Fixing My 38g

[Chaos553]

I've decided to make a journal about this, since it will probably take a good month or two to actually do this process, since I'm low on cash and since my LFS does not have proper materials 99% of the time. My tank has been infested with some kind of annoying algae that my pleco will not eat and looks really dumb/unprofessional when people actually look into my tank. I don't have a decent picture, but it sticks REALLY well to plants/rocks and even to parts of my driftwood. It's a dark green (possibly even a little black) and honestly looks like hair (so I'm thinking some kind of hair algae). I've decided to take my infested rock, slate, and my driftwood out this coming weekend, since it's four days off school and I'll have plenty of time to work on my tank.

Alright, enough with the algae. I've had another problem with my Blue Jack since, yes he's a cichlid, and yes he's starting to get VERY terrortorial (to an extent that my neons have "vanished," which is no surprise). I plan on selling him back to my LFS since I feel it's unfair to not only the fish, but to him because he's going to get bigger and I cannot supply him with a larger tank. He is my favorite in the tank, but I don't think I have a choice on this one because of what I plan to do. The same goes for my Bolivian Ram.

I plan on taking one day and devoting it to fixing up my tank. What I'd LIKE to do is set up an alternate 10g for about 2 days to house my other fish in until im done fixing my 38g. I'd like to take out the gravel that's currently in the tank and replace it with some kind of aqua soil so my plants can flourish a little better, however I'm still uneasy on this since I have a pleco who loves to poop and I'm not sure if cleaning the soil would be hard or not. I'd like to find a better, skinnier piece of driftwood and place it where the previous one was so I can still fit in my Amazon. Then, I want to surround it with a forest of plants to make it look absolutely stunning, like an actual tree I guess =P.

As for fish, minus the Ram and the Jack, I think I may add my betta to that 10g after im done using it to house, just a tank for himself, then throw in maybe a small Amazon for comfort. The rest of my lineup I'll throw back in the regular tank and I think I may add in a few more neons/harliquins to liven up/color up the tank.

Whew...What a mouthful. Comments would be awesome to help me out with this problem, since I've held off on doing this for the longest time. Any ideas would also help this process speed up as well. I don't plan on actually taking pics until I start fixing the tank, so I'll post up some pics as soon as I start.

[trashion]

hmmmm... i'd take back the cherry barb too. it's not fair to keep it without a school. also, i'd take back the red eye tetras-3 isn't enough for a school, and you could create nice big schools of harlequins and neons

[Chaos553]

Yea I thought about that too, how many neons/harliquins do you think i could put in without the tank being overcrowded. I still have a 5 1/2 inch pleco as well.

[trashion]

in addition to the butterfly pleco? cos as i found on planetcatfish, a butterfly pleco should only reach 5.5 inches, here's the profile:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...species_id=706

but if it's a common pleco, get rid of it! keeping it there will only stunt it.

if you want to have 2 schools, i'd put in 8 of each (harlequins and neons) and see how that goes.

[Chaos553]

i dont think thats what it is, even though it was sold to me as a high-finned butterfly. i also dont have a decent pic of him anymore so there wouldnt be a way of IDing him for the moment. I'll take a pic tomorrow however, but i think he might stay at his size for the time being, hasnt really grown in a while.

i'd still have the african butterfly still in with the schools, that should be fine correct?

[trashion]

hmm. well, african butterflies are perfectly capable of swallowing smaller tankmates such as the neons and the harlequins, but from what i've read, if you keep them well fed, they won't bother going low and chasing down the mid-dwellers.

[JustOneMore20]

Instead of putting the fish in a small 10g, get a rubbermaid tub that holds around 20-30 gallons. They are pretty cheap at Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot.....around $10. It will be worth it to have a larger water volume, especially if the fish will be in there for a number of hours. You can put your heater (if it has suction cups) and possibly the filter on the tub with the fish. Use your siphon to put tank water into the rubbermaid bin......then once it fills up a good bit, start catching the fish. Its easier to take out all the decorations before catching the fish. Once the fish are caught and you've moved the equipment and the bin is 3/4 full (I wouldn't fill more than 3/4 full), then siphon the rest of the water out into a bucket or into the sink....however you do your regular water changes. For the refill, I usually use new water, just because its easier for me (I have a python). As long as the filter media stays wet, you shouldn't have to recycle the tank.

I agree with Julie. Your stocking will look much better minus the Jack, Bolivian, Cherry Barb, and Red Eyes. Then you could bring the Harlies and Neons up to 8-10 each.

If I remember right, your pleco is a Sailfin.....I think you've shown pics of it before. I may be thinking of someone else though. If THIS looks like your guy, they get over a foot long and that is too large for your tank size. If you can let him go, I'd go ahead and give him to the LFS, preferably one that has a large tank. If you want to keep him, you're going to need atleast a 75g tank.....if not larger. Otherwise, he'll be stunted.

