Show us your Aquariums [Archive]

ZrByte

16-02-2011, 23:24

In the same vein as show us your workstations etc already on here I thought it would be nice to talk about and share pictures of each others Aquariums.

I've always had an interest in this and have had plenty of basic freshwater setups in the past (Goldfish mainly). But I've become very interested in this over the past year and have finally got the funds together to get my own tank. I've bought the tank already and decided on tropical but I'm looking for inspiration for what to put in it. My tank is still going through its empty cycle so not much to see at the moment but as the days/weeks go on I hope to post some pics myself.
The only creature I have decided I am definitely getting for my tank are cherry shrimp. I know they aren't exactly beautiful but I find them fascinating and I like that they are generally considered easy to keep (So Ideal to start with).
I quite like unusual pets so things like aquatic crabs would be something I would be very interested in but they seem hard to get and I don't know of a type that can even coexist in a community tank without hunting down the other fish (Even when well fed). Especially in a tank the size I have (60L).

joglynne

17-02-2011, 14:45

ZrByte

17-02-2011, 21:25

I am down to a couple of small tanks, that's if they even qualify for the title of tank. :)
I have a small 15ltr Biorb that is home to 3 White Cloud Mountain Minnows, the other resident, a Glass shrimp having died last week. With all the cold weather I installed a small heater and as I am running the Biorb at 22C I am considering adding a couple of Cherry Shrimps if I can manage to get any that are big enough not to be live food for the WCMM.

My second tank/large vase :D houses my Moss Balls and this, together with a larger but as yet unconditioned tank, will be the home to the main Cherry Shrimp colony when I manage to track some down.

I will try to get some pictures if I can move the cat away from his favourite view point.

I can get Cherry shrimp quite easily near me. The Wirral isn't a massive distance away from Manchester but probably a bit too far to buy a few quids worth of tiny shrimp.
Would love to see some pictures, what size was the glass shrimp? I got some live plants in my tank today ready for the next stage of conditioning before I get my shrimp and fish.

Jimmy-J

17-02-2011, 21:31

show us your aquariumsI beg your pardon!!!

Zing

17-02-2011, 22:19

Interesting topic and something I would like but have been put off by seeing quite a few dirty tanks and imagine cleaning them to be a nightmare.Is this the case?

ZrByte

17-02-2011, 23:20

Interesting topic and something I would like but have been put off by seeing quite a few dirty tanks and imagine cleaning them to be a nightmare.Is this the case?

Depends on the set up really. You can get critters, filters and plants to keep the tank cleaner for longer. You can also keep the aquarium population down to slow down build-up of dirt and algae. Eventually even if you have done all of those it will want a manual clean but thanks to things like magnetic sponges and powered gravel cleaners you don't even have to get your hands wet to clean the inside of the tank.

ZrByte

17-02-2011, 23:36

Heres a preview of my tank with my new plants and bubble block active. I'm not sure I like it yet, think i need to move some bits round, get some more gravel and maybe some more plants.

joglynne

18-02-2011, 13:35

Interesting topic and something I would like but have been put off by seeing quite a few dirty tanks and imagine cleaning them to be a nightmare.Is this the case?
As ZB says it's fairly easy to set up a tank that doesn't take a lot of maintenance, it's all down to being careful in what you stock. Go for a "simple" goldfish and you will be up to your ears in cleaning in order to keep the tank looking clean, but a set up like mine takes 10 minutes a week to change 10% of the water and an hour every 6/8 weeks to give it a good clean and sort out the filter.
Heres a preview of my tank with my new plants and bubble block active. I'm not sure I like it yet, think i need to move some bits round, get some more gravel and maybe some more plants.

A couple more plants wouldn't come amiss but it takes time to get the tank tweaked to look how you want it so I am sure once it is conditioned you will have it a fitting home for it's new inhabitants.

