Betta Fish Forum banner

30 Gallon Journal

52K views 1K replies 31 participants last post by  Elsewhere 
#1 ·
I got my aunt's 30 gallon on Sunday March 24th, 2013. It was filled with sand and covered in Hermit Crab crap. After three hours of meticulous cleaning, everything was cleared out and ready to go. On Monday March 25th, 2013, I set the tank up empty in my living room. Today, March 27th, 2013, I purchased all I would need for the tank, including:
One 22lb bag of gravel
Three 4.4lb bags of gravel
One Aqueon Quiet Flow 30 Aquarium Filter
One Fluval Submersible Heater, 100 WATTS
One Thermometer
One Greek Pavilion
One thoroughly cleaned used Greek vase type thing
One thoroughly cleaned used wood decoration
One Gravel Vacuum
One thing that makes bubbles

I set it up about an hour ago and got it filled with water and running and everything is working GREAT. I have a massive, long plan on how this will work, which I will put on in a minute. This is my stocking plan:
1 Pearl Gourami
9 Bloodfin Tetras
6 Otocinclus
4-5 Mystery Snails
4-6 Ghost Shrimp

Here is my overall plan:
1. Get the tank set up empty and plant-less, run it for two weeks empty to judge the quality of the products.
2. Buy four plants, buy two snails.
3. Two weeks later: buy four plants, buy two snails.
4. Two weeks later: buy four plants, buy two shrimp.
5. Two weeks later: buy four plants, buy two shrimp.
6. Two weeks later: buy 6 Otocinclus, QT for two weeks, add to tank if healthy.
7. Two weeks later: buy 5 Bloodfin Tetras, QT for two weeks, add to tank if healthy.
8. Two weeks later: buy 4 Bloodfin Tetras, QT for two weeks, add to tank if healthy.
9. Two weeks later: buy Gourami, QT for two weeks, add to tank if healthy.

The QT tanks I have are a 5g and a 2.5g, but I'm hoping to keep the 2.5g as a Betta Emergency QT if someone gets sick... Plus, I think these fish are too big for that kind of tank :p

Here are some pictures of the 30g:





What do you think? I've been planning this for months and it will take months more to complete.
 
See less See more
3
#970 ·
I am a piece of crap at keeping this thing updated. Real life and my SLIGHT obsession with Supernatural have been keeping me away XD So, a quick update on things: Samandriel is getting bigger, and his colours have totally changed. I'll try for pics tomorrow. Leo is tailbiting and frustrating me like crazy. I think it's due to being divided again, and I'm considering putting Samandriel in the 2.5. The hex tank sucks. I filled it up and it lost four inches of water in two days. Yeah. Can you say emergency 30g set up? Everyone is now down there and settled in nicely. Soleil has finally coloured up again and the Barbs are vibrant. I also may or may not have purchased a baby Albino Bristlenose Pleco, named him Castiel, and put him in there with them >.> I know, I know, always QT, but this little guy comes from the best breeder around and I have heard only glowing reviews. I've done business with him before and trust his fish, so I'm not worried.

Lil, if you read this, I hear you and my friend on here (BrodrickStrider) are dealing in fish! Ehehe! I'm slowly dragging him further down into the depths of fishdom. Super exciting.

I don't really have too much to update on besides the big move and Castiel... Sand substrate in the thirty, which I LOVE. It looks amazing and the Barbs are going nuts over it. I'm thinking a possible group of Kuhli Loaches might be cool if I can find a QT for them. I'm rambling at this point. I can't make promises about being on here often, but I'll pop in when I can!
 
#971 ·
OH! BrodrickStrider! He contacted me about two of my fish I have for adoption! We're working out a thing with another member who has a PO Box in NY right over the border and will hopefully transfer the fish from the US over to your side!!!
 
#972 ·
God, I'm so sorry for ditching this thread AGAIN! Don't expect much from me anymore- school is really suckish and I have A LOT to do! Not sure if I mentioned it, but I got a baby Albino Bristlenose Pleco! He's ADORABLE and I love him to pieces! I, of course, named him Castiel (what else?) after season six Cas, since he'll most likely be cleaning up everyone else's mess ;) There was also a bit of a travesty. One of the male Barbs jumped out of the tank died on the floor. I thought he was eaten until my cat found the body and promptly brought it upstairs, leaving me with five boys and one girl. The back that has a piece missing has been adjusted now. I'm considering going out and getting four girls so that the only girl isn't bullied to much, but the problem is the size differences... They sell them so tiny, and my guys are so vicious! I have an ear out for full grown girls from breeders/ friends, though, and hopefully contacts pull through!

