ctendoh
Junior Member
Filling my room with water, one tank at a time...
Posts: 39
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Post by ctendoh on Jan 19, 2009 23:35:59 GMT -5
Hey everyone, sorry I've been so absent lately, my senior year of high school has been hectic to say the least. I've barely had a spare moment to relax, and as a result my fishtank has fallen into the category of "chore" rather than "ultimate tool of relaxation and general enjoyment"... a fact that I am quite disheartened by. I've recently struck up a couple of deals that are going to leave my fishtank near empty, and I'm curious as to what you guys think I should do with my tank. After the wheeling and dealing is done, I will be left with: 1 Male betta, full grown, red, walmart rescue but still beautiful 1 Snail, about 2 inches shell size, and the most inactive snail I've ever seen 1 Albino Cory, about 2 inches long 1 Peppered Cory, about 2 inches long 2 Julii Cories, about 2 inches long apiece. as you can tell, I love my cories. now, I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do with this tank, but I have a few limitations that are going to put a serious damper on going crazy with this tank, namely: cash. I am currently out of a job, and cashflow is almost nonexistant for the time being. I'll be able to save up a little from odd jobs, but my fish aren't my only expenditure so it won't be much. mom. Try as I may, I cannot get her to fall in love with fish like I have. I'm not going to be able to buy many fish, because doing so in her eyes is still a waste of money. selection. I live in the middle of nowhere, and the nearest pet supplier is a walmart 40 minutes away. There are a few decent petstores a little farther, but they aren't exactly the national aquarium... college. it's only 8 months away (yikes), and I'm going to be dorming on campus, which will limit me to a 10 gallon tank. I SERIOUSLY doubt that my parents are going to want to take over the fish after I'm out of the house, so anyone who doesn't come with me to college will most likely have to be resold or given away, which I really don't want to do. so, I'm looking for a simple community tank, and I have no idea where to begin. I realize cheap, small, and few is not going to fill a 20 gallon like I want it to, so I'm willing to settle here. i have a rock-based decor with a few 3-inch diameter caves across the back of my tank and a small 3-inch diameter tunnel cutting through the left middle. I have a floating plant and 2 somehow surviving rooted plants that haven't grown an inch in the 6 months they've spent in my tank... I'd like to buy some more plants, and possibly some ghost or cherry shrimp. other than that, I'm at a loss for ideas. Anything that will fill my 20 gallon nicely but still fit comfortably in a 10 later on? again, I'm willing to settle here, and my primary goal is to take everyone along to college. I was thinking gouramis, but those might fight w/ the betta, and livebearers and small tetras are out of the question. I like black skirt tetras, but so far I have seen zero in any stores around here. Spotted puffers are cool and easy to get my hands on, but apparently they are not very nice AND require brackish water? grr... so many possibilities out there, so few at hand. any suggestions at all? thanks to those who took the time to try and follow my awful rambling...
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Post by jonv on Jan 19, 2009 23:41:04 GMT -5
I've got a great idea for a 10 or 20 gallon, either one, however, it's the cash problem that makes the real problem. A tank of 20 or 10 gallon EMPTY, is a perfect tank to start up African Shell Dwellers. You won't find those in Walmart, and I wouldn't advise buying from them either. I'm just not impressed by their lack of care, and would hate to see you buy from there. Even trying to think of other stuff, like even glofish or smaller schooling types, it's still the problem with cash.
I've got plenty of Africans i could give you actually, but you'd have to de-inhabit your current populations to accomdate them.
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ctendoh
Junior Member
Filling my room with water, one tank at a time...
Posts: 39
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Post by ctendoh on Jan 19, 2009 23:52:29 GMT -5
Yeah, walmart isn't my first choice for obvious reasons, but on a visit with friends tonight I was very impressed by the quality of their tanks. I happened to come up to the fish tank section right as a veteran was teaching a new employee how to clean the tanks and treat the water, and all except for the preventative use of melafix which I disagreed with, they seemed to do everything that I would do to keep my fish happy and healthy. The water was sparkling clear, they used conditioner both through the main system and in each individual tank, and the only dead/dying fish I saw were a lacefin catfish and an albino corydora that were too weak to resist the advances of their tankmates (IE, they were still alive but missing almost all of their fins).
I don't think I've ever heard of African Shell Dwellers... I'll have to look them up. I'm going to check on the rules for fish in dorm rooms tomorrow, to see if I could get away with a 10 gallon and a 5 gallon, in which case I would move everyone that I have now to a 5 gallon and start the 10 gallon fresh.
