My 75 gal Journal - my first ever aquarium!

**gronlaura** · 02-12-2013, 06:23 PM

**steeler1** · 02-12-2013, 07:44 PM

I always enjoy your videos.

**gronlaura** · 02-12-2013, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by steeler1

I always enjoy your videos.

Thank you steeler1. Have to figure out how to adjust the camera brightness. I am absolutely thrilled with my tank and fish. Ended up changing my stocking list and am really glad I did. The tetras, rasboras and rainbows really get along very well. And the danio survivor and his little danio friend tend to leave the others alone, which is what I wanted. Trying to catch the survivor in the 75 gal so I could return him to my LFS was a joke!

My LFS got some nice neon dwarf rainbows in, so in 2 weeks I will hopefully add the final 2 and maybe choose 1 more BN. He is too cool for words!!!

**gronlaura** · 02-25-2013, 10:20 PM

Saturday I did my 3rd water change with my RO/DI unit. I’m getting much better doing my water changes. The first one was a little messy, having to use 5 gal buckets for everything. Now I use a 32 gal wheeled garbage can for the used tank water and to rinse the bio media and a 35 gallon storage tub (with a lid to keep out the cat hair) for my good RO/DI water. I have a 4 wheeled platform (carpet covered ¾ inch plywood with 4 large wheels - it was part of my show cart set-up from my cat show days) that the tub sits on so I can roll it from the kitchen into the living room where the tank is. The RO/DI unit has made water changes so much easier. It takes about 5 ½ hours to make 22 - 25 gallons of water. I set the water temp to 77 degrees using the kitchen faucet and a floating thermometer and do other stuff while the unit does its thing. If you have to buy water for a larger aquarium, I highly recommend getting and RO or RO/DI unit.

Yesterday I completed my tank with my final male & female neon dwarf rainbowfish and an additional calico bristlenose pleco. I am done stocking!!!

This morning my new male rainbow was schooling with the gold pristellas. Must have been confused or maybe he felt lost in the big tank and couldn’t find his own kind (although the rainbows do like to school with the tetras, gliding from one end of the tank to the other)! Later he was hanging out with my largest male rainbow. The new female was schooling with the other rainbow girls. She is about the same size as 2 other girls, so I’m not sure who was who. I did count 9, so I know they're all there.

My new calico BN (he is mostly tan with dark brown, my first one is mostly dark brown with tan – did that so I could easily tell them apart) was sitting on a rock and my first BN came up and knocked him off – too funny. “Go find your own rock”!!! Before I left for work, the new BN was munching on the driftwood and the other was checking out the algae wafer. The new one is currently about the same size as the first when I brought him home 2 weeks ago. I can’t believe how much BN #1 has grown – much wider in the head area. The algae I had is gone. What a hard worker he is!!! Can’t wait till I will be able to tell if they are male or female.

Will take some photos and a video tonight. I found out how to adjust my exposure on my camera, so hopefully no more overly-bright shots.

**steeler1** · 02-25-2013, 10:39 PM

I don't know if anyone has suggested a aquean water changer to you?, but it would make your life alot easier LOL.

I finaly got one two years ago and don't know why I didn't get one before.

**gronlaura** · 02-25-2013, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by steeler1

I don't know if anyone has suggested a aquean water changer to you?, but it would make your life alot easier LOL.

I finaly got one two years ago and don't know why I didn't get one before.

Can't use my tap water. I don't think there's a way to use it with my RO/DI water. Right?

**steeler1** · 02-25-2013, 10:54 PM

Now I remember, sorry about that. I look forward to your video update.

**KevinVA** · 02-26-2013, 01:05 AM

Well, you could use the water changer to siphon out the water, you just can't add it back. Might be worth it, might not be. Up to you.

Loved the vid of the pleco up there. Hope you can get the other one tonight, as well. =] Congrats on fully stocking your tank!

**gronlaura** · 02-26-2013, 10:12 PM

I use a 3/4 inch diameter clear water line with the squeeze bulb in the middle. Works great.

My 2 BN plecos - the one on the left (BN 1) is the first one I got a little over 2 weeks ago and the one on the heater (BN 2) is the new one who came on Sunday.

New BN cleaning a leaf

**KevinVA** · 02-26-2013, 10:58 PM

You have a couple of beautiful plecos... and they're about as active as my SAEs - which is pretty darn active. That's rare to see, from my experience. I liked the little flip your first one did on that leaf. ;]