Slimmed Down Fish Room Journal

[Boundava2 1]

OMG I just got done.
Unfortunately we were not able to catch Dusty the Borneo eel out of the 125. The 33 is up and ready whenever he is caught which probably is going to be tomorrow.
It was a little bit of processing to break down two tanks and merge it into one and move some of the fishes in the other tanks but I finally got it done.

Here is the before with the 20 long, 10 gallon and 33 gallon.

Here is the after, with the 33 on the top shelf, that we lowered a bit so we could do maintenance without hitting the I beam and floor joists, the basement isn't very deep as the house was built in '52 and isn't even poured concrete, but cement blocks.

Kuhli loaches going Whee!

One of the 11 darters

The infamous Lestat

The other fish/eels were hiding, but here's my 3 Iguazu 2009 swords.

The kuhli loaches from the 20L and one oblongata loach, the two maculatus eels from the 10, the cichlid Lestat from the 10, one otto, one yellow shrimp, two amano shrimp (all from the 29L), and 11 darter tetra that sis saw today at Fish planet are the tanks current inhabitants. I believe Lestat will eat the one yellow shrimp, not a big deal. I have two mystery snails that are using the 6 gallon as a baby factory so I want to take 5-6 of the pea sized ones and put them in the 33 to attack any algae issues as they occur.

I also took the filter from the 20L and put the media from the 10g and put it on the 33 as well. The tank is very long and really needs the additional flow. I think that was part of the reason it was so riddled with algae. I am fortunate as I have an assortment of lights and found a Finnex stingray for the tank. I think I may try to hang it to diffuse the light tomorrow. Tonight I am just beat.

 

[Boundava2 1]

So it's been a bit since I updated this journal. Unfortunately Dusty the Borneo passed before we could move him.
I moved the Three Amigos! (A. crassipinnis) from the 125 to the 120 as they were harassing the heck out of the eels anytime we tried to feed them worms, shrimp, mussels or clams.

Seems like they may have paired off in the 120. It's basically the three of them, about 6" long, 4" tall and 1.5" stout right now...sometimes wider depending on when they ate .

Sis wanted me to give one to a friend of hers out of state (many states over west) but I couldn't. The Wet Spot recently had them in stock again, so I didn't feel too bad keeping all of them. They really get along well with each other, and they are the biggest column swimmers in the tank. The only thing comparable is my L190 royal panaque, Loki. Others are a bunch of assorted corry, 3 SAE, mated kribs pair, black ghost knife named Morticia, 6 spotted raphael catfish, 3 juvenile Chubby plecos, and a Tandanus catfish named Crikey (its Australian and who doesn't still love Steve Irwin?)

 

[Boundava2 1]

So haven't done an update on my little fish room in a long time.
Current tank stock is my 125, 120, 50 and 33 gallons.
125
starlight eel, new dayi eel, 2 mastecemblus eels, 7 rope fish, 1 bichir, 2 royal plecos, 7 banjo catfish, assorted of whiptail plecos, 5 clown plecos, assortment of corry, 6 SAE (2 adult, 4 juvis), 2 moonlight gourami, 1 gold gourami, a parrot fish and another cichlid (forget what variety but she has paired with the parrot). May be forgetting something...

120
I have my bumblebee oscars, a large tyre track eel, and Australian catfish, (hopefully) some chunky plecos and spotted Raphael catfish

60
Has one Borneo eel, 2 unicolor juvis (babies really at ~5"), school of ruby barbs, and a pair of kribs.

33
Has an unk cichlid that we got from a LFS where he was systematically killing his roomies, school of ember tetras, school of black/silver/striped/myersi khuli loaches and a few snails.

Some changes probable for this/next year. Will be building a 8' x 3' x 3' plywood tank with an internal wetland filter and taking down the 120. The DIY will be around 400 gallons total and is something I have to wrap my brain around; check and check again, not to mention the research I need before I am comfortable starting.

 

[WhistlingBadger40 22]

A Natalia sighting! Nice to hear from you. Haven't had a chance to see the whole vid yet, but the fishroom and the first tank in particular are looking great. I love those eels. Haven't convinced Mrs. Badger that they're a good idea yet, though. She's a serious snake-o-phobe, and doesn't even like me having kuhli loaches in the house.

