?
One other thing. Not doing as much research as I should have I now realize what jumpers I have in my 29Gal. Every one of them. Do I need to put bricks on the cover? I moved the Black Branded L's to the 15 Gal for a week before I bought the Bichir and the others because although the 29 seemed to have been cycled, I was worried. One must have jumped 3 feet across the room when I had it in the net. I can't imagine when they get larger.
I have also thought about this:
5 fish that can possible get to be at least 12" in a 29 Gal tank. Ummm. No way. If I weren't in an apartment and had my own house I wouldn't worry so much, as I would get another larger tank, ditch the 10 gal and use the 15 for QT.
I hope these fish take awhile to grow. I live on the coast so I think I could find good homes for them. (not in the sea!) but a lot of people have aquariums around here it seems. Some very, very large.
Anyway, there is my introduction and a little history on my family here.
-Stephanie
It all started when my best friend purchased a 10 Gallon Top Fin for me at Christmas. From there I was hooked. I had the 10 GAL near a window and decided to add real plants and convert it to a mostly planted aquarium. I also bought a replacement light to help.
I upgraded to a 15 Gal Eclipse. Cycled that tank and moved the fish over to that tank. All was ok with the 10 Gallon before I moved the fish. I had purchased a couple mollies and 2 sword tails. One sword tail 'commited suicided' by launching from the tank onto the floor one day while I was not home. Top Fin Aqaurims I see have a lot of openings on the hood. My mollies started going nuts in the 10 Gallon - had about 30 fry (that lived). That was also one reason I upgraded and the 10 Gal was getting quite a but of light.
To make a long story short, I moved to a larger apartment and purchased a 29 Gal Top Fin. I also purchased an undergravel filter.
In the 29 Gal I house:
2 bala sharks 1 1/2 inch - 1 2"
1 Senegalus Bichir
2 Black Banded Leporinus
15 Gal at the moment houses:
2 Rapheal Catfish (small at the moment)
Mollies (mostly fry or very young)
3 Black Neons
2 fish found in bags after I purchased 2 other fish (small fish)
and the winner------and ID shark which I don't know what the hell to do with that thing. I think it was accidentally confused with another member I pointed out in the tank - it took me awhile to indentify it. I don't think it will survive. It likes to beat the daylights out of itself and play dead. (not mattering where I put it) I thought maybe I could put an ad in the paper and give it away, or perhaps to a local aquarium around here if it survives and gets large.
10 Gal is now a QT tank and I also use it to house rosies for bait when needed.
I am actually pretty proud of all my Mollies. All the Mollies I have at this point I have raised from 2 parents that are no longer with me. (quite a problem when I moved for them) Some are marbled, some all white, the only male I seem to have at this point is all black. A very nice group. I think the older mollies tend to keep their own population down. Out of all the fish the Mollies seem to have the most personality.
At the time I feel my 15 Gallon is overstocked, but most all are the very small fry. But they will grow. By the way, I think all my fry are female. Strange.
I separated the male for a time and they are now all pregant (the 4 that are old enough) But I feel if I keep him separated long enough they will finally stop!
I plan on weaning my Bichir from live fish, and maybe just give him some once in awhile, so I can move a lot of the Mollies to the QT tank and I'll be ok.
I figure my Bichir could go through quite a few if I needed him too.
I change water in my tanks once a week, and also clean the gravel with a Python Gravel cleaner. Currently I use Aquarium Pharmacuticles test kit. I was wondering where I could get a really good one. I can only test for Nitrite no Nitrate. The kits I have researched don't seem to include testing for Nitrate.
I wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction?
One other thing. Not doing as much research as I should have I now realize what jumpers I have in my 29Gal. Every one of them. Do I need to put bricks on the cover? I moved the Black Branded L's to the 15 Gal for a week before I bought the Bichir and the others because although the 29 seemed to have been cycled, I was worried. One must have jumped 3 feet across the room when I had it in the net. I can't imagine when they get larger.
I have also thought about this:
5 fish that can possible get to be at least 12" in a 29 Gal tank. Ummm. No way. If I weren't in an apartment and had my own house I wouldn't worry so much, as I would get another larger tank, ditch the 10 gal and use the 15 for QT.
I hope these fish take awhile to grow. I live on the coast so I think I could find good homes for them. (not in the sea!) but a lot of people have aquariums around here it seems. Some very, very large.
Anyway, there is my introduction and a little history on my family here.
-Stephanie