DSM Fish Gal

February Update

After more than a month away, I'm back for a quick update.  I keep hoping for more time and inclination to work on this blog, but alas, too many other projects command my time. 

The new apartment has been fixed up the way I want it for the most part, though there's still plenty of work needed to be done in the livingroom, like hanging art and photo frames and shelving. 

In my small 5g tank, I added 2 small crayfish to keep the 1 remaining danio fish company.  One crawdad quickly took out the other, so we're left with 1 and 1.  The danio occupies the upper strata and the crawdad does his best to catch him.  Thankfully it's a tall tank with only one ornament for climbing. 

Besides that, everyone else is doing well.  I can't complain too much personally.  Hopefully I can post more soon!

Letting go of the 10g Tank

This was my first tank after moving back to Des Moines last year, and it remains my favorite.  The plants grow very well and the fish are thriving.  The shrimp are even breeding. 

*Sigh*  But alas, it must go too.  Here's the latest photo of my super-wooly tank (click to enlarge):

Here's black molly:

All three of the mollies (2 males, 1 white female):

And the red cherry shrimp:

More of the beautiful plants:

Hornwort grows well anywhere, but in this tank it doesn't develop the black algae that it does in the other.  In fact, this tank has very little algae except on the small cave decoration.  Plants grow very well under the two lamps I use over this tank.

10g Tank Ad on Craigslist

Hello,

**This ad is addressed to experienced fishkeepers only.**

I am selling my 10g tank and accompanying accessories due to a planned move out of the area in November. The tank is fully stocked and planted.

For fish, it has 3 mollies (2 males, 1 female), 1 bumblebee goby, 1 otocinclus catfish, and a few shrimp (red cherry and amana/algae-eating). It it stocked with a variety of plants (java ferns, java moss, crypts, a banana plant, ludwigia, etc.), all of which grow very well. Minimal algae on sides and glass.

For accessories, it comes with a Penguin 100 Bio-wheel HOB filter, a heater, an air stone, airline, and an Aquatic Gardens 800 air pump. For lighting, it has the stock light ballast with a Zoo Med FloraSun bulb (4200k, I believe). I can also include a separate lamp (10,000k) that sits beside the tank with an arm that easily can be extended to provide additional light. (This actually works very well.)

The substrate is inert gravel mixed with a layer of laterite, which I've had the most luck growing plants in.

This tank is extremely easy to maintain. The dense vegetation allows for partial water changes once every 1-2 months (with regular top offs) with water conditioner (Seachem Prime) being the only chemical I add regularly aside from the occasional pinch of non-iodized salt (brackish water). I can include some of the chemicals I have along with portions of their foods. The fish and shrimp eat Omega One flakes, Omega One algae wafers, Wardley shrimp pellets, and Omega One freeze-dried tubifex worms. (Of course they also love frozen foods, which I can also include if desired.)

To find out more information about the tank and to see more pictures, you can visit the blog: http://dsmfishgal.typepad.com/

Altogether, I'm asking $40 for this tank setup (OBO if you honestly feel this is asking too much). The shrimp themselves sell locally for $6 each (they have been multiplying slowly), and this tank is established and very easy to care for. Everyone residing within lives peacefully with one another. It would give me peace of mind to rehome them with an experienced fishkeeper.

Thanks and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

28g Tank Ad on Craigslist

Hello,

**This ad is for experienced fishkeepers only.**

I am moving out of the area in November and need to sell my 28g bowfront tank and stand along with its accessories. Altogether, the tank and stand measure 24" across, 56" tall, and 20" deep (with HOB filter factored in). This set was purchased brand-new in December 2007 from Petco for well over $250 with numerous accessories and plants ordered online thereafter. The stand has a dark (cocoa) stain wood finish, nickel hardware, and two doors to conceal your accessories and supplies underneath.

For lighting, I purchased a separate Current Nova Extreme High Output T5x2 24" freshwater 10,000k lamp (bright white light), which retailed around $60 online. This package will also include the stock 18" fluorescent bulb in a 24" ballast though I rarely turn it on (the bulb gives off harsh yellow light - can be replaced with a grow bulb).

For filtration, it comes with two HOB filters: one Penguin Bio-Wheel 150 filter that currently has bonded filter padding and a sheet of micropad in place of a Penguin cartridge (supplies will be included along with instruction if desired); the other is a Whisper Junior filter with manufacturer cartridges (extras may be included - do contain charcoal). These two combined circulate the water at 240gph (gallons per hour), allowing for a slightly larger bio-load. (You generally want the tank water circulating 5-6 times per hour, and these two filters manage 9x).

