Hi from a new-ish planted tank hobbyist in Georgia, USA!

[dru_girl]

I’m Dru_girl, a 44 y-o wife and mother of two. I’ve had fish in the past, but a few months ago I decided that I wanted to try a planted tank. I’ve got one five gallon tank with a female betta (Galadriel) and 3 nerite snails (Gollum, Deagol, and Denethor) (more on the snails later.) I chose a small planted tank because I have a connective tissue disorder that causes a lot of health issues and pain, so I can’t upkeep a large tank. After a lot of research I discovered that a planted tank, well executed, would cut down on physical labor. Now, the snails, I started with one (Gollum) but he wasn’t keeping the algae at bay and had stopped moving so I went to get one more. The store gave me two. Now I have the pH at a better place and all three are cleaning more, so I will have to give away two of them. I’m loving watching my tank flourish and I hope to keep it going for a very long time.

 

[Rocky998]

Welcome to the forum! I like your tank!

 

[Slaphppy7]

Welcome to TFF

 

[dru_girl]

Welcome to the forum! I like your tank!

Thank you!

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Don't give the snails away, just get another tank for them

There are ways of maintaining aquariums so you don't have to do much lifting. You can use a gravel cleaning attached to a garden hose and run it out the door. Then drain the tank water onto the lawn or garden.

To fill the tank, have a large water container and fill it with tap water from the garden hose. Add some dechlorinator to the container of water and aerate it for at least 5 minutes. Then use a water pump and length of hose to pump water from the container into the aquarium.

And if worse comes to worse, you have 2 slaves (I mean offspring) that can be made to clean tanks

 

[dru_girl]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Don't give the snails away, just get another tank for them

There are ways of maintaining aquariums so you don't have to do much lifting. You can use a gravel cleaning attached to a garden hose and run it out the door. Then drain the tank water onto the lawn or garden.

To fill the tank, have a large water container and fill it with tap water from the garden hose. Add some dechlorinator to the container of water and aerate it for at least 5 minutes. Then use a water pump and length of hose to pump water from the container into the aquarium.

And if worse comes to worse, you have 2 slaves (I mean offspring) that can be made to clean tanks

I do have a gravel siphon cleaner. I’ll keep the garden hose idea in mind! Don’t know if I trust the littles yet, maybe I’ll have them start out on the glass and work their way up.

 

[robmcd]

I love the names!! LOTR for the win.

You are going to want to get that Java fern out of the substrate and attached to some wood or a rock. They will die if planted like that. (at least I think that's a java fern I saw in there)

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Welcome!

 

[dru_girl]

I love the names!! LOTR for the win.

You are going to want to get that Java fern out of the substrate and attached to some wood or a rock. They will die if planted like that. (at least I think that's a java fern I saw in there)

Ooh! Thank you! I was wondering why it was suffering. I’ll do that asap.

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

I’m Dru_girl, a 44 y-o wife and mother of two. I’ve had fish in the past, but a few months ago I decided that I wanted to try a planted tank. I’ve got one five gallon tank with a female betta (Galadriel) and 3 nerite snails (Gollum, Deagol, and Denethor) (more on the snails later.) I chose a small planted tank because I have a connective tissue disorder that causes a lot of health issues and pain, so I can’t upkeep a large tank. After a lot of research I discovered that a planted tank, well executed, would cut down on physical labor. Now, the snails, I started with one (Gollum) but he wasn’t keeping the algae at bay and had stopped moving so I went to get one more. The store gave me two. Now I have the pH at a better place and all three are cleaning more, so I will have to give away two of them. I’m loving watching my tank flourish and I hope to keep it going for a very long time.

The betta is gorgeous

Hi and welcome to the forum

Don't give the snails away, just get another tank for them

There are ways of maintaining aquariums so you don't have to do much lifting. You can use a gravel cleaning attached to a garden hose and run it out the door. Then drain the tank water onto the lawn or garden.

To fill the tank, have a large water container and fill it with tap water from the garden hose. Add some dechlorinator to the container of water and aerate it for at least 5 minutes. Then use a water pump and length of hose to pump water from the container into the aquarium.

And if worse comes to worse, you have 2 slaves (I mean offspring) that can be made to clean tanks

Agreed.
Rule 1:
NEVER GIVE AWAY SNAILS

 

[MonsieurLaGrenuoille]

Hello, I would agree, never give them away but always think at the poor and hungry French people that would like to take them on.

 

[emeraldking]

Welcome to TFF...
Even small tanks can be a jewel at home...