My tank...(Updated)

[aserdar]

Comments please.
Updated pic.1&2; I have added some more bogwoods to background and coconut-moss house and bridge also catappa leaves for their known affects...

[nvcichlids]

I think it looks awesome. I am not a fan or angels, but the tank itself looks nice. How many corys/plecos are in there and what size tank?

[aserdar]

Thank you for your comment.
Actually this is my first tank and quite small for now. About 65lt (about 15 gal.s). There are 10 small corries 3cm (albinos, leopards, sterbais..) three small dwarf plecos 4cm (ancistrus sp.) one L18 7-8cm and one L199 4-5cm. Will try to get small L200, L191, L234 or L177.

[nvcichlids]

If your tank is approximately 15 gallons, I would think you are close to your limits. The corys will all grow, and that L28 will definately need a larger tank once it starts to grow more. Off the top of my head, of the 4 more your interested in getting, 3 of them will definately outgrow this tank (not sure what the L234 is, but will look it up... and yup, the L234 grows to a massive 23 inches (which in cm is about 59cm?) I know my tank is currently crowded, but there is ample hiding spots and most of them are just awaint my opportunity to move them back home into their perminant tanks.

Now if you want to purchase some more, I will not stop you, just be prepared for your fish to grow, and grow large.

[DutchFry]

7 Angelfish in 15 gallons, i think you will have big problems when the Angels reach adult size.

here in Holland we advise everybody to give each Angelfish 50 liters of water, that's about 8 gallons per Angelfish, as a rough guide. that would imply that you need a tank of minimum 60 gallons for these 7 Angels.

with all the other fish in this tank, i would recommend a 75G tank.

[L number Banana]

Wow, beautiful! I love the moss balls. They're soooo expensive here The white angel is stunning too. I thought I didn't like angelfish til I saw that one.

[Richard B]

Wow, beautiful! I love the moss balls. They're soooo expensive here

I wonder if you could take them with you later in the year?

I can get 5 for £5.50 from ebay - i have quite a few & they're great. One of the funniest things i've seen is if one of the balls starts rolling across the sand in the filter water outlet & one of the syno contracta was using it for cover, the syno swims along with the ball, either looking like the fish is pushing it, or that the fish is balancing on it as it rolls along

[L number Banana]

Thanks RichardB,

I guess they would have to be accessories not plants...hmmm? I'll look up the proper name and see how happy they are after drying out. Lots of terrestrial mosses tend to come back completely. Maybe if I put them between a couple slices of bread..."Just a sandwich Sir!"

You need to get a video of your football playing Syno.

I can get 5 for £5.50 from ebay

Shopping time!

[Birger]

You need to get a video of your football playing Syno.

A while ago I watched as an Ancistrus claro played goalkeeper as mystery snails tried to get into his cave to eat his spawn...he would push the snail with his nose and then turn around and wack it with his tail to get it farther away.

[andywoolloo]

lol that's great!!

[L number Banana]

This is in the new Aquarium Fish International mag: Tooo Funny I think the soccer net is included.
www.r2fishschool.com

[L number Banana]

Hi aserdar,
I would love to see a picture of that lovely spotted cat in the middle of your tank. L28?? I don't know cats very well yet but he's beautiful!

[aserdar]

Thank you much all for comments and chats
Of course I know the tank is small and will be problem when they grow up. It is easy to get at least 100gall. tank. But the problem is my house and don't have a place for that kind of size.
Anyway, when they grow (angels or plecos) I will exchange with smaller ones.
By the way it is L18 golden nugget not L28.

[L number Banana]

Hi,
The L18 is beautiful. If you ever get close-up of it, don't hesitate to post it.

I know what you mean about limited space! If you could ever fit a tall tank in your house the angels would be happy when they grow. Some tanks are taller but don't take up very much bottom space. Good for fish that get 'tall' but not so good for big catfish.