I do have a 10 gallon that is empty right now, but the filter and heater are pretty beaten up so I'd need to buy those new, which obviously is an issue. The only problem I have with that is the disapproval of my mother and the fact that I'd have a total of 5 smallish fish in a huge 20 gallon, which seems like a waste to me.
But I'll look up African Shell Dwellers now and check that option out for sure. Thanks for the idea!
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Post by jonv on Jan 19, 2009 23:56:02 GMT -5
Clint, Some of these have some decent coloring to them also. I doubt you'll get them locally. I do know a seller of African cichlids off eBay up in Buffalo. I don't know if they have shellies though. I can try to locate you a seller that sells fairly cheap. They'd work out well in a species only 10 or 20 gallon. cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=14
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ctendoh
Junior Member
Filling my room with water, one tank at a time...
Posts: 39
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Post by ctendoh on Jan 19, 2009 23:57:12 GMT -5
Hmm... I just checked them out and I agree they look like a great choice, but I'm curious, how close are those to generic African Ciclids, as in the ones that I have seen in walmart and some pet stores? Those are about 5 bucks a pop around here, but well worth the money IMO, as they are BEAUTIFUL. My only concern is what I would do with my other fish. I'm rather attached to the cories, not so much the betta or the snail, but I'd like to keep everyone if I could. Thanks again for the input! PS, I'd love to get the contact info for that seller, but I'm only thinking about options right now, I probably won't act on this for another month or so. I'm finishing up volleyball season now, and then from there it's into the annual drama club musical (we're doing Man of La Mancha) and tennis, so i'm probably not going to be free enough to think about this until the summer at least. and once I get to summer I'll start up work again, so then my options should open up just a little bit more...
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Post by jonv on Jan 20, 2009 0:00:03 GMT -5
Problem with Walmart is that you really do not know who they get their stock from. Most of what Walmart is likely to offer are your typical everyday not hard to find Mbuna, which get much larger and meaner then shellies, not to mention, from a completely different lake also. I seriously doubt Walmart has these, but hey if they did, more power to you. I think ordering these are about the only way to go, but if there ever was a good fit for a 10 or 20 gallon tank, this would be it.
Another problem with chain sellers as going a bit deeper into why I bring up who supplies them, without them buying from a reputable breeder, you draw a high chance of getting a very unwanted hybrid.
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Post by kagome on Jan 20, 2009 0:00:55 GMT -5
What about a good old fashioned goldfish? If you didn't have the betta I would suggest a paradise gourami, but gouramies and bettas will fight for sure. Hmmmm......Oh yeah, and the puffers are mean little buggers. To have them they need to be the main focus of the tank. They eat the fins off of other fish. Not all puffers need brackish, but many do. I'd love to have them but they would be mean to my precious loaches and so I say "Nay, Nay!" to the cute little puffer fish! lol
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ctendoh
Junior Member
Filling my room with water, one tank at a time...
Posts: 39
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Post by ctendoh on Jan 20, 2009 0:10:52 GMT -5
Jonv:
Yup, I just looked them up, and you were right, they were Mbunas that I saw tonight... bummer, I was hoping I'd be that lucky... but no matter. I do like the sound of a small, docile Cichlid, so I'll have to look into these some more as a good option for a dorm tank... providing my roomate doesn't have some odd fear of running water... lol.
kagome:
Goldfish have started to grow on me, but my main concern with those is size, and also, I thought my cories could only handle tropical climes? If they can handle the cold, I would definitely consider goldfish, but what goldfish would be small enough that they could live in a 10 gallon for 4 years?
Which reminds me of a stupid mistake I've just realized: the power will be shut off to my dorm room over vacations, and I can't expect my fish to survive 3 weeks alone in the cold... what can I do about that?
And don't tease me by saying paradise gourami, I beg of you... lol. I've wanted one of those ever since I started keeping fish, but as the credit card resides in the mother's purse, ordering online is NOT an option... and as you know I'm a million miles from a store that could supply me with one of those beauties...
thanks to both of you for this wonderful input though!
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Post by brenda on Jan 20, 2009 19:16:30 GMT -5
Shell dwellers are from LAke Tanganyika and I agree with Jon...They would be perfect for your tank. Look around maybe one of your LFS has some.
