New tank - some thoughts!

[Johanski]

I reloaded them and they became twice as big, sorry about that, I'll adjust it soon and wont upload that huge pics xD

Regards
Johan

[Johanski]

Update!

I got some photos of my tigers, finally they settled down.

Also did my first water change today, 80 / 345 Liters. I know some people say you shouldn't do your first water change one week after you started, but since the bacteria live in the gravel and filter and not in the water, I only think it's good to supply the fish with some fresh water. It worked in my 30L tank when I had my little Ancistrus growing up there for some months, he now resides in the big tank ofcourse, and shrimp inc. to the small one.

Anyways, fish seems all fine with the water change, still calm and picking on eachother. They are nasty bastards

Also took some pics of my vegetation, it seems to be growing. If you think anything seems odd about the plants, please do point it out as I am no expert on these sorts of things.

Also: Ignore my reflection

Enjoy the pictures

[Rubix]

Great tank, impressive! You'll find kubotai to be excellent fish, I love'm. My only suggestion at this point would be to place the intake and return of your cannister filter at opposite ends of the tank. I see your tubing is short and the filter is perhaps too tall to be placed in the middle underneath your tank (I have the same problem on my newest rivertank, will figure a solution next week), but it would be a worthwhile change. Again, great lookin' tank!

[Johanski]

Great tank, impressive! You'll find kubotai to be excellent fish, I love'm. My only suggestion at this point would be to place the intake and return of your cannister filter at opposite ends of the tank. I see your tubing is short and the filter is perhaps too tall to be placed in the middle underneath your tank (I have the same problem on my newest rivertank, will figure a solution next week), but it would be a worthwhile change. Again, great lookin' tank!

Thanks for your compliments!

Regarding the filter:

If i put the intake in the opposite corner of the output tube, the output tube will just blow the water straight into the filter again, without it circulating as much as now. As it is now, the output blows water to the opposite end, and it returns at a lower level to the intake. And that's what I think circulation is

Thanks again though

[Rubix]

Thanks for your compliments!

Regarding the filter:

If i put the intake in the opposite corner of the output tube, the output tube will just blow the water straight into the filter again, without it circulating as much as now. As it is now, the output blows water to the opposite end, and it returns at a lower level to the intake. And that's what I think circulation is

Thanks again though

I hadn't considered this, good point. I suppose it would be better to have the input and return on opposite ends with a river tank manifold, but considering your application, you're absolutely right. By the way, please post future pictures once the plants have filled out more, I think your tank is going to mature nicely

[Dano]

The tank looks real good. Is it fully cycled?

[Johanski]

The tank looks real good. Is it fully cycled?

Thanks! Day 9 since the first fish arrived, so not yet I can't wait until it is so I can add some more fish.

[Johanski]

Having my first problems in the tank, one of the barbs are hiding behind the plant all the time, when it comes out it loses balance and has its head down towards the bottom. It's colors are a bit faded out aswell. Also see that one of the other tiger barbs are beginning to look the same, not even nearly as bad though.

No nitrites, tested the water with my Sera NItrite test.

Any thoughts?

[Tinman]

Check for ammonia, tanks go through many things and at day ten ? Filters build and fall as they cycle up. It is not always solid growth, do a 10% water change a couple times a week at first.... You can tell your tanks real current cycle by overloading slightly with flake food crumbled fine after a fasting day btw Loaches do much better in older set ups so be patient on adding them. I know its hard but it is best...

[Johanski]

Check for ammonia, tanks go through many things and at day ten ? Filters build and fall as they cycle up. It is not always solid growth, do a 10% water change a couple times a week at first.... You can tell your tanks real current cycle by overloading slightly with flake food crumbled fine after a fasting day btw Loaches do much better in older set ups so be patient on adding them. I know its hard but it is best...

Seems that it's better now, havent fed for two days and added some salt (Just in case) yesterday. Should I continue to feed tomorrow? I only feed a tiny, tiny bit. Before two days ago i fed every other day, and only a minimal amount that was eaten up in less than 10 seconds.

And yes I know, I wont add my loaches until my tank is fully running ^^ Tiger barbs might not be the ideal start up fish either, but im hoping for the best here.

Also did a water change two days ago, my weekly.

KH is on 3 now, nitrite 0, nitrate 0

Thanks!

[Johanski]

Update!

Things are looking better for my sick barb, it's not as grey anymore and doesn't swim with it's head towards the bottom as often now. I truly hope it'll be alright. Other fish seems okay.

Not much has happened since last photo, except the plants have started growing insanely. Also planning to change the plant.. thingie (?) from EasyLife's Profito to Poor Mans Dupla Drops (PMDD), just because it's cheaper and better, seems like a fair deal doesn't it?

It's now been running for 2 weeks, 1-2 more weeks and it should be cycled and then I'm gonna add 5 more barbs and 3 siamese algae eaters. Then after some weeks comes the Botia Kubotai's, I've been checking em out every time I go to the local fish store, they look awesome. Saw there was 6 in one tank and one alone in the tank just next to it so I asked the owner why he's all alone in there, well the reason was that it jumped, all the way to the next tank and he left it there because he didn't wanna stress it further.

AH I CAN'T WAIT

Regards

Johan

[Johanski]

Hello everyone. Sorry, no photos this time as my girlfriend took her camera with her when she went down visiting her parents, sorry

Anyways, the barb is still a bit sick, it's not any worse though, and sometimes it's all normal. I really don't know if i should remove her or not, what do you guys think? One of the other barbs is doing the same thing aswell, as he did last week, but not nearly as bad. So nothing's changed really.

Except for my tank! All the plants on the right and left sides have reached the surface and it's looking good. I took some seeds and planted them out in the bamboo forest, hoping to make it thicker.

Also, a question ofcourse (I hate being a noob )

Do botia kubotai appreciate tubes to hang out in as much as clowns? (Like thick hollow bamboo sticks?), 'cause I found some REALLY thick bamboo on a store nearby the other day, and thinking about adding a piece of it. I don't know if it's drenched in any chemicals or w/e, but I doubt it would be, as all my small bamboo sticks are okay. Except for white goo coming out of them, but that's harmless.

[starsplitter7]

I haven't kept Kubotai, but I am sure they probably would like to have the bamboo. Not to mention it is pretty. If I could find bamboo, I would use it.

Check that it hasn't been varnished and then boil it. I just brought home some coconut huts and a little piece of wood as additional hiding places. I just boiled it, and I am waiting for it to cool.

[Johanski]

The bamboo is taking a bath after me cutting it up. I think it'll be really nice tunnels for my botia kubotai arriving next week.

Anyways, what has happened?

Thursday I added 5 more tigerbarbs and 5 Crossocheilus oblongus (Earlier C. Siamensis) and they've settled in well. My tigers are still behaving and the siamese algae eater don't pay much attention to them at all, they just go about eating algae.

The sick barb was never a sick barb btw, it was just horny, calling for females

Tank has been running with fish in for over a month now, no measurable nitrIte levels, and nitrate is at about 5-10. It's all good in the neighbourhood!

Would it be OK to add my botia kubotai.. say friday? If all the water levels are OK and my new fish haven't gone and died?

Regards
Johan

[mickthefish]

i think you'll be alright to get the kubotai bud,
how many you getting,?
they'll look good in your tank setup.

mick