I've got to head out now; King Henry VIII essay due tomorrow. So close to finishing it!
 
#973 ·
Oh man it's been soooooo long! Hey guys, I'M BACK! AGAIN! Hopefully for good this time!

I come bearing sad news- Leo passed away. I was so stupid, I forgot to close the lip of the tank and he jumped and when I got home it was too late. Stupid, stupid fish.

At the moment, am, unfortunately, Betta-less. We're beginning a plan to get our house fixed up so we can move in the spring, which means less space for tanks. Man, you guys never even met Luci and he's gone. Little Lucifer, a red Betta, currently resides at a neighbour's house. I might get him back at the new house, but the kids are already attached, and he's happy there. Samandriel had gotten some Neons in his 10g, and they now live in a friend's ten (soon to be twenty) gallon with some guppies. I also rescued some Pearl Danios for a short time, and they have been rehomed as well.

Currently, I have a ten gallon set up with some juvenile Barbs. Soleil is... vicious. She killed and ate two Barbs, and so I bought four new ones, which will make the school eight. I was worried at first that the fish were sick, but I hadn't noticed any symptoms, and then I realized it was two males that had already had bite marks on them in the past few weeks from Soleil. When they step out of line, she is NOT nice. Castiel the Pleco is getting big! He's so precious I LOVE HIM! Everyone else is going strong, and hopefully I'll be able to get some pics soon.

One of the other reasons so many tanks are gone is that my mum said two tanks. My friend had been looking for more fish, so I gave her the ten's residents. But I also got a free twenty from a moving neighbour.

Guys.

It's finally happening after eight months of waiting.

The Axolotl is coming.

I AM SO EXCITED. S/HE'S GONNA LIVE IN THE TWENTY AND EAT WORMS AND PELLETS AND FEEDER FISH AND BE FRIGGIN CUTE AND I LOVE IT ALREADY I AM NAMING IT BENNY I DON'T CARE ABOUT GENDER.

EEHHEEEEEHEEEEE! I'm way too excited. I've picked out a white guy with pink gills, but I'm still tempted to switch to black.

ANYWAYS! I might start up an Axolotl journal all on it's own, or I'll keep it here and have something exciting to write about!

So the medical issues continue. I've got strep right now, and I also have a lot of crap going on that's pretty bad that could involve a lot of surgeries. So that's a heads up if I disappear again. Hoping for the best and that I can stay active! Woo!
 
#974 ·
Hey! WELCOME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh I'm so excited to see you back!!!

I'm sorry about all your fishy deaths and rehomings and such, I definitely can relate to that though I did it in reverse; rehomed and THEN death came >.<

Super pumped for the Axxie! I can't wait till I can have one of my own, for now, I must live vicariously through you lol!!

:cheers:
:-D
 
#975 ·
I just managed to croak out "Lil!" as excitedly as possible and the guinea pugs started squealing. We're all excited! Aw, I'm sorry for your deaths :( I'm trying to catch up on your thread, slowly but surely, everything's a little fuzzy :p Yes, live through me! I wish I could settle on Wild or Leucistic, though, I wish I had the space! Tell me- if you could only get one (and I figure you'd go for three, haha!) which would you get?

Ugh, I just missed you so much!!!
 
#977 ·
Yeah I'd go with the Black one but I'm extremely partial to black animals. I have a personal thing with albino or albino-like things, though the the luecistic axxies aren't as bad as some albino animals are, I do enjoy their pink gill frills but I'm still very much partial to the blacks, melanoid is nice but the wilds are better for me since it's not a mat black but is speckled which makes more interesting for me lol.
 
#978 ·
Too many decisions! I think I might just stick with albino, he's too freakin' cute and I'm already attached! My mum thinks I won't be buying worms for him... ha. Haha. She's wrong. Oh so very wrong. I got new driftwood last night for the thirty and the axxie tank is officially set up! I can't wait for Saturday! Speaking of Saturdays, this October my friend and I are going to a Supernatural convention and it's going to be so great! If only it wasn't Thanksgiving!

I got all the pictures done, but my computer won't turn on and I can't do it through my tablet, so I'm waiting until mum's done work to upload them. Not the best pics, but they're decent enough!
 