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Post by Carl on Jan 20, 2009 19:51:38 GMT -5
I think Paradise Gouramis are a nice fish, and easy to keep other than they can get quite territorial. Your Power question is a more tough one, especially as to the heat (pumps can be run on battery power, but not heaters unless) Here are a few thoughts; * An AC/DC aquarium Air Pump such as the very powerful Azoo Non-Stop Pump* A 400 watt Inverter connected to a large RV Battery. An RV Battery will have a 2.5 hour discharge rate at 25 amps DC which is vastly higher than your aquarium will likely use (more like 8 amps tops with heater running). This would about 8 hours with a heater and everything, likely 24 hours plus with normal temps. You can connect more than 1 battery together in parallel for a longer time period (this must be in parallel, not in series, otherwise you will change from 12 to 24 V) I know neither is a good answer for the amount of time you are referring to, but this would work for long weekends. Otherwise you may have to take your aquarium back home during these time periods. Carl
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ctendoh
Junior Member
Filling my room with water, one tank at a time...
Posts: 39
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Post by ctendoh on Jan 20, 2009 20:03:44 GMT -5
well, I think what I'm going to have to do is just suck it up and pay for the power to be kept to my room... there's no way I'm going to move my fish that much, it just wouldnt' be fair.
I like the idea of the cichlids, but I really really really like my cories and my betta, and unless they'd let me have 2 tanks (highly doubtful), I don't think it would work out. so unless my cories and betta kick the bucket, looks like they're a no for now.
I'll keep looking, thanks for all of the help you guys have given me though!
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ctendoh
Junior Member
Filling my room with water, one tank at a time...
Posts: 39
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Post by ctendoh on Jan 20, 2009 21:20:25 GMT -5
Well, looking around at my options, I have come to the conclusion that I might just have to go with a HEAVILY planted 10 gallon freshwater, heated, with 4 corydoras, 4 celestial pearl danios, 4 Zebra Danios, and possibly some some ghost shrimp. I will most likely have to give away my betta, which I already have a couple ideas for, depending on the inhabitants of some friends' tanks.
As soon as I can buy it, I'll buy a new filter, most likely one designed for a 20 gallon because I realize I'm a little overstocked. I'm a little unsure of buying the filters I see at Walmart, but I'm so low on cash I don't see any other options. Any suggestions for a reliable but affordable brand?
And finally, I've always wanted a planted tank, but never had any luck with any plants except for my floating plant which is possibly the easiest plant ever grown :/... lol. I'm thinking about going with a small white or black substrate with a dwarf hairgrass foreground, and then a couple of thick background plants, or possibly a centerpiece driftwood covered in java moss with a carpet of dwarf hairgrass and tall plants in the back corners... who knows at this point?
So what are some good strong rooted plants which danios would like?
I promise I'll pay you guys back for all the help!
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Post by Carl on Jan 20, 2009 22:52:27 GMT -5
A few suggestions: *Jave Ferns *Anubias *Anacharis (although not a strong rooted plant, however I have successfully grown roots on mine even though they are often kept as a floating plant) *Hornwort (Foxtail); the smae applies here as to Anacharis *Dward Lily *Banana Plant *Red Wendtii Freshwater PlantsCarl
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Post by bikeguy33 on Jan 21, 2009 1:10:22 GMT -5
i agree with the idea you have of a few small danios. and what is nice with these.....if they are small enough, they MAY leave the betta alone. this is a great option since all levels of your tank would be filled. although i very much agree with the shell dwellers, they do require more tank attention than cories, danios and bettas, and we all know that time is something a university student doesnt have alot of. i do like the idea of plants.....but make sure you get the right light to grow plants. carl is the resident light specialist so he`ll probably have a suggestion, and as well he sells them very inexpensively.btw, not sure about there...but zebra danios here are all of $2 each. good luck with this little endevour.
1 last thing....sam goes to university and has a job. she finds the time to keep her tanks nice and clean.....if ya say please she may let ya in on her secret. i personally think she has a lil machine that can stop time so she can maintain tanks....lol
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Post by kagome on Jan 21, 2009 12:45:02 GMT -5
I would tend towards the java fern since they have low light needs and them turning the power off.
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Post by babygeige on Jan 21, 2009 23:05:16 GMT -5
Celestial pearl danios are a great choice for a 10 gallon. I have 7 in my 10 gallon and love them. they're so cute and little, and very active. Zebras might need a bit more room to swim than a 10 gallon can provide though. I also have white cloud mountain minnows in my 10 gallon. They're small and peaceful. The nice thing about CPD's and white clouds is that they can tolerate cooler water temperatures - low 70's are ok.
Have you considered maybe a bunch of Red Cherry Shrimp? They are a lot of fun!
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