Photos Of My Aquarium - Changes Have Been Made

[Freedom]

Lots of changes in my aquarium.

I have 5 otos (otocinclus), 8 lamp eye tetras, and 5 long fin danios in there.  Today I can only locate 2 of the otos, they are reclusive. 

I have changed the background, so the fish stand out more.  The prior background was too 'busy' for such small fish.  And in the last hour, my new lights FINALLY arrived!  I now have LED lighting, with 3 settings: daylight, lunar, and off.

Here are pics with the daylight setting.  The tank is brighter than in these photos; I had to turn off the camera flash as it just bounces back into the lens, and with no flash the tank appears darker.
Here you can easily spot the danios


Danios tend to stay near the top of the water.  This photos shows them and the tetras who are schooling just now; adding the lights has them nervous, so they are sticking together.


Close ups of the 2 otos I could find:




Here the tank has the lunar light setting on.  I see now, there is lots of reflection in the tank, sorry about that.  You can see the tetras on the lower left, in front of the 'jug.'


I have lots of 'stuff' floating about, from the cuke and zuke strips I've had in there for the otos.  I did a 25% water change yesterday, will give it a day or 2 and do that once more.  I have 6 rocks in water in the sunlight, I hope I get some algae on those, it may be 'cleaner' than the veggies.

That's all!
 

 

[Ninjouzata]

Definitely like the new background more, when comparing to your sig with the old one.
Also like the American flag

 

[Freedom]

Thanks Nin!
 
I realize I am not at the same level as lots of folks on this forum.  But I enjoy what I have.  Sitting watching the fish swim about is quite relaxing.  I have a step stool in front of the tank -- for my cats!  This entire house is run for the pets ha haaa.  My dogs have no interest in the fish, but the kitties do love to perch on the stool and track fish.
 
Lots of what I do w/ the tank is limited BY the tank.  Can't use a HOB filter unless I spend time dismantling the entire lid, cutting the hinges, then cutting some of the lid away, etc.  Before I started adding stuff I did think about buying a new tank and stand; $$$ made that decision for me pretty quickly. 
 
As money and time allow, my next step will be to switch over from plastic to silk plants.  Have one on order, waiting for the shipment to arrive.  There is something else in that shipment, can't recall what, lol.
 
The new background made the tank quite dark.  Wondering if I should swap it for the silver.  But with the lights on, it is really nice to look at this way!

 

[Ninjouzata]

What matters is that you enjoy your tank! And your cats too Oh and that your fishies are healthy & happy!
 
That does sound like a big pain. Maybe in the future you'll get one that isn't quite as difficult?
 
Any reason you're doing silk instead of live plants?
 
How did you apply this background? Would it be easy to switch to silver to see if you like that one better?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Nice little colourful set up 

 
As log as YOU are happy with it, does not matter about anybody else and do not compare your tank to others, each tank is unique to the owners personality.
 
I like it for a first tank set up and as you learn more as you go along things may change but as long as the fish are healthy and happy in the tank, that the most important part of fish keeping.
 
Enjoy you tank (and the cats too 

)

 

[Freedom]

What matters is that you enjoy your tank! And your cats too

Oh and that your fishies are healthy & happy!
 
That does sound like a big pain. Maybe in the future you'll get one that isn't quite as difficult?
 
Any reason you're doing silk instead of live plants?
 
How did you apply this background? Would it be easy to switch to silver to see if you like that one better?

 
I tried live plants once, about 15 years back, and had a huge mess on my hands!  Never again.  Plus, when I read on here about the easy ones, seems like work with pruning?  I try to keep my tank very low maintenance.
 
This background seemed to almost stick to the glass, like cling film decor you put on your windows for holidays.  I did use some Scotch tape on the ends.  I could try the silver, more a question of bothering to spend the $.  With the lights on, I do like the way this one looks!
 
Ch4lie, that's it exactly, this tank is mine, for me!  Been doing my 'first tank' for 15 years. 

   Actually, getting involved with the otos this past month has been a learning curve.

 

[Ninjouzata]

I'd imagine it depends on how many plants you have if pruning is a lot of work. I don't prune my plants usually, but I'm not a plant expert I just put in some easy stuff and hoped for it to grow.
If you don't feel comfortable though then no biggy! Silk plants look nice too.
 
Ooh okay, I was just wondering how it was applied in case you got the silver if it'd be hard to take off and such. I like the blue though.