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Think Fish Tropical Fish Forum => Introductions and hello's => Topic started by: TrenchyLs on May 03, 2017, 07:08:46 PM

Title: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: TrenchyLs on May 03, 2017, 07:08:46 PM
Evening all.

I'm new to tropical fish keeping.  Many years ago I did an awful job with some fairground goldfish that seemed like a good idea at the time (the kids were interested for approximately eight minutes!) so I did a lot of research this time.

Unfortunately, most of it was after the initial impulse buy of a used 120L tank and stand from Gumtree.  "Everything you need to get started" might be one of the top 10 lies told to people on the Internet!

Too many pounds and internet hours later I have a moderateley planted and stocked tank and loads of questions about what happens next!

Looking forwards to learning the ropes and maybe helping others in the future.

Cheers,
Spence
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: Littlefish on May 03, 2017, 07:17:17 PM
Hi there and welcome to the forum.  :wave:

I only started with fish around 18 months ago, and the information I found on this forum got me through my first fishless cycle before I even joined. Since then the people here have got me through several fish-related incidents, are very knowledgeable and supportive.  ;D
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: MarquisMirage on May 03, 2017, 07:23:01 PM
Everything you need to get started

But it's a true statement.  They just don't give you everything you need to get finished! :D  Welcome to the forum Spence.  What kind of fish have you gone for?
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: Sue on May 03, 2017, 07:34:26 PM
Hi, welcome to the forum  :wave:

Besides a full list of what's in the tank, we are also waiting with bated breath for photos  ;D



I started out with goldfish too. My teenaged sons came home from the fair with 4 goldfish they'd won throwing darts. They spent their first night in a mixing bowl  :o   [The fish, that is, not the sons  ;D ]
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: Littlefish on May 03, 2017, 07:39:01 PM

I started out with goldfish too. My teenaged sons came home from the fair with 4 goldfish they'd won throwing darts. They spent their first night in a mixing bowl  :o   [The fish, that is, not the sons  ;D ]

That would have had to have been quite some mixing bowl if it had been your sons.  ;D
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: TrenchyLs on May 03, 2017, 07:41:30 PM
But it's a true statement.  They just don't give you everything you need to get finished! :D  Welcome to the forum Spence.  What kind of fish have you gone for?

Hmmmm.  60L rated filter, a 50W (broken) heater and an absolutely lethal (and horribly corroded) lighting circuit cost me a bit more than expected to sort out but proved invaluable "learning experiences" :o

I've kept it beginner friendly with the fish which is very out-of-character:
After getting the tank cycled with ammonia I started with 8 fairly bombproof  White Cloud Mountain Minnows (prettier than the standard unkillable Zebra Danios).

After they seemed happy for a couple of days I added 8 Neon Tetras and 3 Dwarf Gourami.

A couple of weeks later, the tanks has started to show a bit of "character" so I've added 6 Panda Corys and a Bristlenose.

So far everyone seems to be getting along!
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: TrenchyLs on May 03, 2017, 07:53:10 PM
Hi, welcome to the forum  :wave:

Besides a full list of what's in the tank, we are also waiting with bated breath for photos  ;D

The list is in my signature and the previous post and a photo should be just below (I hope).
(http://i.imgur.com/y5VhU3Z.jpg)

Not the best photographer and I was messing about with the manual settings on my phone!
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: Littlefish on May 03, 2017, 07:57:14 PM
Wow, you managed to get a pic with your bristlenose at the front.  8)
 Mine are very reluctant to stay visible when there is a possibility of pictures.
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: TrenchyLs on May 03, 2017, 08:08:00 PM
Wow, you managed to get a pic with your bristlenose at the front.  8)
 Mine are very reluctant to stay visible when there is a possibility of pictures.

It was a bit of a fluke TBH!

He's been in for about 5 days now and after hiding behind the heater for the first couple, he (she?) is quite active now that he's settled in.
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: Littlefish on May 03, 2017, 08:39:16 PM
It's a nice looking tank, and I'm glad to hear that everyone is getting along well.
I like the rock you have. I'm trying some different things in my tanks, including different planting & hardscaping, and I really enjoy looking at other peoples tanks to get ideas.
I've got sand substrate in the tanks with cories, as some gravels can cause problems with bottom feeders. I've also recently got quite carried away with leaf litter in some of the tanks. The BNs seem to be having a lot of fun with it.
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: TrenchyLs on May 03, 2017, 08:59:01 PM
Thanks.