I guess it's all a balancing act. Nice to hear you can exchange them for smaller ones when you have to. You're lucky

Cheers

[aserdar]

Some closer pics
Actually there should not be a problem to clearance a healty fish with a healty fish. Cause some people needs matures and some (minority ) people needs/should have juveniles..
By the way moss balls is not much expensive on the auction sites. And they were giant ones. I splitted them to pieces and tied with fishing lines to get a 5 ball from 2

[L number Banana]

Wow, what a beautiful fish, thanks. I'll have to keep my eyes open for a similar fish that stays smaller. Not very many choices locally but a trip to the big city isn't out of the question in the summer.

Is that Java Moss on the coconut shells? It will look great when it's nicely filled in. How did you attach it? Netting?

By the way, I ordered moss balls from the ebay UK for my tank. They're perfect and a good price too. Fast delivery to Canada I may have to get more to trade with my local fish shop. Now my husband calls my tank a 'Shrubbery', they look like little topiary boxwood bushes. The otos like to 'sleep' on them.

Cheers

[Richard B]

I always thought moss balls were meant to be very slow growing but some of mine seem to be gaining in size in a relatively short space of time???

[L number Banana]

I always thought moss balls were meant to be very slow growing

Now that I can look at one up close, I can tell you that I don't know the type AND it's not the same kind of moss ball I saw at my LFS. It looks like the common moss that grows on the rocks in streams here and if that's the case, it can be trimmed with scissors. Are yours growing outward as a ball or are the strands elongating?

Edit: just found this: http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Plant,%20Ja ... 0Balls.htm
It shows the growth rate of a torn up moss ball or moosballen. Cool. It also lists the type of ALGAE that it's made of. I'm propagating algae

[Richard B]

Moss balls are not a moss - it is indeed an algae Cladophora aegagropila. Mine are increasing in spherical diameter. If these do not roll around on the gravel or sand they start to flatten out.

[L number Banana]

Endless possibilities with these. Has anyone ever made a Dr.Seuss driftwood tree? These types of clipped trees sell for big bucks at the garden centre. Hmm, zen tank. My entrepreneurial spirit is going wingy. Not sure if it would be cute or outrageously tacky. -or really just an excuse to buy another tank...

One of the articles written by a planted tank guru mentioned that they use up a lot of nutrients in the water. Even more delightful. It was also mentioned that a spike in nutrients might cause the spores to pop and voila, you have new moss babies to gather. I think that would take a while but it would be something to try on really rough driftwood.

Too many ideas, so little tanks.

[Richard B]

Dennerle exhibited some "trees" at GLEE - basically thick branched pieces of wood with Cladophora attached to ends of branches. I'm not sure cladophora attaches naturally

[L number Banana]

Dennerle? Nice website to browse! I think I'll use hairpins to attach them, same as floral pins. Easy to hide and rotate if they get too lopsided.

What did you think of the trees, did they look goofy or kind of fun? Japanese Zen-like or Dr.Seuss?
Tried to google up a picture but no luck yet. I have several roots from lilacs, hibiscus standards etc that make perfect 'trees' when planted upsidedown. I'll post a pic when I get more moss balls.

Well, aserdar, look what you've started now Thanks!

[Greg Curtis]

Hey Aserdar, what kind of background is that on your tank, its really nice!

[L number Banana]

I've been playing in the tank again but discovered that my moss balls don't like fine sand much. Have to shake them off with BBQ tongs after they 'blow around'. Hard to just leave well enough alone.
Sandy mossballs, not so pretty! :

[aserdar]

Is that Java Moss on the coconut shells? It will look great when it's nicely filled in. How did you attach it? Netting?
Cheers

yes you are right they are java moss and netting
by the way they are sold on ebay too..

[aserdar]

Hey Aserdar, what kind of background is that on your tank, its really nice!

thank you for your comment. I made it with four bogwood. I splitted two of them and actually 6 pieces bogwood.