*pokes in head, looks around for any signs of life*
So...yes, I disappeared for a while there, but I am back and will try to give a brief yet detailed update on the happenings of the Vintage Tank.
Boy have things Changed!
We moved in April of this year which precipitated the lack of updates to this poor neglected blog.
Mendal and I, our 5 cats and TVT are all now living in a spacious 4 bedroom home. In fact we have so much space I was able to convince Mendal we NEEDED more tanks. So I now have a 15 gallon High and a 10 gallon Metaframe (I stumbled upon it at a goodwill for only $4 and Mendal found a matching light at our LFS for $10). We also have set up the little mini me Metaframe that is nearly 2 gallons. I also have sold my Hex tanks...not a big fan of the shape or of Acrylic tanks.
So After moving to new house I tested the water and found the ph was a bit higher than our tap water at the old house. it is actually 7.0 instead of 6.8. I had to add the water back to the tanks slowly because of this. Also it must be said that The Vintage Tank is Freakin' Heavy! Mendal and I carried it in and it nearly killed me dead...or you know made me tired...
Also all of the fish in TVT were put into a 5 gallon bucket with lid and heater, while all of the Bettas were put back into the little containers they were purchased in for the actual move.
After the tank was set up I ended up deciding not to set up the 5 gallon Hex tanks, and but all of the girl Bettas into TVT with the corries and the Colombians. They LOVED it swimming like no tomorrow. And the Colombians liked them too and became much more visible.
Lenore was put into the 2 gallon Metaframe and then contracted Dropsy and died about 4 days after the move...we were very sad, and I felt responsible as I'm sure the stress from the move and the small cup and then the new water did not help matters.
After a few weeks TVT experienced a bad case of Green Water which took a week of daily water changes to combat. We ultimately moved the tank from its space in the living room near a window to the dinning room which looks much better. The 2 gallon is also in the dining room on a built in shelf/alcove thingy. The 15 Gallon is in the living room and the newest 10 gallon is in my Bead Room (my other addiction in life is jewelry making...but that's another long story).
I will update with pictures soon, hopefully on Saturday of this week and not 6 Months from now!
Also news on the Residents of The Vintage Tank! Not good news...my Stealth Heater mentioned some where in greater detail on this blog, over heated and killed all but 3 of my Colombians and 10 of the Neon Tetras that I had bought on a whim a few months ago (on sale 2 for 88 cents).
So The Residents of the tank are now one quite large Gold Angelfish (bought smaller than a quarter and is now about 3 inches not including fins), 4 Three Line Cories, 1 Neon Tetra, and the newest editions 6 Skunk Cories. I will post individual information for the Angelfish and the Skunk Cories soon.
Also more terrible news the 15 gallon was home to my Female Betta's and they loved it almost as much as TVT, I actually bought more and had 9 girls, one of which turned out to be a Male King Betta sold as a girl (found out when he started building a huge bubble nest and harassing the crap out of my dominant girls Shirley and Francis. He was moved to TVT. Well the terrible news is that due to a huge error on my part I spread a quick moving deadly disease or parasite to the 15 gallon tank that killed all of the girls. Never move a sick fish into a healthy tank no matter what your reasons are. Quarantine Tanks (QT) are a must and I wish so badly I had one...If I did all of my beautiful girls would still be here... :( Also it helps to have proper medicines on hand for any eventuality.
After dosing the 15 gallon with a CUP of Ammonia I waited 3 weeks for it to super cycle and then did a massive water change to lower the Nitrates. Mendal suggested we "rescue" some Rosy Red Minnows which are marketed as feeder fish. I was excited about this as they were cheap and matched our decor! We bought 14 and they were happy little cold water fish until one day they all but 1 suddenly died, in a matter of 4 days they were all gone but 1, with no outward signs of disease or parasites. I tried treating for internal parasites but it was too late. This is abbreviated I spent hours doing water changes and ended up turning a 5 gallon bucket into a QT as the newly purchased 10 gallon Metaframe needed to be resealed. So now the lone Minnow has the 15 gallon high to his self...and I don't know what to do with the tank, I'm afraid to add new fish without dumping ammonia in it, and I don't no were to put Minnow boy while I'm doing that as I can't keep in The Vintage Tank because A. he is a cold water fish and B. he may be carrying a quick killing disease.
So because of all this death and craziness I have decided to do a complete revamp on my tanks and fish residents. And because it has become obvious that I can not summarize anything quickly I am cutting my self off here!
Next Post Pictures of setup from over the last few months.
Upcoming Posts new fish on the scene...one hint Bolivian Rams...
I'll be back soon, promise!
Deese
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Aquascaping
So, as I stated in a post recently I have plants in The Vintage Tank. I forgot to mention them in my excited update. So far all of the plants are from South America except one which is from Asia.
