Planted tanks since June 2002 (before that I used plastic plants).
Lower light; no CO2, although I have Seachem Excel
which I keep forgetting to add regularly.
Nitrate usually tests zero, so KN03 added with water changes.
Seachem Flourish added 2 days after water change.
KN03 also tested for and added, if necessary, midway in the week.
Water changes are around 40-50% weekly.
Main decorations are rocks and stones and pebbles collected from Lake Manitoba.
On My Computer Desk:
5 GALLON
- 1 male betta
Plants: java moss, java fern and anubias
AquaClear mini, with Maxi-Jet sponge over the intake
50w Tronic heater, temp 78
15w Philips daylight (spiral) fluorescent screw-in bulb
This tank is open on 3 sides (both lengths and one end).
Gravel is fine, natural (beige) colour.
Other décor: 7 inch driftwood log covered in java moss.
Also, a 7-1/2 inch Zoo Med floating log.
In My Fish Room:
4 GALLON
NEW: November, 2007 - I had one thin wafer of a space left under the 29 gallon (beside the canister filter) and found a glass tank that was the exact dimensions, but it had to be fit in lengthwise, i.e. the short side is in front. It's 11-1/2x7-1/4 and 12-1/2 inches tall.
- heterandria formosa
Plants: Christmas moss, java fern (regular and narrow leaf),
salvinia natans
Elite Hush 5, with sponge over the intake (they're such tiny fish)
50w Visi-therm heater, temp 73
1x8w T5 tube
Gravel is fine, natural (beige) colour, thin layer
5 GALLON
- recently emptied, new occupants still undecided but in the meantime it
has 3 striped nerite snails.
Plants: some java fern plantlets and java moss.
AquaClear mini
50w Visi-therm heater
2x15w Philips daylight (spiral) fluorescent screw-in bulbs,
with opaque lighting plastic to diffuse the light somewhat.
Gravel is fine, natural (beige) colour.
10 GALLON - recently converted quarantine tank (February 2008), occupants transferred from
the 5 gallon. Now I'm without a quarantine which means, I guess, I need to buy another tank
and hopefully not use IT for something permanent.
(pic of the previous 5 gallon)
- a busy hub of rapidly multiplying cherry shrimp
Plants: Java moss, java fern (windelov),
salvinia natans
AquaClear mini, with sponge over the intake
50w Ebo-Jager heater, temp 75
1x10w All-Glass Mini Compact +
1x15w Philips daylight (spiral) fluorescent screw-in bulbs.
Gravel is fine, natural (beige) colour.
Other décor: 7 inch driftwood log
10 GALLON
- paradise fish
Plants: java fern (4 varieties), water sprite
(floating only)
AquaClear mini
50w Ebo-Jager heater, temp 74
1x10w All-Glass Mini Compact +
1x15w Philips daylight (spiral) fluorescent screw-in bulbs
Gravel is fine, natural (beige) colour.
Other décor: 15 inch driftwood log, angled up front to back;
5 inch driftwood log, covered in narrow leaf java fern.
15 GALLON
- 5 original diamond tetras (purchased)
- a surprise baby diamond tetra, now full grown (discovered during
water change on Jan.3/07 *see pic at bottom)
- 3 surprise babies that swam out of the plants for the first time mid-September 2007
- 1 more surprise baby that swam out beginning of November
Plants: java fern (regular and Windelov)
AquaClear 200
2x15w Philips daylight (spiral) fluorescent screw-in bulbs.
75w Ebo-Jager heater, temp 78
Thin layer of fine gravel, natural (beige) colour,
mixed 50/50 with brown pool filter sand.
Other décor: 9 inch driftwood log and 2 clay pots for caves.
29 GALLON
- 7 white cloud mountain minnows
- 3 golden white clouds
- 2 female bettas
- 4 corydoras gossei
- 1 albino bristlenose pleco (Andy - short for Andorian)
Plants: java ferns, marimo balls, bolbitis, salvinia natans
Filstar XP1 canister
2x30w Philips T12 daylight fluorescents
100w Visa Therm Stealth, temp 76
Substrate is brown pool filter sand
Decorations also include a large rock, a piece of driftwood,
which sits so it forms a cave underneath
and a coconut cave).
50 GALLON (long)
- 10 rasbora hengeli (pork chops)
- 6 harlequin rasboras
- 5 diamond tetras, from various spawns, transferred from the 15
- 6 corys (2 bronze, 1 albino, 3 pandas)
- Sam VI, the CAE (yes, a CAE, with me over 11 years and a great fish,
never any problems)
Plants: java fern, anubias, a few different varieties
of crypts (mostly green and brown wendtii), Christmas moss, salvinia natans
Filstar XP2 canister & Maxi-Jet 400 powerhead (with sponge on intake)
2x32w Philips T8 fluorescents (1 daylight deluxe 6500K,
1 natural sunshine 5000K)
2x100w Visi-therm heaters, temp 78
Substrate is fine natural (beige) colour gravel
on the upper terracing. Substrate on the lower level is a
mixture of the same gravel, pool filter sand and small pebbles.
Terrace was made from rocks epoxied together.
The walls are backed by molded plexiglass strips.
Decorations also include a piece of driftwood, a coconut
cave and a pipe cave, both covered in java fern (the pipe cave
is Sam's home, though he also tries to squish
into the coconut, which looks pretty funny).
Pic of my first surprise baby diamond tetra, January 3, 2007,
with a couple of the adults for perspective.
It and its reflection are at the top, right-hand side:
My old corner was about 6x6 ft. and had 3 tanks (29, 10 & 5).
In October, 2005, the tanks were re-setup on the other side of the basement, while
my husband built me a new fish room.
The room was finished December 18, 2005 and is 8x11-1/2 ft. It has 3 walls.
The fourth is open to the rest of the basement with a sofa across.
Nice, comfy place to sit and watch the fish. Seven of my tanks are in this room.
My office, where I type all day, is also in the basement.
My betta tank is on my computer desk.
I have an over-the-toilet space-saver unit between the 2 larger tanks. I like it because it's only 6 inches deep. I use it for storing my test kits, fertilizers and medicines, etc., with the 10 gallon cherry shrimp tank below. On the left-hand side I have a shelf with pegs for hanging my wet towels (the dry towel storage hamper is underneath). On top of the shelf is my collection of glass fish.
Quick video tour of my fish room NOVEMBER 22, 2006 (wow! has a whole year passed already???), with betta tank at end. (Note: The 10 gallon cherry shrimp tank and the 4 gallon were not set up when this video was made.)
A couple of my cherry shrimp carrying and 'juggling' eggs.
There's also a very red eggy shrimp (can be seen in the background of the longer segment) but the
eggs do not show up on her as well.
Paradise fish, attacking his reflection in the glass.
Video of cory and Sam digging into the zucchini.
Dancing harlequin rasboras (this video shot with my new
Canon digital camera, Oct.16/06).
© 2006-08 D.A Carriere
background on this page (of corydoras) created by me .