If you are going down the shrimp route then I can highly recommend getting at least a couple of moss balls (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Moss-ball-live-aquarium-fish-tank-nitrate-filter-plant-/170603476903?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item27b8c277a7) as the shrimps love them and they help with the oxygen levels in your tank.

http://www.theaquaticlibrary.co.uk/index.php?mode=Profiles&id=566&PHPSESSID=dc4v43iqv1d8u6go3p5ps72865

I managed to take a couple of pictures of my current tanks but with them being curved I can't seem to get a clear picture that isn't obscured by the flash :dunce: The large moss ball in the second picture is about six inches across but it has just shed 2 small "babies" which you can just about make out at the bottom left of the glass. These balls aren't like normal algae and don't break up or coat the glass.

ZrByte

18-02-2011, 14:33

A couple more plants wouldn't come amiss but it takes time to get the tank tweaked to look how you want it so I am sure once it is conditioned you will have it a fitting home for it's new inhabitants.

If you are going down the shrimp route then I can highly recommend getting at least a couple of moss balls (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Moss-ball-live-aquarium-fish-tank-nitrate-filter-plant-/170603476903?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item27b8c277a7) as the shrimps love them and they help with the oxygen levels in your tank.

http://www.theaquaticlibrary.co.uk/index.php?mode=Profiles&id=566&PHPSESSID=dc4v43iqv1d8u6go3p5ps72865

I managed to take a couple of pictures of my current tanks but with them being curved I can't seem to get a clear picture that isn't obscured by the flash :dunce: The large moss ball in the second picture is about six inches across but it has just shed 2 small "babies" which you can just about make out at the bottom left of the glass. These balls aren't like normal algae and don't break up or coat the glass.

Definitely getting more plants but my gravel is too shallow to plant the ones I have properly so going to drain the tank and start again with probably double the gravel depth (Maybe less but if I buy that much I can always keep some in a bag spare).
I'm going to start with some cherry shrimp and maybe a few small fish. I know you can't see them but I actually have about 4 moss balls in the tank all tiny though. I've just looked at the photo and you can see one of them on the top of the broken brick on the left. Think I will get some more of those and also on the lookout for Java Moss because cherry shrimp graze on that apparently.

I really like your setups, Not so intrusive they take up the room but still quite big and beautiful to look at :tu:

joglynne

18-02-2011, 14:58

ZrByte

18-02-2011, 15:09

Save as much of the water as possible as it is at least partway conditioned and it would be a shame having to start from scratch.

A planting design I have seen used successfully by a friend has been to leave the middle front third of the gravel fairly shallow then bank up the side and back areas giving a shallow area centre front that he has made into a bumpy moss field for his browsers. The sides and front are planted up hiding his heater and filter with the whole tank looking like a stage.

I've seen a few people suggest that a half full tank is as easy to work with as an empty one so I think I'll just drain it halfway. I also have two large clean buckets I can store some more tank water in.
Really like that idea for the tank, Most I have seen start shallow but level at the front then build into a slope and generally double the gravel depth up at the back. Basic and a bit dull but does the job. Your friends design sounds much more interesting.

Halcyon

20-01-2013, 16:12

Here is a video of my tank:

http://youtu.be/JR9wv3ekARY

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=24143&stc=1&d=1358703972

joglynne

20-01-2013, 19:28

Looks good Halcyon. The fish all look very healthy. :tu:

Halcyon

20-01-2013, 20:50

Thankyou. I enjoy watching them swim. They all have their own characteristics and it is very relaxing.

joglynne

20-01-2013, 22:00

I would normally agree with you about the calming effect watching my fish has on me but I have had a disastrous few weeks loosing all eight of my guppies one after another for no apparent reason. All the tests I have carried out have been spot on and I even took a water sample to my local Aquarium in case I was reading my results wrongly.