This is the list of plants:
My brother had some type of floating plant in his tanks when we were younger...I remember it taking over and being annoying but the fish liked the shadow it cast and I know my CTs will appreciate it and will color up better.
I will try to take some pictures of the tank as it is now, and post the ones that are still on the camera ASAP.
In other decor/aquascaping news I found the perfect piece of driftwood, or Mendal did. We found it at an Antique Mall believe it or not. For only $2.50 we got an old narley piece of driftwood that will be the star of The Vintage Tank.
However in order to use real drift wood I will probably have to add some Limestone to the tank to keep the pH from falling too low. We have acidic water here and while the fish I've chosen do well in slightly acidic water I think anything below 5 would be a bad thing!
pH levels in my tanks now:
The Vintage Tank 6.8
Harem Hex 6.5
Lenore's Hex 5.5
Lenore's has always been low, which is wierd because the Harem Hex has exactly the same everything (plants, substrate, filtration, light, water, and they were set up on the same day).
Next up Limstone search (Friday) and Pictures of The Vintage Tank!
This is the list of plants:
- Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri)
- Melon Sword (Echinodorus osiris)
- Crypt Wendtii, Green (Cryptocoryne wendtii) Asian!
- Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
- Aponogetons unknown varieties (bulb packages)
- ChainSword - Narrow Leaf (Echinodorus tenellus)
- Micro Sword (Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae)
My brother had some type of floating plant in his tanks when we were younger...I remember it taking over and being annoying but the fish liked the shadow it cast and I know my CTs will appreciate it and will color up better.
I will try to take some pictures of the tank as it is now, and post the ones that are still on the camera ASAP.
In other decor/aquascaping news I found the perfect piece of driftwood, or Mendal did. We found it at an Antique Mall believe it or not. For only $2.50 we got an old narley piece of driftwood that will be the star of The Vintage Tank.
However in order to use real drift wood I will probably have to add some Limestone to the tank to keep the pH from falling too low. We have acidic water here and while the fish I've chosen do well in slightly acidic water I think anything below 5 would be a bad thing!
pH levels in my tanks now:
The Vintage Tank 6.8
Harem Hex 6.5
Lenore's Hex 5.5
Lenore's has always been low, which is wierd because the Harem Hex has exactly the same everything (plants, substrate, filtration, light, water, and they were set up on the same day).
Next up Limstone search (Friday) and Pictures of The Vintage Tank!
Permanent Resident
Dwarf Pencilfish
Scientific Name: Nannostomus marginatus
Size: 1.4 in
pH: 5.5 - 7
Temperature 75°- 82° F
Origin/Habitat: South America: Peru, Columbia, Guyana, Suriname and Brazil
Tank Region: Middle levels: all over
Apparently this fish makes a great Dither Fish which it seems my CTs need. A Dither Fish is typically used with Cichlids. Its purpose is to calm the nerves of nervous fish, to make the tank seem more comfortable. Dither fish are typically always schoolers and are movers and shakers not hiders and darters!
You can read more about Dither Fish here: http://www.theaquarians.net/ArticlesandWallpapers/dither_fish.htm
Scientific Name: Nannostomus marginatus
Size: 1.4 in
pH: 5.5 - 7
Temperature 75°- 82° F
Origin/Habitat: South America: Peru, Columbia, Guyana, Suriname and Brazil
Tank Region: Middle levels: all over
Apparently this fish makes a great Dither Fish which it seems my CTs need. A Dither Fish is typically used with Cichlids. Its purpose is to calm the nerves of nervous fish, to make the tank seem more comfortable. Dither fish are typically always schoolers and are movers and shakers not hiders and darters!
You can read more about Dither Fish here: http://www.theaquarians.net/ArticlesandWallpapers/dither_fish.htm
Last Resident Decided!
I have been trying to get Mendal more interested in helping develop The Vintage Tank. She appreciates the coolness of a 1970s Metalframe, and she likes to look at a pretty tank with pretty fish but she is not very active in...well any of it!
So last week we were doing a fun shopping day in Kernersville (a town 20 minutes from us) and we went to my favorite LFS and Petco. I told her the last resident was going to be her choice and that she should let me know what fish she liked.
At both stores she pointed out Pencil Fish, I believe that the LFS and Petco had different types but they looked simular. I told her that they were a great fish and there was a Dwarf Pencilfish that would fit perfectly in The Vintage Tank.
So I ordered 15 of the little guys, planning for a few causulties during transit. I also ordered 4 more Three Line Cory Cats.
The part I love is that The Vintage Tank is a true Biotope with only South American: Columbian Fish and Plants with the exception of one plant that is from Asia.
Next post is info and a picture of the Dwarf Pencilfish!
So last week we were doing a fun shopping day in Kernersville (a town 20 minutes from us) and we went to my favorite LFS and Petco. I told her the last resident was going to be her choice and that she should let me know what fish she liked.
