My return .... Starting small

[Mr. Mom]

Very nice setup, a quiet corner to retreat to when needed.
Downsizing can be good, i went from a 120G to a 30G and am realy enjoying the ease of maintaining it. Like you I threw some livebearers in until I found what I really wanted. I still havent found the main fish but the guppies and swordtails have grown on me. Seeing them owning a tank with no predators shows them in their true colours. They are probably more entertaining than we give them credit for.

Thank you. Yep as the kids said "you can have that corner, as long as the rest of the room is our domain". The guppies are doing their job, plus giving us entertainment. Searching/seeing how many babies have survived has been a game, my youngest and I, have been playing.
I do need to add more females though, the ratio is out of whack (currently 6m 7f).

 

[Mr. Mom]

M Mr. Mom , what is that huge monster plant, I love it. Also, have you got an OCD. I can honestly say I have never seen such tidy regimented bucket placement as yours, lol.

Thanks for the chuckle .... OCD, hmmm. After 16 yrs of parenting, I may have a touch now. ?
That "monster" plant is from the dieffenbachia family. I actually chopped it down 2 or 3 yrs ago, so it could regrow. It was a rescue, my mom had been slowly killing.
I've a few larger plants now, and some on their way. Including a 7' cactus, 5' dragon tree, 4.5' Norfolk Softpine (our Charlie Brown Christmas tree), a jade type succelent that's forming bark. My pots of Passion Flower all 6'. Plus a few I've no idea of the names (rescues/gifts). So it was time to start dispersing them.
But when I purchase a plant, I buy small, to watch them grow. Just like my fish.

It's why we want to get a 70g, so my oldest can try to regrow the Madagascar Lace Leaf. Just in a tank better suited for it this time.

 

[Mr. Mom]

Note to self, if you see something not right, fix it ASAP. Thankfully I'm just getting started, the guppies aren't a priority; but it still sucked seeing 4 dead today.
I spent part of yesterday, adding pothos and philos to my tank tops. This specific tank only got pothos. After which, we were remarking at just how many baby guppies we had. They'd all come to the tank surface checking the roots out ..... a good portion has since begun staying there.
I knew my proportions were out of whack 6m to 7f, but kinda shrugged it off "I'll get some more soon".
So based off the fact, 5 of the males are still looking fine (the 6th is MIA altogether) the babies are abundant in there and looking well. I'm assuming it's my own stupidity of ratios that has caused my (now 6) females to die. Due to stress/old age/etc... So at the moment, that I can see, I have 5m to 3f. Not good.
Unfortunately I can't correct it for a few days at least. But again, that's why I'm starting small.

But the babies are becoming abundant, more and more places for them to hide (and survive). I never thought I'd enjoy watching guppies I may have a tank of them, in the end.

 

[Mr. Mom]

The next day the rest of the guppies were dead. It was my heater, cooked them all. But hey it's old equipment I'm trying to reuse. But some of the babies survived.
So I settled on a substrate, made a few changes to the layout. Grabbed some more guppies (to keep the tank going) and finally moved the filter to the back.
Stopped in at a LFS, he figures he'll have my Banjo Catfish to take home next Sunday. Another LFS is gonna try to get Almond Leaves in again for me, (I've still close to 20 leaves put away). So things are coming along on that tank. But I've started thinking of Betta fish for the tank top, I've never owned any Betta.

I did get a substrate put in on the 35g. Still need to add plants, but piece by piece.

The 4 julli and 2 albino bristlenose are doing well. 1 albino bristlenose has become quite aggressive at feeding time ... But has since settled to a degree since I added some German Blue Rams, a little over a week ago. (I had 4. 1 died the first night, another two nights later). But the 2 remaining seem to be doing well.

While I was at the LFS checking on the Banjo order (and getting 2 more albino bristlenose for the 2nd 29g. Had to get it cycled for a dumping ground for baby guppies. It was getting that bad).


I noticed some fish in another tank. Well I did a purchase before checking. Because I've soft spot at times. They were labeled "gold kerbensis" but I even said they looked albino to me.

So I bought 3. Figured I'd add them to the 35g and remove the Rams if needed. Until I read (upon getting home) that the Jullies could suffer.

So they went into my 29g that had 3 apistos (sold as Agassi but I've some doubts) and 2 albino bristlenose.

Immediately I was adding a clay pot and some rock to the far end. Creating another cave or two. I'm hoping there's enough obstacles/barriers to diffuse any aggression.

Then there's this mess

That has a bunch of baby guppies and (now) 2 albino bristlenose.

But I was good. I didn't buy the two 7" ornate Bichirs screaming my name. But I am looking forward to getting my Banjos next weekend.

 

[CanadianKeeper]

I got back into it with a 55! Welcome back!

 

[Mr. Mom]

I got back into it with a 55! Welcome back!

Thank you.

 

[jjohnwm]

Congrats on your return to the addiction!

Just a couple of comments/suggestions: First, it's good to hear that your power bars are now out of harm's way. Can't imagine a worse place for them than on the floor under a fishtank. Hopefully you have also made sure to plug them into a circuit with GFCI protection, either on the receptacle itself or by means of a GFCI breaker. Drip loops are always wise.

Second: some of the fish you are buying...thinking specifically of the Rams here...aren't normally thought of as ideal choices for essentially brand-new tanks, perhaps not fully cycled. Reading up on new species when you get them home is better than nothing; doing a quick search on your phone while standing in front of the tank in the fish store might be more useful...and, of course, will power must be exercised.

Next: I look at the two identical tanks side-by-side at the back of that area, and my OCD sees a pair of HOB filters taking center stage while a large portion of each tank hides behind the ends of the side tanks. That would drive me crazy. Have you considered moving those tanks together, in the middle and placing the HOB filters on opposite ends from each other? Display the tanks to their best advantage; nobody wants to look at filters.

Finally: You're buying a lot of fish, in a short period of time, maybe from various sources. For their sake and yours, maybe slow down just a wee bit and...most importantly IMHO...set up a quarantine tank for new arrivals. Might prevent a lot of grief at some point. Some few aquarists brag about how they don't quarantine and never have a problem. Many more have horror stories about multi-tank infestations, infections and die-offs that might easily have been averted by a few weeks' worth of quarantine.

In any case, good luck and remember to keep it fun.

 

[Mr. Mom]

Congrats on your return to the addiction!

In any case, good luck and remember to keep it fun.

Thank you. I love the feedback, it's part of the reason for the post.
First. The two filters, I agree ... Eyesore. It's plain lazyness while I situate everything. There's a hole in the wall providing access to power of two of the tanks. While the other two are on a separate breaker. All tanks are linked to power block/surge protectors left over from my days of working on Photocopiers. Suspended from the walls. All cords have a drip loop. Once I move the tanks closer (probably next water change). The filters will be repositioned. Just easy to access while getting things operating. But down the road, the space will be filled with a 55g.

The Rams and Apistos were a good deal. As I was checking out a LFS. A couple shops I used to frequent are no longer around, so it's been a quest as to who'll be my new "go to". But I had researched the Rams before, they were on the plan for the 35g (where they are). I did end up with 4 males though I've realized, they were cleaning out old stock.

So I'd been thinking of a Quarantine tank (and glad you mentioned it).

The bottom dwellers we're how I originally planned things. And so far have come from their own LFS. (New shop for me, but the quality seems to be there. It's who's bringing the Banjos in for me. They arrive tomorrow, I'll stop in Sunday and see if they're ready.)
But this will be the shop I frequent.
The Kribs were something my oldest and I had researched previously .... Their compatibility with Julli's was something I'd missed. But caught on hindsight.

But on the most part, I'd tried keeping said LFS fish in separate tanks themselves. But now I have my "go to" finally. A Quarantine tank is sounding like a better idea.

Hopefully I'm covering most bases, and thank you for bringing things up. It's been 5 yrs since I last had a tank.

I love/need the feedback.

Best to get things sorted before I do buy the 55g and 70g (down the road).

 

[deeda]

I think your water change buckets are reproducing!

I might have missed it earlier but are you using RO water, hence the buckets or are you just storing water to off gas or come to room temperature? If the latter, consider investing in a Python water change system or DIY your own so you can eliminate the bucket brigade and enjoy your fish corner better.

 

[Mr. Mom]

I think your water change buckets are reproducing!

Thank you. And ....

Gawd help me, they are. ?

Plus you had to mention the "Python water change system". Something I had bought and lost in the divorce. Never got a chance to use it. ?
The buckets are convenience only, regardless of the day ... I can do a quick water change. I'm lucky my water is clean other than the chlorine .... I had no lids left for my buckets (UK 5 gallons) so picked up 3 more that did. (Sausage casing pails).

I do want to explore a water delivery system per say. The other side of the wall, is the furnace/laundry room (bi-level house). I even have the utility sink already installed in there. (Just has the wrong faucet).
But I'm not a plumber and that's new territory for me. Piece by piece. (But I'm sporadically checking others threads on it).

So for now, the buckets are a welcomed work out, maintenance for my tanks and self. (Broke my back in 97, but still able bodied. Arthritis sucks).