My Fish Room + L46 Setup (Update Pics @ 29/Jan)

awth · Post by **awth** » 21 Dec 2007, 16:13

Hi all, I am from Hong Kong and would like to show you guys my fish room! Shame that spaces in Hong Kong is pricy , to you guys, this may only be a joke! But what the hack, let's have a look at what a fish room would look like in Hong Kong!

I am a South American Dwarf Cichild enthusiast, who also keep Crystal Red Shrimp and Goldfish (Ranchu). Recently, I got myself "poisoned" in L46 and have just setup a tank for breeding purpose. However, source for L46 in Hong Kong is rather rare, I am still haven't get my hand on any.

I would highly appreicate for any comments on my setup for improvement.

View at door:

Front View: 2Sets: 28"L X 18"W X 49"H

Just to show you guy some close up of some of the tanks:

I. Adoketa tank: 25"L X 18"W X 14"H

Crystal Red Shrimp tank: 25"L X 18"W X 14"H

Newly setup L46 breeding tank: 25"L X 14"W X 14"H
Filter: Eheim 2211 + Totto + Eheim Aquaball Powerhead 650L/H
I would highly appreicated for any comments for improvement.

Gravel: Seachem Flourite, do you think they are too sharp?

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 21 Dec 2007, 16:38

personaly, I use sand in all my tanks, not gravel. I do think they are very sharp, perhaps too sharp

awth · Post by **awth** » 21 Dec 2007, 16:55

Bas Pels wrote:personaly, I use sand in all my tanks, not gravel. I do think they are very sharp, perhaps too sharp

Thank you Bas, I think so too and I will reconsider my choice of gravel. However, I do have 1 question, how do you keep the sand substrate clean? I assume a gravel-cleaner (or gravel-vaccum) is not applicable, since it will suck up both the sand the dirt, rite?

pLaurent1251 · Post by **pLaurent1251** » 21 Dec 2007, 17:01

When I clean my sand, I give it a stir, then just hold the gravel vacuum about 1" above it to suck up debris. You will get some sand at first, but with practice it should be fine.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 21 Dec 2007, 17:19

Nice fishroom, indeed.

Also, using sand as substrate doesn't allow as much "muck" to enter into the sand, compared to when you use gravel that has lots of small holes, where muck can slide into and "hide". Instead, the muck stays on the sand.

I saw a site where someone built a "sand-trap" from a bucket and a piece of hose - so when you empty the tank, instead of going straight into a drain, let the sand settle in the bucket. About half-way up, you have a "exit hose" for the water to leave the bucket. Just make sure this is a bigger hose than the one going from the aquarium, so that the water leaves the bucket faster than it comes in. But that's only if you really find it hard to deal with the sand.

--
Mats

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 21 Dec 2007, 19:00

I just crimp the siphon hose to suit the substrate. That way the finest sand can be hydrovacuumed without siphoning the sand out. Just control the flow.

The fluorite can be blended with sand to help prevent particles from sinking between the gravel. I have several setups which I have mixed sand and fluorite and they work out just fine. The plants will also do better in the mixed substrate than they will in straight fluorite.

awth · Post by **awth** » 21 Dec 2007, 19:17

Alrite, after reading the comments from the Pros about the gravel that I am using, I think I am better off to use sand alone indeed. I think it wouldn't be too much of a hassle, as there is nothing in there now.

So, any comment regarding to the other setup? i.e. current, hiding caves positioning?

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 21 Dec 2007, 22:42

As Matt suggested, siphoning the bottom of a tank, I use buckets. from the tank to the drain the sand settles, and I can decant the water (chemical term, meaning more or less carefully let the water go out, leaving the sand)

As I'm as lazy as possible (I'm proud of this habit), I found out that leaving dirty sand alone for a few months, the dirt disappears, I think it reacts with the air, resulting in gasses, which flow away. I do stirr the sand with some water, in vcase of anything sissolving, but I don't stirr the sand anymore

bslindgren · Post by **bslindgren** » 22 Dec 2007, 00:10

pLaurent1251 wrote:When I clean my sand, I give it a stir, then just hold the gravel vacuum about 1" above it to suck up debris. You will get some sand at first, but with practice it should be fine.

I find that if you hold the vacuum at about 45 degree angle, the sand doesn't get sucked up at all. The front part of my vacuum tube is about 1.5 inches across, attached to a half inch PVC hose. That way I can actually stir the sand around without any problems (I do shut off my filters though). I use target pool filter sand, btw.

Your fish tank room is great - space may be cheaper here, but a fish tank room is just a pipe dream for some of us.

Post by **Shane** » 22 Dec 2007, 05:20

Many aquarists would be very happy to have your "small" fishroom. The tanks look great by the way!
-Shane

awth · Post by **awth** » 23 Dec 2007, 10:01

Thank you to all of you.

I have re-set up the tank with a fine gravel, they are fine like sand, and in black colour. I remember that I read something here, saying, "if you have a darker substrate, you will have more active fish".

Will take some pic soon.

pLaurent1251 · Post by **pLaurent1251** » 24 Dec 2007, 15:28

I find that if you hold the vacuum at about 45 degree angle, the sand doesn't get sucked up at all.

I just tried it, and that worked perfectly!

Thank you.

And awth, your tanks are very beautiful. You must work very hard on them.

reticulata · Post by **reticulata** » 05 Jan 2008, 20:06

Beautiful set up, gorgeous tanks.

jopbgon · Post by **jopbgon** » 06 Jan 2008, 05:01

Waiting for the updates

worton[pl] · Post by **worton[pl]** » 06 Jan 2008, 10:38

Hey,

really nice looking tanks

. Very clean - well done.

Could you tell me, please what plant is on right side of Crystal Red Shrimp tank? It is beautiful.

Regards.

awth · Post by **awth** » 09 Jan 2008, 06:42

worton[pl] wrote:Hey,

really nice looking tanks . Very clean - well done.

Could you tell me, please what plant is on right side of Crystal Red Shrimp tank? It is beautiful.

Regards.

I am sorry, do you mean those in the foreground or the background?

awth · Post by **awth** » 09 Jan 2008, 06:43

jopbgon wrote:Waiting for the updates

There is no process in my L46 hunting project..... can't find them anywhere.....

cmstwc · Post by **cmstwc** » 09 Jan 2008, 08:15

Even though I never been in HK. But I believe your fish room is very nice and BIG! My friend told me a room like that in HK can be a bedroom for 3+ people. Anyway, very impress and keep up the work!

awth · Post by **awth** » 19 Jan 2008, 14:31

It has been like felt like a decade, since I set up my L46 breeding tank until I finally be able to find 5pcs. They are from 2 different sources, #1-4 are from LFS and sold to as wild caught, I thought I have 2 male and 2 female. #5 is a trade from my friend, which I thought is a female. However, after they are release to my tank and now I have a closer, they all look like FEMALE to me....

Please kindly let me know if I am correct, thank you very very much.

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My Fish Room + L46 Setup (Update Pics @ 29/Jan)

My Fish Room + L46 Setup (Update Pics @ 29/Jan)

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