#tank plans

[charming-eel]

Basic plan for the layout of my 125g redo. The plants are just “loosely” biotope based but I’m going to try to be more strict with the fish selections. I’m going to be trying some new things with this tank, which I’ll elaborate on later :)

[fishxmama]

I got my tank today! Now I’m broke until October, but it was worth it.

Now let me tell you about this. I went to P*tsmart with the intention of getting a 5 gallon kit that was on sale for $30. Then I saw this glorious beast sitting next to it. 10 full gallons, included everything the 5 gal had, PLUS a heater & thermometer, and even a net! And it was only $48! I was planning on spending $20 on a heater/thermometer alone, which would have already put me a $50, and the tank would have only been half the size. So needless to say I am very excited.

I haven’t filled it yet, but I’ll be getting some old water and an old filter from my friend next door to help start cycling it :) Then I’ll start getting the planters and plants and what not.

I included a (very rough) Snapchat rendition of the picture I posted earlier. It includes 3 anubais plants, some javafern, duckweed, a weird black peice of driftwood because snap doesn’t have brown for some reason, a halfmoon plakat, some mystery snails and random non-specific tetras. I don’t know if I will actually end up trying to add another species of not, beause of all the possible complications, and IF I did it wouldn’t be until the new betta was healthy and able to defend himself, but I really like the idea of having a little school that could cohabit with the boy.

Anyways, I’m just super excited and ready to get this thing cycled and planted. I had a weird moment of anxiety actually spending the $50 for the tank at the store, but now that it is set up and becoming real it is so worth it. I missed this 😍

[fishxmama]

Now that it's done, I thought it would be fun to do a "masterpost" that shows all the stages, from initial planning to completion! I'm couldn't be happier with the results :)

[fishxmama]

Okay so I know that literally yesterday I posted my stocking plans (and literally this whole thing started with my need for a betta), but I saw this beautiful guppy fishblr and...

I mean aren't guppies kind of like tiny passive bettas? Dramatic fins, colorful flare, and a whole buttload of personality.

So yeah anyway now I think it's gonna be a guppy tank. 👌 Just males though, since its only a 10g and I don't want to risk overcrowding with fry.

[thedarksideofthefey]

I am now super duper determined to have tunnels in my next tank and tube motels for my loaches... BOTIA AND PANGIO TOGETHER IN THE SECRET TUNNNEEEELLLLSSS

This is also because i *somehow* keep/maintain a breeding population of loaches and i kinda wanna start watching the variations and interbreeding a little more closely so i know if i'm accidentally creating hybrids and if so what kinds etc

Like i am fully, 100% ready to go full nerd with this project...

[charming-eel]

Some decent progress. Tossed the driftwood in just to test the placement. I’ve gotten all the substrate out and am scraping the last of the coraline off the walls. My FX4 got here today so hopefully in a day or so the tank will be clean enough to start officially cycling. I ordered the bulk of the substrate today as well, trying grow-pro “soft belly substrate” mixed with some play sand and whatever else I have left over lying around. Lights should get here in a few days as well.

[candoia-aspera]

Ideas for the 72 so far:

Oscar -

Pros: Oscars are amazing. Cons: Tank is good for one oscar and literally nothing else. Too messy, too big and too grouchy for tankmates in that space.

Goldfish -

Pros: Good for 4-5 goldfish for their entire lives and goldfish are wonderful. Cons: Species-only. Again, too messy and too big for tankmates.

Everybody Out -

Pros: Can move everyone and everything from the 40 and various QTs into one larger community tank, freeing up the 40 for other shenanigans. Cons: It will take me 3000 years to move everything, not everyone has finished QT yet so it wouldn’t happen until the end of September at least and the discus will never forgive me.

[itsdetachable]

I’m seriously considering making Stormy’s tank a Buce tank - Bucephalandras are just GORGEOUS, I’d love to get some Firebird and Red Gaia and maybe Brownie Purple?? Their irridescence would work so well with his colors, and I can attach them to rocks and keep the minimalist look I’m going for..