Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping => Gallery Showcase => Topic started by: Littlefish on August 25, 2016, 09:28:52 PM

Title: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Littlefish on August 25, 2016, 09:28:52 PM
Well, the 125L tank originally housed the dwarf puffers. They were moved into two 70L tanks and the 125L tank was emptied, and moved out of the space so that the upgraded tank could move in.
The 125L tank was cleaned, then abandoned in the hallway so I could start working on the upgraded dwarf puffer tank.
Obviously I had plenty of time after each minor hiccup, while I waited for the substrate to settle enough for me to be able to see into the tank, so I decided to use the time to deal with the abandoned tank.
As I am rapidly running out of room, and the 125L is the smallest of my tanks that have cabinets, I decided that the hallway alcove (between the coat hooks and the cupboard under the stairs that houses the fuse box etc.) might be the place for it. By leaving enough room to still open the door to the cupboard enough for access I can now only use one coat hook, but sacrifices have to be made.  ;)
I have done some work on the tank,and now taken to dropping in the remaining plants that I want to use because I no longer have anywhere else I can put them. I hope to also finish planting this tank within the next day or so, then move the tiger barbs into their new home.  :)
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: ColinB on August 26, 2016, 07:47:24 AM
ooo - I like the background. What is it, please?

I'm also very impressed with the 'rock balanced on a branch' décor - inspired! :))
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Littlefish on August 26, 2016, 08:45:21 AM
@ColinB the background is just a stick on one I got from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AT674CG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8
Originally I bought it for when I set up the hillstream tank, but have used it on both tanks I've been working on recently.
The stone on wood thingy is actually to stop that piece of wood from floating, as it is taking a lot longer than the other pieces to sink. Knowing how active tiger barbs are, I wouldn't trust them with such a precariously balanced piece of decor. That could end up being an accident just waiting to happen.  :o  ::)  ;D
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Bovi on August 26, 2016, 11:45:55 AM
Very nice
I love that piece of wood it is a great shape
how many tanks do you have? I am imaging tanks everywhere
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Sue on August 26, 2016, 11:50:11 AM
how many tanks do you have? I am imaging tanks everywhere

With Littlefish, that's a bit like asking how long is a piece of string  ;D
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Littlefish on August 26, 2016, 01:23:36 PM
Sue is absolutely correct, that's why I have "total tank chaos" in my signature.
I've not long got back from MA, and they actually made me list my tanks. The cheek of youngsters these days.  ;D
There are tanks everywhere at the moment, but at least 4 of the 70L tanks will end up redundant. 2 of them I've never really liked the shape of, the other 2 can probably be kept for quarantine/emergencies.
When I get my last 2 large tanks delivered one of them will be used to combine 2 current tanks, but I have then officially run out of room for any more tanks.  :(
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Littlefish on August 26, 2016, 07:00:07 PM
The tiger barbs have been transferred to their new tank. They are going through their initial period of swimming around together and being very friendly, which is lovely, before they start to make the heirarchy more obvious through quite a bit of boisterous behaviour.
I'll post some pics when they are settled.
I think I'll leave cleaning out the empty tanks until tomorrow though, I'm exhausted.   :)
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: fcmf on August 26, 2016, 07:58:30 PM
Great news. Looking forward to seeing the pics in due course.
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Littlefish on August 27, 2016, 07:42:59 PM
This is the first time the tiger barbs have had any lights on, so they were a bit wary. They came out of the corner eventually, on the promise of food.
Apologies for the fuzzy blurs, but you know what my pics are like.  :)
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Matt on August 27, 2016, 08:13:11 PM
Love the mix of normal and green tiger barbs, I'm hoping to do something similar with normal and purple harlequins when I upgrade my community tank.
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Littlefish on August 27, 2016, 08:20:41 PM
Thanks.
I'd seen other tanks with a mix of colours and I liked the way it looked.
With the tiger barbs reputation for being nippy, which is why I'd had to remove the blue-eyed ancistrus from their tank, I felt it was better to just leave them on their own. I find the mix of colours adds some extra interest, and I have to admit that the green ones are my favourite.  :)
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Matt on August 27, 2016, 08:23:15 PM
You can get albino ones too  :isay:
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: fcmf on August 27, 2016, 08:25:55 PM
I think the pics and fish look great - good decision!
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Paddyc on August 27, 2016, 10:29:11 PM
Agree with the others, lovely pics and the mix of barbs is really cool... I'm still torn on buying more of the Harlequins or mixing them with purples or coppers... But I'd need to find a vendor for the non-regular Harlies first  :o
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Littlefish on August 27, 2016, 10:45:06 PM
Thanks all.  :)
I quite like the look when mixing colours of the same fish. Added bonus being that they also like exactly the same parameters and are likely to get on as a group.
I love harlequins. If I had soft water I would have a tank of different colour harlies.
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: ColinB on August 28, 2016, 07:17:16 AM
That's brilliant, Donna. You have a real talent for tank layout. A single species tank is a really good idea.
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Matt on August 28, 2016, 07:50:29 AM
@Paddyc My local MA has stocked purple harlies, also try freshwateraquatics.co.uk (http://freshwateraquatics.co.uk) for mail order.
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Littlefish on August 28, 2016, 09:06:44 AM
Thanks @ColinB
As you can see, the stone is still on the rock.  ::)
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Paddyc on August 28, 2016, 09:10:52 AM
@Paddyc My local MA has stocked purple harlies, also try freshwateraquatics.co.uk (http://freshwateraquatics.co.uk) for mail order.

Thanks mate, I'll maybe phone the two Dobbies I can get to and see if they have them. I'm willing to try recommended mail order vendors but the delivery charge would be at least the same cost as the fish themselves!  :o
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Sue on August 28, 2016, 09:57:01 AM
If you can't find the fish in any shop, ask if the shop you prefer can order them for you. That's what the shop where I've just got my fish did. Though if you want a differently coloured version of any fish, make sure you list all the possible names that variant might have. I forgot to mention to the shop that the colour variant of harlequin rasboras I was after had several names; I asked for purple harlequins and the wholesaler called them black harlequins, but the chap in the shop didn't realise they were the same thing. I've also seen these fish called midnight and royal harlequins. That's at least four names for the same fish!
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Paddyc on August 28, 2016, 10:35:04 AM
I asked for purple harlequins and the wholesaler called them black harlequins, but the chap in the shop didn't realise they were the same thing. I've also seen these fish called midnight and royal harlequins. That's at least four names for the same fish!

 :o :o :o

Will bear this in mind, Sue, thank you  :cheers:
Title: Re: Reworking the 125L tank - Littlefish
Post by: Sue on August 28, 2016, 10:50:43 AM
And I've just remembered a reference to "gold headed purple harlequins" as well  :)