Any Aquarium Owners?

[Redwood Ryan]

Hi everyone,



Recently, my interest has piqued with aquariums. I'm selling my trees as I don't have time to keep watering them, which has made me want to find something to fill the bonsai void. My brother has always been a saltwater aquarium owner and I've always been fascinated. I personally wouldn't do saltwater, but I am interested in having a plant filled freshwater tank.

So, anyone who has experience with them want to give tips and point me in the right direction?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

If you don't have time for trees, I'm not sure you'll find an aquarium to be much of a time-savings

I've kept freshwater and saltwater aquariums for years. Planted freshwater is the way to go if you are going fresh - but it requires a ton of work. Check out this site for some inspiration

 

[GrimLore]

I have a LOT of freshwater experience and limited Salt water. Me and Dad bred fish for the Buffalo NY area pet stores for years. When we sold it all out I continued to have several display tanks but honest it is a lot like Bonsai as far as time consuming goes. "IF" you can control yourself and have one tank it is a lot easier overall but they must eat, water must be maintained, etc... no matter how many you have. If you are thinking about any particular type of fish or fish types feel free to call me weekdays est. If anything you can probably save a bit of cash by not listening to the people at the pet stores. NOT ALL but MOST are not savvy.

Grimmy

 

[Redwood Ryan]

If you don't have time for trees, I'm not sure you'll find an aquarium to be much of a time-savings

I've kept freshwater and saltwater aquariums for years. Planted freshwater is the way to go if you are going fresh - but it requires a ton of work. Check out this site for some inspiration

Thanks! I just figure that I don't have to battle mites and constantly water the trees, that it'll be easier just to keep it in my room and watch it

That's a great forum, so far I'm only a member of Aquatic Community. Lots of incredible setups on the link you gave.

I do think I want to go planted, as I have a bit of a green thumb. My idea is to have a planted aquarium with small fish, maybe guppies, swimming throughout it.

I have a LOT of freshwater experience and limited Salt water. Me and Dad bred fish for the Buffalo NY area pet stores for years. When we sold it all out I continued to have several display tanks but honest it is a lot like Bonsai as far as time consuming goes. "IF" you can control yourself and have one tank it is a lot easier overall but they must eat, water must be maintained, etc... no matter how many you have. If you are thinking about any particular type of fish or fish types feel free to call me weekdays est. If anything you can probably save a bit of cash by not listening to the people at the pet stores. NOT ALL but MOST are not savvy.

Grimmy

Thanks Grimmy! As I said above, I'm thinking of going with something small, like guppy. I found an old 29 gallon tank under my deck and just ordered a stand for it, so we'll see how this first tank does. If I get hooked, well, then there will be no stopping me...

 

[GrimLore]

Thanks Grimmy! As I said above, I'm thinking of going with something small, like guppy. I found an old 29 gallon tank under my deck and just ordered a stand for it, so we'll see how this first tank does. If I get hooked, well, then there will be no stopping me...

Honest if you are going to plant one "HEAVY" like that 29 gallon... Establish all of the plants first and make it rather thick. Buy a young male beta and a dozen females. when you see babies remove the stud and all the babies will live together with no problems. It is wicked cool to have a tank of fighting fish that do not fight. They will though if you remove any and put them back. We had a 55 gallon setup like that with at least 200 fish for about 10 years. Very nice indeed. They also do not require those pellets as a top quality freshwater flake does just fine... Just food for thought if you are going to bother

Grimmy

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Honest if you are going to plant one "HEAVY" like that 29 gallon... Establish all of the plants first and make it rather thick. Buy a young male beta and a dozen females. when you see babies remove the stud and all the babies will live together with no problems. It is wicked cool to have a tank of fighting fish that do not fight. They will though if you remove any and put them back. We had a 55 gallon setup like that with at least 200 fish for about 10 years. Very nice indeed. They also do not require those pellets as a top quality freshwater flake does just fine... Just food for thought if you are going to bother

Grimmy

What do you mean by heavy? Just full of plants? Now it's interesting that you mention putting the Betas together, why is it that no fighting occurs in a tank full of women and one male??

 

[GrimLore]

What do you mean by heavy? Just full of plants? Now it's interesting that you mention putting the Betas together, why is it that no fighting occurs in a tank full of women and one male??

They would fight if the male and females did not have a lot of hiding places. Once any female gives birth remove the original male and no fighting will occur with the females(does not anyways) and for some strange reason siblings raised together and KEPT together do not fight *shrugs* When we supplied pet stores it was one of those things we attempted and it worked.

As far as heavy goes the entire back half of the tank was dense to the top and the plants in the front of those were dense but 1/2 the height with the front 2 to 3 inches without any. There was a variety of plants so it looked real nice and if I remember correctly I only trimmed them 2 or 3 times a year to keep them in check.

Grimmy

 

[thams]

Hi everyone,



Recently, my interest has piqued with aquariums. I'm selling my trees as I don't have time to keep watering them, which has made me want to find something to fill the bonsai void. My brother has always been a saltwater aquarium owner and I've always been fascinated. I personally wouldn't do saltwater, but I am interested in having a plant filled freshwater tank.

So, anyone who has experience with them want to give tips and point me in the right direction?

My one piece of advice is make sure you exercise patience during the initial cycling of the tank. Also make sure you have a good water testing kit and do water changes on a regular basis.

Tropical freshwater should be a pretty easy setup for you. It's when you get into Discus and reef tanks that things get a little tricky. You're a smart fellow though, so I think you'll find it a rewarding hobby. But just like in bonsai, it's easy to spend money!

 

[Paradox]

I have a 44 gallon planted tank and a 75 gallon fish only tank.