#979 ·
It's all set! Getting Benny on Saturday at 4pm and leaving early to pick him up some soft pellets as well as frozen bloodworms and a couple of cans of earthworms. I can't wait to finally meet the little guy!

I have tons of pictures to put here, but being sick is really sucking right now. I went to school yesterday, and I honestly don't remember even having dinner last night. I know my friend came over and that's about it, so I stayed home today, just to be safe. Posting here probably isn't smart, since I really don't know what I'm doing. See? Even now I won't shut up. I'm gonna head back to bed, and hopefully the desktop will stop being a jerk soon and I can get these pictures up!
 
#980 ·
So... I got the axxie... he's very small, because I decided to go for a very black Melanoid, and, thanks to my mum, his name isn't Benny, but Crowley. She recently got into the show and she saw him and went 'Crowry!' and the more she said it the more I liked it. So yeah. Everything's changed. Haha. I've got pics, but nothing is working. Ugh. I'm trying, I promise!
 
#981 ·
Yay Melanoid! hahah, can't wait to see little Crowley! It's a very appropriate name :-D
 
#982 ·
Wow. Wowie wow. I am a terrible human being when it comes to updating. Sorry, guys! Really, really sorry! BUT I do come bearing gifts!

Crowley:



Mordecai and Gilbert:


I feel like I should just let this threat die, but eh, I'm stubborn. Hoping to actually be back this time, but you probably shouldn't count on it.
 
#983 ·
Haha its okay, life gets in the way and all. Still good to see you pop in every now and then though!! Awww Crowley has gotten so big!!! I love that little face!!!
 
#984 ·
Man, I'm realizing exactly how much time has passed since I last updated! In that time I met Misha Collins, got a new Betta, found out my aunt is pregnant again, and passed another set of exams without getting a C. Jeeze, I need to keep this thing updated!

I actually have a few more pics of Crowley, and possibly some of Seraphiel, I need to check, but I'm heading out in a minute and I'll get back to you guys with those soon!

Seraphiel is a little rescue Betta. He had fin melt from what I saw, and he's a tail biter. I got the melt all cleaned up, but he won't stop tail biting, even with all those guppies to chase. Stupid little guy.
 
#985 ·
Oh wow! That's awesome!! My best friend does gishwhes every year, she's obsessed too lol. But that's great about the exams!! I'm glad everything still seems to be going well for you :-D
 
#986 ·
Well school has died down, I was absolutely slammed for a solid month or two there, I had barely any time to do anything! Stupid 12U courses! But now back to the fish, since I have some updates to make!

I've gotten rid of all but three snails, woohoo! I'm still not totally sure what I'll be doing with them when I move everything around, but at least it's better than 16.

So. The tanks. The 10 gallon will stay in place under the 30 gallon, and the 20 gallon will be remaining on the fireplace. I'm giving the Gold Barbs away to a woman with a wonderful tank where they'll have plenty of room to swim. Soleil and Cas (who I've figured out is a girl, so Castielle now, I guess!) will be going in the 20g. I know that Cas needs a bit of a bigger tank, but I'll do more frequent WC, add live plants, and get a decent filter, and I think that with just the two of them they'll be fine. And if I do that, the Barbs won't bother Cas anymore. She's constantly hiding and any time she dares come out she's attacked immediately. Soleil is getting picked on way too much too- the Barbs just need to go.

And if you've been paying close attention, that leaves an empty 30g, and a spare Crowley. He'll be going in the 30g, and he might just have it all to himself forever, but my mum has said she'll consider letting me get another one or maybe two of them for him to have friends, which would be awesome! It would take a little while for it/them to grow big enough that Crowls wouldn't just inhale it/them, but I won't be getting it/them for another six weeks then the babies are big enough for transport anyways. And then after that it/they should be big enough (hopefully) by the end of the summer. It/they'll be in a decked out bucket until it/they are big enough!

I'm so excited for this! The only thing is that I'll have a giant filter for this 30g that I won't need anymore. Luckily, my PetSmart is awesome, so I might be able to trade it in for two smaller filters- and then I can put the 10g filter that's currently on the 20g into the 10g tank, and get a 20g filter for the 20g tank and either a sponge filter or some decorations for the 30g, and if I can't afford another filter I'll just make Crowls his own little sponge filter.