At both stores she pointed out Pencil Fish, I believe that the LFS and Petco had different types but they looked simular. I told her that they were a great fish and there was a Dwarf Pencilfish that would fit perfectly in The Vintage Tank.
So I ordered 15 of the little guys, planning for a few causulties during transit. I also ordered 4 more Three Line Cory Cats.
The part I love is that The Vintage Tank is a true Biotope with only South American: Columbian Fish and Plants with the exception of one plant that is from Asia.
Next post is info and a picture of the Dwarf Pencilfish!
Vintage Tank Resident Update
Eek! I just realized how long it has been since I've updated...
I have been really busy with work and Life!
So in The Vintage Tank News I have added 2 more Colombian Tetras on March 15th. They were 25% off at my LFS and I couldn't resist. About a week later I had a mysterious casualty, one of the Walmart CTs died, I believe it was from stress.
The CTs continued to act incredibly jittery/nervous until I added my two Three Line Cory Cats this weekend, March 28th. An hour after the Cories: Haim and Feldmen (yes I know we're dorks) were added the CTs started swimming around more and their colors were showing more.
They have since even started to come to the top of the tank to eat instead of waiting for it to drift down.
I also added my 2 mystery snails from the Hex tanks to The Vintage Tank becuase of treating the other tanks with medcine that would hurt them. I will leave them there.
I called my LPS and ordered the newest tank mate and some more Three Lines. I should be able to pick them up on Friday of this week.
More on them in the next post!
I have been really busy with work and Life!
So in The Vintage Tank News I have added 2 more Colombian Tetras on March 15th. They were 25% off at my LFS and I couldn't resist. About a week later I had a mysterious casualty, one of the Walmart CTs died, I believe it was from stress.
The CTs continued to act incredibly jittery/nervous until I added my two Three Line Cory Cats this weekend, March 28th. An hour after the Cories: Haim and Feldmen (yes I know we're dorks) were added the CTs started swimming around more and their colors were showing more.
They have since even started to come to the top of the tank to eat instead of waiting for it to drift down.
I also added my 2 mystery snails from the Hex tanks to The Vintage Tank becuase of treating the other tanks with medcine that would hurt them. I will leave them there.
I called my LPS and ordered the newest tank mate and some more Three Lines. I should be able to pick them up on Friday of this week.
More on them in the next post!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Introducing the Colombian Tetras
March 9, 2008
How I added the Colombian Tetras (CT) to The Vintage Tank.
When we got the jittery fishies into the house I made sure the light was out in the hall were the tank was. The hood wasn’t wired yet so that light wasn’t on to stress them further either. Actually at this point the hood hadn’t been wired yet, more on that later.
I unknotted the bag the CTs were in and held it in the water. I decided to do the floating/adding water thing to acclimate them.
Also, the bag water was filly, there was dead fish scales (Mollies one of them was housed with) and tons of poop and old food. It was a mess.
1. I floated them for 4 minutes, then added ½ cup of tank water.
2. Every 4 minutes for 24 minutes I added more water upping the amount every time.
3. I filled my “clean” bucket with tank water and put my large net over my “dirty” bucket.
(I have two buckets, blue for clean water and red for dirty water used for water changes.)
4. I cut a corner off the bag next the net over the red bucket.
I did this so the majority of nastiness would flow out first. As soon as I cut it the water started rushing out and I moved the whole over the net which caught all of the fish.
5. I then immediately placed them in the blue bucket. I let them swim for 5 minutes, keeping a close watch for hungry kittens and jumping fish.
7. After this I took my smaller net and caught them one at a time and added them to The Vintage Tank.
We went to bed soon after and 7 hours later the CTs got their first feeding of Flake Food. Which they loved an
d gobbled right up!
They have been swimming happily in the bubbles and playing in the filter flow for over 24 hours now. I’ve fed them 3 times, small amounts. They eat everything in about 30 seconds. I will only feed them once for the next few days so I don’t overfeed and cause a Nitrate spike!
This morning they all showed iridescent blue on their spines so I know they are feeling more relaxed in their new home. I cannot wait to get the hood wired so we can see them in light! Oh, and have some nice plants added so they can have some place to play and hid…
Sorry about all the pictures, Mendal likes her camera and I asked for everything to be documented!
Light update next!
How I added the Colombian Tetras (CT) to The Vintage Tank.
When we got the jittery fishies into the house I made sure the light was out in the hall were the tank was. The hood wasn’t wired yet so that light wasn’t on to stress them further either. Actually at this point the hood hadn’t been wired yet, more on that later.
I unknotted the bag the CTs were in and held it in the water. I decided to do the floating/adding water thing to acclimate them.
Also, the bag water was filly, there was dead fish scales (Mollies one of them was housed with) and tons of poop and old food. It was a mess.