 

[Boundava2 1]

That's too bad she's missing on on a whole lot of wiggling fun, lol. I love my eels, I love my loaches and I love my crikey!

 

[Boundava2 1]

Just went to the GCCA swap (Greater Chicago Cichlid Association) paid $10 to get in 1/2 hr early and walked out with 3 empire gudgeon for $45, a bag of 3, a c. Ustinaria for $25, 5 sterbai Cory for $40, a vampire pleco for $45 and a 3 beacon pleco for $40. So glad I paid the extra $5 for early entry as we were walking out just before they let in the other hundreds of people waiting.
Wish I had a bit more funds as they had a xanthic (sorry spelling) unicolor eel for $350 which usually go for closer to $800-900. Just couldn't swing it. However everything else was a great buy. The next swap is in September, maybe that vendor will have another eel and I will scoop it up.

 

[Boundava2 1]

I got pics of the plecos. Cory and gudgeons were gone out the bag. Forgot to get a pic of the c. Ustinaria, but it's huge! Well worth the $15.
the vampire

The three beacon

 

[Boundava2 1]

I have neglected this journal a bit.
Within the past month I added a 15 gallon puffer tank. The 15 gallon was a tank I had sitting empty. I did check it before I set it up, and it held water overnight.
Yesterday I went downstairs before work as one of the HOB was grinding, we have had some mini-power outages and HOB are notorious for not being able to prime themselves. Turning around I noticed a trickle of water on the floor. Looking closer I noticed a small amount of water on the stand and down the side. This tank sits side-by-side with my 13 gallon SW tank so I tested the water and determined it was fresh. I felt the sides and around the HOB but it was all dry. Looked like the water was ~2" from the top. I put a towel between the tanks and when I got home the towel was wet but not dripping.

So today I am scheduled till 1:30, hopefully I will be out by then. I will drive up to the Pet Supplies Plus in Racine, WI to get a new 15 gallon and then go home and clean out the 5 gallon to set it up as a temp home for the puffer and 4 ottos while I break down the current 15 and set up the new tank. Thankfully I am home tomorrow (not thankful due to $$, but what can you do when 2/3 doctors are on vacay) so I can rest up a bit.

(NOT) looking forward to it, but its not saltwater so it won't be a hot mess of death. BTW RE the life points post, I have killed so much corals, fish, inverts with saltwater in a couple years to match the deaths a decade of fishkeeping-not to mention the $$$, OMG the $$$

 

[Boundava2 1]

So today I am at work, recuperating from my day off yesterday. I spent about 6 hours

• cleaning out the 5 gallon; substrate cleaning and empty water
• removing the plants and hardscape from the leaking 15 gallon
• taking water from the 15 gallon and (partially) filling the 5 gallon
• snagging the 4 ottos and1 pea puffer (Gizmo) and moving them into the 5 gallon
• remove filter and heaters
• gravel cleaning the 15 gallon (suck and fill 3 times)
• remove the gravel and tank

Looking around the stand I noticed water behind it too, but only behind the 15 gal further reinforcing that it was leaking somewhere-probably a popped seam.

At this point it was a little after noon and I was pooped and decided to turn a fan on to dry the floor/stand area a little while I took a break. An hour later I went down and continued thinking it would be faster setting up...

I forgot that the tank was going through some slime algae and I needed to scrub the DW and clean it off the plant leaves and tumbled lava rocks I have in there. Didn't want to clean the filter but I did transfer the bag of ceramic media into a smaller mesh bag and rinsed off the intake; so that took some time as the hair grass were a little fragile.

Since I originally set up the area I hated the electric set up so spent another 45 min messing with that, cable ties and being short ~3"!

After that it was finally time to get the new tank on the stand, cleaned out and filled with substrate. Then the hardscape, fill partially with water and Safe and replant. I had the hairgrass in the back but the way I reset the tank the anubias took over so I put it in front. The spiralis went to the right back and the meeboldii went to the right front.
While I was scaping I didn't notice the control panel from the light took a dive for I don't know how long. So it wouldn't turn on, no problem I have a couple clamp lights so just set up one of those with a LED bulb.

Finished!

