My Son's Fish Tank

[ssjrrupp]

Hello,

I recently purchased and set up a Biocube 14 for my 3 year old son as a birthday gift. He would come home from day-care and go on and on about the fish, even after they removed the tank. I figured he would like it.

I'm pretty impressed with the little tank. I used to keep Marine in a 38 gallon; had a little snowflake moray eel, Panther Grouper, Red Emperor Snapper, a Maroon clown with anenome, a Flame Angel and I'm sure some others along the way (the tank was up for about 8 years). My wife and I wanted something a little bit simpler to take care of, so, this is what happened... enjoy!

Front at my son's level.

Front looking down a little bit.

Left side.

Left corner.

Right corner.

Right side.

Right now we have a male Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami, a (I think female) Flame Dwarf Gourami, a female Green Swordtail and a female Marble Molly that turned out to be a "Twelve Pack." If you look closely at the photo for the right side you'll see a couple of little ones schooling at the bottom. We aren't trying to protect them, however the majority of them (I think we now have 8) have survived for about a week and a half. They are amusing to watch at feeding time.

About half of the plants are fake and half are real. I prefer the real ones, but I don't have alot of experience with the tropical aquarium plants so I wanted to be on the safe side a bit.

Anyways, thanks for the great site!

Best Regards,
Ssjrr family.

 

[kiriyama]

Really nice colourful tank, I'm sure he'll be happy as larry with that, just shows what you can do with a bit of imagination, well done

 

[ssjrrupp]

Thanks!

He seems to enjoy it most in the morning when he's eating his waffles!

Best Regards,
Ssjrr family.

 

[BigFairy]

looking good

 

[ian]

looks good, i bet the little ones happy with it!

 

[yasinullah]

really nice set up

 

[Bebobb]

That tank looks great! Are they fake plants? If so, where did you get them? I would love to buy some like that!

 

[ssjrrupp]

Thanks all for the positive feedback!!

Betta- about half of them are fake and half are real. I tried to spread them around strategically so it's hard to tell.

The two little red ones are fake, the little green one next to it is fake, and that sort of bigger one that is hovering over the truck is fake. The one in the far right corner with the little purple flowers is fake. The plant on the far right is also fake, but it is a spitting image of the real one next to it. It's very hard to tell.

The fern looking things, the big leafy ones with white stripes, and the big plant in the center are real.

I purchased all of them at Petco.

Only thing I'd like to add is something that is real tall and goes up to the top of the tank to provide a little bit of light cover... something kinda' grassy, and then add some Java Fern in patches to the bottom.

I have a feeling vaccing this thing is going to be a REAL pain in the butt!!

Best Regards,
Ssjrr Family

 

[MrNiceGuy]

thats a nice tank

both the dwarf gouramis look like males though. females don't have colors like that. you might see some aggression and bullying in the long run, you might wanna keep an eye on that.

 

[~T~]

The fern looking things, the big leafy ones with white stripes, and the big plant in the center are real.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but both of these plants are non aquatics and will soon disintegrate and foul your water.

 

[ssjrrupp]

Hello,

You are talking about the striped ones and the delicate fern looking plants?

Thanks for the heads up!
Ssjrr Family

 

[ssjrrupp]

Well, I looked at one of the threads above and see what you are talking about.

Time to pull them out and pot them... and then go to the shop to find some replacements!!

YAY! More pics on Sunday, I guess ;P

Best Regards,
Ssjrr Family

 

[ssjrrupp]

Mr. NiceGuy...

I think you are correct in that both are males. When I bought the flame I looked at the Dorsal fin, which I read should be rounded instead of pointed if it is a female. That one does have more of a rounded dorsal fin, but there is some aggression between the two... there hasn't been anything serious. I'm planning on adding another Dwarf in the near future. I think if I have three the overall confusion will calm them down.

~T~...

I replanted the tank this evening. I noted that the Spider Plant and the little fern looking plants hadn't taken off at all since I put them in. However, the plant in the middle, in the back... the big one... the roots went absolutely nuts. That plant has flourished. I'm wondering if you could take a closer look at that one in the photo to make sure it is or is not aquatic?

I'll post pics of the tank now that it has been redone with alot more real plants and the non-aquatic ones are out.

Best Regards,
Ssjrr family

 

[~T~]

Ahh right yeh it was the fern ones and the drac I was talking about. The middle ones looks aquatic, maybe amazon sword.

 

[ssjrrupp]

Hello,

It's been awhile since my last update.

Some closeups of how everyone is doing....

Two Gouramis doing what they do...

Male Flame Gourami picking at plants.

Male Neon Blue Gourami hanging around.

Big Mamma, a female Black Marble Mollie, hanging around in her favorite spot... closest to where food gets doled out. One Brilliant Rasbora Peaks in.

3 Brilliant Rasboras schooling up.

3 Brilliant Rasboras swimming counter-clockwise around the large plant in the center of the Bio-Cube.

One of 4 baby Marble Mollies eating algae and whatever... they do this all day.

I added a UV Sterilizer to combat things should conditions spike and encourage unwanted parasites, diseases, etc. I've noted that even when the fish have gotten bruised are fins nipped from confrontations, nothing has come but healing. I gues the UV light is working.

My Black Marble Mollie had given birth to about 13 young. 4 have survived... I only found one in the filter, and after a major cleaning, none more. I think the rest must've gotten eaten.

My green swordtail died. Oh well. Considering everyone else is very, very healthy, I think the initial shock probably took its tole on that fish. I think it got Ammonia poisoning.

The tank has been heavily re-planted. There are only 3 little fake plants left; two purple in the front, and rear one serving to break up a little current by the filter openings.

I decided to by 3 Brilliant Rasboras, hoping they might serve as dithers between my two male Gouramis. For the most part it seems to be working.

Water conditions in this bio-cube are now near pristine... total fish load is the following:

1 female Marble Mollie (matured)
4 Marble Mollie Babies (to be returned to pet store when they gain another quarter inch.)
3 Brilliant Rasboras
1 Male Neon Blue Gourami
1 Male Flame Gourami

Once we have given back the 4 Mollie Babies, we plan to add 3 or so loaches, maybe Yo-Yo's, or possibly 3 Corie Cats of some kind. I'd really like to do some Bozmani Rainbow, but the tank simply is not big enough.

Best Regards,
Ssjrr and family.