Fish in the tank finally

[cartmanis]

So, finally today my nitrites dropped to 0 on their own. Nitrates were not bad, about 10 or a bit above, but I did a water change anyway. Retested, and everything still 0's.

Picked up 9 white cloud minnows and 2 Otto's to start with. Put them in the tank in their bags for an hour or so, then slowly added a cup of water from the tank to their bags for a while to acclimate them. Put them in just before the kids bed time so they could see them swimming.

One otto must be pretty young, as he is tiny compared to the other. He's been hanging out hidden away, while the other has been swimming the tank non stop.

The Minnows started out at the top of the tank, but now are cruising around all over the place. I think the space was freaking them out a bit lol, going from the little tiny tank at the store.

probably give them a week before I go and find some more tank mates for them.

[sergo]

stocking is always so much fun. glad to hear it's all done! :thumb:

[Drumachine09]

Well? Where are the pics?

[cartmanis]

lol, I'll probably add a few pics tomorrow if work isn't crazy. Though the poor little fish are lost in the tank.

[Incredulous_Ed]

That's pretty cool kevin.
Post pics!

[Lady Hobbs]

:19: :19:

Yeaaaaaaa. Finally, huh? I was actually washing my hair in the shower yesterday and thinking about your tank. I thought "OH BOY. This is bad when you can't even take a shower without thinking about someones cycling problems." LOL Not bad enough that I dream about fish or tanks all the time!!

Hope you enjoy your new finned friends. Just watch the ammonia level as it may raise a tiny bit but it's doubtful. You're on your way Kevin.

[cartmanis]

Thanks. Fish are all doing fine. Gave em a bit of food this morning, seemed to go right for it.

Now to start planning out more fish additions :)

[cartmanis]

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Has 2 pics that came out ok.

Couldn't find the Otto's to snap a pic of them, and the White Clouds move so freaking fast.... :)

[jeffs99dime]

very cool! good job

[cartmanis]

Thanks. Will look more impressive if I can get the plants to grow out a bit, and up. As well as getting some more fish in there.

[genitor]

nicethumbs2: thumbs2: In the first pic, what's the plant on the right?

[cartmanis]

One of the ones I know.

Echinodorus subalatus

[cartmanis]

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to be precise. I'm thinking I have to add another light fixture though.

[cartmanis]

Updated [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

with a link to the fish currently in the tank. (and the shrimp as well)

I now have

2 Blue Rams
2 Balloon Rams
2 Rock Shrimp
2 Bristlenose Pleco's
3 Cory's
1 Otto
9 White Cloud Minnows
3 Dwarf Gourami's

For the life of me, I can't find the 2nd shrimp this morning lol, or the Otto. No bodies anywhere, so I'm guessing they are just somehow hiding on me somewhere.

[cocoa_pleco]

i almost never see my shrimp and rarely see a otto. Theyre there somewhere.

[cartmanis]

lol, yeah, but I figure with the shrimp being about 3" long, and red/brown, they stand out enough to be seen. My guess is maybe in the artifial log, but we'll see maybe later, they seemed to do more work last night when it was dark.
Actually, the shrimp are probably my favourite so far, they are pretty cool sitting there fanning stuff into their mouths with like 4 or whatever fan like claws, they look like little street sweepers.

Did a small water change today, after pulling out some dead plant stuff. (Something is stripping away the lower leaves of one of the plants I think) I only did about 5 gallons, and just vacummed the gravel in one spot where the shrimp pellets have been dropping, trying not to disturb things too much.

[gm72]

Nice job on the pictures. I keep trying to get good shots but just get a big flash bounce from the glass and the fish look like blurs. Do you take your pics with the lights in the room on or off? Just curious.

[cartmanis]

I'm deleting a lot of blurry ones.

I try to take the shot at an angle, versus straight on to avoid flash reflections.

Found the pictures better with the curtains closed, but I do have the lights above on so far.

I find it hard to get the auto-focus to get the fish to be in focus often, but I'm just using my Mom's Pentax for some quick pics. I have to get some batteries in my Nikon and see if I can manually adjust for some better shots. I'd like a good shot of the shrimp lol.

[genitor]

One of the ones I know.

Echinodorus subalatus
I think i have one of those plants but not sure.

[cartmanis]

I only know cause they came with little plastic "plant guides" stuck in them, that I pulled out and saved. Otherwise I haven't a clue what plants are what. :)

[cartmanis]

Some more pics added with the Nikon. More came out, and there is a good one of the shrimp.

(Found the other shrimp, still alive, hidden up inside the artificial log. I'm assuming that guy will maybe wander around a bit when the light goes out or something, cause he wasn't budging out of that log for me lol.

[AquaQueen]

Great pictures Kevin. Love the gourami pics. and the ship too.

[cartmanis]

Ship? do you mean the shrimp? :)

2nd shrimp did come out last night after the lights went off, not sure why one stays out, and the other disappears.