Took another break and decided to move my computer from the living room; across the house into the family room. Lots of components and a huge L-shaped Ikea desk, Took another few hours to figure out what goes where and how to get the cording to work (plugs to surge strip and tower plug ins). Wish I had a before for the family room, the after looks spectacular and the cats are loving the new layout and they won't stop jumping onto everything!

If I remember I will try to post a pic of the after in both rooms.

 

[gwand43 159]

So today I am at work, recuperating from my day off yesterday. I spent about 6 hours

• cleaning out the 5 gallon; substrate cleaning and empty water
• removing the plants and hardscape from the leaking 15 gallon
• taking water from the 15 gallon and (partially) filling the 5 gallon
• snagging the 4 ottos and1 pea puffer (Gizmo) and moving them into the 5 gallon
• remove filter and heaters
• gravel cleaning the 15 gallon (suck and fill 3 times)
• remove the gravel and tank

Looking around the stand I noticed water behind it too, but only behind the 15 gal further reinforcing that it was leaking somewhere-probably a popped seam.
View attachment 382453

At this point it was a little after noon and I was pooped and decided to turn a fan on to dry the floor/stand area a little while I took a break. An hour later I went down and continued thinking it would be faster setting up...

I forgot that the tank was going through some slime algae and I needed to scrub the DW and clean it off the plant leaves and tumbled lava rocks I have in there. Didn't want to clean the filter but I did transfer the bag of ceramic media into a smaller mesh bag and rinsed off the intake; so that took some time as the hair grass were a little fragile.

Since I originally set up the area I hated the electric set up so spent another 45 min messing with that, cable ties and being short ~3"!

After that it was finally time to get the new tank on the stand, cleaned out and filled with substrate. Then the hardscape, fill partially with water and Safe and replant. I had the hairgrass in the back but the way I reset the tank the anubias took over so I put it in front. The spiralis went to the right back and the meeboldii went to the right front.
While I was scaping I didn't notice the control panel from the light took a dive for I don't know how long. So it wouldn't turn on, no problem I have a couple clamp lights so just set up one of those with a LED bulb.
View attachment 382454

Finished!
View attachment 382455

View attachment 382456


Took another break and decided to move my computer from the living room; across the house into the family room. Lots of components and a huge L-shaped Ikea desk, Took another few hours to figure out what goes where and how to get the cording to work (plugs to surge strip and tower plug ins). Wish I had a before for the family room, the after looks spectacular and the cats are loving the new layout and they won't stop jumping onto everything!

If I remember I will try to post a pic of the after in both rooms.

I’m exhausted after reading your post lol. I think I will take a nap.

 

[WhistlingBadger40 22]

Yeah, it's been a day when you look forward to getting back to work so you can get some rest. I felt that way the summer I refloored most of our house. Please, give me a guitar and put me in front of some kids!!!

Did you get the leak figured out? Are you going to have to demolish that tank?

 

[Boundava2 1]

Did you get the leak figured out? Are you going to have to demolish that tank?

Yup, the tank was leaking, very slowly but a definite leak. I bought a new 15 and swapped everything out and no more leaky tank.

So (embarrassed to say) I finally got the 38 outside to clean out and do a water test on.
I have some bad joints so taking a tank this size upstairs is impossible-well taking it up without compromising it . Sis finally remembered to help me out.

Those who don't' remember this tank was saltwater tank of death. I moved the inhabitants from upstairs to down and though I thought I took every correct step the tank crashed overnight and I lost fish, corals and inverts. It was so bad even the bristle-worms were dying off. The only thing loving the sewer tank was the wild anemones.
After I emptied the substrate and wiped it down inside best I could. I poured some vinegar to counter the smell of rotting corpses (not at all exaggerating) and had the hopes of cleaning it outside after
2-3 days; which turned into 2 weeks since I couldn't bring it upstairs myself.
Anyway, with lemons make lemonade...right?

So I cleaned it out Sunday and filled it to the top and left it overnight to test it, it's holding water perfectly.
I left the water in the tank in the hopes the sun will help bake off some of that smell of death that is lingering in the tank. I am off of work tomorrow so I will empty the tank and take some measurements so I can start prepping the fake rocks. I have a 4 day weekend coming up so I maybe able to get somethings started in the garage with cutting and shaping the foam.
BTW, found a steal of 2" foam on Facebook marketplace for 1/2 the price of one large 4'x8' sheet at Home Depot. Will pick that up tomorrow.

