Tank-move/upgrade/cycling

Husband: 'Why are you measuring that corner?!'
Me: 'Err....'

 

Having the tank up and running is great and very enjoyable, but has of course also led to more questions that need answers! (A fishkeeper's work is never done!).

1. Pictures: I need to work out how to attach pictures -  it's the rule after all. I know it's come up in other posts and will have a look - sticky post maybe?

2. Stocking: lots more research to be done, I'm currently thinking adding either rainbowfish & pseudomugil furcatus (i e. species that are at the warmer end of what my platies and cardinals like) or red-eye tetras and something else danios maybe (at the cooler end). Am hoping to lure the family out to a 'garden centre' tomorrow, that, much to my 'surprise' will 'unexpectedly' contain a decent LFS  I need to do more research after all.

3. Lighting!: my Fluval roma 240 came with two standard tubes - an Aqua Glo T8 and a Power Glo T8. They seem fine, and are probably bright enough for the stuff I've got in my tank: java fern, java moss, vallisneria and hornwort, and one other plant. Like other folks here I don't like the abrupt switch between on and off. Sadly, science and I never really got on so although I've read Simon's thread re his DIY LED lights and looked at Darren website, unfortunate that was a bit beyond me. Maybe I'll limber up to more advanced lighting at some point, but for the moment I'm wondering a) if I should add reflective tape on the inside of the hood, and b) how to add a single strip of blue/moonlight LED lights to the inside of the hood. If someone here was able to offer advice, that would be hugely appreciated. In terms of skills, I can wire a plug but that's about the extend of my electrical knowledge.

Cheers,
Mascha

 Sorry for slow reply Sue - it's been busy with all sorts.

1/ Re photos, I tried attaching one on my tablet and came up against the photo size issue. Will try with the desk top when I get a moment. Hopefully that will include snaps of new fishes that I'm hoping to buy tomorrow 

2/ Been umming and arring but I really fancy forktail,  so hoping to buy a nice number tomorrow.

3/That's right, no cover glas,  so will have a look at stick on strips.

Off to the LFS tomorrow to buy new fishes! Very excited 

Fish shopping tomorrow - hooray! 
Have a fantastic day and post some pictures when you can. 

Well, it was a very successful shopping trip. I came home with 8 Pseudomugil furcatus, 2 zebra nerite snails (to keep my other snail company), plants (hygrophilia - sp?) and a small pot of floating plants.

The forktails are brilliant! I'm so glad I took the time to research suitable fish for my tank. They are very lively fish that love exploring the top of the tank - which is great as that was quite empty - apart from the odd platy. They're great fun to watch. Their presence also seems to have made the platies and cardinals braver, as they are swimming a bit more out in the open.  They definitely coloured up a bit after arriving jn their new home, but of course these being juvenile rainbowfish, it'll be a while before they'll reach their full colour potential. The guy at the LFS claimed he gave me 3 males and 5 females, though I'm struggling to see any difference.

Working today, but really will try to pst a pic today!

Indeed... I do like those Pseudomugils.

Indeed... I do like those Pseudomugils.

Me too as the males are so pretty. I'm interested to see how Mascol gets on with them, mine have always died from dropsy and having spent considerable time inspecting the ones in MA they seem to have the same problem, about 90% of their fish sit at the surface gulping for air.

Great news on your fish. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures (hint, hint). 

I'm surprised they didn't question you about the tank.

At least one of the guys @ MA knows almost as much about my tanks as I do, as does one of the guys at the independent LFS, so I tend to get asked "which tank are they going in?", "do you want that tank we've got on sale?" and then spend 10 minutes looking at pictures on their phones as an update on their projects.

Oops, and all of a sudden two months have gone by! That's what happens when work is busy, and sons are off school.

Im pleased to report that things are generally well in the Roma 240, and that the tank and it's inhabitants have survived our first two-week summer holiday. We'll mostly.....

It's always a little nerve wracking  coming back after a two week summer holiday and wondering what you are going to find. Luckily the tank was looking well although I've lost one pseudomugil unfortunately. One of the big female platys has also disappeared *(no remains foundd) but everything else is hunky dory.

But it's late so more updates to follow soonish.

Not made any progress on replacing my old 90 litre yet, but when I get to it I'm hoping to put lamprologus ocellatus in it.

Ooh nice. I love shell dwellers 

My water is too soft for them and I don't want to go down the route of adding Rift Lake salts at every water change, so if you get them maybe we should resurrect the idea of 'tank twinning' people with soft and hard water