Taquitos' Tank Journal

2122 Views 47 Replies 13 Participants Last post by taquitos, Aug 20, 2014

taquitos

Discussion Starter · Jun 27, 2014

My tank has finally cycled so I have decided to create a new journal to keep track of its progress.

Tanks:
1. 10 Gallon Planted Betta Tank
Resident: Jackson Pollock, my CT betta.
Plants:
- Java Moss
- Java Fern
- Round Pellia
- Anubias Nana
- Banana Plant
- Vallisneria Americana
- Willow hygrophilia
- Two plants not ID-ed honestly can't remember lol

2. 1.5 Gallon Invert Vase
Resident: Hitch, the Thai Micro Crab
Plants:
- Java Fern
- Java Moss

See less See more

6

1 - 20 of 48 Posts

Fenghuang

· #2 · Jun 27, 2014

Jackson sure is something... Wow. Beautiful pictures.

I like your vase idea. It looks very clean and sleek. I really want to do a NPT cookie jar myself.

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 27, 2014

Fenghuang said:
Jackson sure is something... Wow. Beautiful pictures.

I like your vase idea. It looks very clean and sleek. I really want to do a NPT cookie jar myself.

Thanks!

I bought it to make a terrarium, but I don't have much of a green thumb :-? There was no point just keeping it empty, so I figured I would move Hitch there since I never saw him when he was in the 10 gal. with my betta.

Looking into adding a sponge filter in there and maybe a small 15 watt heater

Hopefully adding some cherry shrimp or maybe a snail in there with him in the future!

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 2, 2014

Well Jackson has decided his blue parts shall no longer be periwinkle blue! Instead he would like them to be turquoise lol.

See less See more

2

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 3, 2014

THE SHRIMP ARE HERE

Picked up some Fire Red Shrimp at the LFS. Took a looong time acclimating them and now they're doing awesome in my 1.5 gallon. Was a little worried about the crab and the shrimp getting along (everything I read online said they'd be fine but idk lol just worried for no reason), but they are all peacefully grazing so it looks like things will be fine

See less See more

4

DaytonBetta

· #6 · Jul 5, 2014

That is just beautiful! I love it!

Could you tell me what type of sponge filter, heater and light you are using? Does it have a lid?

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 5, 2014

DaytonBetta said:
That is just beautiful! I love it!

Could you tell me what type of sponge filter, heater and light you are using? Does it have a lid?

Thank you

The filter is a Penn Plax Small World -- I'm not going to get replacement cartridges, just take the cartridge apart and stuff with sponge. I have no heater atm but the temp is steady at 80F. Just ordered a 25W heater though. The light is a regular CFL (waiting for more $$$ to order an LED clip-on.

Yes, it does have a lid

I keep the lid on because I have cats.

Some more photos from yesterday. They're really getting fired up! One molted this morning. I think all of them are female... which means I have to find a way to get some males! They're all starting to saddle so

These guys do such a good job cleaning up all the icky stuff on the tank decor + plants! I wish I could put them in my 10 gal. with my betta but I doubt Jackson would leave them alone :-( This little jar looks better than my heavily planted 10 gal because of how clean the shrimpies are keeping it!

See less See more

3

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 8, 2014

Cherry vase is still going strong! I got some juvie males from a guy who was selling some of his. I believe they are too young to breed atm but I am hoping theyw ill breed soon! Yesterday the shrimp had a molting party. I counted at least 3 exoskeletons. Pretty exciting stuff

Little racing stripe girl

One of my cats really enjoys this vase. After his breakfast, he goes to watch the shrimp every morning. I caught him licking the vase yesterday LOL I'm glad I have a lid for it

Aaand Jackson is doing great, as usual

See less See more

3

autojoy

· #9 · Jul 9, 2014

Oh, the shrimps are so cute! And Jackson is lovely -- looks like he has a lotta fun in that tank!

cmwong27

· #10 · Jul 9, 2014

I love the look of your betta tank. How long did you cycle it for? What substrate are you using? ...and any additives?

My tank's been set up for a little less than a month now.

Jonthefish

· #11 · Jul 9, 2014

Omg I thought your cat was wearing glasses for a split second in that pic !! Lol !!
It's just the furniture in the back lol . Those shrimp are so cutee !

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 9, 2014

autojoy said:
Oh, the shrimps are so cute! And Jackson is lovely -- looks like he has a lotta fun in that tank!

Thanks

Yes he really loves all the plants! Sometimes I have trouble finding him because he goes and hides in the two "forests" on either side of the tank

cmwong27 said:
I love the look of your betta tank. How long did you cycle it for? What substrate are you using? ...and any additives?

My tank's been set up for a little less than a month now.

Thanks

It took a little over a month for my tank to cycle. I am using a mix of CaribSea's Tahitian Moon Sand and Fluorite. In terms of any extra additives, I use Prime, Fluorish, Excel and Iron for the plants

Jonthefish said:
Omg I thought your cat was wearing glasses for a split second in that pic !! Lol !!
It's just the furniture in the back lol . Those shrimp are so cutee !

Haha I didn't even notice. Too funny. Thanks

I am really enjoying them.

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 9, 2014

Rearranged some things in Jackson's tank! I had to make room for the koke stones that I ordered which should be arriving tomorrow! They are going to be put in the center of the empty space on the left, and hopefully I will be able to grow some flame moss on it

See less See more

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 11, 2014

Added the koke stones today. Now just waiting for the moss!

I also installed my new Azoo Mignon 360 filter... I thought it was going to be more quiet than my Marina S15 but I guess i was wrong arghhhh :evil: It is makignt his annoying humming/grinding sound ugh. Hopefully it stops in a few days...

See less See more

Jonthefish

· #15 · Jul 13, 2014

I can't get over how cute this tank is ! :3

Kaffrin

· #16 · Jul 13, 2014

Oh wow, that tank looks so beautiful x3!! Can't wait to see more!

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 13, 2014

Jonthefish said:
I can't get over how cute this tank is ! :3

Kaffrin said:
Oh wow, that tank looks so beautiful x3!! Can't wait to see more!

Thank you both! Really proud of how far it's come

I added some pygmy cories the other day. Started off with 6, 2 died overnight, and then I brought home 4 more today. Jackson doesn't mind them at all!

See less See more

BettaLover1313

· #18 · Jul 14, 2014

Gorgeous tank!

taquitos

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 21, 2014

So some sad news

I already posted this last week when I was looking for emergency help for my Jackson, but he ended up passing away.

I have decided to make the 10 gal. a community tank with dwarf cories and my fire red shrimp.

I'm purchasing a rack, and I intend on getting a couple of 5 gallons (my sister works for a big pet supplies company so I am able to get them at a huge discount!), and housing my future bettas in there.

My betta supplier/breeder has offered me a baby blue marble crown tail plakat for free, but I am going to have a look at his current plakat stock before coming to a decision.

Also my pygmy cories went from 10 to 4 due to unknown causes... The 4 are at least thriving though.

The shrimp seem to be much happier in the 10 gallon. I may use the 1.5 gal in the future to house one or two shrimp, but that would be it. I felt that it was too crowded with the 8.

See less See more

Jonthefish

· #20 · Jul 21, 2014

Bummer ! Although your tank looks more and more amazing as I stop in !!

1 - 20 of 48 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.