 

[Boundava2 1]

Well left the house at 8:40 and got home a little after 12:45.
Got the foam in Des Plains- about 55 minutes away, was nice to go to Cook county again. Des Plains did a fantastic job reviving themselves. Got the foam and went back north to Menards (hardware store) for silicone and a caulk gun. Then to PetSmart in Gurnee to get some red wiggler worms for my turtle enclosure, frozen mice and mealworms. Then popped across the street to go to Jewel (grocery store) for milk and 1/2 & 1/2 and some fresh sushi for lunch as it was already after noon. Got home absolutely exhausted, it's really hot jumping in and out of stores.
Took a break for lunch and then emptied the 38 gallon outside. It's supposed to rain tonight so I hope the tank will dry off (did I mention it's hot out here? )
Then it's going back into the family room. I have a 4 day weekend and am hopping to carve some rocks and having the tank in the family room will save me running up and downstairs to fit/guestimate the rocks. Once I get them carved I'll get the drylock and some actual limestone rocks from a landscape store in Fox lake, but that's probably a month or so out
Took some photos of the creature - features downstairs as I fed them.
The 15 gallon Gizmo tank

Complete with Gizmo, what a muppet

Gizmo's neighbor Chestnut, swimming in the salty hood

The 120 with the visible 2 crassipinnus Oscars, Australian eel catfish and orange parrot.

The star of the 125, Nebula!

The upcoming star, Umammi our leopard eel.

The baby backup, Inch

The goons: Bonnie and Clyde

Some of the rest of the cast

 

[Boundava2 1]

Wow it's a sauna outside but something's can't be done indoors...

So it has begun. Took the foam out of the van and into the garage. Got an actual hot knife at Harbor Freight, not as fancy as the $80-200 models, but what can a girl on a budget do? Measured the long "planks" into 21" pieces and used the hot knife. Went through the foam like it was butter, freaking fantastic ! Bad thing is it's incredibly stinky, definitely need to wear a mask, did I mention the sauna?
By the time I got done cutting the pieces I was dripping . Got everything together and looking at the pieces I think I'm going to cut the wider pieces in half in an hour or so. This way when I glue the 2" pieces into 4"-6" blocks I will have less to carve off, as I will have to rough cut them with the hot knife.
When I went back to recut the wider pieces to approx 11" it started raining in sheets, trapping me in the garage for a bit.
Finally got myself and the foam in the basement, scored it up on both sides and glued about 6 stacks together -had just enough glue. So step 1 is done.
Tomorrow will probably be step 2. Have to find the craft hot knives and will be doing rough sketch up and basic carving with the hot knife and following up with the smaller (exacto-blade size) craft hot knife.
Then I have some wood chisels and misc tools to add some texture and crevices to the "rocks". This may be a 2 day job, depending on how hot it is in the garage

Third step is to see the pieces in the tank and further trim/carve accordingly.
Fourth step is Drylok. Will be purchasing the white and using acrylic paint to color accordingly. Believe I'm going with dark tans and browns with layering of some greens to mimic algae and some white highlights to mimic sun shining through the water. We will see and the painting may not happen till next weekend. I will also be putting 3 solid coats along with the final decorative one. Because the Drylok is thick I will have to make any texturing and crevasses extra wide and deep so they don't get covered in the paint.
What I did today:

Ran out of clamps, the Gorilla Glue multipurpose expands as it dries as shown in my last piece. I was going to use silicone and remembered what a PITA it was when I built the background for the 125, stringy, smelly mess that took forever to dry. The Gorilla Glue takes 24 at most to fully setup.

 

[Boundava2 1]

Hit a little snafu as another project popped up and the garage workspace was taken up. Absolutely no room for me to set up a table and carving foam in the house is a definite NO. Lots of toxic fumes, can affect all living beings in the house. This is why I wear a reusable respirator mask when carving, and somewhere with good ventilation (garage with entry and garage doors open). As soon as I can get some space to carve in the garage, I will be right back to it.