New tank setup- now with fish :D

[Whitey_MacLeod]

Well it's been a lot longer than I was planning, but I've finally got the kubotai tank just about ready to go. It needs more plants, but I'm not sure what to go for. I've got some java fern windleov to add, and I was going to add some narrow leaf grass from the river tank, but it's covered with black brush algae which I'd rather not spread, so I'll have to find something else. I haven't decided what dithers I want yet either, and that might affect which plants I go for.
I need to pick up some more silicone sealant so I can cover up some pipes for hiding places. I don't want too much decor- knowing how much of a pain it is cleaning my cheni tank I want to keep this one as simple and easy to access as possible, so no big piles of tangled wood.

[bslindgren]

Nice setup. Kubos are great!! Look forward to seeing pictures when you add the fish.

[Graeme Robson]

Very nice! I love the substrate.

What size is the tank again?

[Whitey_MacLeod]

Cheers. The tank is 32" long, and just under 35 US gallons.
The substrate is a mix of play sand and 4 or 5 different types of gravel- I'm really happy with how it turned out.

[Whitey_MacLeod]

Finally added fish today
The tank looks a lot better with a few more plants. I took some anubias nana cuttings from the cheni tank and tied them onto bits of pipe, looks quite good





The kubs seem to really like it in there so far- they've been zooming around non-stop for a couple of hours now. I wasn't sure how well they'd cope with being suddenly introduced to much faster currents, but they actually seem to enjoy being blown sideways. it's taken way longer than it should have done for me to get this tank finished for various reasons- I've been feeling quite guilty about keeping my kubs in a small tank for so long, so it feels great to watch them having fun in there.













Short video:


Something I found very interesting was watching the boys trying to climb up out of the jug when I was drip acclimatising them. They're surprisingly good at sticking to stuff with their pectoral fins.

[clownloachfan]

Nice kubs, look very healthy and plump. Mine were like that too when i was acclimating them. They are just curious little creatures.

[newshound]

nice tank
enjoy the rivertank idea
once again thanks Martin!!!!!
if you have a good cross flow I would add more hiding spots. The junk will naturally flow into the intakes.
and writting about intakes I find the kind you have clog very quickly reducing the flow.
also-- I found my kubs to tear the dwarf sag. leafs off. (my kubs are mature though)

[Emma Turner]

Superb!

Emma

[wasserscheu]

Enjoy ... the flow . And these really nice Kub´s.

[Rocco]

Something I found very interesting was watching the boys trying to climb up out of the jug when I was drip acclimatising them. They're surprisingly good at sticking to stuff with their pectoral fins.

Fish: I wonder whats going on up there... *inhales* *pokes head out of the water for a few seconds*

Fish: Hey, looks like the human has prepared us a new home. Excellent. Our espionage information will go well when the elders decide to invade and take control from the humans.

back on planet loach:

Fish: The number of humans adopting our brethren is growing! soon earth will be ours!

[LoachOrgy]

wow cool pics of those guys crawling out. tank looks good lots of bubbles.

[Graeme Robson]

Bah! I cant say Superb, because Emma has used it.

Lovely looking specimens!

[Whitey_MacLeod]

Cheers everyone. I just got back in from work, and they're still zooming about all over the tank. It's tiring just watching them.

enjoy the rivertank idea
once again thanks Martin!!!!!

Definitely, it's a simple design but works so well. My fish would also like to say thanks Martin

if you have a good cross flow I would add more hiding spots. The junk will naturally flow into the intakes.
and writting about intakes I find the kind you have clog very quickly reducing the flow.
also-- I found my kubs to tear the dwarf sag. leafs off. (my kubs are mature though)

I'll probably add a few more hiding places when I get more loaches. The problem I have in the cheni tank isn't lots of dirt getting trapped, it's fitting back together the jigsaw of bogwood every time I move something without crushing any plants or fish. I've got over 10x turnover across the bottom in this tank, so dirt shouldn't build up too badly. I'll keep a close eye on the intakes- they came with the powerhead, so they were the easiest choice. All my other tanks use the same aquaclear sponges which are very slow to clog up, and they would be more sensible- they just don't look as good.
I've already pinched half the sagittaria out of there for a 10g planted tank I'm thinking about, so I won't be too upset it I have to remove the rest of it

Fish: I wonder whats going on up there... *inhales* *pokes head out of the water for a few seconds*

Fish: Hey, looks like the human has prepared us a new home. Excellent. Our espionage information will go well when the elders decide to invade and take control from the humans.

back on planet loach:

Fish: The number of humans adopting our brethren is growing! soon earth will be ours!

[bslindgren]

Lovely setup and fish. Kubos are so nice. I have some new ones (smaller than yours) and one of them insists on sleeping on its side in the middle of the tank in full view - my poor heart skips a beat every time I see him. Unlike the other loaches that do this he tends to ignore me as well but he pops up and swims about as soon as another loach swims by - I'll try to get a photo.

[Mad Duff]

Very nice

They are lovely chunky Kub's