The tank also includes a variety of live plants, most of which are low-light species. Included will be java ferns, one genuine mossball, hornwort (floating at the surface), one larger anubias, one anubias nana, and a couple varieties of unidentified plants that have been growing fairly well thus far. I can include what's left of the bottles of Seachem Flourish Excel (to promote plant growth) and Seachem Potassium. (For the record, I've only had success with low-light plants in this tank probably due to the height. If you switch out the stock light with a 4200-5600k grow light and keep it on in conjunction with the Nova system, you may have more success.)

The substrate is a mixture of inert gravel and Eco-complete soil. This soil runs for around $20-$30 per bag and is said to be ideal for growing plants. I's yours along with everything else.

In terms of decorative pieces, the package will include one large and two small pieces of Mopani wood, already water-logged and will sink without being tethered in place. Also, two small pieces of slate and one white rock. Most of these came from another tank previously so all noticeable tannins have leached out already.

The tank will also include a Rena Cal submersible heater and a thermometer.

For fish, the tank is stocked with 5 Dwarf Rainbowfish (M. Praecox - 3 males, 2 females), 3 Harlequin Rasboras, 3 Kuhli loaches, 1 unidentified catfish (Network cat?) needing to be rehomed to a larger tank eventually, and 1 Bamboo shrimp (though I haven't seen him in a week or so). All of these fish have lived in the tank for many months and we haven't experienced any losses in a great while. Everyone appears to be healthy and aggression is not an issue. I wouldn't recommend adding any other fish aside from maybe a couple more female dwarf rainbowfish, but even then only after the catfish has been moved elsewhere.

The fish currently eat Omega One flakes, Omega One algae wafers, Wardley shrimp pellets and Aquadine flakes. I'll pack up some food with each tank package.

My tanks are easy maintenance. The only chemical I add regularly is the water conditioner (I use Seachem Prime) during water changes. Aside from that, they receive a touch of non-iodized salt and then occasionally potassium and flourish excel for the plants. Very simple to maintain and upkeep. The plants absorb much of the excess waste (aside from Nitrate), so partial water changes are required less frequently (once every 1-2 months).

There is a bit of algae on the tank, mostly due to being placed right beside the patio door where sunlight streams in. I'll include a scrubber sponge to combat this, and if you move it to a darker area in your home, this should remedy much of the problem. I personally just don't consider algae a problem, preferring the au natural look and feel. Plus it gives the fish plenty to snack on between meals.

To find out more information about the tank and to see more pictures, you can visit the blog: http://dsmfishgal.typepad.com/

Altogether, I am asking $100 total. This package is intended for experienced fishkeepers, providing me the peace of mind knowing they'll be well care for. It's possible that I may be able to sell the fish and plants separately, though if they can all go together, that would be great. You'll need to transport the tank and stand, and drive up to the patio is available to make it easier to load. You'll want to bring a medium/large cooler or clean tupperware container for the fish and water, and perhaps a separate container for the gravel and plants.

I will also have two smaller (10g and 5g eclipse) planted and stocked tanks up for sell to be listed separately.

Thanks and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

Letting go of the 28g Tank

I'll be moving by November 30th, 2008, so the tanks all must find new homes, preferably with people with fishkeeping experience.

Here is an updated photo of the 28g tank:

Yep, there's some algae growing though I don't consider this a problem.  It helps to conceal the background cords and whatnot and gives the fish something to snack on between meals.  Plus, the tank sits right beside my patio door and receives a good bit of sunlight exposure to its right side.  If moved to a darker location, algae control would be much easier to manage.

Here's a not-so-great recent photo of the Rainbowfish.  The tank glass seriously is in need of a scrubbing.  lol

 

Here's a recent photo of the anubias nana.  It is growing well, shooting out new leaves, though it does have a few holes in its older leaves.  I've been told this may be due to potassium deficiency and have been adding Seachem Flourish Potassium to the water, though now I've begun to suspect one of the fish of munching on them.  This only seems to occur with the anubias plants.

And here is the calico piece of slate in front of the larger piece of Mopani, alongside a few bunches of java ferns. The larger anubias is partially visible on the leftside and there are some cool newer plants in the background that have been sending out new shoots.  Wish I could remember what species that is.

Here's the plant I'm referring to:

Here's a close-up on the tank (click to enlarge):

Wooly, yes.  But the plants and fish are happy and that's what matters most.  Aesthetics aren't my strong suit.  Though I have pruned some of the hornwort (floating on the surface) so as to let the light shine through.

So yeah, lots of stuff included with this tank package.  I'll post the Craigslist ad in a new post momentarily.

P.S. - Excuse the cruddy photo quality.  I adjusted the camera settings and now everything is fuzzy.