talldutchies 33 gallon semi-biotope

**Interlux** · 02-10-2013, 06:34 PM

This is a beautiful tank Dutchie!

Can I ask what you did to the background of your tank? I'm a huge fan of that it really adds a lot of character.

**~firefly~** · 02-10-2013, 06:43 PM

Looks absolutely superb! Love how it's matured. Your plants look excellent.

I'm sure I've said this before to you but the only, only, thing I don't like on this tank is the bin bag background.

**talldutchie** · 02-10-2013, 06:49 PM

It's NOT a bin bag you barbarian! It's 9,95 worth of the finest polystyrene I could buy!

I wasn't too thrilled about it myself but it's neutral. I'm now getting javamoss to grow over it, should tone down the bin bag feeling.

When I went background shopping I quickly found there's three kinds
1. stick on the back, never liked those
2. really ugly ones
3. Nice but horrendously expensive ones. At one point I was tempted by one that was actually 30 euros more expensive than I'd paid for the tank. So I went for this and I'm going to cover it in moss. That will take another 4-5 months but I got the time.

**~firefly~** · 02-10-2013, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by talldutchie

It's NOT a bin bag you barbarian! It's 9,95 worth of the finest polystyrene I could buy!

Sorry. I look forward to the mossy version. I have no right to criticise - my background is 50p black sugar paper (complete with wrinkly bits from drips).

**talldutchie** · 02-12-2013, 08:02 PM

Sugar paper is certainly original.

These fish are still my favorite subject to photography. There's something almost alien about them. I so hope sometime soon the females will respond to the male's attempts to lure them into the caves.

looking pretty by j_wijnands, on Flickr

**~firefly~** · 02-12-2013, 09:12 PM

Fantastic photo. The depth of field works well here as it all just drifts into the sandy background.

**talldutchie** · 02-16-2013, 03:58 PM

Just bought a pot of Sagittaria subulata. Curious to see what that will do. Also the whole tank has been acting very frisky since I did a water change today with melted snow.

**Carapar56** · 02-16-2013, 04:57 PM

Why would you do that?? Rain water itself is already at risk to pick up contaminates and chemicals.. But snow is basically a magnet for harmful chemicals and such.. I really hope you tested the melted snow first and live in an area where there's a chance that the snow isn't contaminated. I'd check around online but last I check snow is harmful, even when melted.. Or maybe its just snow itself. I'm not entirely sure all I know is that when you eat it, it makes you sick.. But that could be because its all frozen. XD I'm not sure. Either way I'd watch your parameters and if I were you I'd stick to using faucet or well water, whatever you use for your home.

OHH and tell me how the sagittaria does, I'm planning on getting some for my 20 gallon and I'd love to know how it does in your aquarium.

**talldutchie** · 02-16-2013, 06:48 PM

It tested as pure water on what I have in the home. Not exactly the first time I've done it. When it snows and the nearest runway shuts down it's pretty clear. Anyway, everyone's active and happy, shrimp included.