Your algae sounds like Black Beard/Brush Algae. It can be green to black and looks hairy and its hard to remove. This usually results from unstable CO2 levels. Have you been injecting DIY CO2?

As for your substrate, if you want something for plants, check into Eco Complete. Its dark and won't show poop as well as the lighter ones. Also, if you are low on money, look at http://www.lesco.com for the nearest branch and call about Soilmaster Select. Its used on baseball fields to dry up water.....and it is great for planted tanks because it soaks up nutrients. It comes in a reddish color and a charcoal color. Its about $15 for 50lbs.

[Chaos553]

First of all, thanks for all the help, I'm glad I was able to get so much info out of two people ;D.

The tub idea sounds awesome and I think I'll invest in one this weekend just to be ready for the fixup.

I called up my buddy last night to see if I can get some sort of store credit for the Jack since it was pretty expensive, maybe even for the red eyes, cherry barb, and the Ram. I really doubt it, even though having store credit would be nice.

I don't know anyone who would take in my pleco, but if i can find somebody nearby that would like him, I'd be happy to give him up and possibly get a few clown plecos as a cleanup, since they stay small. what's the easiest possible way of catching a pleco of this size since a net is the worst idea?

The soil idea sounds pretty cool and I think I may go with that. As for the algae, I going to ditch the two rocks and try cleaning up my wood to serve some other purpose for the moment. Then ill clip all the algae infested plants and even after having all the water out, HOPEFULLY it wont come back.

As for CO2 injections, I do not use them since I really don't know how. My tank is a community and not a planted so I'm not too concerned on CO2 that much.

Thanks again for all the support, if anyone else has any other ideas or helpful comments, feel free to add them.

[JustOneMore20]

Originally Posted by Chaos553

I don't know anyone who would take in my pleco, but if i can find somebody nearby that would like him, I'd be happy to give him up and possibly get a few clown plecos as a cleanup, since they stay small. what's the easiest possible way of catching a pleco of this size since a net is the worst idea?

Clown plecs need some wood to munch on. They are carnivorous, so don't count on them eating any algae. They hide alot too, but are cute when you see them. If you are fine with all that, then definitely get a couple. I just like people to know about them first, since alot of people get plecos for algae control.

Hmm....I've moved a couple of my fish that are largish (compared to the others). With my recent substrate change in my 55, I moved my Angelfish (about 6" tall) and Opaline Gourami (~5" long) with a large tubberware container.....it is pretty tall and thin though, so probably wasn't the best. If you have to transport him as well, I'd get a smallish rubbermaid thing if you can find one or a 5g bucket. You can find huge nets.....the local chain stores might have them pretty cheap. I'd use a huge net to move him...or the rubbermaid container if its not huge.

As for CO2 injections, I do not use them since I really don't know how. My tank is a community and not a planted so I'm not too concerned on CO2 that much.

Alright. I just wondered if you had CO2 since BBA usually appears in tanks with inadequate CO2, but you don't always have to be injecting it. I had it in my 55 before the redo (trimmed the leaves and threw some plants away) and I didn't have CO2. I think its because of the large water changes I do. I'm not sure though.

[Chaos553]

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20

Alright. I just wondered if you had CO2 since BBA usually appears in tanks with inadequate CO2, but you don't always have to be injecting it. I had it in my 55 before the redo (trimmed the leaves and threw some plants away) and I didn't have CO2. I think its because of the large water changes I do. I'm not sure though.

Yeah, if i was doing hardcore plant tanks I'd learn how, but I haven't really tried yet. Is there a place online where I can get a piece of driftwood that looks like sort of a mangrove kind of wood for a cheap price? because im pretty sure most driftwood cost a pretty penny, if you know what i mean =P. It's either that, or ill trim down my own piece a bit and TRY to waterlog it since ive had a piece of sandrock lay against it for the whole time.

[JustOneMore20]

Try looking on ebay. There is usually alot of driftwood on there of various shapes and sizes.....and sometimes the prices aren't bad. Some aquarium related sites have driftwood, but you can't always choose your piece, which to me is a bummer.

[Chaos553]

Alright, my dad told me there's a local lesco around the area since he's a golf superintendant and knows for sure that they have that kind of product.

I found a large 20-30g tub that my mom was using for storing old papers, so ill probably end up washing that out with hot water and use that for the carrier tank.

My buddy told me I can take in the Jack for somewhat of a store credit, but not much since I bought it almost 8 months ago, he said the Ram was no problem as well. The red eyes i think ill give to my other buddy since he has a community and wont mind the extra fish. The pleco is a possible take in at my LFS, but not sure yet, still have to figure that out.

