48L Betta/community Tank Journal

[Alm0stAwesome]

Thanks! Actually most of the poop has now disappeared. This afternoon when the lights came on I was like WOAH where did all this poo come from but it has mostly disappeared now. Also I fed daphinia today and there seem to be a lot of bits in my frozen daphinia that my fish don't like to eat but they seem pretty much all gone now too. Do you think that with the corys scooting around that it all eventually makes its way to the filter? With the daphinia it's possible that they eventually break down and eat the bits that are less appetising. I don't think anyone has eaten the poo because if any of them accidentally eat a bit of poo they quickly spit it back out.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Maybe it is making it's way to the filter...after switching to sand, the best part was the nothing falls down into it like with gravel. Much cleaner tank. I do have a spot in my tank where it all blows and piles behind some wood...I just make sure to get the spot during water changes.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I've also noticed that there seems to be quite a bit of trapped air under the sand, I can see it along the sides of the tank. I did run my fingers though it after part filling the tank and it was like I had an airstone in there! Should I try and release the air or is it not a problem?

 

[FishFanatic04]

hmmm not sure if that's an issue or not. If it's just air maybe you can just stir it some whenever you are doing maintenance. I'm sure someone will pipe in if its a problem.

 

[Biulu]

Your tank is very nice and so is your betta. I also hava a mustard gas but a plakat. I wasn't sure having seen the first pictures but now that I have seen them all I AM sure that you have a mix of hengelis and espeis. The ones that have the fluorescent colour all over their body are the espeis and the ones that only have a little bit around the 'nike' black stripe are hengelis.

It is a common problem; I got 'espeis' from 2 different sources and the first source actually did supply me with espeis and the second source gave me hengelis. Luckily these guys do shoal together though....

 

[minnnt]

Nice change AA. The Cories look so much happier.

As for the air in the sand, it won't cause any harm, but if you want to you could run your fingers through it just to release it a little. A few Malaysian Trumpet Snails do wonders for keeping the sand aerated and 'loose'

When vac-ing the substrate whirl the siphon around at about an inch above the substrate. This will pick up any detritus that has settled on top and straight up your tube.

Good work on the reflector. I just used tin foil on a few of my older tanks.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Thanks for your replies everyone I am really pleased with the end result (however, I'm not sure how long the reflectors are going to last lol!)

 

[Joshwainwright]

Lovely tank! Makes me want to start a little project myself, but considering I'm only just getting back to my 125L - I can't see it happening ahah.

Don't want to be jumping in the deep end

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Thanks Josh Good luck with your restart!

 

[Joshwainwright]

Thanks Josh Good luck with your restart!

Thanks, good luck with whatever you plan to do next

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Would you guys mind giving me some advice on stocking a 125L Fluvial Roma please? Dimensions are

80 x 35 x 45 cm​

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[font="Arial]I've got 1 betta, 6 espei rasbora (well you know the deal but let's just call them that for simplicity's sake) and 3 sterbai cory. I'd like to up the numbers of the cory and the rasbora but I'd also like to add some cardinal tetras. Could you guys give me an idea of the numbers I could get away with?[/font]​

[font="Arial]
[/font]​

[font="Arial]Also my pH is 8.0 will cardinal tetras be able to thrive in those water conditions? My current stock prefer to be below 8.0 as well but I think they all are recommended for up to 7.5 so it's not as extreme for them.[/font]​

 

[Biulu]

I have the same tank dimensions as you do! I currently have 7 'espeis' and will up the numbers to 12 at least, then will have 8 cherry barbs.

I am keeping cardinals in another tank and my pH is 7.6 and they are doing well. In case of doubt, why don't you ask the store in which pH they are kept? If it is a local store, it is likely that they have the same pH and you should be fine.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Thanks Biulu I don't have the 125L yet but I will eventually! That's a good point about asking at the LFS but since we are all in the same town will it not be the same?

 

[TheJ0kerrr]

Congrats on a very nice tank with happy/healthy looking fishies! You make me consider adding a betta to my 10 gallons along with WCMM (I keep them at 26C) and corys... Just waiting on the cycle to be completed.

Also "definetly" awesome (as opposed to "almost") pictures and videos. And you say you're just getting started, so I can't wait to see what you can do with a 125L later

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Thanks so much Joker! Good luck on your tank

Ok guys so the aggression between my rasboras was bugging me so I went ahead and got another two (to thin out the squabbling) and well...the tank is looking decidedly busier! The 125L may be a little closer in my future then previously imagined lol - it's amazing the difference that just two of those little fellas has made to how full the tank looks! I mean I still can't imagine getting the bigger tank before maybe August as there is just too much happening in the "House of Awesome" to think about setting up a new tank - besides I'm sure they really are fine, right? (oh and the rasboras are still fighting, doh!)

In other news, I have made another decision that I'm a little nervous about (eee when will I stop!) I ordered 5 Malaysian trumpet snails off ebay to help keep my sand pristine. I know that snails are something that have gone very wrong for a lot of people but I am obsessive about a clean tank! So watch this space for the ever predictable "I Have Been Overrun!" post in a couple of months' time Oh and then there's the fact that my betta may just demolish them!

I ordered a turkey baster for the sand at the same time - this girl has issues!