1. I floated them for 4 minutes, then added ½ cup of tank water.
2. Every 4 minutes for 24 minutes I added more water upping the amount every time.
3. I filled my “clean” bucket with tank water and put my large net over my “dirty” bucket.
(I have two buckets, blue for clean water and red for dirty water used for water changes.)
4. I cut a corner off the bag next the net over the red bucket.
I did this so the majority of nastiness would flow out first. As soon as I cut it the water started rushing out and I moved the whole over the net which caught all of the fish.
5. I then immediately placed them in the blue bucket. I let them swim for 5 minutes, keeping a close watch for hungry kittens and jumping fish.
7. After this I took my smaller net and caught them one at a time and added them to The Vintage Tank.
We went to bed soon after and 7 hours later the CTs got their first feeding of Flake Food. Which they loved an
d gobbled right up!They have been swimming happily in the bubbles and playing in the filter flow for over 24 hours now. I’ve fed them 3 times, small amounts. They eat everything in about 30 seconds. I will only feed them once for the next few days so I don’t overfeed and cause a Nitrate spike!
This morning they all showed iridescent blue on their spines so I know they are feeling more relaxed in their new home. I cannot wait to get the hood wired so we can see them in light! Oh, and have some nice plants added so they can have some place to play and hid…
Sorry about all the pictures, Mendal likes her camera and I asked for everything to be documented!
Light update next!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Day 31:
March 9, 2009
NO3 <20ppm style="font-weight: bold;">DON’T BUY DYED FISH ITS CRUEL!
Ok rant done.
So yes, they were mislabeled at $3.78 and as I said previously, the cheapest I had seen was $5. I called my LPS and found out they sell them for $2.99 when they are in stock, but they were out and they are small/young when they get them in.
When I got to Wal-Mart this morning I had some idiot who didn’t know the first thing about fish net them out and torture the poor things with his “skills”. I’ve never seen someone net and move a fish the way he did!
After he caught all they had, 8 total. I asked “how much are the Colombian Tetras anyway?” knowing full well he would have no idea what I was saying, and that they were not listed on their price list.
The only other fish listed above their tank was Flame Tetras, of which they did not have in stock. He said “they are Mixed Fruit.” I said “no they aren’t,” and ranted about what a Mixed Fruit was and showed him the Black Skirts they had. Even he could see the resemblance between the pictures of the Mixed Fruites and the Black Skirts.
Looking at the bag of 8 terrified fish, he said, “They do have red fins.” And marked them at the Flame Tetra Price. Which was only $1.67!!!
Do I feel guilty you ask? Not at all.
This is Wal-Mart and I will rip them off in order to save some innocent fish. So I find Mendal and we check out. We bought some milk, fabric softener and a 12 pack of paper towels and the total was $17 something…how is this possible you may ask? (Those of you without math skills the fish alone should have been over $14!)
While walking to the car I looked at the receipt and the clerk only charged us…
For 1 fish!!!! Did I turn around you ask? NO F-ING WAY!
HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHA
So we now have 8 jittery Colombian Tetras in The Vintage Tank that we only paid $1.67 for!!!
Next post will be how they were introduced
NO3 <20ppm style="font-weight: bold;">DON’T BUY DYED FISH ITS CRUEL!
Ok rant done.
So yes, they were mislabeled at $3.78 and as I said previously, the cheapest I had seen was $5. I called my LPS and found out they sell them for $2.99 when they are in stock, but they were out and they are small/young when they get them in.
When I got to Wal-Mart this morning I had some idiot who didn’t know the first thing about fish net them out and torture the poor things with his “skills”. I’ve never seen someone net and move a fish the way he did!
After he caught all they had, 8 total. I asked “how much are the Colombian Tetras anyway?” knowing full well he would have no idea what I was saying, and that they were not listed on their price list.
The only other fish listed above their tank was Flame Tetras, of which they did not have in stock. He said “they are Mixed Fruit.” I said “no they aren’t,” and ranted about what a Mixed Fruit was and showed him the Black Skirts they had. Even he could see the resemblance between the pictures of the Mixed Fruites and the Black Skirts.
Looking at the bag of 8 terrified fish, he said, “They do have red fins.” And marked them at the Flame Tetra Price. Which was only $1.67!!!
Do I feel guilty you ask? Not at all.
This is Wal-Mart and I will rip them off in order to save some innocent fish. So I find Mendal and we check out. We bought some milk, fabric softener and a 12 pack of paper towels and the total was $17 something…how is this possible you may ask? (Those of you without math skills the fish alone should have been over $14!)
While walking to the car I looked at the receipt and the clerk only charged us…
For 1 fish!!!! Did I turn around you ask? NO F-ING WAY!
HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHA
So we now have 8 jittery Colombian Tetras in The Vintage Tank that we only paid $1.67 for!!!
Next post will be how they were introduced
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