Whew, this is a long post. March break is here, though, and hopefully I'll be able to break out the designated 'fish camera' and get some Crowley and Seraphiel pictures! (He's doing amazing, by the way!)
 
#987 ·
The Gold Barbs leave today. I won't miss the little devils one bit- I've got plenty of scars on my hands from them nipping at me. They're going into a huge 55g to join another school, and I'm sure they'll be very happy :)

Mum has confirmed the new Axolotls! There'll be an albino and a wild, as well as Crowley, the melanoid. I, being the ridiculous person I am, have already named them. The wild will be Cain (I'm still laughing at myself for having Crowley and Cain in the same tank) and while I want to stick to the villainous tank, I really want to name the albino Briseis. It's just so prettyyyyyy. :p

Hopefully I can get some work this week, and then dad and I can head on up to PetSmart and either trade in that filter or buy some new plants. I might be able to keep the filter if I can put it on the lowest possible setting, but it makes me nervous, because it's just so freakin huge. Erg.
 
#988 ·
So! The lady showed up an hour early for the Barbs, I was literally putting the fish net into the tank for the first time when my mum opened it to find her. Luckily they weren't as awful as usual, and I managed to get them caught in around 25 minutes. Soleil and Cas are now in the 20g (it heated remarkably quickly, mostly because I cleaned it right out and added in warmer water plus the heater) and Crowley is now in the 30g. He's having a great time exploring, it's absolutely adorable! When it's a bit darker out I'll head down and snap some shots of him and the rest of the tanks!

I'm messaging the Axie breeder today, hopefully she'll be able to reserve the lil guys for me, but since there are 300 I really don't think there's going to be a problem, haha! I'm just so excited!
 
#989 ·
Here are those pictures I promised!!

20g:


One snail hid out, so I'm keeping it and naming it Streex for my friend so he can't get mad when I change the wild's name from Streex to Cain.

Cas has a bunch of algae to eat, so she decided to come out and show off!


And Soleil

The 10g feeder tank (there's a whole bunch of dead hornwart down there, but the baby guppies are hiding in it so I need to wait a bit to suck it out)

Saerie showing off:

The 30g:

All Crowley from here on out!



This is my favourite picture so far!





I hope you guys enjoyed this long overdo picture spam! I'll be taking lots more now that I have my memory card converter!
 
#990 ·
More Crowley pictures because I still feel bad about never updating this thing!




Soon to be tasty treat:




 
#991 ·
Crowley went in his log today and mum freaked out. She thought he was stuck or dead or something and she wanted me to get him out. So I did. He didn't move at first, he's pretty docile, and he lets me touch him whenever I need to, and so at first he didn't care but then he got all mad and popped himself out of the log, so all of that effort was for nothing xD For someone who claims she doesn't care about the fish, my mum really worries about them lol
 
#992 ·
Went out on the Great Earthworm Hunt of 2015. Went to a pet store ten minutes from me in a last ditch effort and found some superworms. I, being the genius that I am, thought 'superworms must mean larger worms!' Ha. Haha. HA. No. Apparently they kill Axies. AWESOME. JUST WHAT I NEEDED. Luckily they were dirt cheap, so I'll probably just give them back, let some random person have a dozen free worms. Ugh, I thought I had a place to actually buy worms from on the regular, but NOPE. Guess who was wrong?
 
#993 ·
The Great Earthworm Hunt of 2015 is over. I found a place about an hour away and bought two dozen for $9 as opposed to $10 for 6 at PetSmart. And they're all decent sized, too, all I need is to cut one in half and I have enough for the little dude!

So there was an... incident a few night ago. I sleep really heavily, and I had my friend over, so we crashed in the basement next to the tank. I woke up at 4am to the sound of the filter going really loud and water dripping. The filter malfunctioned and overflowed itself, taking out a solid 5 gallons from the tank and spilling it onto the fireplace. I managed to (half asleep, I might add) turn the light on and assess the tank to make sure it wasn't cracked before ripping out the filter, which stopped all the water on water noises in and out of the tank. Ugh. I think it's okay now, but I'm monitoring it closely. It was off for all of two days and the tank got so gross. I just finally cleaned it and plugged the sucker back in. Cas and Soleil seem to be fine, thank God.
 
#994 ·
lol, great earthworm hunt. That's interesting to know about the Superworms. I use Mealworms for my geckos and may use superworms occasionally once they're a little bigger though. But that's good you found the worms :-D
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top