The puzzling thing is that the other fish and shrimps in the tank are absolutely fine and some White Clouds have even given birth to live young that are thriving. Most puzzling and not at all a relaxing experience. :(

Dash: CF noob

21-01-2013, 01:13

Personally had no luck with guppies, but my Angel fish are doing well.

joglynne

21-01-2013, 11:56

I have had a few Angels in the past when we had a much larger tank and do admit to having a hankering to set up a larger community tank again so that I could indulge in some more exotic looking inhabitants. However I still shudder at the memory of coming home one day to find several gallons of water gracing my sitting room carpet and all my fish squished up in just a couple of inches of water. ... for some reason my filter pump went into overdrive and, as the feed back into the tank couldn't cope with the rate of water, treated my floor as an overflow area. It was lucky that the inlet to the pump was well above the gravel or I would have had a lot of dead fish and a very upset young son to cope with as well.

Halcyon

21-01-2013, 15:08

Have you got a photo Jo of your current setup?

joglynne

21-01-2013, 18:17

Nope, but I will try.

I don't seem to have the knack of taking photos of my tanks as the flash seems to obliterate the subject. :dunce: Mind all that you would see is a few moss balls and a couple of White Clouds. The fry seem to hide at the slightest movement anywhere around the tank and the Ghost Shrimp are invisible most of the time unless you catch them moving on a moss ball.

Any tips on taking a photo which will need extra light will be gratefully accepted. I have tried shining torches from the side but the fish went into hiding. :D My current Fluval Chi tank has a black backdrop and white gravel if that makes any difference to any advise you can give me Hal.

Graham M

21-01-2013, 18:30

Turn off the flash, if your aquarium has decent lighting you won't need it!

Here's my 2 :)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151259789323691.461930.734628690&type=1&l=7c47896c7d

joglynne

21-01-2013, 18:56

<Jo hangs head in shame at not thinking of that and goes to take picture>

OK so the best of a load of bad photos.

To get a clear shot I had to remove an air wall from the front of the tank that I am using to ensure the oxygen levels are as high as possible for the remaining inhabitants so there is now a fair bit of crud floating about. As a result of this the fry and shrimps are in hiding and the 2 White Clouds are very skittish but you get a good idea of how empty my poor tank looks at the moment. :( Oh just in case you can't see her the female White Cloud is hiding below the heater - bottom right - and you can just see her nose peeking out above her favorite moss ball at the back of the tank. :)

Halcyon

21-01-2013, 20:34

Here's my 2 :)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151259789323691.461930.734628690&type=1&l=7c47896c7d

Nice tank Graham. :tu:
I like the layout and how the fish have a hiding place too.
I have the same or similar Fluval filter as you.

Jo, your tank looks good. Are you going to restock it with more fish?

joglynne

21-01-2013, 21:10

Oooops, sorry Graham. In my embarrassment at not thinking to turn off the flash I didn't finish looking at your post. Very plump and happy looking fish you have there. :)

@ Hal. I do intend to restock once I have the tank sorted. No more guppies though.

I intend to to put a permanent air curtain at the back of the tank so once that arrives I will do a deep clean, check all the levels, then get a few more White Clouds. The fry should be a tad bigger and I will see how the tank looks as a single species community.

Graham M

21-01-2013, 21:42

Nice tank Graham. :tu:
I like the layout and how the fish have a hiding place too.
I have the same or similar Fluval filter as you.

Jo, your tank looks good. Are you going to restock it with more fish?

There's 2 tanks there, the 1 with the internal filter (Fluval U4) is running a Fluval 205 external, I don't really like Internal filters, they ruin the look but it's not really up to the task of a 200l tank even though it's rate as "upto", the 180l tank is running a 305 which is much more up to the task, think I'll be getting another of those :)

The hidey holes are important especially for Plecos and other Algae eaters which tend to be fairly nocturnal anyway, fish like places to hide away in general though, they need rest too!

