OliveFish05’s double tank journal and builds (20 gallon tropical community and 40 gallon axolotl tank)

Well I really regret going for black sand in my axolotl tank... It looks so unnatural and so dark and I kind of hate it. I wanted the axies to "pop", which they do, but the pink and yellow looks so unnatural on the black sand. I am glad I tried it, but I think I am going to switch it out for some pool filter sand. Some people can pull off black sand really well, like when it is heavily planted or has a lot of lovely red plants. Not having a light on the tank limits me and I think for such a low tech, simple setup tan sand is more my preference...

I did some work on both tanks yesterday and plan to post pictures tonight!

I totally forgot to update! Better late than never I guess….

The axolotls are doing great in their 40 gallon! They are very active, surprisingly. I have been thrilled by how Kirby’s gills have grown! First photo was September, second is this morning


And more photos today

And a full tank shot


The plants are filling it nicely. The Amazon swords were in rough shape (I forgot to give them root tabs) but are getting new leaves that are growing rapidly! My red swords came in awful shape, but are also sprouting the cutest, dark red leaves. I am debating buying some red melon swords, anacharis, and duckweed, not sure. It would just be nice to have that little bit of extra variety, but I don’t know. I am switching the black sand out for some tan play sand. If I don’t like it, I can just switch it back. I am also moving that piece of driftwood in the center of the tank. I dropped it and didn’t want to get my arm wet at the time so just left it.

OliveFish05 said:

I totally forgot to update! Better late than never I guess….

The axolotls are doing great in their 40 gallon! They are very active, surprisingly. I have been thrilled by how Kirby’s gills have grown! First photo was September, second is this morningView attachment 150299View attachment 150296


And more photos todayView attachment 150300View attachment 150301View attachment 150302

And a full tank shot
View attachment 150303

The plants are filling it nicely. The Amazon swords were in rough shape (I forgot to give them root tabs) but are getting new leaves that are growing rapidly! My red swords came in awful shape, but are also sprouting the cutest, dark red leaves. I am debating buying some red melon swords, anacharis, and duckweed, not sure. It would just be nice to have that little bit of extra variety, but I don’t know. I am switching the black sand out for some tan play sand. If I don’t like it, I can just switch it back. I am also moving that piece of driftwood in the center of the tank. I dropped it and didn’t want to get my arm wet at the time so just left it.

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WOAH! Very nice.

Tacocat said:

WOAH! Very nice.

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Thank you!

Time for an update! Axie tank first.

I switched the sand out, finally. It took soooo long. I also got a cheap, $16 light that I am quite liking. I’m testing out the brightness so the axolotls are comfortable, and also buying some duckweed soon. So that will, very quickly I’m sure, provide plenty of cover. I’m feeling like the back of the tank just needs something. I’m going to put a background on there next time I’m at my LFS, and may buy some jungle vals to fill in some back there!

The big anubias detached from the rocks, so I’ll be fixing those. And the glass definitely deserves a good scrubbing. The umbrella palms are starting to grow! All the little baby plants are starting to making their way to the surface, and I noticed this last night. It’s new leaves growing on one of the existing sprigs!

And now an update for the 20 gallon. Most of the fish are doing well. I lost one neon tetra and one Pygmy Cory. The Pygmy Cory was hurt by the siphon while I did a water change, and I feel really awful. A family member ran over my tank light with the vacuum cleaner and it damaged the cord. I didn’t have a light on my tank for like 2 weeks and the plants were clearly suffering, I lost a lot of them. So I decided to move them around a little bit, and now they’re all on one side of the tank. I need to just order a new light, maybe even the same one that’s on the top tank… I am also needing to work out a background for this tank too. I meant to enter it in the tank of the month contest, but missed the deadline!

I just realized I’ve never posted a photo of what makes the tanks “double”!

And some photos of the axolotls the other day. Ponyo, the lucy with the longer face, has the cutest little kink in his Gill. It’s always been there

your axos are looking good

Colin_T said:

your axos are looking good

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Thank you! Ponyo, the larger Lucy, is looking a little bit skinny, so I’ve started feeding them more pellets. My LFS hasn’t had black worms in weeks

Oh wow, this one's sailed past me for a while, so glad I looked. The axolotls are totally beyond what I've seen online before, so strange and pretty! The translucent tummy where you can see their insides is so cool, too! Can see it with my blue phantom plec, always really interesting to look at.
Love the way both tanks look, your ability to build up projects like these out of thin air is very impressive.

OliveFish05 said:

And some photos of the axolotls the other day. Ponyo, the lucy with the longer face, has the cutest little kink in his Gill. It’s always been thereView attachment 151947View attachment 151948View attachment 151949View attachment 151949View attachment 151950View attachment 151952View attachment 151951View attachment 151953View attachment 151952

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Half of me is squealing in delight over the cute axie pinkness. Half of me is squirming in discomfort at those yellow... things...
You have one amazing tank there, two actually! Beautiful

Salt said:

Half of me is squealing in delight over the cute axie pinkness. Half of me is squirming in discomfort at those yellow... things...
You have one amazing tank there, two actually! Beautiful

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I think the golden albino (yellow) is the prettiest! And she has the cutest lil feet. Thank you!

PlasticGalaxy said:

Oh wow, this one's sailed past me for a while, so glad I looked. The axolotls are totally beyond what I've seen online before, so strange and pretty! The translucent tummy where you can see their insides is so cool, too! Can see it with my blue phantom plec, always really interesting to look at.
Love the way both tanks look, your ability to build up projects like these out of thin air is very impressive.

Click to expand...

Aren't they absolutely incredible? I am just crossing my fingers and hoping against all odds that all 3 are males or all 3 are females, or even that 2 are females and only one is male so I don't have to separate them!
I saw your blue phantom pleco, absolutely stunning!
Thank you! It feels so nice to finally have it at the place where the plants are filling in nicely and only a few minor things I need to change. Even my plants are recovering from 2 weeks without light!

The tank is a mess right now. It’s time for a water change and trim. I forgot to give my swords root tabs again snd they’re doing poorly


I wish I had better pictures, but I think these show just how much the axolotls have grown!

They got some live night crawlers for the first time yesterday! I’ve finally accepted that my LFS isn’t going to be getting black worms anytime soon. I am thinking about switching up some things in the 40 gallon. Moving all the plants to clay pots and taking out the rocks altogether. I have several really nice clay pots that i can use, I think it would be really cool. I’m having a hard time managing the plants the way they are right now.