I'm loving my new Fluval Spec III. Just wanted a place for Spec owners to show off, share their problems, mods, thoughts, and experience with these amazing little all in one tanks. Calling out all Spec owners, where you at?!?!!! :-D
I love your Spec III décor Kman. Can I ask a few questions: where can I find driftwood for my tank and what is the grass growing in the right front part of the tank? I have a similar plant (mondo grass) but it is not a true aquatic and the roots rot after several months. I'm looking for something that is a true aquatic but has a grassy appearance. Thanks.
The grass in the front right is just Dwarf Hair Grass, going a little wild and probably due for a little trim. Definitely true aquatic. Very slow spread in a low tech tank, unless you're dosing co2 and using high lights, it's easy to keep in check. People with high tech tanks sometimes use it for carpets, but it grows really slowly under low tech conditions.
I bought the driftwood (a Manzanita branch, actually) from an eBay vendor who hangs out on another forum I frequent. You can Google his eBay store called "Aquascaping Layout Material" (I don't think we're supposed to post eBay links here) to see the exact pieces he has, and rough sizes (size is really tricky with the tiny Spec tanks). I broke off parts from a much larger branch, but used them in multiple tanks. You're in Sacto, I see, so if you can get to SF's flower district sometime I'll bet you can get them pretty cheap there. (I definitely overpaid from what I could have done in LA's flower district, but I was busy and it was more convenient for me to pick it up directly from the guy than to save $15.)
I just picked up a fluval spec V. I had the fluval spec 2 for three weeks and it started to leak. I shoved in some decorations to the V, dechlorinated, and floated "Dumbo" (My Betta) and released him. He loved his two gallon Spec and appreciates the V even more.
Fluval Spec II I picked up on clearance a while back. I like how they look, but awkward cleaning/water changes.
Sorry for awful pic, only have a laptop to take them
^^ That log might fit, might be ok, check tank measurements to be sure. I just don't think its needed with the right plants. See my tank above (or a lot of the pictured tanks) and you'll see there is no real cave for true hiding.
With the right natural plants you don't necessarily need an actual cave-like hiding place. They just want somewhere to feel kinda protected. The wide leaves of the easy-to-care-for Anubias Nana work well for this... Mine likes ducking under now and then and hanging out in the shadows.
As for driftwood, you'd only need to boil something that hasn't been prepped for a tank already. Lots of local fish stores (any near your school?) have wood that has already been soaked and is ready to right in. Even PetCo or PetSmart will sometimes sell you decorations right out of their tanks, ready to go into yours. Sellers in the classified / for sale sections on this board can get you tank-ready real wood, too, without needing to resort to resin props. Not that there's anything wrong with that piece, as long as it fits, I just wonder if you actually need it.
Also, if you find a good piece of natural wood locally and want to boil it, chances are good you'll make friends soon with someone either off campus, or who has smuggled in a hot plate into their dorm room, and can boil it for you. Just sayin'.
I've been looking into getting A Spec V. They are such gorgeous tanks.
Right now at Petsmart they are $74.99, with free shipping. Plus $10 off an order of $60 or more. So about $65 compared to the $80 it was a few days ago. Is that a good sale on it? Or should I hold out and see if it becomes cheaper someplace?
SPEC V is nice tank and so is SPEC III. I used to have betta in them, but switched to community fish : glowlight tetras, celestral galaxy danio, and boraras brigittae (red chili rasbora), they are all 1" and under color fish
This is my Spec III. I just got through redoing the scape on it. Also have made some mods to it. My new boy arrives tomorrow. He is a show Snow White HM.
Might add another plant maybe, but like the peacefulness of the way it is right now.
My other boy now lives in a 2.5 right next to this tank. Have blocked the side of his so he won't be able to see the new guy and go nuts. :lol:
Curious why you don't stash that Cobalt heater in the pump chamber? It fits. (barely, but it fits) Nice to have nothing in your tank to distract from the fish and aquascape.
I haven't tried, although the stock light on the V doesn't have a great reputation for plants. May want to add some root tabs, at least, as eco-complete is not a complete source of ferts for plants, especially swords.
I'm finally a Speck lll and Chi owner!!! YAY! I so far am happy with the speck, but I've only owned it for 4 hours. The chi i've had for a week and I love the style, but not so much the filter and light. Any ideas for upgrading the filter or how to make the filter better? And the light??
I added an azoo palm filter to my chi and now I have plenty of filtration. It fits fine with the stock light/filter box in place also. I added a pic to show how it fits.
Hey there everyone. I'm new here to this website and also to keeping Betta's. About two weeks ago I purchased my first Betta. He is a Dumbo betta and his name is Sanji. First time I have ever named a fish but my boyfriend named him and its stuck. He lives in his comfy Fluval Spec V that I brought out of guilt after I put him in a 1.5liter bowl for a week. I have put a few live plants in it and he seems to be happy. Today I got 4 ghost shrimp that seem to be making out ok. I got them only to clean the gravel for me. If anyone could take a look at him and tell me what type he is exactly. I know he is a Dumbo but I dont know his tail type. I know he is still young because one of his "arms" has grown a little since I've had him.
I had the water levels at just about every possible level and tried all sorts of other things, but I can't wait to try it later today. On my way to visit my dad's grave now. Otherwise I'd do it now. I'm hopping it was the tanks. They all had a weird lip to the top. if it doesn't I'll for sure ask for more help. I am sad, my rescue from my lll has died. I knew it would be a possibility since his tail was near gone and last night his back end of his body was almost translucent. Glad he got out of the cup though.
Anyone looking to add to their Spec III collection, Petco has it on sale today for what I paid at Christmas $56.39, plus free shipping. Will most likely be getting another today.
I've been trying to get mine baffled just right, lately. I got a Crowntail recently, and he still looks good, but the webbing between his fins has kind of 'billowed out', which I figured was because of the filter flow. I think I've got it down, I've been jamming different sized bits of sponge in the outflow nozzle, I don't want it too weak or too strong. I think I finally got it just right. Wish there had been an easier way, though, haha.
There IS an easier way, just buy an adjustable valve (I can dig up a link if needed, can't recall if it's posted in this thread or not), but a tiny bit of sponge is free and super reliable.
It's on the lowest setting, yeah. I figured it might be too strong still though when I noticed the billowing. He does hang out at the grate sometimes, yes. Im going to see if things get better now that I've baffled it slightly, but I may have to tamper with the grate too at some point.
Mine is not baffled at all, it is pointed up and to the side. Make sure you keep the tank full also about 3/4 to an inch from the top, that slows the push down some.
If you look back on the thread, I posted about a skimmer that covers the grate. My HM gets up there all the time, but because of the skimmer cover and the fact that I changed out the media block, it isn't bothering him at all.
So I'm finally rebooting my fluval spec v after losing my betta in December. The plants are looking a little sad and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for low light plants with presence that don't require CO2
Add Anubias to that list. Not fast growing, but very pretty and does great in low light. Java moss also.
Note that with both Anubias and Java Fern, their roots draw nutrients from the water column, not the ground, so tie them to a rock or driftwood with some fishing line, or they'll eventually die. Don't bury the roots.
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