The rock came from Lincs Aquatics described as "Holey Rock".  Looked quite interesting so I grabbed a couple of bits.  Turns out that after a LOT of cleaning it's even more interesting than I first thought.  I've seen it on the internet also called Dragon Rock.

I was a little concerned about the gravel initially too, but it's quite small (1 to 2 mm) and smooth and the little guys seem happy enough.  Unfortunately, a lot of learning has been about what I should have done after the fact and the substrate is the part that I think needs to go.
I added the plant-friendly (and very brown)substrate while the tank was cycling and to avoid a real mess it is in plastic tubs that I filled with wet the wet clay, covered and then submerged before taking the lids off and adding a thin layer of black gravel.  It's all a bit Heath-Robinson beneath the surface but everything is growing nicely at the moment so sorting it can wait for a bit.
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: MarquisMirage on May 04, 2017, 12:12:49 AM
The substrate looks fine and sounds good from what you've described.  What's your reason for thinking it needs to be changed?

I had a good laugh at 'holey rock'.  Hopefully you got it at a good price as dragon stone is quite expensive.  Does take a bit of effort to get the clay out of it but worth it.  It was a real step back moment when I was cleaning one of my pieces and what looked like a small dint turned out to be a hole all the way through.

The first shoaling fish I got was white cloud mountain minnows.  When I first got them they were mainly light greyish with the white lateral line and pale orange in the dorsal fin and tail.  Now the light grey is a deeper shade and reflective.  The fins and lips have gone a deep blood red colour.  My enjoyment of them has only increased with time and I've never regretted buying them.
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: TrenchyLs on May 04, 2017, 12:52:10 AM
The substrate looks fine and sounds good from what you've described.  What's your reason for thinking it needs to be changed?

Well I'm slightly limited to where I can plant because the JBL Manado substrate is in tubs so I haven't got much flexibility on where I can plant.  Also, it has come through from below in places when I've been planting or adding the root tabs so it looks scruffy!  Hopefully the Marco Polo will settle in and spread to cover that though.

I might just keep this tank as it is for now and wait until I get somewhere bigger with room for more tanks  ;D

The dragon stone was £5 per lump which seems reasonable.

And yes, I love the minnows too.  Always on the move, and they coloured up nicely, with the red on the fins coming through very strong after only a day or so.  It's fascinating watching the males showing off, racing each other up and down the tank flaring their fins to show off the white bands.

I'm very glad they are doing well as I still harbour some inner guilt for believing the shop (many years ago) when they told me they were good tank mates for goldfish  :yikes:
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: Littlefish on May 04, 2017, 08:02:46 AM
I'm with you on the steep learning curve which was started by some inappropriate advice from a certain store.
I've reworked my tanks and/or upgraded fish to bigger tanks so many times that my betta no longer has to be caught and will swim into a plastic container to be moved.
I'm also amazed at the amount of time I can spend considering bits of rock or wood in a store for something that is the right shape.  ??? 
Your tank looks very well designed and I like the placement of the hardscaping and planting. Even though you say that you are limited with the planting you've created something which looks great. Well done.  :cheers:
I have a group of WCMM in my temperate tank, and I am very happy with them. Very cute little fish with lovely colours. I do have 2 zebra danios, which were suggested as appropriate for a very small starter tank. They are still going strong, and have been joined by a group of leopard danios, which also have great markings.
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: Sue on May 04, 2017, 11:00:08 AM
You can always use plants that are grown attached to decor to create more flexibility. Besides the usual suggestions of java fern and anubias, I also have bolbitis (http://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Bolbitisheudelotii(006)/4406) growing on wood, a plant that is rarely mentioned as being suitable for this.
In fact all my plants are either attached to wood or floating  ;D
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: Littlefish on May 04, 2017, 12:38:12 PM
All the amazon swords in my axolotl tank are grown tied to the decor because the 'lotls have a habit of shifting the plants on a regular basis. They also produce a lot of waste, so I don't have any planting substrate and I don't add any fertilisers either (as the amphibians are very sensitive). The plants are not exactly growing at a stunning pace, but add a nice bit of greenery to the tank and give the 'lotls something to rest in when the mood takes them.  :)
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: TrenchyLs on May 05, 2017, 07:00:23 PM
Thanks to all for the welcome and kind comments.

No doubt over the next few days I'll be dropping questions all over the forum (hopefully in the right place).

TTFN
Title: Re: Hello from middle Lincolnshire
Post by: fish-friends on May 12, 2017, 09:25:22 PM
Welcome to the forum  :wave: