Roach's Fishroom Nest

[Sassafras]

Thanks jjohnwm, I was about to ask that same question. Interesting concept and I'm eager to learn its purpose.

 

[cockroach]

What a delightful fish room! Here on MFK there is a lot of emphasis on the Monster and sometimes less appreciation for the Fish part of the hobby.

Your hillstream rack has always been one of my favourite tank systems on this forum.

Thanks so much. Appreciate it.
The hillstream rack has been one of my favorite aquarium things I have ever done. I have learned a lot and now know better what needs tweaking in the future.

A question, which I forgot to ask in the above post: What is going on with the tanks on the guppy breeding rack? They each appear to have a horizontal partition, with several inches of gravel behind it, and they also appear to be on a central filter system with an overflow and feed in each tank. I can't see any sign of a UG filter in those sections. What's with that gravel?

Yes the tanks are 30cm (1') cubes. The partition is 15cm (6") wide and 10cm (4") deep. Usually just has a UGF with all 18 tanks driven by a central linear air pump. This one is slightly too strong for this set up as it was planned for a different project that never happened. The "drain hole" at the back allows me to do a water change with out doing much. It overflows into a network of connected pipes that drain into the bathroom floor drain with is right next to the guppy rack.


Additionally, each tank has a ball valve controlled drain in the center of the undergravel section. This lets me flush out the mulm that accumulates there over time. However, I did not connect it as it was originally so I do not use it as effectively as I should.


If you look at the pic below, you can see the uplift pipe for the UGF in the back left corner. The fact that you couldn't see them is exactly what I use black as much as possible throughout the fishroom. So much becomes less conspicuous and gives a cleaner feel even when it is not in showroom condition per se. To do a water change I simply put the the pipe from the tank above the rack into each tank and let the water flow for a few mins into each. The excess overflows like an automated water change. This way I am able to do 3-4 water changes a week while I watch YouTube fishroom videos. I enjoy it. I syphon crunk out of the tanks about once a month. And clean sponges once every 6 months.


You'll notice the top 5cm (2") of gravel in each tank was swapped out for a same depth course sponge. This keeps the water much cleaner and is much easier to remove and rinse than trying to get to the bottom of the gravel. The gravel also need waaay less, as in almost none, cleaning.

Here you can see the bathroom next to the rack as well as the BBS hatchery I use for live food for the whole fishroom. Veterinary pig medication feeders (I think that is what they are used for if I remember correctly) work like a bomb and are easy to maintain. The light from the rack is enough to induce hatching.


One of the small issues I am having, but not enough to do anything about it yet is the way I hooked up the air lines. I ran a single tube of pvc down the center of the rack and connected valves and lines. I should have made a small loop of PVC for better and more even air pressure distribution. Painted it dark as well. What kills me is the white valves. When I set this up I couldn't find them easily. And the shop bought ones were ridiculously priced. May change them out one day.


At each level the airlines run horizontally to individual tanks. This was the best way to use the least amount of tubing while keeping it somewhat neat. When I build a permanent set up in the future these airlines will all be hidden. Pics from before the sponge swap out and show guppies arrived.



For anyone thinking about making a fishroom or having multiple tanks. This little modular unit from Shafer is the business at keeping little things or often used things in an easy to find place.

 

[cockroach]

These gastromyzon are flourishing but will just not breed!

 

[Sassafras]

So many good ideas!

 

[cockroach]

Did some quick strip tests tonight to see if I cleared up the issues of over feeding
Dwarf cichlids. Need to drop pH. Will start to use RO water for changes.


Paludarium. The algae is definitely getting less thanks to 8 (probably 6 left ) otos and a big farlowella. Would love to add shrimp. However, the loaches make short work of them.



Hillstream Rack is showing nice improvement and clearing up of unsightly algae but keeping rocks covered.

 

[cockroach]

I love when I feed bbs to this tank as it has a single source LED and the shrimp gather under it in a cloud. The apisto female is learning to use it to her advantage.

 

[cockroach]

Some random shots from last week
Got some neon blue rainbows. Been thinking about it for a while and decided it's time to try. Wanted young ones so I could watch them grow. They are in the paludarium.


This male is starting to color up nicely. Not highest quality but ny first apisto.


The last surviving stiphodon. The rest all died off slowly. Mist likely old age. Housed with the sewellia grow outs.


Great camo of sewellia when viewed from above.


Hillstream Rack shots

 

[cockroach]

Found a smashing video on the freshwater fish of Sri Lanka:

 

[FJB]

Amazing! Many thanks for sharing your experiences and success.

 

[puffers4puffers]

I have some of the reticulated hillstream loaches
They were breeding for me...
They lived with a juvenile mbu pufferfish and fed on the poop from the puffer
They like the shrimp/prawns that werevfed to the puffer