Roma 240 slow burn...

[Wills]

Sorry to hear you've had a rough time but hopefully the tank can help as you get stuck back in Seeing the new growth (which you can see in your pics!) can be really rewarding!

I think the tank still looks good, once your tall plants at the back fill in again I think you'll see a big difference!

For the background have you considered a 3D one? Or something textured?

Wills

 

[Naughts]

Hi, I'm glad you're back and on the mend. Be kind to yourself, you'll get there.
For a black background I just get the aquarium poster type in black, slide it behind the tank then use ordinary cellotape to hold it in place.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Sorry to hear you've had a rough time but hopefully the tank can help as you get stuck back in Seeing the new growth (which you can see in your pics!) can be really rewarding!

I think the tank still looks good, once your tall plants at the back fill in again I think you'll see a big difference!

For the background have you considered a 3D one? Or something textured?

Wills

Thank you Wills, I'm glad to have a distraction and my passion for the hobby coming back. I'm excited for the possibilities no

For the background have you considered a 3D one? Or something textured?

I'm open to a 3D background but I wouldn't know where to look for one big enough to fit?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Hi, I'm glad you're back and on the mend. Be kind to yourself, you'll get there.
For a black background I just get the aquarium poster type in black, slide it behind the tank then use ordinary cellotape to hold it in place.

It's good to be back! ..

I've tried the poster thing with cellotape before now on a different tank and it drove me nuts because of the air bubbles....usually I'd wet it and smooth it on with a card to get the pockets out but I've got no room to do that with with this one, no way I can move it

 

[Wills]

Thank you Wills, I'm glad to have a distraction and my passion for the hobby coming back. I'm excited for the possibilities no

I'm open to a 3D background but I wouldn't know where to look for one big enough to fit?

There are quite a few around these days, you can get the ones that fit in panels like the Juwel ones (though some other brands doing this now a bit better). You can get partial backgrounds from brands like Back2Nature and you can get the full silicone backgrounds from brands like Aqua Decor. They are expensive starting at about £150 for a 4 foot tank, some of them will go to £300 too (and some a bit more than that) but coming round to them .

Wills

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

My big boy showing off...shame about the glare on the glass

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

I say big boy but he's not really, still got a lot of growing to do. I'm trying to feed everyone back up and I've got a nice variety of foods that I'm alternating between, I want to try them again with some fresh veggies too as I know plants make up the bulk of their diet

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Well I must be doing something right (although I might be giving myself too much credit)...

I've been observing a lot of breeding activities as of late. I sit in front of the tank first thing in the morning with my coffee to watch the fish. Its the best time of day to see their magnificent colours, they really show off as the 'sun' comes up.

There's one female in particular that the boys are chasing specifically, they each take turns herding her into the dense crypts. I haven't seen any eggs being released but I'm convinced that there have been as the other fish are extremely interested and are following them around in hopes of a snack.

So even if they are spawning, the eggs wouldn't survive a second in here. I would love to have a go at breeding them someday, I'm not in a position where I can do a good job of it. I mean....I do have a 60l tank lying around

 

[Wills]

Well I must be doing something right (although I might be giving myself too much credit)...

I've been observing a lot of breeding activities as of late. I sit in front of the tank first thing in the morning with my coffee to watch the fish. Its the best time of day to see their magnificent colours, they really show off as the 'sun' comes up.

There's one female in particular that the boys are chasing specifically, they each take turns herding her into the dense crypts. I haven't seen any eggs being released but I'm convinced that there have been as the other fish are extremely interested and are following them around in hopes of a snack.

So even if they are spawning, the eggs wouldn't survive a second in here. I would love to have a go at breeding them someday, I'm not in a position where I can do a good job of it. I mean....I do have a 60l tank lying around

Make a spawning mop! Could be wrong but I believe thats how you breed Rainbows They are looking fantastic though!

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

I've been toying with the idea, I won't lie! I know I'll be in a whole load of trouble if I do though it would make a wonderful project and I'm sure I'll love the experience but I just think it would consume me (as it should) and I've got other commitments already. Besides, I don't have the capacity for a bigger tank when the fry grow out of the 60l....and what would I do with them all?? That's assuming I'd even be successful

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

This one is my favourite, he's a little skinny at the moment but he displays the nicest colours...my phone camera doesn't do him justice

 

[Wills]

Did you buy them under any specific name? That darker blue colour on the front half is usually from one specific location... I can't remember the name though.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

No unfortunately, just Boeseman's Rainbowfish. He's a stunner though...

 

[WhistlingBadger]

You make me miss my old rainbowfish tank. There are other fish with more interesting behaviors, IMO, but nobody colors up like a big school of happy rainbowfish.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

You make me miss my old rainbowfish tank. There are other fish with more interesting behaviors, IMO, but nobody colors up like a big school of happy rainbowfish.

I agree on the behaviour, I think the cichlids tend to win the personality award but honestly, these guys are just constantly flaring and showing off to each other. Any time I look at the tank, the boys are either squaring up to each other or scrapping. I'll need to get more females in the near future to stop the relentless harassing I'm predicting. I'm still learning about rainbows so if you've any tips you can share they'd be welcome?