Design and stocking of a 55g and 29g.

[sneasle]

I'll keep that in mind. So far the only fish that has given the plants an eye is the CAE, but he is only interested in sucking stuff off of them.

[akangelfood]

Just want to add my .02 about the Serpaes. I'm really glad that they've been peaceful so far, but I want to add my agreement to those who say that the Serpaes are fin nippers by nature. Guppys are not the way to go with Serpaes, and I personally wouldn't put angels with them either. They do fine with many fish that do not have long flowing fins, but pretty fins are very tempting to them. They schooled with my guppys for 2 days, then they tore through 3 of them in a day flat. Every fish is different, it's true, and you may have lucked out and gotten, by some stroke of luck, friendly Serpaes.

[sneasle]

Ok, I will keep that in mind. As I said, I'm not really worried. If you read my stocking lists they will end up with the Buenous aires tetras so I doubt there will be any issues there. They are only in the tanks they are currently while I am waiting for items to come in and for the 55g to cycle.

Once I have the 55g stocked per my list, there shouldn't be any aggression present in the tank at all. In the 29g there might be a little bit of aggression but the two schools should be able to get along reasonably well. Any aggression they serpae's have should be counter acted easily be the larger size of the Benous aires as both fish are very fast and active.


If I'm wrong on this let me know, but I think the end result will be very positive. If it will make ya'll feel better I will move the other two serpaes over to the 55g until I get ready for the final move.

[akangelfood]

Nope, it sounds like you've put a lot of thought and planning into it, and I'm sure they'll be fine btw, I love your rock caves, they look awesome! So many hiding spots! Looking forward to later pics as the haze settles down!

[sneasle]

Thanks!
The haze cleared up within 24hrs. It looks pretty darn good as it is. I'll take some pics and post them tonight.

I need to figure out another way to build some caves, something for the loaches and cories (and maybe pleco?). Maybe I'll go pick up some pvc and have some fun.

[sneasle]

Pic update:

[BV77]

just a thought..I hope you siliconed those rocks together in groups, They could fall and crack the glass, I'd be careful with the ones holding down the wood also. When making large rockpiles, it's a good idea to get some eggcrate material from Lowe's , Home Depot or similiar store....lay that on the bottom before you add substrate, that disperses the weight of the rocks and prevents high pressure areas from the rocks touching the glass bottom directly.

[sneasle]

rocks are sitting on a small amount of sand for weight dispersal. This is not the final configuration. I will put a sheet of acrylic underneath them when I have a final design.


The rocks are leaning against the sides of the tank right now. The tank is a part of the structure, and it is very very secure.

[sneasle]

OMG.. I just spent an hour trying to pull the 2 serpaes and 1 neon out of the 29g to join the other tetras in the 55g.... I ended up having to set a trap for them using my huge black net and chasing them into it with my small green net...

[wifishman]

ahh yes the old dual net trick.... im sure it was worth the effort though

[sneasle]

ya.. I just could not believe how quick they were, but I guess it gives credit to their overall health that they can outrun me that easily.

edit: It makes me very very glad I bought that bigger net

[sneasle]

I just placed my order with Dr. F & S... $250 of wonderful fish supplies. Can't wait for it to get here! Hopefully we'll get some pics up by the end of the week.

[wifishman]

nice... what you get

[sneasle]

2 thermometers ( I like knowing temps at different depths. They shouldn't vary that much, but I still like knowing.), 25ft python (I hope thats long enough ), 250ml of Prime, 8oz thingy of algae wafers, API freshwater master kit (I've been using dip strips, I want to compare accuracies.), Maxi-Jet 600 (for co2 diffusion), 2L flourish, 55oz of Laterite, 4 feeding rings (I like them), 12 filter cartridges for the penguin 350s, 3 super cartridge SC5's, 3 media baskets (one SC5 and one media basket for each filter so I can customize my filtration more), the DR. F&S brand filter cartridge pack (24cnt) for my filters (they were on sale, might as well ), airline holders, 50ft or airline, Dual Power center (I like the integrated timers), 40 root tabs, and a mag float for each tank (1 medium and 1 small).

[wifishman]

thats a nice order. a 25 ft python better be long enough lol

[sneasle]

I sure hope so. Got an order for plants getting mailed out next week along with some BN plecos. I'm slowly but surely gettign there.

[wifishman]

alot faster than i am... i need a day off to finish everything... any new pics? and have you changed the rockwork at all?

[sneasle]

no, not yet. I am waiting on the stump to waterlog so I can remove my big rocks from it since those will be the foundation of the assembly. I am waiting on the laterite so I can get that mixed in with the sand.

[sneasle]

Got my stuff in today... Everything looks great, but I ran into one problem.. It looks as if somehow the heaters got bumped out of my order... So I need to make another order for my heaters.

I think I will ditch the idea of getting three of the same size and just get the appropriate sized heaters in the Stealths. I'm thinking 150W for the 29g and 250w for the 55g, that sound alright?


I ordered some trays for my penguin 350's with this and I would like some input on what media option would be good for me to have on hand for various situations. I don't expect to need to use them, but if something happens I would like to be prepared.

[Chaos553]

that rock structure is pretty awesome if i do say so myself. as long as they're stable enough not to be easily knocked down, your tank should hold up without cracks.

i saw some of your pics with the serpaes being kind of blurry. it's VERY tough getting a good picture of certain tetras because of how skittish they are, believe me, getting a decent picture of neons is not as hard, but still is pretty difficult if you want a specific amount in the picture.

otherwise your tank looks stunning. i like the middle alot with the pot and the live plants. the wood on the other end is a pretty good piece as well, where did you happen to get it?