So far so good

[Chaos553]

Alright, so today, since we have a snowday(yay), I'm planning out my 10g betta tank to house my betta from the 38g.

- have a leftover 10g from my failed attempt at trying to make a planted tank with sand, and its empty, so I'll be washing that out.

-I have LOADS of natural looking gravel from when I bought my 38g

-A leftover heater

-The betta...obviously

-Extra pieces of slate for landscaping the decor

-Possibly a medium sized amazon sword and my small anubias, since they're from my already running tanks.

-Desk lamp (probably, not sure yet)

I plan on adding water from my 38g until the 10g is about 1/4 - 1/2 way full, just so the bacteria colonies can carry over. I might even throw some of the gravel from my 38g in as well, just to speed up the process. I do plan on throwing maybe 4-5 small cories in after a while, so would there be a reason to get a filter? Or would it be okay if i just change about 20-25% of the water once a week to keep the tank clean?

I WILL TAKE PICS ASAP ;D

[JustOneMore20]

Put some gravel from the 38g in the 10g. There isn't much bacteria in the water. They like to stick to stuff, so gravel, ornaments, and plants have more.....plus the filter media. You could move some water just to keep the same pH and temp for him.

You need something to keep the water moving....stagnant water is not good. An air pump would be fine, but I'd use a valve to keep the bubbles down. If you can get a sponge filter, that would be ideal. They have some surface agitation when used with an airstone, but nothing like a HOB filter. Otherwise, I'd just go ahead and get a small HOB, like the Red-Sea nano filter.

As for stocking...I'd skip the Cories. Really the only ones that should live in a 10g are the Dwarf Cories, and even they need more swimming room. Also, they like large groups to feel secure, so having 4-5 of them wouldn't be good. Instead, you could get a school of Harlequin rasboras. They are Betta friendly and colorful.

Don't overfeed and do weekly water changes and gravel vacs and there is no need for a bottom feeder fish.

[Chaos553]

Hmmmm, i have a box filter, but i hate it so ill probably skip that. I'm not a fish noob, but i really dont know what valves are. I believe I have seen a few before, but I'm not positive. HOB = hang on back correct? I may have an extra one I used for an old 5g I had years ago, but i might have to super glue on some extra plastic in order for it to be able to hang (since i bought one of those cheesy plastic tanks that have a built in filter).

Other than the betta, I cleaned out my 38g today and what a mess the filter was! All of that annoying algae was inside the tubes and on the outside as well. Luckily I have patience and a knife to snag all of the little scraps easily. My buddy said he would gladly take the 3 red-eye tetras along with the cherry barb when the time was ready, and put them in his tank, but I still have yet to hear from my other friend who works at my LFS. Darn

[JustOneMore20]

Originally Posted by Chaos553

Hmmmm, i have a box filter, but i hate it so ill probably skip that. I'm not a fish noob, but i really dont know what valves are. I believe I have seen a few before, but I'm not positive.

These are gang valves: http://www.arcatapet.com/fullsize/49.jpg. You've probably seen them near the air supply stuff. You attach airline from the air pump into the side and then airline going to the tank on the top. Use the little valves to control the airflow. You may also be able to find air control valves that are like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...90&pcatid=3690. Its the one on the bottom in the first/top pic. Both are cheap though...and allow you to control the amount of air going into the tank so you don't blow your fish away. A sponge filter like this would be perfect: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...%20filter&Np=1.

HOB = hang on back correct?

Yep.

[Chaos553]

I like the look of that Thanks, I'll begin looking around this weekend for them.

[Chaos553]

So today, even though I should have done it yesterday, I trimmed down my Amazon of algae infested leaves and of course, it made the rest of the tank look 100% better, except the driftwood/sandstone/orange rock, I'll have to do something about that when I take them out sometime soon.

I plan on setting up the Betta tank this weekend, so as soon as I start doing so, I'll throw a few pics up on here. I basically have all the needs for the tank, I'll just need to pick up a sponge filter and probably some more tubing.

Totally off topic, but I watched a video of a guy with a red-bellied piranha tank last night and he fed a live mouse to them. That might not be new to everyone, but that was the fastest feeding I think I have ever seen in my life, which makes me want piranhas even more, but sadly, a 38g would totally not cut it lol. Give me 5 years, I'll have a 125g by then

[Chaos553]

Alright, im definitely slacking on this one, but i should have it up and running sometime maybe thursday or friday, depending if mom has anything to say about it.

I found some purple gravel in my closet so i think ill end up using that since the purple goes well with the color of the plants and the betta. im going to buy a sponger filter sometime this week as soon, since i know petco has them for sale (even though i dont like going there). ill keep you guys updated.

[Chaos553]

HUGE UP