purplecatfish Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 I've been bitten by the MTS bug for nearly 2 years now. My 4 tanks: Tank 1 is my newest and has been running for nearly 2 months. 2.5m x .6m x .6m made by Tanks2U (thanks Greg). It has two 4ft arcadia T5s each with 4 x 54w plantpro bulbs, A Fluval FX5 with JBL micromec and sinomec, and a couple of Jager 300W heaters. It's on a 300mm high steel stand (thanks TomoVentures). It has 10 Dwarf Gouramis which are happily breeding, 4 Ottos, 4 Angelicious Loaches, 4 Pepper Catfish (I'll be getting a few more soon), 6 Clown Loaches, and my favorites 7 Royal Whiptail Catfish (S. festivum, thanks Psycho5) and finally 3 Royal Whiptail fry that are about 2 weeks old. It's planted with: Dwarf Sag, Glosso, Crypts, Pygmy Chainsword, Echinodorus Osirus, Anubias nana, moss, Broad and Narrow leaf Indian Ferns, Twisted Val, Red Pine, Ambulia, Java Fern Windlov and lilaeopsis nz. Tank2 is similar but 1.5m x .6m high x .45m wide, 1 light, 1 heater and a Fluval 405. The residents are 3 pairs of Platinum Angels who spawn regularly but are unsucessful, I probably need to part with a pair to ease the territorial disputes and reduce their stress. There's also 10 Platinum Mollies, 3 Skunk Loaches, 4 Chain Loaches, and The Bristlenose Gang. Mr and Mrs Ugly Bob who after a 3 day romance (it was love at first sight) are proud parents of a brood of a couple of dozen 2 mth olds. And then there's the group of youngster bristlenose that I won on Trade Me the day Ugly Bob moved in. The plant list: Glosso, E Osirus which is sprouting pups, Twisted Val which I'll use to replace the Ambulia which I'm considering removing, Red Pine, Crypts and a ruffled Echinodorus. Tank3 is a 1.2m x .45m x .45m, it has a fluval 304, a 100w AquaOne heater and 2 40w x 2 Aqua One 4ft lights The Bristlenose Population in tank 2 has to decrease so those I can catch end up in here with the Guppy Gang and 13 Kuhli Loaches. Also there's a tiny flatish snail that infests this tank, but at least it doesn't eat the plants. The planting in this tank is simpler, 5 Cyperus helfii along the back, Crypts to the sides and a carpet of Pygmy chainsword (E. tennulus) in the foreground. There is also a moss which I think is christmas moss. Tank4 is a .9m x .38m wide x .4m high, with 2 fluval 204, a 30w x 2 Aqua One light and an Aqua One heater. This tank is home to Yo Yo Loaches, Borneo Suckers (Gastromyzon punctulatus) and the male guppies that aren't needed in Tank 3. The aquascaping in this tank is different as it's a river type setup. There are Kiaua stones, Brightstone pebbles and Misty gravel. The other tanks all have brightstone gravel. The plants are C. helfii, crypts and a small Echinodorus that is often sold as tennulus but is broader in the leaf. The other tanks I have are destined to be dismantled as I simplify my set up. Unfortunately that means the end of the 2 pairs of Siamese fighters and their multiple broods. I got into the hobby because I was sick of watering indoor plants so it made sense to switch to aquatic plants. The fish are just there so I don't have to fertilise them :lol: . My favorite products: Flourish excell, Potassium fertilisers with absolutely no phospates. Stresszyme and Stresscoat. And the fish want me to mention JBL Novotabs and TetraMin Variety Wafers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Love the sound of your set ups! Welcome to the forums, it's a really friendly place and great for getting advice. Rebecca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Hi and welcome. They sound like as much work as watering houseplants! Though I know what you mean (she says listening to her houseplants gasp "Water! Water!") Got any pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplecatfish Posted September 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 I've just done the first major vacuum and water change on my big tank and its triggered another spawning of the Whiptails . And also in the Pepper Cories, I got to watch the whole process from the T-bar position to laying under the mat of Glosso . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Hi Wow, you thought this was easier I don't have real plants in my tanks. I can't keep them alive out of water, so not willing to try keeping them alive in water :-? 8) :lol: Looking forward to pics. Take care & have fun, Dolorosa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 those are some wicked sounding setups. PICS!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Holy Moly!! They sound great. Pics to please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 wow they sound absolutely stunning, nice to have another plant enthusiast on board. cant wait to see the pics :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustcooktea Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Welcome along! Don't just tease us with descriptions. We want pictures! MCT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplecatfish Posted September 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Here are some quick snaps of the set-up process for a couple of the tanks. http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictu ... 2101791905. I'll spend some time over the next week trying to get some decent photos to upload. :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Welcome, fantastic looking pictures. Hope we get to see more soon Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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