Caring for a planted tank doesnt have to be too crazy if you pick plants that are not too demanding and if you take care not to overstock the tank with fish. Having too many fish will cause all kinds of problems and make taking care of the tank a pain.

 

[GrimLore]

I have a 44 gallon planted tank and a 75 gallon fish only tank.

Caring for a planted tank doesnt have to be too crazy if you pick plants that are not too demanding and if you take care not to overstock the tank with fish. Having too many fish will cause all kinds of problems and make taking care of the tank a pain.

More important is the types of fish. For discussion a planted tank with a lot of Guppies or Betas will not be a hassle. If however you add a few catfish or bottom feeders you would soon have a mess. Same mess if you had a large amount of fish that tend to "school" like Tetras because if 50 of those get spooked they will bolt through everything. Many people starting out get a mix of fish and those tanks would certainly be better without live plants. I suggested the beta only tank as I know Ryan wants plants and done proper it would be easy and quite unique. Of course setting things up and getting plants established will take a lot more time then most want to spend before adding fish but in the end it is worth it.

Grimmy

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Every time I go to the pet store I see the sad, sad looking Betas sitting in those small little plastic cups, and like a mallsai in a big box store, I want to rescue them. But as of right now I can't. Grimmy, when you say that I can get a male and then a bunch of females, how can I tell which is male and which is female? I'd like to save some sad looking ones once I get my tank established and really give them a place to enjoy.

 

[GrimLore]

Every time I go to the pet store I see the sad, sad looking Betas sitting in those small little plastic cups, and like a mallsai in a big box store, I want to rescue them. But as of right now I can't. Grimmy, when you say that I can get a male and then a bunch of females, how can I tell which is male and which is female? I'd like to save some sad looking ones once I get my tank established and really give them a place to enjoy.

Unless it is a private Pet Shoppe you probably will never see them in a store. This place is a rather large distributor and I would recommend them. http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/bettas/betta_females.htm

Grimmy

 

[MiteyF]

Every time I go to the pet store I see the sad, sad looking Betas sitting in those small little plastic cups, and like a mallsai in a big box store, I want to rescue them. But as of right now I can't. Grimmy, when you say that I can get a male and then a bunch of females, how can I tell which is male and which is female? I'd like to save some sad looking ones once I get my tank established and really give them a place to enjoy.

The females are small and brown... no flashy fins or exciting colors. I kept beta for a little while, and the few times I tried to introduce females the males quickly killed them. It can be difficult to keep them together.

 

[GrimLore]

The females are small and brown... no flashy fins or exciting colors. I kept beta for a little while, and the few times I tried to introduce females the males quickly killed them. It can be difficult to keep them together.

Check that link, there are a lot of different colored females vary. After a tank is heavily planted and established you can toss in females and a week or two later one male. They will have enough places to hide until breeding conditions are correct.

Grimmy

 

[dick benbow]

My journey thru aquariums took me thru breeding discus and anglefish, krebensis and live bearers. Ended up in the world of Koi. It's all about being a water keeper. I'm sorry you've
decided to get out of bonsai, but I think It's good to enjoy life thru learning new things. It will take time and present many challenges and i wish you well in your journey

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Unless it is a private Pet Shoppe you probably will never see them in a store. This place is a rather large distributor and I would recommend them. http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/bettas/betta_females.htm

Grimmy

This is interesting, and a great link. I just recently got back from purchasing a 29G at Petco, and glanced over and saw that they've got female bettas. It was a surprise to me.

I'm thinking about a sorority tank, but if the females don't have showy or flashy colors, then is there really any point to owning them? That was kind of my draw to Bettas in general, their vivid color.

My journey thru aquariums took me thru breeding discus and anglefish, krebensis and live bearers. Ended up in the world of Koi. It's all about being a water keeper. I'm sorry you've
decided to get out of bonsai, but I think It's good to enjoy life thru learning new things. It will take time and present many challenges and i wish you well in your journey

Thanks Dick! Koi are some impressive fish. I'm always amazed at their size when I see them in the neighbors pond. They're pretty expensive too.

Bonsai is a great hobby, and I'm not leaving it permanently, just trying to get rid of the tropicals, then pick the hobby up again in a few years, but with trees that are suitable to my climate.

 

[GrimLore]

Honest there are a lot of really nice looking Females and the reason I posted the link.

Grimmy

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Honest there are a lot of really nice looking Females and the reason I posted the link.

Grimmy

There are some rather colorful ones. The description for the Blue females says that they aren't yet full of eggs, but once you feed them, they will be. Surely this doesn't mean that the eggs are fertile, right?

 

[MACH5]

Sorry Ryan I know you're not interested in setting up a salt tank but had to chime in on this thread since I have been interested in aquariums since I was a kid. I have been into salt tanks exclusively for over 10 years now. During wintertime I take a brake from all things bonsai and even hardly on this site this time of year. The tank keeps me busy and "gardening" during our dull winter months.

I have finally been able to monetize this fascinating hobby by selling coral fragments [frags] from my basement which helps fund my bonsai addiction.

BTW I also love planted tanks and the one BNut posted is beautiful! Below are some recents pics of some of my corals. Really exotic and fascinating animals!!

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Being that my brother is huge into saltwater tanks, they've both intrigued me and scared me away. They seem to be a lot of work, but it's also worth it at the same time, as can be seen in your pictures. Coral is incredible.


I returned the stand I had bought online, so I'm looking for something I can use to support this tank. That's my #1 concern right now. It's going to be on carpet, so I'll need a stand that isn't too skinny, and has some width to it. I've thought of just using cinder blocks, but was afraid they're too wobbly...