60L Daisy's Ricefish Tank

[MattW]

After the design failures of my first attempt at a paludarium, I decided to return to the basics of a planted aquarium. The design was going to be a simple two-part aquascape. Heavily planted at the back with a retaining wall protecting the foreground. I originally had a scape planned using lava rock and spiderwood as the retaining wall. However, after finding some Scottish cobbles and older driftwood I had lying around I decided to go with them instead. The foreground consists of fine sand as a base layer with a fine gravel and pea pebble coating followed by the cobble wall (sounds like I'm presenting a dish at a fancy restaurant). I was unsure about the weight of the cobbles so I added an egg crate to disperse the weight evenly. All substrate was washed before being added as I've had issues with cloudy water previously (foreshadowing incoming). As for the background I went for the old faithful JBL Manado as the substrate included with Tetra Crypto as the plant food. The majority of the manado was from my old tank so beneficial bacteria was present instantly. I then filled up the tank and left it a day before planting.

Adding the plants only seemed to make things worse initially. I struggled with cloudy water for a few days even resorting to API Accu-clear at one point. At first, I assumed that disturbing the substrate from planting was the cause of the cloudiness. However, It may have been a beneficial bacteria die-off as the only inhabitants were some ramshorns who were being used as "guinea pigs" before adding any other stocking. All the plants were from established setups so a more than sufficient amount of BB was present for the small bioload of a few ramshorns. A few large water changes improved the clarity.

As for the plants here's the up-to-date list. Some have been removed and added since these pictures. Quite a bit of growing will also have to happen to see all the species

Flora ​

Alternanthera Reineckii
Anubias barteri var. nana
Anubias barteri caladiifolia
Bacopa Amplexicaulis
Bacopa Caroliniana
Bucephalandra biblis
Bucephalandra pygmea Bukit Kelam
Bolbitis heudelotii
Cryptocoryne nurii "Rose Maiden"
Hygrophila polysperma
Limnophila hippuridoides
Limnophila sessiliflora "Ambulia"
Ludwigia repens
Rotala rotundifolia H'ra
Rotala Nanjenshan
Schismatoglottis prietoi
Vallisneria spiralis Rubra

Fauna ​

5 x Oryzias woworae
1 x Zebra Nerite snail
+ Ramshorn Snail(s)

I let the tank sit for a couple of days before adding anything new. This now brings the tank up to its current state. I added in the 5 Daisys along with my aging zebra nerite snail today. After I added in the ricefish I added a whole 30ml bottle of API quick start to boost the BB colonies as a food source for the bacteria was now present. I've also added a cutting of a marble variety of Epipremnum to help with filtration. The filter sponge in the top left was also from an established tank which I'm leaving in for a week or two to help season the aquarium. It is also held into place by a trusty washing peg so hopefully, it will not come loose

As for what happens next I will monitor water quality with daily tests and do large WC's if needed. As for adding to the current stocking, there are a lot of choices to choose from which I've been looking at. I am currently considering adding to the ricefish numbers and just getting some low-grade neocaridina shrimp to see if I can finally get a colony going. I'll update in about a week or so

 

[WhistlingBadger]

That's a species I'd like to try. Nice looking setup so far.

 

[fishorama]

I like it! That's quite a few kinds of plants in there! Beware stem plants in a small tank, lol. I see lots of trimming in your future. With all those plants & few fish you shouldn't see much if any ammonia or nitrite...or nitrate either. It's almost like "silent cycling" & will be in a week or 2 when the plants take off.

 

[Jinx_]

I'm crying this is so beautiful

I WANT MORE TANKS RAAAHHHHH

 

[MattW]

That's a species I'd like to try. Nice looking setup so far.

They are a great fish to keep! I've not been very successful with breeding at the moment. If I were to intentionally breed them I think I'd have a load of babies right now. I've had one female with over 12 eggs attached at one point before.

I like it! That's quite a few kinds of plants in there! Beware stem plants in a small tank, lol. I see lots of trimming in your future. With all those plants & few fish you shouldn't see much if any ammonia or nitrite...or nitrate either. It's almost like "silent cycling" & will be in a week or 2 when the plants take off.

Thank you! Yep, I'm aware of how quickly stem plants can take over an aquarium You should see my 90L at the moment most stems are at the surface now. Yes, I'm hoping! Because of the smaller bioload any ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate levels should be low. I did put in a few root tabs for the stems so we'll see how well they do with that.

I'm crying this is so beautiful

I WANT MORE TANKS RAAAHHHHH

Thanks!! I do love the 60L cube aquariums which is what you have as well right? I really like your setup as well! I'm thinking of getting some shrimp to go in here. Managed to find an eBay seller selling some culls at £1 each which is the lowest price I've seen for shrimp atm. I'm trying to go for an overgrown look with the stems at the back so the fish have an area to retreat to if needed.

 

[Essjay]

I'm trying to go for an overgrown look with the stems at the back so the fish have an area to retreat to if needed.

Not to mention lots of plants to pull the eggs from a female as she swims through them and to give any fry somewhere to hide

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I always start my Walstad tanks with a ton of stem plants to serve as fast-growing ammonia sponges, then gradually eliminate them as they get leggy, I get tired of trimming, and the slower growers (I'm especially partial to crypts) start to take over.

 

[MattW]

Not to mention lots of plants to pull the eggs from a female as she swims through them and to give any fry somewhere to hide

Hadn't thought of that . I've been thinking of increasing the numbers. If I can't get any fry to survive I was thinking of adding 5 more daisy's. Would 10 be a decent group? My local Maidenhead seems to be the only place that I've recently been to that stocks them sadly.

I always start my Walstad tanks with a ton of stem plants to serve as fast-growing ammonia sponges, then gradually eliminate them as they get leggy, I get tired of trimming, and the slower growers (I'm especially partial to crypts) start to take over.

I wish I had added more quick growers when I started my 90L, could have shortened the length of time it took to add stocking. When it comes to Limnophila sessiliflora I don't "plant" it anymore. A simple lead plant weight is all I do now. Plus it allows me quick access to the bottom of the stems that I thin out every few weeks. I wish my crypts would spread more. The only one that seems to send runners for me is Parva and Undulatus

 

[Essjay]

If I can't get any fry to survive I was thinking of adding 5 more daisy's. Would 10 be a decent group?

Yes that would be good.

I was lucky, a local shop had them in when I bought them.