The Pre-Project Project

While we're waiting to see if moving will happen in the next month or so the big tank project is on hold.  So I'm looking into a smaller project in the interim. 

Got a free 30 l tank today.  No equipment with it and it's plastic.  If I had to do something with it it'd be cold water only (Shiners!  Too small.) because I'd be scared of a heater melting it.  As it's lightweight I may just keep it around as an emergency tank.

I have a couple of other toes in the water (not literally) inc. a 60 l tank with a 60 cm internal length which I should be picking up on Saturday.  There may possibly be a slightly larger tank on the table too.  My wife, who is the most lovely and kindly best wife ever (dictated), has pretty much given me final veto depending on viewing of the aquaria.

Options for projects bouncing around in my head are:
1)  Apistogramma agassizii and pencilfish (taking my own advice).
2)  Celestial pearl danio species only.
3)  Papua New Guinea - Peacock Goby/Forktail Blue Eyes/Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish (dependant on tank volume).
4)  Using a tank to house the African dwarf frogs and a new halfmoon dumbo betta.

Whatever I choose it will be a planted tank using plants that can eventually be used to plant the big tank when it's time.  There'll be some aquascaping going on.  All up in the air right now.  Hopefully there'll be some room for DIY in there. 

There'll be photos so let me know what you like the sound of or alternatives that may be fun.  Arggh!  Way past my bedtime. 

All the options sound good to me except for half of option 4. I would not put a betta in with frogs. Been there, done that, and would never ever do it again.


Bettas are greedy bendy fish and will eat all the frogs' food before they can find it. Even hiding it in a cave won't deter a betta as they'll find a way in. Mine got into an upside down terracotta plant pot with the tiniest holes cut in the rim, and a stone over the hole on the bottom of the pot.
Frog's have extremely poor eyesight and will mistake the betta for food. I found my betta frantically swimming round the tank with a frog clamped to his tail. He ended up with severe finrot from the site of the bite. The frogs were moved into my quarantine tank after that.



I personally like the apisto/pencilfish option as I've had both fish, and I also like peacock gudgeons - I currently have 5 of them.

I have to say you've got some great ideas and I'm looking forward to seeing what you decide to go for, the volcano aquascape sounds very cool, similar to an idea for what I might do in my 3 foot tank which I think I will partition into two... Good luck with it all and don't forget pics! 

There is a lot of love for peacock gudgeons, they are very pretty fish. 

Tank day....hooray....

I'm excited too - MTS by proxy (phrase coined by Anne) - looking forward to seeing the pics later.

Lights - measure the width of the tubes. If they are 1 inch across - ie eight eighths - they are T8s. If they measure five eighths, they are T5s. Do the tubes have anything written on them at all? As a general rule, fluorescent lighting should be replaced every 12 months.

Underlay - are the tanks flat bottomed or floating bases? The trims make them look like floating bases in the photos.
If there is a gap between the base glass and the cupboard and the tank stands on the trim, you don't need anything under the tank. But if the whole of the bottom glass is in contact with the cupboard you do need something. I have used both polystyrene tiles and foam base mats designed for aquarium use. The latter are of course more expensive.

Very exciting - keep us posted on the step-by-step progress. 

Cleaned and sterilised the new tanks.  Used a steam cleaner which was interesting.  Usually I'd go with a bleach solution.  Tested for leaks and everything is OK.

Got a 200 W heater for the 90 l which should be plenty and have a spare on the way.  Purchased a couple of Fluval Aquasky LED's to replace the T8 bulbs (thanks @Sue ).  Picked up a teeny tiny EF-150 external filter from All Pond Solutions.  Should provide plenty of filtration.  On the whole I paid less than the Fluval Roma 90 would cost new.  Although it's not looking like a total bargain anymore I'm confident the equipment I've got for it is better than the standard set.

All the hardscape has been purchased already or is on its way for the 90 l.  Pretty much as described in previous post.  Will be putting it in place over the weekend.  Will be making some DIY caves for the gudgeons. 

Not all of the hardscape items have arrived in time.  Will update next when I have hardscape done.

Here's the hardscape.  Hardscape is inspired by photos I looked up of streams in Papua New Guinea.

Frosted the background glass of the tank using some window film applied to the outside.  You can see some water in the tank as I'm spraying to keep the Tropica substrate damp.

Next up will be the softscape.  Plants were ordered yesterday.  Next pic when it's setup.

PS.  Does anyone know why my pics keep going southern hemisphere?