Do either of you use aquarium salt, I started about 6 months ago and since then the fish seemed to be a heck of a lot healthier! I just follow the instructions on the carton and add about 3 heaped teaspoons to my 25l bottles I use to stow the water before I add it in with dechlorinator, don't go any more specific than than that as it's not exactly salt-water by any degree, I guess it could be described as brackish.

joglynne

21-01-2013, 22:22

I don't use salt in my small aquarium as I found it effected my moss balls and they are too precious to risk. IMO The oxygen/carbon dioxide/ammonia benefits of using the moss balls far out weighs any benefit the salt would give especially in small tanks.

I did use to use salt in my big tank if my fish seemed out of sorts and it did seem to do the job and I was happier doing that than using a lot of the 'cures' that were sold 10/20 years ago. If I had thought about it I would have used it in a hospitalisation tank this time but the fish that died all looked 100% OK before they died and never showed any signs of illness or stress.

Do you have any live plants in your aquariums Graham and if so what types?

Graham M

21-01-2013, 22:32

In the tank with my Catfish and Plecos I have a couple of Java ferns growing on Bogwood which I quite like, I bought them already planted, might try and grow my own as I've got 1 piece of bare bogwood and a couple of other pieces soaking at the moment (though doesn't seem to be much tannin leaking out!)

As for my tank with the Shubunkins etc, I don't know what they're called but there a sort of leafy reed that they like to munch on and they look quite nice too!

joglynne

21-01-2013, 22:51

Sounds as though you have a good balance then. The Java fern is a hardy plant and I do like them when they are combined with Bog wood. Maybe your new pieces have been pre-soaked or previously used in another tank. I couldn't believe how much brown stain I got out of the one small piece I used a few years ago. :D

Graham M

22-02-2013, 15:54

I added the Bogwood after only about 2.5 weeks soaking, I have been running Carbon in the filter anyway and can't see any discolouration of the water, my levels seem spot on, as close to 0/0 for Ammonia/Nitrite as my test strips can show and pretty low Nitrate levels thanks to fairly regular water changes, need to do a few changes in my other tank as the nitrate levels are a little high in there at the moment.

Went out and bought a Fluval 305 canister filter and a spray bar today to try and get the water moving a bit better in the tropical tank, going to run that and the 205 together.

I added 8 Neon tetras a couple of weeks ago and 2 tiny ones died, don't think they were very healthy anyway but the rest seem fine, so I've just added 8 male guppies today and they are adjusting gradually.

swoop101

22-02-2013, 19:05

I have just redone my tank

Graham M

25-02-2013, 00:01

My Aquariums, enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tkgPffOBo4&list=PLjJh2WxEU3fAfi5J9aT9lNUx-b5xUl5he

joglynne

25-02-2013, 09:55

Good looking aquariums Graham. The fish all look very contented and in good condition. :tu:

Halcyon

25-02-2013, 18:06

I have just redone my tank

Nice tank Swoop, plenty of nice places for your fish to hide in too.

I like your tank Graham and the fact you have a combination of massive fish and little ones too.

Graham M

25-02-2013, 18:21

I was warned off putting smaller fish with the Shubunkins as they might eat them but so far, none of them have shown any interest and they get fed twice a day anyhow, I could understand it if they happened to be starving

Halcyon

25-02-2013, 18:47

Do you find it best feeding Shubunkins twice a day?
I'm currently feeding mineonce a day but they do always seem hungry and ready to eat.

Every so often I give them a treat too.

Halcyon

21-03-2019, 22:09

I thought I’d resurect this thread.
I’m really into my tropical fish now.
Thought I’d share my setup with you all.

It is a community tank with the following fish:
Cardinal Tetra
Black Neon Tetra
Pearl Gourami
Honey Gourami
Otto’s
African Banded Barbs
Clown Loaches (Will be going in bigger tank soon)

Plants include:
Anubias, Anubias Nana, Cryptocoryne, Limbophila Heterophylla, and types of Echindorus.

Currently running a Fluval 406 Filter with Titanium Schego heater.
I use an inkbird itc 308 thermostat to set temperature and set min and high alarms.
The little white box at the front is a water detector and it will set off an alarm if there are any leaks in the cupboard.